Offering Campuses
Argosy University, Inland Empire; Argosy University, Los Angeles; Argosy University, Orange County; Argosy University, San Diego; Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area
Campus Specific Requirements
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Program Overview
The Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program is designed to prepare students to practice and pursue licensure in California as Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT). Argosy University provides its students an educational program that is designed to provide the necessary theoretical and practical elements that will allow them to be effective members of a mental health team. The program introduces students to skills that integrate individual and group theoretical foundations of counseling psychology into appropriate client interaction and intervention skills.
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 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.
Eligibility for Licensure
Graduates of the MA in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program are eligible to pursue licensure in California as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs). The degree program is designed to meet the requirement of Business and Professions Code Section 4980.37 and 4980.40. Upon completion of educational requirements, two years of post-master’s supervised practice is required for licensure as an MFT. For more information and application materials related to MFT licensure, please contact:
The Board of Behavioral
Sciences, 400 R Street, Suite 3150,
Sacramento, CA 95814-6240, www.bbs.ca.gov.
Masters-level certification or licensure varies from state to state. It is the student’s responsibility to determine the requirements for professional licensure in the state they wish to practice. Students interested in pursuing licensure in states other than California should contact that state’s department of professional regulation for information.
Graduation Requirements
Students admitted into the MA in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program are responsible for completing the program requirements that are in effect at the time of admission. However, the program retains the right to modify these requirements in accordance with the demands of the profession. The courses will be completed in the order recommended by the program. To be eligible for graduation, the following requirements must be met:
- Successful completion of 51 credit hours.
The total credit hours must include:
- 45 credit hours of required courses
- 6 credit hours of practicum and seminar
- Successful completion of the comprehensive examination
- Earned grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0)
- Completed Petition to Graduate form submitted to campus administration.
See campus-specific program descriptions for additional requirements
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy Degree Program—Argosy University, Inland Empire; Argosy University, Los Angeles; Argosy University, Orange County; and Argosy University, San Diego
Mission Statement
The MA in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program is committed to preparing counselors and marriage and family therapists. The program embraces a range of relevant theory and techniques applicable in the three major areas of counseling psychology: a) the remedial (assisting in remedying problems in living), b) the preventive (anticipating, circumventing, and forestalling difficulties that may arise in the future), and c) the educative and developmental (discovering and developing potentialities). That is a) the focus is on normal individuals, and developmental life stages challenges,b) a focus on assets, strengths, and positive mental health, c) an emphasis on relatively brief interventions, and d) an emphasis on context, socioculturalpolitical influences, diversity, and person-environment interactions rather than exclusive emphasis on the individual.
Program Formats
Courses are offered on campus on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., one morning course from 9 a.m.–12 p.m., and one afternoon course from 1–4 p.m., weekday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and, and blended/online with mandatory on-campus meetings. Full-time students will take two on-campus courses and one online course each semester. During the fall and spring semesters, courses run for 15 weeks. During the summer semester, courses run for 7.5 weeks. It takes approximately two years for full-time students to complete the program (taking approximately three courses per semester, including summers). Course sequencing currently begins each fall and spring, and practicum also begins in the fall. Those students, who begin during spring or summer semesters, and those who elect to attend part-time, will require additional time to complete the program. Full-time students should plan to spend approximately 20 hours doing homework each week, and should arrange their work and family lives accordingly. Students who cannot accommodate this workload or whose past academic records are less strong should plan to attend part-time.
Program of Study
During their first semester of the MA in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program, students complete a program of study by indicating when they intend to take required courses. Students receive academic advisement throughout the program. Advisement is considered an essential part of student matriculation, helping students to plan a program that is sequential so that each course builds on the previous one. Advisement is conducted in both a group format and through individual appointments prior to online enrollment in classes. Courses taken outside of the program of study will not count toward the courses required for the degree. Any student wishing to change a program of study must submit a written request to an advisor, indicating the change and the reasons for it. Students are required to retake any course for which they receive a grade below a “B-.”
