SDSU Department of Counseling and School Psychology

THE COMMUNITY-BASED BLOCK PROGRAM

Southern California has become one of the most diverse, multicultural/multilingual areas in the United States. This development has occurred rather rapidly and consequently schools, colleges, business, industry and government are being challenged to evolve new patterns more consistent with the world views of a multiethnic people and/or people with different life orientations. The Community-Based Block (CBB) program, which has been in existence for over 36 years, is a pioneer in the training of counselors that are multiculturally competent.

The program is called “community-based” because it has always been held off campus, in the heart of two of San Diego's multiethnic neighborhoods and because it creates a learning community in which a team of faculty and a carefully selected group of students “partner” in the learning process, each cohort of students helping to structure its learning experience. It is a “block” program because all classes are required of all students, who stay together as a group (or “block) for the entire year.

The Community-Based Block program seeks to develop the counseling skills of relationship building, process and therapeutic intervention; the academic skills of critical thinking, systematic inquiry, program evaluation and effective written and oral communication; and the personal growth experiences necessary to enable graduates to use their skills for the benefit of clients. The CBB program also seeks to adapt counseling skills to the needs of different populations so as to train truly competent multicultural counselors. The students are able to gain a unique experience of becoming counselors through live supervision at the Center for Community Counseling in City Heights, one of the most diverse communities in San Diego. The responsibility students assume for their own education helps them develop the proficiencies they will need to become effective change agents in schools, colleges and/or social service agencies.

WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY-BASED BLOCK PROGRAM?
CBB is a year-long intensive counselor preparation program. The two-semester block program meets all of the requirements for the 30-unit MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION with a concentration in Counseling. The 30-unit M.A. degree is designed to provide the student with the education and experience necessary to prepare for doctoral studies in counseling.

It is also intended for persons who want to increase their understanding of human behavior and their interpersonal skills, especially those working or planning to work in counseling positions which may not require specific licensure or state credentials. Many of our graduates have also used this degree to qualify for student services positions in community colleges and universities.

The CSP Department also offers specializations leading to the School Counseling and School Psychology credentials and to the Marriage and Family Therapy license. Students seeking admission to any of those licensure or credential programs (as well as to CBB) should complete a separate application as early as possible to avoid unnecessary delay in the completion of their program. Please call the Department of Counseling and School Psychology for information and applications for these other programs at (619) 594-6109.

The CBB program seeks applicants who have several significant characteristics:

Demonstrated interest in serving communities that tend to be underserved by the education and mental health professions.
Ability and willingness to take responsibility for their own learning.
Commitment to work on their own personal issues that could interfere in their work with clients, both in the program and outside the program by seeking counseling from a trained therapist.
Availability and willingness to commit to the weekly time requirements of the program: over 20 hours in the classroom, 10 hours of fieldwork and sufficient time to study and engage in academic projects.
Interest in taking classes off-campus in an ethnically diverse neighborhood.
Interest in becoming change agents.
Commitment to participating in a group in which many decisions are made by consensus and which can, therefore, be frustrating.
Oral and written communication skills at a graduate level.
Interest in working with real clients who may have serious personal issues.
Willingness to contribute to the learning of others.

CBB is a very high stress program, both time and labor intensive. It is designed to foster intra-psychic development for each student. This growth is triggered by the emphasis placed on self-awareness and personal growth. It is also the result of the mental and emotional impact of the extremely sensitive subject matter (i.e. racism, sexism, homophobia, class bias and various other oppressions) with which CBB deals. Students often find themselves questioning their fundamental values and perspectives, which is an uncomfortable process, at best. Students often find themselves questioning their fundamental values and perspectives, which is a very uncomfortable, challenging process.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR ADMISSION?
Two separate applications are required to be submitted AT THE SAME TIME:

1) Application to Enrollment Services, Graduate Admissions Document Processing Unit, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, 92182-7416, (619) 594-0884

IMPORTANT—THE DEADLINE IS JANUARY 14th
Apply on-line at http://csumentor.edu.
Submit application fee.
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score must be on record with Graduate Admissions to be accepted to the university (when taking the GRE, have official score sent to SDSU, code 4682). ETS has developed a web site where applicants can access practice tests, guides, etc for FREE to help you prepare for the GRE requirements on our applications online: http://www.takethegre.com/.
Submit TWO official transcripts in sealed, official envelopes.

2) Application to the Community-Based Block program: Department of Counseling & School Psychology, San Diego, California, 92182-1179

Applications are available after November 1st and the deadline for submission is January 14th.
You must provide the Department of Counseling and School Psychology with the application, personal statement, THREE letters of recommendation, along with the recommendation forms and employment and education histories.
Students admitted to CBB begin the program in the fall semester.

AS A FULL-TIME STUDENT, CAN I WORK PART-TIME?
Maybe. Some students in CBB do work part-time, even though there is a rigid requirement of 22 hours of class time weekly. In addition to class time, you are expected to put in at least 10 hours a week in an approved field placement. There are also academic projects and comprehensive examinations to complete and, of course, study time to consider. Many CBBers are able to find part-time hourly employment in a position that is also acceptable as an appropriate field placement.

IS THERE FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE?
Yes. Please call the Financial Aid Office for specific information at (619) 594-6323. If admitted to CBB or any of the other programs offered through the Department of Counseling and School Psychology, you will have the opportunity to apply to receive a scholarship offered only to the incoming students in this department.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
One of the best ways to get further information about the CBB program is to spend a day visiting the current program while in session. By talking with other students and by seeing the program in action yourself, you will be able to get a better sense of whether CBB is for you. Please e-mail the CBB graduate assistant at cbbgradasst@gmail.com to set up an appointment. You may also contact Dr. María Nieto Senour, Program Director, at (619) 594-7729, for further inquiries. Also, additional information may be obtained from the Department of Counseling and School Psychology’s web site at http://edweb.sdsu.edu/csp/

Page updated September 22, 2009