Counseling Psychology - M.A.

Learning Format

Hybrid

Types

Master's
Counseling Psychology - M.A.

Unlock Your Potential

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact through the field of Counseling Psychology? A Master's Degree program at Framingham State offers a transformative educational experience designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel as a counseling professional.

Why Choose Our Program?

Studying counseling psychology at FSU transforms your passion for helping others and intellectual curiosity into a fulfilling career. Our comprehensive curriculum equips you with the theoretical foundations and practical skills needed for success in the helping professions.

A Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from our program positions you to become a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in Massachusetts. This license not only opens doors to higher salaries but also offers diverse employment options and flexibility in private or group practice settings.

Engaging Curriculum: Our program is designed to engage and inspire you, emphasizing critical and scientific thinking, ethical reasoning, and clinical decision-making. You'll build strong professional relationships and learn collaboratively in a supportive environment.

Our courses are crafted to foster both personal and professional growth, focusing on self-awareness and self-monitoring—essential skills for effective counseling. Join our campus-based program and be part of a cohort model where you'll take multiple classes with students from diverse backgrounds. This creates a vibrant learning community where you can learn and grow, not just from the curriculum and faculty, but from each other. 

Internship Opportunities:  Our advisors are here to help you find an internship that aligns with your interests and career goals. We'll work closely with you to ensure your internship is a perfect fit, providing you with invaluable hands-on experience and professional growth opportunities.

Affordability: At Framingham State you'll find one of the most affordable programs designed to help you achieve your dream of becoming a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) Our comprehensive coursework and field experiences provide everything you need to meet state license eligibility requirements

Two Tailored Tracks:

  • Licensure Track: Ideal for those aiming to become licensed counselors, this track blends theoretical knowledge with hands-on counseling skills. You'll participate in a culminating internship experience at a site approved by our Department of Psychology, ensuring you gain real-world experience and professional connections.
  • Non-Licensure Track: For those seeking a comprehensive understanding of counseling psychology without the need for licensure, this track provides a strong foundation in psychological theories, research, and data. You'll explore current approaches and issues in the field, preparing you for diverse roles in counseling and beyond.

Hear from our students and faculty

Counseling Psych Video Thumbnail
Admissions & Enrollment Requirements

Admissions & Enrollment Requirements

Admissions are accepted only for enrollment for the fall semester. Applicants are evaluated based on numerous factors including previous college course work; letters of recommendation; resume and a personal statement. The admissions committee will begin the review of applicant materials upon receipt of all required documents.

  • Completed online graduate admission application
  • All Official undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts, including those that list the prerequisites listed below. Individuals can possess a baccalaureate degree in any major from a regionally accredited institution are eligible to apply.
  • 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.
  • Applicants must submit a 500-word minimum personal statement indicating why they want to enter the field of mental health counseling, the applicant’s goals, and reasons for applying to the graduate program.
  • 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 and 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.
  • The following undergraduate psychology courses must have been completed within the last ten years prior to matriculation: 
    • General (Introductory) Psychology
    • 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 or respective professional experience may waive respective undergraduate prerequisites.

  • Applicants may be invited for a personal interview as part of the admissions requirement.

Students wishing to enroll in courses prior to matriculation to the program must obtain permission from the Program Coordinator, Dr. Deborah McMakin (dmcmakin [at] framingham.edu (dmcmakin[at]framingham[dot]edu)) and are restricted to enrollment in the following two courses and must have completed all undergraduate prerequisites:

 

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:

  • Admission criteria for the Counseling Psychology Program
  • 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.

Program Requirements

Program Requirements

The 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 an 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.

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.

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.

Non-Licensure track provides a theoretical understanding of the issues related to the helping profession. Students receive a strong foundation in psychology and in current theories, data, and research related to counseling approaches. Note: This 40-credit hour program does not prepare the student to work as a counselor or lead to licensure.

This program requires the successful completion of 10 course credits (40 semester hours). Completion of this degree does NOT lead to licensure as a Mental Health Counselor.

Three (3) electives to be chosen from the following:

Note: Course substitutions may only be made with approval from the Program Coordinator and Advisor.

Course Cycles

Course Cycles

Ryan Hebert

Alumni Spotlight

Ryan Hebert '18

"FSU helped confirm my desire to be a counselor. I have learned a lot about the field and now know what I still need to learn. Framingham State has given me a solid foundation on which I can build my professional career."

Cindi Scrimgeour

Alumni Spotlight

Cindi Scrimgeour '18

"My degree at Framingham State has helped me fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a mental health therapist. This is my second career, and at 50 years old, I am thrilled to begin again."

Robert Donohue

Faculty Spotlight

Robert Donohue

"One strength of our program is the consistent responsive academic advising our students receive. I work with each student every semester to monitor progress toward completing the degree, and assist in navigating academic challenges."

Meet Your Coordinator and Advisors

Deborah McMakin

Deborah McMakin, Ph.D.

Professor, Psychology & Philosophy Department
508.626.4876
dmcmakin@framingham.edu
O'Connor Hall
Robert Donohue

Robert Donohue, Ph.D.

Professor, Psychology & Philosophy Department and Professor, Program Advisor and Prospective Student Advisor, M.A. - Counseling Psychology
(508) 626-4875
rdonohue@framingham.edu
O'Connor Hall, Room 259

Rebecca Robins

Visiting Lecturer
rrobbins@framingham.edu

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