Privacy
Personal growth and development is considered necessary to becoming an effective counselor. As a result, courses incorporate strategies for promoting such growth. These experiences may include, among others, journaling, reflecting on one’s difficulties with the counseling process, identifying and sharing personal issues and history that may hinder effective and culturally sensitive counseling, and sharing personal experiences with bias and discrimination. We recognize the sensitivity necessary to create an environment of safety for such sharing, and expect faculty and students to conduct themselves in a way that promotes such safety. One necessary component in creating safety is the faith that one’s disclosures will be held in confidence. Therefore, we expect students to keep confidential any material shared in class and in course assignments.
Application Deadlines
Students may enter the program at various points throughout the year, although course sequencing begins in the fall semester. All admission materials for the MA in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program must be submitted by the following dates.
Fall Admission
Spring Admission
| October 30 |
Final Deadline |
Summer Admission
The applicant is expected to provide all required materials to the Admissions Department by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Prior to the deadline, applicants should check with the Admissions Department concerning the status of their files. After all materials are complete, they will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee, and an interview with program faculty will be set up with those applicants who meet the requirements below to determine the level of fit between the applicant and the program. After the interview, the Admissions Committee will make a determination regarding admission to the program. The director of Admissions will notify all applicants of the Admissions Committee’s decisions.
Enrollment Requirements
Students in the program enroll in two to three classes per semester. During the second year practicum which includes an on-campus seminar, students generally enroll in one additional course each semester, or they may enroll in the practicum alone. Students are offered approximately one course per semester online. The remainder must be taken on-campus. Continuous enrollment is required until students satisfy graduation requirements. If a required course is not available, or if a student fails the Comprehensive or Clinical Competency Examinations, they must register for Directed Study (PC 6801 )
Additional Graduation Requirements
In addition to the stated requirements, students must successfully complete
- All program requirements within four years of matriculation into the program
- The Clinical Competency Examination (CCE)
Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements
The practicum is the first opportunity provided to students for field training in counseling psychology. The practicum provides students with the opportunity for working under supervision with a clinical population in a mental health delivery system. The practicum is an essential part of training in counseling, and all students are required to participate in the practicum experience. Liability insurance is included in the cost of the practicum.
Students may be placed in a practicum and practicum seminar during the second year of study. A student may also have the option of waiting until all coursework is completed before beginning the practicum experience. Students who work full-time during the day cannot be guaranteed evening and weekend practicum. It is recommended that students begin early to plan for work flexibility as some practicum hours will take place during weekdays. For registration purposes, the practicum and seminar are treated as a single course. The practicum is a 10-month experience, running from fall through summer I. Practicum usually begins in September and concludes in June. During this time, the students will be required to spend a minimum of 700 hours, or 16–20 hours per week, in the practicum training experience.
Practicum students are expected to spend a minimum of 240 hours in direct, face-to-face client service. Students will receive at least two hours of on-site, face-to-face supervision per week with a licensed mental health professional, one hour of which is individual supervision. Supervision should occur at a regularly scheduled time each week. A practicum may not be done in a student’s place of employment, nor may students transfer the practicum requirements from another educational institution. Students with extensive clinical backgrounds will be placed in practicum sites that allow them to practice in areas of interest with which they do not have previous experience.
Eligibility for Practicum
Students must be in good academic standing to begin the practicum application process. They must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 and have completed the academic planning that will allow for all the practicum pre-requisite courses to be completed prior to the beginning of the practicum. No student may begin a practicum without being enrolled in the program for a minimum of two semesters.
Practicum Evaluation
The goal of the practicum is to train competent counselors who are capable of providing counseling and effective therapeutic interventions. Evaluation of student progress in clinical field training focuses on three areas: theoretical knowledge, counseling skills, and professional attitudes. A thorough review of site and seminar evaluations is conducted by the Training Department, and an overall grade of “Credit” or “No Credit” is included in the student’s academic record.
Practicum Seminar Requirements
All students enrolled in a practicum must also concurrently enroll in a practicum seminar. The seminar meets weekly during the fall semester and bi-weekly during the spring semester, and allows students to reflect on various practicum experiences and to acquire additional skills and attitudes useful in field training. The specific content and emphasis of the seminar varies according to the practicum setting, the focus of the enrolled students and the professional expertise of the faculty member.
Comprehensive Education Requirements
All students in the program are required to successfully complete a Comprehensive Examination no later than the end of the fourth year after matriculation. The examination provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate competence in the end-of-program outcomes in advancedprofessional practice (including assessment, theory application, skills application), social and cultural issues, multicultural competence, research, ethics, and personal and professional development (including self-reflection/awareness, written communication).
