Bilingual Pupil Personnel Services - Advanced Certificate
Bridge language and cultural barriers for the students who need your support most.
Linguistically diverse students and their families need counselors, psychologists, and social workers who can meet them in their own language and culture. Designed for certified pupil personnel professionals and for those completing the M.A. in School Counseling, this advanced certificate prepares you for New York State certification as a bilingual counselor, building the skills to serve culturally and linguistically diverse students with confidence and care.
This program is part of Education
The Manhattan Advantage
What You Will Learn
In this 15-credit program, you will develop the competencies needed to serve as an effective bilingual practitioner across two languages of instruction, supporting the linguistically and culturally diverse students and families who need your services most. You will study the historical, political, and legal foundations of bilingual education, develop approaches to counsel students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and learn to conduct bilingual and multicultural assessments of linguistically diverse students. Designed for working professionals already certified in Pupil Personnel Services, all courses are offered in the afternoon and evening, with select offerings available online or hybrid, so you can advance your credentials without stepping away from your career.
Why Study in New York City
New York City is one of the world's richest classrooms for future teachers. Its public school system is the largest in the nation, serving more than a million students across thousands of schools and one of the most diverse student populations anywhere. From the Bronx to all five boroughs, Manhattan University students complete fieldwork and student teaching in urban and suburban districts that prepare them to teach children of all abilities, languages, and backgrounds. This hands-on experience, paired with close faculty mentorship, builds the confidence and classroom skills that set our graduates apart in a competitive field.
What Will You Do
Potential Career Opportunities
This course of study prepares counselors, social workers, and psychologists to work with bilingual and multicultural students, and is registered by the State of New York. Graduates are equipped to serve linguistically and culturally diverse students and families across a range of school and community settings.
- Behavioral Disorder Counselor
- Career counselor
- Rehabilitation Counselor
- Social and Community Service Manager
- Social Service Counselor
- Social worker
About
The Kakos School of Arts and Sciences
The Kakos School of Arts and Sciences is the largest of Manhattan University's three schools, offering 33 undergraduate majors, six graduate programs, and six combined degrees across the humanities, natural and social sciences, and professional fields. Grounded in the University's Lasallian Catholic mission and located near the heart of New York City, the School pairs rigorous academics with small classes, close faculty mentorship, and real-world experience throughout the five boroughs and beyond. With strong pre-law and pre-health advising and a focus on ethical, engaged scholarship, Kakos graduates leave prepared to lead, and the University ranks in the top 3% nationally for salary impact (Wall Street Journal, 2026), evidence of where that preparation leads.
Prepare for the Real World
At Manhattan University, your education is built around who you are and where you want to go. Whether you’re ready to apply or just starting to explore, take the next step when you’re ready — we’re here to help.