Become a Psychologist

The Master of Education in Counseling has recently expanded to provide the most comprehensive training possible and anticipate changes in licensure requirements. We welcome students from a variety of backgrounds who have an interest in the principles and practices underlying the field of counseling. Although a background in social or behavioral sciences is not necessary, students must have a demonstrable understanding of the program and sub concentration area to which they are applying.

During the program, which focuses explicitly on child, adolescent, and early adulthood counseling, you will have the opportunity to concentrate your studies in School Counseling, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Counseling, or Sport Psychology. Your sub-concentration will determine the elective coursework and field experiences your will complete, which will supplement the core training, that emphasizes:

• Normative development from infancy through early adulthood.
• Ecological considerations, including personal, environmental, and cultural factors.
• Strengths-based theory, focusing on individual attributes and adaptations.

The program has a strong mental health focus, so regardless of your sub-concentration you will graduate with the knowledge and skills required to work with individuals with a wide range of mental health issues. You will complete sequenced coursework pertaining to the treatment of children and adolescents in areas such as counseling theories and techniques, cross-cultural perspectives, lifespan development, psychopathology, psychological testing, research, positive psychology, and ethics.

Our clinical focus ensures that you will have ample and diverse hands-on experiences in the field in order to build and refine your clinical skills. This diversity of fieldwork exposes you to a variety of settings, making you more marketable in the field. Upon completion of the program and depending on your course of study, you will be eligible for various licenses/certifications.

Most students are expected to complete the Counseling program on a full-time basis; however, many courses are offered at times that also allow completion of the degree as a part-time student while continuing full-time employment. For employed students, arrangements must be made with employers to ensure that students are able to complete the requisite hours of clinical work. International students for whom English is a second language may need to anticipate a longer course of study depending on English language proficiency. Please note, the duration of study for part-time students will be longer than two years.

For detailed information about the three areas of concentration, please review the information below.