Comprehensive Examination Prerequisites
To sit for the Comprehensive Examination, students must have successfully completed all required coursework, and be in good standing with a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0).
Comprehensive Examination Procedures
The Comprehensive Examination is offered at least once each year, typically in the summer and fall semester. Students must complete a petition to take the Comprehensive Exam (available through Student Services) one month in advance of the test date. Students should also register for ADJCOMP Comprehensive Examination Workshop during the specified semester of the year. Additional information regarding registration, qualification, format, and dates of the exam can be obtained from the program chair during the workshop.
The comprehensive exam is on-campus examination that consists of printed, APA-formatted, original responses to questions submitted by faculty. For more detailed information, please refer to the Comprehensive Exam Handbook distributed during the Comprehensive Exam Workshop.
Students who fail the exam after the first attempt will meet with the faculty evaluation committee to discuss plans for remediation. Any student who fails the Comprehensive Exam a second time is automatically dismissed from the program.
Clinical Competency Exam Requirements
The Clinical Competency Exam (CCE) requires students to present a taped session, a transcript, a clinical case report, and a self-evaluation related to a client that they have been working with during the Practicum. In the CCE students have the opportunity to demonstrate conceptual and theoretical abilities and their counseling skills in real world counseling situations. Students who have learned theoretical and applied concepts in classroom courses should make use of out-of-class clinical contacts (i.e., practicum, practicum seminar group, visiting lecturers) to refine and extend the skills that will be evaluated by the CCE. Therefore, receiving passing grades in the practicum seminar and on the practicum supervisor’s evaluation does not guarantee a passing grade on the CCE.
Description and Procedures for Successful Completion of the Clinical Competency Exam
As the Capstone Project for the practicum experience, students submit a tape of a counseling session with a client from the practicum site, a transcript of 30 minutes of the counseling session (including a verbatim, a description of counseling skills used and the reason for their use, an evaluation of each intervention including a better option if needed, and an evaluation of the impact of the intervention on the client), a clinical case report, a theory paper, and a self-evaluation paper.
Students receive clear instructions on how to complete each of these assignments, along with multiple opportunities to practice these assignments, during the practicum experience. The CCE tape cannot have been previously submitted earlier, either for the site or for the program, for review, supervision, or critique. The CCE is graded as “Pass,” “Remediate,” or “Fail.” Students are evaluated on their fund of knowledge regarding the foundations of professional counseling, the ability to manage an interview, the ability to arrive at an accurate diagnosis and dynamic formulation, the ability to develop a theoretically supported treatment plan, the ability to carry out theoretically grounded intervention strategies which promote positive movement in the client, and the ability to evaluate their own work and abilities. Feedback from the Practicum Site supervisors regarding the above will also be included in the CCE.
In the event that remediation is necessary, students will be given the opportunity to respond to specific faculty feedback. In the event that a student fails the examination, he/she will be guided on how to remediate the exam. The Clinical Training Committee, in consultation with the initial examining faculty member, will recommend a program of remediation to address concerns noted in the CCE. Should the student be unable to complete the remediation for any reason, he/she will be referred to the Clinical Training Committee and then the Student Professional Development Committee for disposition, with one option being dismissal from the program.
Course/Credit Transfer
For information about course/credit transfers, please refer to section seven, “Academic Policies and Procedures .”
Program Requirements
Course Requirements
The MA in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program requires the satisfactory completion of 51 semester credit hours. Following is a list of required courses:
Year One Course Requirements—Students Are Required to Take the Following
Year One Course Requirements—30 Credit Hours
Year Two Course Requirements—Students Are Required to Take the Following
Year Two Course Requirements—21 Credit Hours
Additional Practicum Requirements
To be eligible for a practicum, a student must have successfully completed or transferred the following courses:
The program has the discretion to make recommendations to the director of Clinical Training and/or the program chair on any fully admitted probationary student who is beyond the first year of attendance. This recommendation would include the student activities of both application for practicum and participating in practicum. If a first-year student is placed on probation based on fall semester grades, the student may not apply for a practicum during the spring semester. If spring grades then indicate that the student has raised his or her GPA to 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, the student, at the discretion of the director of Clinical Training may look for a practicum. A first-year student who has been accepted at a practicum site may participate in practicum only if he or she raises the GPA to 3.0 before practicum begins.
