M.A. in Counseling Psychology
The Master's program in Counseling Psychology, building on a multidisciplinary core, has been designed to prepare working adults to meet the challenges involved in providing counseling services to individuals and/or groups, and to be effective facilitators of change and growth.
Students who complete the program are well prepared to pursue doctoral degrees or enter professional work settings. The 60-credit mental health specialization meets the educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor in New Jersey. The 48-credit school counseling specialization meets the educational requirements for certification as a School Counselor in New Jersey. The 30-credit specialization prepares students to apply for doctoral training in Psychology.
Admissions Criteria for Master's Programs
The graduate psychology courses of study are coeducational. Applicants for Master's Programs must have a baccalaureate degree, with a minimum of nine credits in psychology including the following courses: General Psychology, Developmental Psychology (Child Development, Adolescent Development, Adult Development or a Life Span Development course), and Psychopathology (Abnormal Psychology). Applicants should note that undergraduate Statistics and Experimental Psychology are prerequisites for PSY631: Research Methods and Program Evaluation. The baccalaureate degree must be from an accredited undergraduate institution with a cumulative GPA of not less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students will be invited for an interview based on their academic achievement, letters of reference, personal statement and relevant experiences. The interview will include a case review.
Transfer of credit into the graduate programs will be subject to evaluation and approval by the Course of Study Coordinator. All graduate transfer credits must carry a minimum grade of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. A maximum of six transfer credits will be accepted for the Masters in Counseling Psychology 30-credit track and a maximum of nine credits for the 48-credit school counseling and 60-credit mental health tracks, and the Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology and Counseling. Faculty members regularly evaluate the progress of each student enrolled in the Master's Programs. This review addresses both the student's progress toward the completion of the academic degree and the student's development as a counseling practitioner. Students must continue to develop in both areas. Depending on the outcome of this evaluation, students may be required to take remedial action such as repeating course work, taking additional practica, taking a leave of absence, etc. In unusual instances, the student may be terminated from the programs as a result of the evaluation process. Rarely the behavior of a given student will suggest psychological impairment which, in the professional judgment of the faculty, would interfere with the person's ability to function in a counseling career or in counseling settings. In such a case, the programs reserve the right to ask students to take remedial actions such as: seeking counseling, taking a leave of absence, repeating course work, enrolling in further course work, or if necessary, withdrawing from the programs.
Specialization in Counseling Psychology
The 30-credit hour specialization in Counseling Psychology is the main track in the degree. A culminating project is required in lieu of a thesis.
Student Learning Outcomes
As a result of his/her experiences in the 30-credit M.A. in Counseling Psychology specialization a graduate will:
- Have the skills necessary to effectively guide individual growth, change and development
- Understand research methods applied to counseling and program evaluation
- Be able to conduct quantitative and qualitative research
- Be able to select, administer, score, and interpret instruments designed to appraise and assess individual’s aptitudes, attitudes, abilities, achievements, interests, personal characteristics, disabilities and mental, emotional and behavioral disorders
- Be able to utilize the DSM for diagnostic purposes
- Understand and value diversity in people
- Be able to facilitate groups and understand group process
- Demonstrate information literacy
- Demonstrate awareness, personal growth, and an understanding of how their personal issues impact their performance as a counselor
- Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to professional and research ethics and behavior
Core Courses (30 Credits)
| PSY620 | Helping Relationship in Counseling | 3 |
| PSY631 | Research Methods & Program Evaluation | 3 |
| PSY633 | Counseling Theory & Methods I | 3 |
| PSY634 | Counseling Theory & Methods II | 3 |
| PSY635 | Assessment & Evaluation in Counseling | 3 |
| PSY637 | Group Dynamics & Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| PSY639 | Human Growth & Personality Development | 3 |
| PSY641 | Psychopathology & Diagnosis | 3 |
| PSY643 | Career Development & Occupational Opportunities | 3 |
| PSY671 | Counseling Theory & Methods III Practicum | 3 |
| PSY697 | Culminating Requirement | 0 |
Specialization in School Counseling
The 48 credit School Counseling specialization is designed to train professionals to work with children, parents, teachers, and administrators in educational settings. Professionals also train to develop cooperative relationships with community agencies in assisting children and families. This 48 credit specialization reflects the 48 graduate credits required in the standard educational services certificate with a school counselor endorsement. Students are required to meet the endorsed curriculum if they plan to apply for the school counselor certificate in . The 48 credits consist of 33 credit hours in counseling psychology, 3 credit hours in the multidisciplinary core curriculum, 3 credit hours in education, and 9 credit hours of practicum and supervised field experience. A culminating project is required in lieu of a thesis.
