Program Overview

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Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology

Overview

The MA degree in Counseling Psychology is designed for learners with aspirations to become licensed as professional counselors. The core objective of the MA in Counseling Psychology is to address the knowledge base and skills necessary to qualify for licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and related clinical practice.

Program Description

The academic focus of this program includes extensive in-depth studies in counseling theory and practice, applied psychology concepts and principles, theories of human development and personality development across the lifespan, family and group therapy principles, applied social and cultural foundations, biological basis of behavior, and professional orientation and ethics. The program also includes formal internship components consistent with most state requirements for clinical mental health counseling licensure.

Learning Outcomes

• Expression of Ideas: The candidate will be able to analyze and communicate ideas clearly in correct APA format.
• Knowledge of Appraisal and Diagnostic Techniques for Individuals and Groups: The candidate will be able to analyze the appropriate and ethical use of various appraisal and diagnostic techniques for diverse populations in verbal and written forms.
• Social and Cultural Awareness: The candidate will be able to communicate in written and oral forms an understanding of social and cultural similarities and differences and their impact upon professional practice.
• Professional Identity and Ethics: The candidate will be able to express, verbally and in written form, an understanding of the fundamentals of professional practice as well as ethical considerations that should guide one’s professional and/or scholarly pursuits.
• Knowledge of Counseling Theory and Practice: The candidate will be able to express, verbally and in written form, an understanding of the major theories and methodologies of professional counseling.
• Critical Thinking and Reflection: The candidate will be able to synthesize and evaluate a variety of sources to explore ideas and issues to facilitate continued personal and professional development through self-reflection.

Program Requirements

• PSY5510 Counseling Theory & Practice
• PSY5520 Psychology of Human Growth & Development
• PSY5530 Social & Cultural Bases of Behavior
• PSY5540 Helping Relationships
• PSY5550 Group Work and Therapy
• PSY5560 Career and Lifestyle Development
• PSY5610 Appraisal and Diagnostic Techniques
• PSY5620 Abnormal Psychology
• PSY5630 Human Sexuality for Counselors
• PSY5640 Research Methods & Program Evaluation
• PSY5710 Professional Orientation and Ethics
• PSY5738 Internship in Counseling Psychology I
• PSY5838 Internship in Counseling Psychology II
• PSY6899 Professional Portfolio (Capstone)

Electives (18 credits)

• PSY5720 Practicum in Counseling Psychology I (as needed) (1 credit)
• PSY5938 Internship in Counseling Psychology III
• PSY6110 Biological Bases of Behavior
• PSY6210 Personality Theory & Development
• PSY6220 Family Therapy
• PSY6310 Psychopharmacology
• PSY6410 Substance Abuse and Addictive Disorders
• PSY6510 Crisis Intervention

Course Descriptions

PSY6899 - Professional Portfolio (Capstone) (3)

This course provides a culminating experience that allows each student to reflect on his or her scholarly and professional growth over the program of study.

PSY5640 - Research Methods & Program Evaluation (3)

This course examines a range of research methods, basic descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, needs assessment, ethical and legal considerations in research, steps of research design and implementation and the fundamentals of program evaluation through use of qualitative and quantitative methods.

PSY5520 - Psychology of Human Growth & Development (3)

Includes studies of current theories of human lifespan development as influenced by genetic, biological and environmental factors.

PSY5530 - Social & Cultural Bases of Behavior (3)

Includes studies of social psychology, group dynamics and processes, organizational behavior, attribution theory, socially inherited and transmitted patterns of pressure, expectations and limitations learned by individuals.

PSY5540 - Helping Relationships (3)

Includes studies of the basic building block and advanced counseling skills, the collaborative nature of the helper-client relationship, consultation skills, nonverbal and reflecting skills.

PSY5550 - Group Work and Therapy (3)

This course includes advanced studies of theoretical approaches to and key concepts of group counseling and their practical applications.

PSY5560 - Career and Lifestyle Development (3)

Includes studies of career development theory and research, applications in counseling and educational settings, approaches to career decision-making processes.

PSY5510 - Counseling Theory and Practice (3)

Includes studies of major theories, approaches and procedures in counseling and psychotherapy; historical-cultural developmental contexts.

PSY5620 - Abnormal Psychology (3)

Focuses on psychopathology and includes studies of the etiology and categorization of psychopathology, historical, sociopolitical, cultural, behavioral and epidemiological approaches to the systematic description of psychological disorders.

PSY5630 - Human Sexuality for Counselors (3)

This course includes studies of the diverse nature and constructs of human sexuality, sexual identity, and sexual dysfunction.

PSY5710 - Professional Orientation and Ethics (3)

This course examines the process of ethical decision making in the workplace and the role of the ethical leader.

PSY5720 - Practicum in Counseling Psychology (1)

Optional as determined by state regulations. A pre-internship practice in application of counseling psychology principles and skills.

PSY5738 - Internship in Counseling Psychology I (3)

The first of two semesters of supervised internship in counseling psychology designed to integrate theoretical understanding with direct, hands-on exposure to practice.

PSY5838 - Internship in Counseling Psychology II (3)

This is the second required semester of internship experience in counseling psychology.

PSY5938 - Internship in Counseling Psychology III (3)

This is the third semester of internship experience in counseling psychology which some students may need to complete their state licensure requirements.

PSY6110 - Biological Bases of Behavior (3)

Includes studies of the gross anatomy of the nervous system and the basic relationships between the brain, chemical neurotransmitters and behavior.

PSY6220 - Family Therapy (3)

This course focuses on the history, theory and practice of family therapy with analysis and comparison of beliefs, therapeutic strategies and techniques of the most prominent approaches.

PSY6310 - Psychopharmacology (3)

The study of psychopharmacology, including ways in which drugs interact with the brain to affect cognitive processes and behavioral states.

PSY6410 - Substance Use Disorders and Addiction Counseling (3)

This course encompasses the understanding of substance use disorder within the criteria of the current DSM and addiction as a disease within the medical model.

PSY6510 - Crisis Intervention (3)

Includes studies of the theories and principles of crisis intervention as applied to therapeutic strategies for treatment.

PSY6578 - Directed Study (3)

In these courses, a student pursues, in-depth, an individualized program of reading and/or research with supervision by first and second core faculty.

PSY6588 - Directed Study (3)

In these courses, a student pursues, in-depth, an individualized program of reading and/or research with supervision by first and second core faculty.

PSY6598 - Directed Study (3)

In these courses, a student pursues, in-depth, an individualized program of reading and/or research with supervision by first and second core faculty.

PSY6610 - Theoretical Foundations in Complementary Health Counseling (3)

This course explores the theory base of complementary health counseling.

PSY6710 - Applications in Complementary Health Counseling (3)

This course will examine how the theoretical foundations of complementary health counseling are applied in clinical practice.

PSY6820 - The Psychology of Health (3)

This course will focus on the cognition of health, which addresses how thinking and reasoning are related to health behavior and illness.

PSY6830 - Spirituality in Counseling (3)

This course will focus on the study and application of theory and techniques to assist the counselor in the appropriate integration of spirituality into the counseling process.

PSY6840 - Nutrition-Health and Emotional Wellness (3)

This course will focus on the relationship between nutrition, diet and food and their role in emotional health and wellness.