Recommended Course Sequence for the Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling Psychology Degree Program
Student progress through the program is intended to be sequential. Certain courses are offered to first-year students that are designed to provide a theoretical and practical foundation for courses that will follow in subsequent years. Students must satisfy all stated prerequisites for a course before registration for that course can be considered official (see below). The MA in Counseling Psychology/ Marriage & Family Therapy degree program recommended course sequence is noted on the following page:
Summer Semester (7 weeks)
Summer Semester (7 weeks)
Note:
* Prerequisites for practicum.
† Counseling Skills I (PC6104 ) is required as a prerequisite for this course.
‡ Maladaptive Behavior and Psychopathology (PC6005 ) is required as a prerequisite for this course.
§ Theories in Counseling Families and Individuals (PC6230 ) is a prerequisite for this course.
**Introduction to Psychological Testing (PC6240 ) is a prerequisite for this course.
MA in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy Degree Program Course Prerequisites
Course Number and Title | Prerequisite |
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy Degree Program—Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area
Program Overview
The Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Therapy degree program has been designed to educate and train students to function effectively as a licensed Marriage Family Therapist (MFT). The MA in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program faculty provides students an educational program designed to provide the necessary theoretical and practical elements that will allow them to be effective members of a mental health team. Curriculum and practicum field experiences introduce to basic counseling skills that integrate individual and group theoretical foundations of counseling psychology into appropriate client interaction and intervention skills and contributes to the development of competent and ethical master’s level practitioners.
Students who are admitted into the MA in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program will be responsible for completing the program requirements that are in effect at the time of their admission. Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area retains the right to modify these requirements in accordance with the demands of the profession. Coursework and degree requirements must be completed in the order specified.
Enrollment Requirements
Students in the MA in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program enroll for 9 credit hours for the first five of six semesters. This policy does not apply to students who elect to do the practicum after completing the coursework. Students should complete the coursework in a lock-step sequence. Any student who wishes to take a course or courses out of sequence must have permission from the program chair.
Additional Requirements 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. Any student who receives two grades of “F” in the first nine courses will be dismissed from the program. 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 others, and learn from them
- Actively contribute to the education of others
Suggested Incremental Time Frame Completion Rates
Students must complete the program within five years after matriculation. Those who take an approved temporary withdrawal 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 minimum amount of work that a full-time student must complete by the end of each year in the program following matriculation to successfully complete the program appears below. Curriculum changes may result in a change in the completion schedule. Students are required to complete 51 credit hours within five years after matriculation. The suggested incremental maximum time frame requirements are listed below:
Suggested Incremental Time Frame Completion Rates
|
| End of Year One |
12 credit hours |
| End of Year Two |
24 credit hours |
| End of Year Three |
36 credit hours |
| End of Year Four |
46 credit hours |
| End of Year Five |
51 credit hours |
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Incremental maximum time frame requirements are not a replacement for the specific program sequencing and enrollment requirements, which may be stricter than the incremental maximum time frame requirements.
Student Evaluation and Grade Sheets
Faculty members are required to submit a Grade Sheet for each student enrolled in a course no later than eight days from the last day of the course. Each student will receive an individual copy of his/her Grade Sheet. Student Grade Sheets are placed in the student’s academic file and retained there. They are also distributed to the Student Services Department.
Additional Graduation Requirements
In addition to the stated requirements, students must successfully complete
- All program requirements within five years of matriculation into the program
- The Comprehensive Examination no later than the end of the fourth year
- The Clinical Evaluation Conference (CEC)
Program Requirements
The MA in the Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program requires the satisfactory completion of 51 semester credit hours distributed as follows: required courses, 45 credit hours; and practicum and practicum seminar requirements, 6 credit hours.
