Argosy University, Seattle
Program Overview
The Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling Psychology degree program is designed to provide students with a sound foundation for the eventual practice of mental health counseling. The program is designed to emphasize the development of attitudes, knowledge, and skills essential in the formation of professionals who are committed to the ethical provision of quality services.
The MA in Counseling Psychology degree program is designed to prepares students to enter a professional career as master’s level counseling practitioners who can perform ethically and effectively as skilled professionals with demonstrated knowledge of social and cultural diversity. Curriculum is designed to integrate basic cunseling skills, theoretical foundations of professional counseling, and practicum field experience into appropriate client interaction and intervention skills for application in a wide variety of settings with diverse client populations. Since licensing may change and often varies from state to state, students should verify the current requirements of the state in which they plan to become licensed.
Program Learning Outcomes
Program Outcome One: Professional Practice
Competency 1 Assessment and Skills: Formulate assessments of psychological functioning and apply therapeutic intervention strategies when working with individuals, couples, families, and groups, toward the development of optimal mental health.
Competency 2 Theory: Interpret and apply psychological and developmental theories to therapeutic intervention strategies.
Competency 3 Writing: Employ media and technology when presenting counseling information orally and in writing, so that the presentation is concise, organized, well supported, professional, and appropriate to the audience.
Program Outcome Two: Research
Competency 1: Analyze research, and translate research findings for improvement of counseling services using statistics and program evaluation methods.
Program Outcome Three: Interpersonal Effectiveness and Professional Development
Competency 1: Students will develop positive relationship skills that promote personal and professional development via effective communication, encouragement, empathy, respect for others, self-awareness, and other-awareness. These skills will be evidenced by students’ ability to:
a.Apply active listening communication skills in interpersonal scenarios to establish empathetic relationships.
b.Analyze the importance of effective nonverbal communication skills in interpersonal relationships.
c.Solicit and utilize feedback to build and maintain interpersonal relationships.
d.Utilize effective communication and relationships skills in order to promote the growth of others and effect change.
Program Outcome Four: Ethics
Competency 1: Using the American Counseling Association’s Standards of Practice or the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Code, as well as local state law as it applies to the behavior of mental health professionals, identify ethical dilemmas and apply ethical decision-making strategies while engaging in professional activities.
Program Outcome Five: Diversity
Competency 1: Multicultural Skills. Provide assessment, counseling, and consultation services for clients by applying psychological and multicultural theories and research to diverse populations, and modifying interventions as needed to work effectively with diverse clients.
Competency 2 Multicultural Awareness. Examine personal values and biases, reflect on personal beliefs, and understand how they impact work with clients and other interpersonal relationships (e.g., other students and faculty).
Competency 3 Multicultural Knowledge. Identify and assess the complexity and multidimensionality of cultural/diversity theories and issues in the field of counseling psychology while working with clients and developing interpersonal relationships with other students and faculty.
Eligibility for Licensure
Graduates of the MA in Counseling Psychology degree program may wish to pursue licensure as a mental health counselor. The program curriculum includes courses in each area of study required by the state of Washington for master’s-level licensure. Additional post-master’s degree program requirements must be met prior to licensure. For more information and application materials to apply for licensure in the state of Washington, see the Department of Professional Regulation Website at https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/hps7/ Mental_Health_Counselor/documents/ MHappWeb.pdf
Master’s-level certification or licensure varies from state to state. Students should determine the requirements for professional licensure in the state they wish to practice. The American Counseling Association (ACA) and the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) frequently publish information on issues of importance to professional counselors, including licensure, online at: www.counseling.org and www.nbcc.org.
Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a nationally accredited institution approved and documented by the faculty and dean of the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, or an appropriately certified foreign institution.
- A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) for the last 60 hours of coursework (including graduate work).
- A minimum score of 550 on the written TOEFL® or 79 on the TOEFL® Internet (iBT) is also required for all applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution at which English is the language of instruction.
- Completion of an interview with a member of the program Admissions Committee.
All applications for admission must be submitted to the Admissions Department. An admissions representative is available to help interested applicants complete the following required documentation:
- Completed application for Admission Form
- Application fee (Non-refundable, except in California and Arizona. In the state of Arizona, the application fee is refundable if the application is canceled within three business days of the applicant signing the Enrollment Agreement.)
- Personal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession
- Current résumé (or career summary)
- Three completed Applicant Recommendation Forms
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended
Exceptions to the Minimum Grade Point Average
Applicants with grade point averages lower than the stated program minimums may be considered for admission with significant evidence of academic and professional potential demonstrated by the career and/or personal accomplishments indicated in the statement of academic and professional goals, the career summary, and academic or professional letters of recommendation. Exceptions must be recommended by the Admissions Committee and program chair. Exceptions must be justified, documented, signed, placed, and retained in the student’s academic file. Students admitted on an exception basis will be assigned provisional status. See “Exceptions to Admission Requirements ”.
