Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology

The master of arts in counseling psychology (MACP) program is designed to prepare students to practice in the emerging professional roles of a master's level practitioner. The program emphasizes the development of counselor-client communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, and stresses the importance of supporting those skills with didactic and experiential training. 

Within the MACP program the following objectives are proposed: 

1. To strengthen scientific competency in research design, analysis, and evaluation in psychological counseling; 

2. To increase knowledge and understanding of methods of evaluating individual psychological functions, such as intelligence and personality, with emphasis on their applications, validity, and limitations as applied in professional settings; 

3. To develop communication skills that would enable the counselor to help the client(s) function more effectively; 

4. To provide the counselor with the skills to meet the psychologically related educational and preventive needs of the client and the community. 

Program:
The MACP internship consists of 60 credit hours of study in psychology. Included in the program are a practicum requirement and a thesis option. Upon completion of the MACP program, the academic requirements for a mental health counselor license will have been met. 

 

Admission:
In addition to the basic university requirements for graduate admission, the following special requirements are necessary for admission consideration to the MACP program: 

1. Scores on the GRE (verbal and quantitative sections); 

2. An autobiographical statement in which you: 
(a) provide a brief personal/family history;
(b) discuss the major milestone events and turning points in your life and how they may relate to your desire to become a counseling psychologist; 
(c) review any personal counseling or psychotherapy experiences you have had and indicate how these may have influenced your personal and professional development;
(d) explain why you want to become a professional in counseling psychology. 

In addition to this autobiographical material, your statement should include:
(a) a review of all your relevant work experiences;
(b) a declaration of whether you are applying for
admission as a part-time or full-time student; 
(c) your financial aid needs;
(d) the type of employment (if any) you expect
to have while you are a student; 
(e) the number of hours per week you expect to work.

You should close your essay by: 
(a) discussing your views on the role of science and religion in counseling psychology;
(b) indicating how your views on these issues may influence your behavior as a professional counselor;
(c) sharing your reaction to the program's expectation that you self-disclose personal reactions and information to classmates during counseling courses.

3. Two letters of reference from faculty members and/or employers which recommend the suitability of the applicant for graduate study and a profession in counseling psychology.

4. One of the following:

a) At least 9 semester hours in psychology from an approved institution, including the following courses: research methods or experimental psychology, personality theories or abnormal psychology, and an (upper-level) elective; 

(Note : Acceptable equivalents will be considered if requested in writing by the applicant; the course requirements may be satisfied by completing the course work at an approved college-level institution with a GPA of 2.0 or better or by earning a satisfactory score on the appropriate College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test or on the appropriate advanced placement program test). 

b) A score at the 50th percentile or higher on the Psychology Test of the GRE.

5. The student may be required to have a personal interview prior to final admission. 

For admission consideration, each student's complete application including receipt of all transcripts, GRE scores, autobiographical statement and letters of recommendation should be available to the coordinator of graduate studies before March 1.
 

For more information on the master of arts in counseling psychology program, call or write the psychology department. To request an information packet, click here to send an e-mail to the Graduate Studies Office. (Include your name and address, and indicate your interest in the MACP program).

Program of Study:

Major Required Courses

PCO 6317C PSY 6216 CLP 6166 PCO 6406C PCO 6407C PCO 6408C CLP 6459 DEP 6055 PCO 6944A PCO 6944 PCO 6051 PCO 6869 PCO 6311 PCO 6939 PCO 6939 PCO 6271 PCO 6531	Individual Evaluation and Assessment  Research and Program Evaluation  Psychopathology  Counseling Theories and Practice  Group Theories  Fundamentals of Mental Health Counseling  Principles of Sex Therapy  Advanced Human Development  Practicum A  Internship  Counseling in Community Settings  Legal and Ethical Issues  Psychology of Substance Abuse/Addictions  Cognitive/Behavior Therapy  Marriage/Family Counseling  Social and Cultural Foundations  Career/Lifestyle Assessment	4 hours   3 hours   3 hours   3 hours   4 hours   3 hours   3 hours   3 hours   2 hours   8 hours   3 hours   3 hours   3 hours   3 hours   3 hours   3 hours   3 hours
Total		57 hours

Elective Courses (One required)

PPE 6466 SOP 6069 PSY 6910 CLP 6441C CLP 6445C PCO 6944B PCO 6931 or PSY 6971A PSY 6971B	Advanced Personality Theories Advanced Social Psychology Supervised Research Individual Intelligence Testing Individual Personality Testing Practicum Special Topics or Thesis A Thesis B	3 hours 3 hours 3 hours 3 hours 3 hours 3 hours 1-3 hours or 3 hours 3 hours
Total		3 or 4 or 6 hours

Total Program: 60 or 61 or 63 hours

 

Residence Requirements:
A maximum of 6 hours from another graduate program will be accepted toward the student's course of study. All credit applicable to the degree taken at the university is considered resident study. Any student having once been admitted to the program and then wishing to take credit elsewhere to be applied to the degree program at UNF must have prior written approval.