Required Courses —Students are Required to Take the Following
Required Courses—45 Credit Hours
Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements — Students are Required to Take the Following
Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements – 6 Credit Hours
Practicum Experience
The practicum is the primary mechanism of applied training and evaluation of students. Practicum training is the supervised out-of-class contact of students with a clinical population that takes place within a mental health delivery system. The purpose of the practicum training is to provide the environment and opportunity for students to pply their theoretical knowledge, to implement and develop clinical techniques based on this knowledge, and to foster the professional and personal attitudes important to the identity of a professional counselor. Evaluation of student progress in practicum training focuses on three areas: theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional attitudes.
The foundation of Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area student practicum training in counseling psychology is the accurate assessment and understanding of human clinical problems; this assessment and understanding is the basis for the recommendation and/or implementation of effective techniques for the alleviation or resolution of these problems within a climate of absolute respect for the client. Ethical standards of the American Psychological Association and/or the American Counseling Association are incorporated into student training.
Clinical orientations, specific treatment options and opportunities, and client populations will vary across training sites. In addition, the faculty and curriculum represent major clinical orientations. Students are encouraged to explore and experiment with a variety of treatment approaches. It is hoped that with time and experience, students will recognize strengths and limitations of a variety of approaches and develop proficiency in formulating and working within an approach best suited to their personal style.
The Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area administration closely monitors academic and clinical development during all stages of progress throughout a student’s graduate career. This monitoring includes assessment of clinical suitability as well as academic achievement. Thus, aspects of student’s personal adjustment, interpersonal relationships, and behavior in all settings are relevant to their progress at Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area. Argosy University’s aim is to assure that students are well qualified and have potential to become competent and ethical professionals.
A primary goal of Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area practicum training is the development, by means of supervised direct client contact, of competent clinicians that are able to deliver basic and effective assessment and therapeutic intervention skills. The refinement of criteria for clinical competency and assessment of competency are ongoing institutional concerns.
The practicum is a required training experience of at least 600 hours, which takes place during the academic year, usually beginning in September and usually concluding in June. Students spend 12–20 hours per week in an agency/program that is formally affiliated with the school. All students enrolled in practicum are concurrently enrolled in a practicum seminar, led by a faculty member that meets throughout the academic year. The practicum must include at least 150 hours of face-to-face client contact, with appropriate clinical supervision as set forth by the Board of Behavioral Sciences of the State of California.
The practicum is treated as a course which carries 3 credit hours per semester and 6 credit hours for the academic year. No student may be waived from the practicum requirements. Students who come to Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area with extensive clinical backgrounds are placed in practicum sites in areas where they have an interest and do not have previous experience.
The entire practicum takes place at a single agency. Of the students overall practicum hours per week, an average of 3–7 hours are spent in “direct service” and the remaining hours are spent in “indirect service” and “training activities.”
Definitions
Practicum hours are divided between three types of work:
- Direct Service—Providing face-to-face psychological services to individuals designated as clients by the agency/program, and co-therapy with senior mental health staff.
- Indirect Service—Community outreach, consultation and/or education, program development and/or evaluation, and support services (e.g., report writing, record maintenance)
- Training Activities—Formal individual or group supervision, case conferences, case management/utilization review meetings, rounds, administrative/planning meetings, in-service training/seminars.
Restrictions
Students may not train in settings in which they are employed. Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area cannot provide compensation to the agency for the supervision and/or training of students. The entire practicum takes place at a single agency.
Practicum Prerequisites
In order for students to apply for practicum they must be in good academic standing (GPA=3.0 on a scale of 4.0) and have completed the academic planning which will allow for all practicum prerequisite courses to be completed prior to the beginning of the practicum. Students must also have been in attendance at Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area for a minimum of three semesters before beginning practicum.
The following courses must be completed prior to beginning practicum training.
Professional Liability Insurance
All students enrolled in practicum must be covered by professional liability insurance. Students purchase this insurance through Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area. This is mandatory even if the student is otherwise insured. Payment for insurance is made through the Student Services Department at the time of practicum registration.
