Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology

The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology prepares students for careers as counselors within the field of mental health and leads to eligibility to obtain licensure as a mental health counselor and to practice within that scope of practice. Students planning to practice in other states will need to determine whether the program meets the requirements for licensure in that state, as state scope of practice and licensing requirements vary. This two-year graduate program emphasizes a whole-person approach to wellness and healing that is grounded in the biopsychosocial model of health psychology.

Expected Learning Outcomes

The educational objectives of the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology are focused on the education and training of our graduates. We support our graduates in becoming:e awareness, knowledge and skills necessary to work with those different from oneself across a wide range of social identities.

  • Knowledgeable about human growth and development, including theories of both individuals and groups that support optimal development across the lifespan; and proponents of the knowledge that wellness and wholeness are about more than alleviation of pain and suffering and are deeply rooted in love, joy, self-actualization and a life truly worth living.
  • Skilled in the practice of mental health counseling with both individuals and groups, including the development of the therapeutic relationship, assessment and clinical interventions, all informed by theory and research.
  • Able to access and critically assess published research in counseling and psychology based on an understanding of statistics and research design.
  • Qualified to pass national and state counseling exams.

Admissions

For general information on the admissions process, refer to the Admissions section in this catalog. Exceptional candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Qualified applicants will be invited to campus for an interview.

Prerequisites

Entering students must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university with an average GPA of 3.0 or higher in their undergraduate degree and an introduction to psychology course with a 3.0 or better in the last seven years.

Admission to Clinical Training

To enroll in the Clinic Experience series, students must have successfully completed all prerequisites based on the requirements outlined and must have met the criteria for professional competence and ethical behavior. Students are also required to pass a national criminal background check (see the Academic Policy and Procedure Manual for more information) and must show proof of completion of the clinical preparation checklist prior to the first scheduled clinic experience.

Graduation Requirements

MACP students must complete a minimum of 93 credits and must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. MACP students must complete their degree within five years following matriculation into the program. A graduation requirement of the MACP program is that students must complete 750 hours of supervised counseling work (including hours in counseling classes such as clinical experience, clinic shift, external practica or other approved courses). In addition to the didactic and clinical experience, MACP students are required to complete 10 hours of individual counseling or therapy sessions during the first year of the program and before Clinic Experience I. Counselors must be licensed psychologists, marriage and family therapists, or mental health counselors. Documentation of these hours is required.

Exit Exam

Successful completion of a clinical competency exit examination is a requirement for students in the second year of the MACP. This examination tests the minimal knowledge and skills required to perform mental health counseling with diverse clients. The examination does not cover the whole curriculum and cannot substitute for any part of regular course requirements. Students are eligible to schedule the exit exam if they are in good academic standing, have completed or are concurrently registered for all required (non-elective) courses by the end of the term in which they want to take the exam, and are making satisfactory progress in the practicum.

Expected Competencies

Students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in their graduate coursework. Bastyr graduates are qualified to provide exceptional counseling services to individuals and institutions and contribute positively to the mental health education of the community. Students are expected to stay on track with the counseling curriculum. Students who wish to go off track must have permission from the department chair.

The curriculum tables that follow list the tentative schedule of courses each quarter.

Year I

Summer

PS5401Mind-Body Approaches to Health Psychology

3

PS5402Fundamentals of Counseling I: Relationship and Interview

4.5

Total Credit Hours:7.5

Fall

PS5102Biopsychosocial Approaches and Complementary and Alternative Medicine

4

PS5126Lifespan Development

4.5

PS5127Professional Orientation, Ethical and Law Proseminar

4.5

Total Credit Hours:13

Winter

PS5106Statistics

4

PS5128Multiculturalism, Diversity and Social Justice

4.5

PS5403Fundamentals of Counseling 2: Theory and Practice

4.5

PS5800Clinical Preparation

0.5

Total Credit Hours:13.5

Spring

PS5303Psychopathology

4.5

PS5304Trauma Counseling

4.5

PS5410Theory and Practice of Group Counseling

4.5

PS5803Clinic Experience 1

2

Total Credit Hours:15.5

Year II

Summer

PS6304Substance/Chemical Addictions

4.5

PS6312Counseling Chronic and Terminal Illness

3

PS6804Clinic Experience 2

2

Total Credit Hours:9.5

Fall

PS6112Family Systems

4

PS6205Theory and Practice of Counseling Assessment

4.5

PS6805Practicum and Practicum Seminar 1

3

Total Credit Hours:11.5

Winter

PS6103Research Methods and Program Evaluation

4.5

PS6114Career Counseling

4.5

PS6806Practicum and Practicum Seminar 2

3

Total Credit Hours:12.0

Spring

PS6115Psychology of Human Sexuality

3

PS6333Psychopharmacology

4.5

PS6807Practicum and Practicum Seminar 3

3

PS6000Exit Exam

0

Total Credit Hours:10.5

Total Requirements: Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (MACP)

Total Core Course Credits 79.5
Clinic/Intern Totals 13.5
Total Requirements 93.0

Curriculum and course changes in the 2018-2019 Bastyr University Catalog are applicable to students entering during the 2018-2019 academic year. Please refer to the appropriate catalog if interested in curriculum and courses required for any other entering year.