School of Education and Counseling Psychology

The School of Education and Counseling Psychology Receives a Generous Scholarship Gift in Support of the AAPI Community

We are pleased to announce that ECP alumna and advisory board member, Michelle Nguyen, has made a generous gift to support student scholarships. The Michelle U. Nguyen Endowed Scholarship will support counseling psychology graduate students with financial need whose interests are in serving the mental health needs of the Vietnamese community.

Dean of Education and Counseling Psychology Sabrina Zirkel notes,"We do not have nearly enough Vietnamese-speaking therapists in our region, and this generous gift will help us cultivate and develop more bilingual, bicultural therapists to serve the mental health needs of the Vietnamese community. Michelle's service and generosity to the community is inspiring. This gift will change lives."

“As a therapist who has worked with the Vietnamese community, I often wished we had more mental health professionals who could provide culturally appropriate therapy to this ever-increasing diverse community. With the vision of ECP Dean Sabrina Zirkel, the idea of a scholarship to attract more Vietnamese and Asian American students to the CPSY program came to fruition. I am so grateful for Dean Zirkel's leadership and please to be able to contribute toward a cause that is very near and dear to my heart.“ – Michelle Nguyen

NEW: Doctor of Education (EdD) in Social Justice Leadership launches this fall!

The Doctor of Education in Social Justice Leadership equips graduates with the 21st-century knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to lead complex organizations with the goal of building a more humane, just, and sustainable world. Specialization areas include Higher Education Leadership, PreK-12 Leadership and Social Impact Leadership.

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Discover the Santa Clara Difference.

We are changing the world -– one client, one student, one family and one school at a time. Our vision imagines a region and world in which everyone has access to an inspiring education and the psychological tools and support to propel them toward flourishing lives of meaning, purpose and connection. Join us and discover the Santa Clara University difference!

What Sets Us Apart

Strong Values

The Jesuit value of "cura personalis" or attention to the whole person informs all our work. The Jesuit mission where ethics, compassion, and social justice informs all our programs.

Social Justice

We are driven by a vision of a world guided by principles of social justice and a concern for the most vulnerable.

Transformative

We assist students in transforming themselves into agents of change. We challenge you to go farther and deeper.

Diverse Community

We recognize and celebrate the power of an inclusive community that is strengthened by different voices, perspectives and experiences.

SECP Annual Report 2020 - 2021

Teacher Education
In as little as one year, you can receive a Master’s degree plus a teaching credential. The teaching credential can be earned in either student-teaching or internship formats.
Program Information

Educational Leadership
Our Administrative Services Credential and/or Master’s in Educational Leadership program will help you define your vision, values, and your capacity to lead complex organizations.
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“I liked the school of education at SCU because of the small cohort size. I felt comfortable asking my professors for help. I also enjoyed being surrounded by a group of really smart aspiring educators, who both inspired and challenged me. After leaving the program at SCU I felt that I was very well prepared to be an effective educator and leader at my school.”

–JONATHAN MONTOYA ’15, EDUCATION

Counseling Psychology
Receive your Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and/or a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) license to become a practicing therapist.
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Counseling
This Master’s degree will help you advance in a current position, work in a non-licensed counseling setting, or prepare you for future doctoral studies.
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“After having just graduated from UC Berkeley, I was seeking a program that would provide me both a community and a solid academic foundation. And today I am so grateful to say that SCU’s Counseling Psychology program gave me exactly that. It’s because of the relationships, the knowledge, and the practice I received from this program that I had the opportunity to become the type of therapist I had sought to be. ”

–KIMBERLY PANELO, ’10, COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY

Over 100 Years in the Making

We have been educating and inspiring students for over 100 years, since the School of Education was founded in 1912 and expanded to include Counseling Psychology in 1964. In 2001, the School of Education and Counseling Psychology was constituted to offer Master's level and other credential programs.

12:1

A low student to faculty ratio means you get more individual attention.

98%

Our graduation rate reflects the success of both students and programs.

85%

Percentage of those students who apply receiving scholarships.

Small average class sizes allow you to be engaged and active.

"SCU School of Education is so welcoming! All of the professors and staff are very helpful and try their best to make sure every student is successful inside and outside of the classroom. Growing up down the street from SCU I have always dreamed of going to school at this great institute. Being a part of the SCU family, it has opened up great doors in careers, knowledge, and lifelong friendships."