Student Responsibilities
Students are expected to:
- Act in reliable, ethical, and appropriately professional ways in all practicum activities including timeliness, notification of absences, permission for vacation, and other professional responsibilities
- Develop and maintain good working relationships with staff and clients
- Maintain an attitude of openness to self-examination and new learning
- Advise training director of any difficulties encountered at the practicum; to seek advisement and consultation in a timely manner with seminar leaders or with the training director when any concern exists
- Review evaluations with site supervisor and submit the evaluations to the training director prior to the end of each semester
Practicum Seminar
All students enrolled in a practicum must also concurrently attend a practicum seminar. The seminar meets bi-weekly throughout the practicum year and is headed by a faculty member. Students are required to submit case presentations (including audio or video recordings of clinical work and self-evaluation) for group analysis and critique. This allows students to reflect on various practicum experiences, and to acquire additional skills and attitudes useful in field training. The specific content and emphasis of the seminar varies according to the practicum setting, the focus of the enrolled student group, and the professional expertise of the faculty member.
Practicum Evaluation
The goal of the practicum is to focus the training of competent counselors capable of providing basic and effective counseling and therapeutic supervision. Evaluation of student progress in practicum training focuses on three areas: theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional attitudes. Refinement of criteria for clinical competency and assessment of competency are ongoing institutional concerns. Students are evaluated in writing by the training site supervisor once each semester. The Training Department conducts a thorough review of site and seminar evaluations, and an overall grade of “Credit” or “No Credit” is assigned by the director of Training. Upon successful completion of the master’s-level practicum experience, students should be able to assume clinical responsibilities at an entry level under the supervision of a licenses professional counselor or a licensed psychologist.
Practicum Application Procedure
Students who are eligible to apply for a practicum will be notified in writing and invited to attend a series of meetings designed to provide site information and guide them through the application process. During the fall semester, each student will meet with the training director for assistance in selecting an appropriate site and preparing a curriculum vita. Students are expected to call selected sites and schedule interviews with the utmost professionalism and ethical conduct. Verbal acceptance of an offer is viewed as a contractual agreement. After accepting an offer, students should notify other sites of their withdrawal from candidacy, and inform the training director of the acceptance, and any rejections of placement offers or withdrawals from candidacy.
Practicum Contracts
The student, Argosy University, and the training site enter into a contractual relationship in which the student’s delivery of service and other relevant activities within the training arrangement are exchanged for clinical supervision, exposure to clinical populations and professional role models, case management supervision, and participation in other professional activities such as rounds, staffing and seminars. Once acceptance of a student training has been agreed upon, a contract is completed and signed by the student, site supervisor and the training director. The signed form must be delivered to the program chair’s office by the end of the first week of the practicum experience in order to receive evaluation and credit.
Practicum Training Sites
Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area provides assistance in locating a wide variety of approved clinical field sites for practicum experience. Primary treatment experiences offered in current sites affiliated with the school include individual adult therapy, individual adolescent or child therapy, couples therapy, family therapy and group therapy.
Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area places high priority on fulfilling the training needs of students with particular interests in a clinical area or setting. The current list of approved practicum sites includes mental health facilities, outpatient clinics, private psychiatric hospitals, hospital psychiatric units, schools, treatment centers for the developmentally disabled, behavior disordered and/or emotionally disturbed, and chemical dependence treatment programs. Students who wish to participate in a practicum setting not currently offered should contact the training director who will make an effort to establish formal relationships with suites that can provide the training and supervision required.
Any faculty member or student can suggest a potential practicum site to the training director. Selection criteria includes the facility’s use of the practitioner model of training graduate level counseling psychology students, i.e., emphasis on the acquisition of clinical skills, relevant treatment population, credentials of staff and size (registration, licensure, accreditation, etc.), and availability of adequate supervision by experienced clinicians. If a suggested site can provide the type of practitioner training and supervision required by the program, it is granted provisional approval by the program chair. Full approval is granted after a student has successfully completed a practicum and both the agency and the program chair determine that it has been a positive experience for the student and the facility.
Policy on Practicum Training Sites with Creedal Statements
Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area has a policy of nondiscrimination against students with regard to race, age, ethnic background, and sexual orientation. In addition, we are committed to fostering the training of individuals who are members groups, which are currently under-represented in the profession. Practicum sites approved by Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area are expected to conduct selection and training in a nondiscriminatory manner. Sites are expected to select applicants without regard to race, sex, age, ethnic background, or sexual orientation unless they have compelling legal or therapeutic reasons for limiting the applicant pool. Sites which have a selection policy that disallows students, based on any of the above criteria, must notify the school and clarify the legal and/or therapeutic rationale for such policies. Such sites will be approved by Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area only if the director of training in consultation with the department head determines that an adequate legal and/or therapeutic rationale exists for the selection policies.
