Program Overview

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Overview

The Master of Arts in Educational Psychology (MAEP) degree is awarded after 30 credits. With completion of the coursework, the program portfolio, and the Advanced Practicum, the candidate is eligible for an Initial license. With the Initial license, the individual is employable as a School Adjustment Counselor and has five years to finish the CAGS which is necessary for the Professional license. In addition to the CAGS, the candidate must work for three years as a School Adjustment Counselor to be eligible for the Professional license under the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Initial License

Candidates are required to submit documentation of successful completion of the Communication and Literacy Skills Test of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) before being accepted into the graduate programs leading to licensure. This is a requirement for an Initial license by the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Learning Outcomes for School Adjustment Counseling

School Adjustment Counseling Candidates will:

• Understand and communicate knowledge of strategies used for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, the spectrum of mental illnesses, and violence in Pre-K-12 students and community settings.
• Plan and implement therapy and interventions with an understanding of the principals of child and adolescent development as they relate to the needs of diverse individuals from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Apply core counseling theory and research regarding the cultural context of relationships relating to treatment planning and goal acquisition while considering the trends in a multicultural and diverse society.
• Exhibit the knowledge and skills needed to deliver a range of professional counseling and consultation services ethically and effectively within an educational and community setting.
• Provide and implement interventions in collaboration with clients, families, and support agencies.
• Understand and communicate working knowledge of federal, state, municipal, and school laws/regulations as they apply to the needs of the client population.
• Engage in effective oral and written communication when addressing clinical mental health concerns.
• Apply the skills needed to conduct differential diagnoses in accordance with the current standards in the field of mental health services.

What You'll Learn

In this program, you will learn law and regulations as they apply to clients, skills to ethically counsel in an educational setting, and apply counseling theory in the context of a diverse society.

Future Studies

After successful completion of coursework in School Adjustment Counseling, candidates are employable as School Adjustment Counselors and have five years to finish the CAGS in order to earn a Professional license.

Career Opportunities

A degree in School Counseling with CAGS completion, and three years of work as an adjustment counselor, makes you eligible for a Professional license under the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Degree Requirements

Foundation Courses

• PSY5230: Principles and Practice of School Counseling
• PSY5215: Theories of Counseling
• PSY5240: Counseling Basics
• PSY5415: Child and Adolescent Development
• EDU5410: Introduction to Special Education
• PSY5241: The Juvenile Justice System
• PSY6230: Psychology of the Exceptional Child
• PSY5315: Group Counseling in Schools
• PSY5245: Counseling Diverse Populations
• PSY5205: Basic and Applied Research in the Schools

Specialty Area Courses

• PSY5345: Developmental Psychopathology
• PSY5360: Trauma Informed School Counseling
• PSY5365: Counseling Families
• PSY6678/6679: Advanced Practicum with Seminar I/II
• PSY6819: Clinical Experience in School Adjustment Counseling

Professional Area Courses

• PSY6845: Advanced Counseling Theory and Practice
• PSY6855: Testing in Schools
• PSY6505: Legal and Ethical Issues in School Counseling
• PSY6525: Substance Abuse Issues and the System

Course Descriptions

PSY5215 - Theories of Counseling

This course provides the student with a broad overview of several important approaches to counseling and psychotherapy.

PSY5230 - Principles and Practices of School Counseling

This introductory course is designed to acquaint the student with the basics of the need, primary focus, and ethics of counseling services.

PSY5240 - Counseling Basics

This course will provide students with a broad, integrated perspective on the discipline of psychology and its practice.

PSY5415 - Child and Adolescent Development

This course addresses the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development across the lifespan for children and adolescents.

PSY6230 - Psychology of Exceptional Children

Exceptional children are those for whom special educational programming is considered necessary.

PSY6505 - Legal and Ethical Issues in School Counseling

The purpose of this course is to acquaint the student with the major ethical issues in the practice of psychology.

PSY5315 - Group Counseling in Schools

This course will examine the theoretical and experiential understandings of group development, purpose, dynamics, group counseling methods, and skills.

PSY6605 - Therapeutic Techniques and Consultation

This course will provide students with techniques to integrate the theories of treatment into specific situations that the counselor or psychologist will confront in actual practice.

PSY5205 - Basic and Applied Research in the Schools

This course examines evaluative methodologies and strategies, types of research, program evaluation, needs assessments, and ethical and legal considerations.

PSY5345 - Developmental Psychopathology

This course examines disorders in adulthood, adolescence, and childhood with consideration of the relationship between biological, social, psychological, and environmental factors.

PSY6515 - Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse

This course covers the fundamental principles of pharmacology, drug actions, tolerance, addiction, clinical use of psychotic medications, substance abuse, and addiction treatment.

PSY6678/6679 - Advanced Practicum with Seminar I/II

PSY6845 - Advanced Counseling Theory and Practice

This course will focus on advancing the development of psychological, behavioral, and therapeutic skills needed to provide basic counseling services to students in elementary, middle, and high schools.

PSY5241 - The Juvenile Justice System

An in-depth look at the juvenile justice system from its historical origins to current practices.

PSY5245 - Counseling Diverse Populations

This course is designed to provide students with the cultural and social foundations as well as examine the research pertaining to counseling in a diverse society.

PSY5360 - Trauma Informed School Counseling

This course explores the rapidly expanding literature in the field of psychological trauma and attempts to delineate its common concerns, research basis, and practice guidelines.

PSY5365 - Counseling Families

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an introduction to family and couple counseling theory, and perspectives of family therapy along with issues of diversity.

PSY6855 - Testing in Schools

This course focuses on developing an understanding of the nature and function of group assessments.

PSY6525 - Substance Abuse Issues and the System

This course looks at the behavior of people in the system and seeks to help students better understand their own values and behaviors.

Field Experience

Candidates are eligible for endorsement by American International College for Initial licensure in School Adjustment Counseling to the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education upon completion of all coursework through PSY6678 Advanced Practicum with Seminar. The candidate is then eligible for employment as a School Adjustment Counselor. Candidates must apply directly to MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for their Initial license. The Initial license expires at the end of five (5) years.