Degree Program
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
An emphasis is offered in the following:
- Marriage and Family Therapy
- Professional Clinical Counseling
- Child and Adolescent Counseling
Admissions Requirement
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better for the last 60 units of college or post-baccalaureate work
- A Bachelor's degree from an accredited university
- A completed application portfolio to Graduate Admissions, an essay indicating qualifications for the program, official transcripts from all college-level coursework including official verification of the awarding of degrees, and three letters of recommendation that attests to the candidate’s ability to undertake graduate studies
- Program Interview
- Evidence of qualities and character in keeping with the philosophy and standards of this University and Benerd Education Programs
Master’s Oral Competency Examination
A final oral examination, conducted by program faculty, is held in accordance with the deadline established by the university. This oral exam concerns itself with assessing program outcomes. Supplemental information is available in student handbooks.
Licensing
The emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy is designed to prepare students with the graduate education to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Similarly, the emphasis in Professional Clinical Counseling is designed to prepare students with the graduate education to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). The graduate education is one step in the licensing process; therefore, students should review licensure requirements set forth by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Doctoral Units
Students who take PsyD courses at part of a MA degree completed at Pacific may count those units towards their PsyD.
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
The Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling Psychology requires a minimum of 32 units, of which 18 units must be in courses 200 or above and from the Benerd College, with a Pacific cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Based upon state and federal laws, additional units and requirements may be necessary for those students electing to earn a credential, certification or license along with the graduate degree. Students interested in earning a credential, certification or license should work closely with their advisor and the credential staff. The requirements of some concentration options may also be guided by external standards that direct completion of specified courses and achievement of specific learning outcomes.
I. Core
| (15 units) | ||
| CPSY 370 | Techniques of Research | 3 |
| CPSY 371 | Statistical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| CPSY 328 | Theories of Multicultural Family Therapy and Collaboration | 3 |
| CPSY 320 | Psychotherapeutic Interventions | 3 |
| or CPSY 321 | Psychotherapeutic Interventions for Children and their Caregivers | |
| CPSY 355 | Psychological Assessment | 3 |
II. Field Experience
| (2-6 units) | ||
| CPSY 394 | Counseling Practicum | 1-6 |
| CPSY 396 | School Psychology Fieldwork | 1-3 |
III. Capstone Experience
Students will be required to complete a capstone experience (e.g., oral exam, portfolio, thesis, action research project and/or written comprehensive exam). The capstone experience will be determined within each concentration. For students who do not elect to earn a concentration, their advisor will select an appropriate capstone experience.
IV. Emphasis
Students may elect to pursue an emphasis in one or more specific areas. To earn an emphasis, students must fulfill the general requirements listed above as well as specific concentration requirements listed below. A single course may be used to fulfill requirements in two or more concentrations, but the units will not count twice.
| Marriage and Family Therapy | ||
| Select 41 units of the following: | ||
| CPSY 303 | Nature and Conditions of Learning | 3 |
| CPSY 302 | Introduction to Counseling | 1 |
| CPSY 327 | Theories of Multicultural Couples Therapy | 3 |
| CPSY 305 | Advanced Human Development Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| CPSY 306 | Advanced Human Development I | 3 |
| CPSY 307 | Advanced Human Development II | 4 |
| CPSY 308 | Advanced Human Development III | 2 |
| CPSY 325 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 340 | Consultation Methods | 3 |
| CPSY 322 | Advanced Psychotherapeutic Interventions | 3 |
| CPSY 310 | History and Systems in Psychology | 3 |
| CPSY 313 | Law and Professional Ethics for Mental Health Professionals | 3 |
| CPSY 363 | Psychopathology and Wellness Promotion | 3 |
| CPSY 360 | Neuropsychology | 3 |
| CPSY 316 | Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Professionals | 3 |
| CPSY 333 | Abuse and Crisis Intervention for Families | 3 |
| CPSY 337 | Alcoholism and Chemical Substance Abuse Dependency | 3 |
| CPSY 317 | Human Sexuality | 1 |
| Or any Special Topics course (CPSY 393) | ||
| Professional Clinical Counseling | ||
| Select 40 units of the following: | ||
| CPSY 303 | Nature and Conditions of Learning | 3 |
| CPSY 302 | Introduction to Counseling | 1 |
| CPSY 305 | Advanced Human Development Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| CPSY 329 | Career Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 325 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 332 | Crisis Intervention | 3 |
| CPSY 340 | Consultation Methods | 3 |
| CPSY 322 | Advanced Psychotherapeutic Interventions | 3 |
| CPSY 313 | Law and Professional Ethics for Mental Health Professionals | 3 |
| CPSY 363 | Psychopathology and Wellness Promotion | 3 |
| CPSY 360 | Neuropsychology | 3 |
| CPSY 316 | Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Professionals | 3 |
| CPSY 334 | Spousal and Partner Abuse, Detection, and Intervention | 1 |
| CPSY 337 | Alcoholism and Chemical Substance Abuse Dependency | 3 |
| CPSY 335 | Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting | 1 |
| CPSY 317 | Human Sexuality | 1 |
| Or any Special Topics course (CPSY 393) | ||
| Child and Adolescent Counseling | ||
| Select 16 units of the following: | ||
| CPSY 303 | Nature and Conditions of Learning | 3 |
| CPSY 374 | Program Evaluation | 3 |
| CPSY 305 | Advanced Human Development Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| CPSY 325 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 332 | Crisis Intervention | 3 |
| CPSY 340 | Consultation Methods | 3 |
| CPSY 301 | Introduction to School Psychology | 1 |
| CPSY 310 | History and Systems in Psychology | 3 |
| CPSY 313 | Law and Professional Ethics for Mental Health Professionals | 3 |
| CPSY 363 | Psychopathology and Wellness Promotion | 3 |
| CPSY 350 | Behavior Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| CPSY 351 | Academic Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| CPSY 358 | Behavior and Personality Assessment | 3 |
| CPSY 360 | Neuropsychology | 3 |
| CPSY 333 | Abuse and Crisis Intervention for Families | 3 |
| Or any Special Topics course (CPSY 393) | ||
Learning Outcomes
- Counseling – Students will be able to and apply major theories of mental health counseling and psychotherapeutic techniques to individuals, groups, and families, with diverse needs.
- Assessment – Students will be able to administer and interpret results from major assessment instruments and use assessment findings to diagnose mental health problems and inform treatment plans.
- Cultural Competency – Students will be able to interrogate structures of power from the standpoint of cultural inheritance and critically reflect upon their own cultural biases.
- Research – Students will be able to locate appropriate resources of and critically evaluate psychological research literature.
- Self-Reflection – Students will be able to reflect on their professional strengths and weaknesses and develop plans to grow professionally.
