M.A. Concentration in Counseling Psychology (Licensure Track)

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COLLEGE OF SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES - DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

The Master of Arts (M.A.) with a concentration in Counseling Psychology - Licensure track combines theoretical aspects with practical counseling skills to prepare the student to work effectively as a counselor in the mental health field. Foundational courses provide a strong foundation in psychology with emphasis on current theories, research, and applications of a variety of counseling approaches. Additionally, courses are designed to integrate theory with practice. A culminating internship experience must be arranged at a site affiliated with or approved by the Department of Psychology. This program fulfills all academic and internship requirements established to prepare students who qualify as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) by the State of Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health Professions of 2004.

Our mission is to provide students with opportunities to pursue graduate studies in the area of Counseling Psychology. Students engage in a curriculum that promotes the development of a skill set that includes critical and scientific thinking, ethical reasoning, clinical decision making, and forming and maintaining collaborative professional relationships with clients, community members and other professionals in the field. In addition, special emphasis will be placed on self-awareness and the ability to self-monitor as critical components of the counseling process. Our graduates will be prepared to become lifelong learners engaging in professional development and contributing as informed socially responsible citizens of Massachusetts, the United States, and the greater diverse world.

Program Requirements for Licensure Track

Successful completion of the following courses will fulfill the requirements for Licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in the State of Massachusetts established by the Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Service Professions. Substitutions and transfer credit for the following courses are strongly discouraged and may invalidate the degree requirements relative to licensure.

Counseling Theory:

Human Growth and Development:

Psychopathology:

Social Cultural Foundations:

Helping Relationships:

Group Work:

Special Treatment Issues:

Appraisal:

Research and Evaluation:

Professional Orientation:

Clinical Field Experience Requirements:

 

Additional Information on Internship Clinical Experience

CPSY 998 Counseling Internship I and CPSY 999 Counseling Internship II are offered during consecutive fall and spring semesters. Each enrollment requires a minimum of 300 clock hours for a combined total of a minimum of 600 clock hours. Students should expect to devote a minimum of 20 clock hours per week at their internship site for two consecutive semesters.

For students who wish to begin their internship in the summer, three consecutive internship courses are required: CPSY 997A Counseling Internship A, CPSY 997B Counseling Internship B, and CPSY 997C Counseling Internship C. These internships consist of no less than 200 clock hours for a combined total of a minimum of 600 clock hours. Students electing to complete CPSY 997A, the summer internship, MUST enroll in CPSY 997B and CPSY 997C in subsequent fall and spring semesters. This sequence may be substituted for the CPSY 998/CPSY 999 Internship sequence.

Students must obtain an Internship Application from the graduate office. A completed application for summer enrollment is due March 1st. For fall enrollment the application is due no later than May 1st. Placement is strongly encouraged at one of the University’s affiliated sites. Students must interview at their internship site whether college affiliated or otherwise.

At the successful completion of each internship course, students must submit a completed Internship Report along with documentation of the site supervisor’s credentials. This information is necessitated by State Licensure requirements. All students must be favorably reviewed for continuation by the Departmental Professional Review Committee prior to the enrollment in the internship. Unsuccessful completion of any internship course will result in termination from the program.

Enrollment Plan

The following sequence is designed for matriculated students who wish to complete the program in three years. The student should note that summer courses are required for completion of the program. Courses must be taken in sequential order and require graduate advisor approval prior to enrollment.

Year I

Fall

Spring

Summer I (See Below)

 

Year II

Fall

Spring

Summer II (See Below)

Year III

Fall

Spring

 

Summer Coursework

Three summer courses are required to complete the program. Following successful completion of Year I and/or Year II coursework, matriculated students may take one to three of these required courses per summer.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the program is a competitive process. Individuals possessing a baccalaureate degree in any major from a regionally accredited institution are eligible to apply for admission. Admissions are accepted only for enrollment for the fall semester. Students wishing to enroll in courses prior to matriculation to the program must obtain permission from the Program Coordinator, Dr. Deborah McMakin (dmcmakin@framingham.edu) and are restricted to enrollment in the following two courses and must have completed all undergraduate prerequisites:

Applicants are evaluated based on numerous factors including previous college course work; Graduate Record Examinations scores or Miller Analogies score; letter of recommendation; and a personal statement. The personal statement describes the applicant’s goals and reasons for applying to the graduate program.

The admissions committee will begin review of applicant materials upon receipt of all required documents.

Requirements

  1. Completed online graduate admission application
  2. $50.00 application fee
  3. Official undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts, including those that list the prerequisites listed below (#8).
  4. Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
  5. Applicants are required to possess an overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.80 on a 4.00 scale, with a 3.00 grade point average in undergraduate psychology courses.
  6. Applicants must obtain a combined, total score of 290 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or a minimum of 450 on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Applicants who possess a graduate degree and/or possess an overall undergraduate grade point average of a least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale are exempt from submitting GRE or MAT scores.
  7. Applicants must submit a 500-word minimum personal statement indicating why they want to enter the field of mental health counseling.
  8. Applicants must also submit three (3) letters of recommendation, which describe the recommender’s relationship to the applicant and how the applicant responds to guidance and/or constructive feedback. One letter from a faculty member (who has taught the candidate at the collegiate level), one letter from a supervisor and a third letter from a supervisor or faculty member are required, if the candidate attended classes in the last five years. If is it not possible to obtain a letter from a faculty member, then three letters should be from employers or supervisors as described above. Personal letters of recommendation, including non-supervisory co-workers, family or friends will not be accepted.
  9. The following undergraduate psychology courses must have been completed with the last ten years prior to matriculation: General (Introductory) Psychology, Psychology of Personality, Abnormal Psychology, and a course in Developmental Psychology (e.g., child, adolescent, adulthood and aging, lifespan). Students with a satisfactory score on an Introductory General Psychology and/or Developmental Psychology CLEP exams may waive respective undergraduate prerequisites.
  10. Applicants may be invited for a personal interview as part of the admissions requirement.

 

Prospective applicants who wish to have an advising session prior to applying can schedule an appointment with an advisor between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; on campus or over the phone. View available times and make an appointment online or by calling 508-626-4540.

Professional Growth and Suitability Evaluation

Due to the sensitive nature of the duties and responsibilities a mental health counselor must perform, applicants are also periodically screened and evaluated for their professional suitability and growth. The University and the faculty associated with the Counseling Psychology program assume responsibility for ensuring that graduates of the program possess both the academic knowledge and the personal attributes required of all persons who aspire to be licensed professional counselors.

Therefore, students will be evaluated on suitability for continuation in the program throughout their program of study. At the conclusion of each course, the instructor will evaluate students on both academic competence and professional suitability. These evaluations may be used for one of the following:

  1. Admission criteria for the Counseling Psychology Program
  2. Continuation of matriculated status in the program

Students will be evaluated in content courses and application courses (i.e. practicum and internship experiences). At any time, a matriculated student who is judged to be in question for continuation in the program will be apprised of the specific deficiencies noted by the Professional Review Committee and may be allowed to continue in the program on a probationary basis. A second continuation evaluation will be conducted. If the student is still deemed to be deficient, the student will be disallowed from continuation in the Counseling Psychology program. Students who complete the initial two-year sequence of courses but are terminated from the licensure program may apply to the non-licensure track.

 

EFFECTIVE AS OF THE 2022-2023 GRADUATE CATALOG