The program also offers non-matriculation opportunities for professionals who already hold a master’s degree in counseling who wish to acquire additional course work required for the New Jersey School Counselor certificate.
Student Learning Outcomes
As a result of completing the School Counseling programs, graduates:
- have the skills necessary to effectively guide individual growth, change and development in students, teachers and parents
- be able to correctly plan counseling interventions and assess outcomes
- be able to select, administer, score, and interpret instruments designed to appraise/assess students aptitudes, attitudes, abilities, achievements, interests, personal characteristics, disabilities, and emotional and behavioral disorders
- be able to facilitate groups and understand group process
- be able to assess vocational interests and abilities and give vocational guidance, occupational and educational information and placement
- be able to develop cooperative relationships with community agencies in assisting children and families
- understand and value diversity in people
Core Courses in Counseling: 35 credits
| PSY601 | Orientation to the Profession | 3 |
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| PSY619 | Psychological Issues for Special Needs Population | 3 |
| or | |
| PSY620 | Helping Relationship in Counseling | 3 |
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| PSY631 | Research Methods & Program Evaluation | 3 |
| PSY633 | Counseling Theory & Methods I | 3 |
| PSY634 | Counseling Theory & Methods II | 3 |
| PSY635 | Assessment & Evaluation in Counseling | 3 |
| PSY637 | Group Dynamics & Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| | |
| PSY639 | Human Growth & Personality Development | 3 |
| or | |
| PSY606 | Early Childhood, Childhood & Adolescent Development & Behavior | 3 |
| | |
| PSY643 | Career Development & Occupational Opportunities | 3 |
| PSY653 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| PSY659 | Counseling Children & Adolescents | 3 |
| PSY675 | Community Agencies & Resources | 3 |
| PSY697 | Culminating Requirement | 0 |
Foundations and Contextual Dimensions of School Counseling: 4 credits
| PSY602 | Foundations of School Counseling | 2 |
| PSY604 | Organization, Administration, & Consultation in School Counseling | 2 |
Practicum and Field Experience in a School Setting: 9 credits
| PSY671 | Counseling Theory & Methods III Practicum | 3 |
| PSY691 | Counseling Theory & Methods IV | 3 |
| PSY693 | Counseling Theory & Methods V | 3 |
Specialization in Mental Health Counseling
The specialty in Mental Health Counseling builds on the basic 30-credit hour curriculum by adding 30 credit hours to meet the New Jersey educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor. This 60-credit hour program consists of three credit hours in the multidisciplinary core, 39 credit hours in counseling courses, nine credit hours in electives in counseling and nine credit hours of supervised practicum and field experience. A culminating project is required in lieu of a thesis.
Student Learning Outcomes
As a result of his/her experiences in the M.A. in Counseling Psychology program, a graduate will:
- Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to professional and research ethics and behavior
- Demonstrate awareness, personal growth, and an understanding of how their personal issues impact their performance as a counselor
- Utilize the DSM for diagnostic purposes
- Correctly plan treatment interventions and assess treatment outcomes
- Facilitate groups and understand group process
- Select, administer, score, and interpret instruments designed to appraise and assess individual’s aptitudes, attitudes, abilities, achievements, interests, personal characteristics, disabilities and mental, emotional and behavioral disorders
- Understand research methods applied to counseling and program evaluation
- Understand and value diversity in people
- Demonstrate information literacy
- Conduct quantitative and qualitative research
- Have met all of the educational requirements for the NJ Licensed for Professional Counseling
- Have successfully completed practicum and internship training experiences
Core Courses in Counseling: 39 credits
| PSY601 | Orientation to the Profession | 3 |
| PSY615 | Ethical & Legal Standards in Counseling | 3 |
| PSY620 | Helping Relationship in Counseling | 3 |
| PSY631 | Research Methods & Program Evaluation | 3 |
| PSY633 | Counseling Theory & Methods I | 3 |
| PSY634 | Counseling Theory & Methods II | 3 |
| PSY635 | Assessment & Evaluation in Counseling | 3 |
| PSY637 | Group Dynamics & Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| PSY639 | Human Growth & Personality Development | 3 |
| PSY641 | Psychopathology & Diagnosis | 3 |
| PSY642 | Treatment Planning | 3 |
| PSY643 | Career Development & Occupational Opportunities | 3 |
| PSY653 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| PSY697 | Culminating Requirement | 0 |
Practicum and Field Experience: 9 credits
| PSY671 | Counseling Theory & Methods III Practicum | 3 |
| PSY691 | Counseling Theory & Methods IV | 3 |
| PSY693 | Counseling Theory & Methods V | 3 |
Elective Courses: 9 credits