Applications to Multiple Campuses
An applicant who wants to apply to more than one campus must complete a separate application and forward a full set of application materials to each campus.
Application Deadlines
Applications are accepted for the fall, spring and summer semesters. Early application is encouraged. Applications will be accepted and considered as they are received but no later than one week prior to the start of the semester. All applications received will be considered based on the applicant’s qualifications, however admission of later applicants may be limited due to space availability.
Writing Program
Students are expected to demonstrate competence in professional writing using APA style. A writing assessment is given to all new students during orientation to evaluate clarity, organization and style. Some students may be required to complete a writing course or tutorial during the program.
Graduation Requirements
To be eligible for graduation students in the MA in Counseling Psychology degree program must meet the following requirements:
- Successful completion of 50 semester credit hours as follows:
- 41 credit hours of required courses
- 9 credit hours (600 on-site) of required practicum and practicum seminar groups
- Completion of a practicum and practicum seminar
- Successful completion of both the written and oral sections of the Psychotherapy Competency Examination (PCE)
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0
- Satisfactory completion of all program requirements within five years after matriculation into the program
- Submission of a completed Petition to Graduate to campus administration
Enrollment Requirements
Students in the MA in Counseling Psychology degree program enroll in a minimum of two 3-credit hour classes per semester, which are offered in sequence. Students complete one course at a time. Students may take courses online (if available) preferably after completion of the first four courses on campus. Students wishing to take any of the first four courses online must have permission from the program chair.
While on practicum, students may enroll in two classes and the practicum and practicum seminar (9 credit hours) each semester, or they may enroll in the practicum and practicum seminar only (3 credit hours per semester) if they have already completed all other coursework. Each in-residence course meets one weekend per month for two months. However, the actual official starting date of each first session in-residence course corresponds to the date of the start of the semester. Pre-assignments will be made available prior to each course, and contacts by instructors will occur weekly throughout the semester.
In addition, continuous enrollment in a program is required. Students must register for at least part of each semester to remain in good academic standing. Requests for a temporary withdrawal from Argosy University are not automatically granted. If personal circumstances prevent a student from registering, a temporary withdrawal from Argosy University request must be submitted to the program chair for approval. Further information can be obtained from the Student Services Department. Students entering the MA in Counseling Psychology degree program are responsible or completing the program requirements in effect at the time of admission. The school retains the right to modify requirements in accordance with the demands of the psychology profession. Additional information can be found in the following sections.
Standards for Academic Progress
The first nine courses in the program must be satisfactorily completed before a student is permitted to take additional courses. Students who earn a GPA of 3.0 or above on a scale of 4.0 will be considered for continuation in the program. Students who achieve a GPA of 2.5 or below will no longer be permitted to continue in the program. Those with a GPA between 2.5 and 3.0 must send a request in writing to the program chair for permission to continue with the program. All requests are reviewed by the Student Professional Development Committee (SPDC) and a recommended course of action is sent back to the student. Any course in which a student earns less than a “B-“ must be retaken.
In addition, students must demonstrate not only competence in critical thinking and mastery of course content, they must also develop interpersonal skills appropriate to the profession. These competencies include, but are not limited to, the ability to:
- Receive and integrate feedback
- Maintain appropriate personal and professional boundaries
- Remain open to different perspectives
- Work collaboratively with other students/faculty and learn from them
- Actively contribute meaningfully to the education of others
- Demonstrate collegial and respectful relationships with faculty and peers
Failure to demonstrate competencies in the above skills may be cause for referral to the Student Conduct Committee (SCC) and/or Academic Affairs Committee.
Additional Standards for Academic Progress
All students must complete the program within five years after matriculation. Students who have temporarily withdrawn from Argosy University will have five years plus the length of time that they were not enrolled, not to exceed one year, to complete the program.
The suggested minimum accumulation of credit hours for satisfactory progress are as follows:
Suggested Incremental Time Frame Completion Rates
|
| End of Year One |
9 credit hours |
| End of Year Two |
18 credit hours |
| End of Year Three |
27 credit hours |
| End of Year Four |
36 credit hours |
| End of Year Five |
50 credit hours |
Program Requirements
The MA in Counseling Psychology degree program requires the satisfactory completion of 50 semester credit hours, distributed as follows: required courses, 41 credit hours; practicum and practicum seminar requirements, 9 credit hours.
The program curriculum is designed for delivery in a specific sequence. Courses offered to first year students are designed to provide a theoretical and practical foundation for courses that will follow. Students must satisfy all stated prerequisites for a course before registration can be considered official. Any student who wishes to take a course or courses out of sequence must petition the program chair in writing for special permission.
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