Comprehensive Examination Requirements
Students in the MA in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program are required to successfully complete a Comprehensive Examination. Students must pass the Comprehensive Examination no later than the end of the fourth year after entering the program. The material covered by the Comprehensive Examination reflects all coursework and material required for students in the program. The examination requires students to be able to integrate the material into a form that demonstrates both mastery of the materials and ability to organize information in a coherent and logical manner.
Comprehensive Examination Prerequisites
To be able to sit for the Comprehensive Examination, students must be in the last semester of coursework. Courses that are waived are considered successfully completed. Students taking the Comprehensive Examination must be in good standing and have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0. An application to take the exam must be submitted to the program chair at least one month prior to the date of the examination.
Comprehensive Examination Procedures
The Comprehensive Examination is offered during the last semester of practicum seminar. Students who register to sit for the Comprehensive Examination are reviewed for eligibility by the program chair. Prior to each exam, an open meeting will be held to allow students an opportunity to ask questions about exam preparation and exam procedures. The format of the examination may change from year to year.
The format will be discussed at the meetings prior to each exam.
Students are required to:
- Consult the program chair for specific dates of the examination.
- Submit an application for the Comprehensive Examination. It is the individual student’s responsibility to know when he or she is eligible to take the exam and submit an application.
Students who need special accommodations during the examination are required to submit a request in writing at the time of application and provide any necessary documentation with the request.
Grading of the Comprehensive Examination
Examinations are evaluated by a faculty member. Comprehensive Examination essays are graded following written guidelines. Each essay must receive a grade of “B” or better to receive a grade of “Pass.” If an essay receives lower than a “B,” a grade of “Fail” will be assigned for the examination. Decision by the graders is final.
Should a failing grade be assigned to an examination, a second faculty reader will be asked to evaluate the examination. If both readers agree, the student will fail the examination. If the second reader assigns a passing grade, the two readers will meet in order to discuss and reconcile any discrepancy in the grades. If necessary, a third reader will be asked to evaluate the examination.
Students who fail the Comprehensive Examination are expected to meet with the program chair or appointed faculty to review the problems evident in the essay. The program chair, in consultation with the faculty readers, will advise the student of specific areas of weakness and possible strategies for remediation. The student will then be allowed to retake the examination one time within the time frame of program completion.
A student who fails the Comprehensive Examination a second time will be reviewed by the Student Professional Development Committee (SPDC).
After completion of required remediation, student may be eligible to retake the examination. A student who fails the Comprehensive Examination a third time will be automatically dismissed from the program.
Clinical Evaluation Conference Requirements
The Clinical Evaluation Conference (CEC) normally takes place during the third practicum seminar. The CEC evaluates the growth and development of clinical competency, in accordance with the standards of Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area, and ensures acquisition of the appropriate skill levels for subsequent supervised clinical practice. The CEC assesses competency in assessment, case formulation, and treatment planning and implementation. This requirement is accomplished through an in-class (practicum seminar) presentation of a treatment session and an accompanying presentation of the assessment, case formulation, course of treatment, and a critique of the treatment session chosen for the CEC. Students must choose a session not previously presented in seminar.
During the CEC the student’s competency and development of clinical skills are evaluated in accordance with Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area standards. Successful completion of the CEC assures that the student has attained the appropriate skill level to begin subsequent supervised clinical practice.
Recommended Course Sequence for the Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy Degree Program
The program allows students to enter in any semester. While most students enter in the fall semester and will follow the sequence outlined below, students who enter in the spring semester will complete the first-year spring and summer semester courses and then complete the first-year fall semester courses before beginning the second year with the second-year spring semester courses. Students entering in the summer semester will follow a similar pattern of completing all first-year courses before beginning the second year. Following is the program sequence for the MA in Counseling Psychology/Marriage & Family Therapy degree program for students entering in the fall semester.
Summer Semester (7 weeks)
Summer Semester (7 weeks)
Course/Credit Transfer
The maximum number of credit hours or courses eligible for transfer in the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology degree program is 9 credit hours, three courses. The following courses may not be waived at Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area:
Students who wish to petition for a course transfer should refer to “Course/Credit Transfer ”.
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