Program Description
The Master’s in Counseling Psychology is available only to students already accepted into the PhD Counseling Psychology program. This embedded degree trains students to work as counselors and therapists at the master’s level. It also provides the foundation for pursuit of state licensure for persons interested in working as master’s level psychologists in a variety of settings. Graduation requirements at the MS level require students to complete all required coursework, comprehensive exams, and 150 supervised hours of practicum. Once 500 hours of clinical experience have been accumulated (150 from program plus 350 additional), graduates of the MS may choose to apply for licensure through the State of Michigan.
Program Outcomes
Students completing the Master’s in Counseling Psychology are expected to attain competency in the following five areas.
Competency #1: The breadth of scientific psychology, its history of thought and development, its research methods, and its applications
- Biological aspects of behavior
- Cognitive aspects of behavior
- Affective aspects of behavior
- Social aspects of behavior
- History and systems of psychology
- Psychological measurement
- Research methodology
- Techniques of data analysis
Competency #2: The scientific, methodological, and theoretical foundations of practice in the substantive area(s) of professional psychology in which the program has its training emphasis.
- Individual differences in behavior
- Human development
- Dysfunctional behavior or psychopathology
Competency #3: Diagnosing or defining problems through psychological assessment and measurement and formulating and implementing intervention strategies (including training in empirically supported procedures).
- Professional standards and ethics
- Theories and methods of assessment and diagnosis
- Theories and methods of effective intervention
- Theories and methods of consultation
- Theories and methods of supervision
Competency #4: Issues of cultural and individual diversity that are relevant to all of the above
Competency #5: Attitudes essential for life-long learning, scholarly inquiry, and professional problem-solving as psychologists in the context of an evolving body of scientific and professional knowledge.
- Attitudes essential for lifelong learning, scholarly inquiry, and professional problem-solving
