May 15, 2025

2012-2013 Argosy University Academic Catalog—Graduate Programs | Volume 3, Issue 6

2012-2013 Argosy University Academic Catalog—Graduate Programs | Volume 3, Issue 6 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology Degree Program—Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area

Program Overview

The Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling Psychology degree program offered by Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area is designed to prepare students for licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT) and Professional Clinical Counseling (LPCC). The program embraces a range of relevant theory and techniques. Curriculum and practicum field experiences emphasize basic counseling skills that integrate with individual and systems/group theoretical foundations in the field of counseling psychology.

Eligibility for Licensure

Graduates of the MA in Counseling Psychology/ Marriage & Family Therapy degree program are eligible to pursue licensures in California as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC). 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 LMFT and LPCC. For more information and application materials related to LMFT and LPCC 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.

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 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	48 credit hours
End of Year Five	60 credit hours

Graduation Requirements

Students enrolled in the MA in Counseling Psychology degree program are eligible for graduation when the following requirements are met:

Successful completion of 60 credit hours that includes:
- 54 credit hours of core course requirements
- 6 credit hours of practicum requirements
Earned grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0)
Successful completion of the Counseling Psychology Competency Examination (CPCE)
Successful completion of all program requirements within five years of matriculation into the program
Completed Petition to Graduate Form submitted to campus administration

Program Requirements

Students enrolled in the MA in the Counseling Psychology degree program are required to successfully complete 60 credit hours distributed as follows: core requirements, 52 credit hours; and practicum and practicum seminar requirements, 6 credit hours. In addition to course requirements and practicum, students are required to successfully complete the Counseling Psychology Competency Examination (CPCE).

Core Course Requirements —Students are Required to Take the Following

Core Course Requirements—54 Credit Hours

Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements — Students are Required to Take the Following

Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements – 6 Credit Hours

Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements

Practicum

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 apply 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 marriage and family therapist. Evaluation of student progress in practicum training focuses on three areas: theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional attitudes. Liability insurance is included in the cost of the practicum.
Please see the MA in Counseling Psychology Degree Program Training Manual pertaining to the practicum application process and practicum procedures.

Practicum Seminar

All students enrolled in a practicum must also concurrently attend a practicum seminar. The seminar meets once a month throughout the practicum year and is headed by a faculty member. Students are required to submit case presentations (including, if possible, audio or video recordings of clinical work) and self evaluations 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.

Counseling Psychology Competency Examination Requirements

Students enrolled in the MA in Counseling Psychology degree program at Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area (AUSFBA) are required to successfully complete a comprehensive examination, entitled the Counseling Psychology Competency Examination (CPCE). The CPCE process is managed by the Counseling Psychology Training Office (CPTO) and reviewed by the Counseling Psychology program chair. Students must pass the CPCE prior to graduation within the maximum time allotted to complete the program. The material covered by the CPCE reflects program coursework required of students in the program. The examination tests students’ knowledge and application of course material.

Recommended Course Sequence for the Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling Psychology Degree Program at Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area

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. The MA in Counseling Psychology degree program recommended course sequence for Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area can be obtained from the program chair.