Sep 16, 2024

2024-2025 SGPP Catalog and Student Handbook

Counseling and Psychological Services, M.A.

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Program Description

The Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychological Services prepares graduates for professional work in counseling, psychotherapy, and other psychological services. The program is designed to help students meet the educational requirements for Minnesota licensure for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC). Master’s level students enrolled in the M.A. in Counseling & Psychological Services Program have the option to apply to the Psy.D. Program as an early entry student (see specific requirements outlined by the PsyD program). If accepted into the Psy.D. Program, students then transition to the doctoral program and finish out their master’s degree within the doctoral program, using courses from both the master’s and doctoral programs combined

Program Aims

The M.A. in Counseling & Psychological Services program is based on a practitioner scholar model where students will:

Aim 1: Integrate evidence based research and theory into the practice of counseling and other psychological services.
Aim 2: Develop an awareness and appreciation of the complexity of individuals and work within an ethical and compassionate framework.
Aim 3: Prepare to work in applied counseling and psychological service settings and be eligible to pursue professional counselor licensure.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychological Services program are expected to be able to do the following:

Effectively utilize professional written, verbal, and non verbal communication with clients and other professionals.
Demonstrate knowledge of individual, historical, and cultural differences and utilize cultural humility in all professional activities.
Conduct client diagnostic assessments, formulate accurate diagnoses, and develop corresponding treatment interventions.
Apply and integrate scientific research in the practice of counseling psychology.
Uphold and maintain ethical and legal standards associated with the practice of counseling psychology.
Incorporate supervision and consultation into practice and ongoing professional development.
Apply knowledge of counseling theories and evidence based practices in case conceptualization and treatment.
Demonstrate professional values, attitudes, and behavior in interpersonal and interdisciplinary relationships.

Program Competencies

The M.A. in Counseling & Psychological Services program seeks to train students at the master’s level in two broad areas:

Discipline-specific knowledge: This area represents the broad base of core knowledge required of graduates and includes affective bases of behavior, biological bases of behavior, and cognitive, developmental, and social aspects of behavior. Additionally, the program covers consumption of research, research related to practice, and psychometrics.

Profession-wide competencies: This area includes the development of competencies at the master’s level within the field of counseling and psychology specifically integrating evidence based research findings into practice, relying on ethical and legal standards, incorporating an understanding of individual and cultural diversity, and integrating professional values, attitudes, and behaviors, communication and interpersonal skills, assessment, intervention, supervision, and consultation.

Program Structure and Delivery

Courses in Minneapolis and Rochester are delivered primarily in a blended format, integrating in person classroom meetings and online activities or interactions. Courses offered in the remote-only cohort are delivered via a combination of online synchronous (via Zoom) and asynchronous class sessions. All locations include several courses that are offered in a fully asynchronous online format.

Students complete a supervised practicum experience in a counseling or mental health setting under direct supervision as part of the degree requirements. This experience consists of a minimum of 700 hours, usually two semesters of 350 hours each, with a practicum supervision seminar class taken at the same time.

Degree Requirements

Required Core Courses	42 cr.
Required Practicum Courses	6 cr.
Required Elective Courses	12 cr.
Total	60 cr.

Required Core Courses: 42 cr.

Required Practicum Courses: 6 cr.

The student completes a supervised practicum experience in a counseling or mental health setting under direct supervision. This experience consists of a minimum of 700 hours, usually two semesters of 350 hours each. A practicum seminar class must be taken concurrently.

Practicum Completion Courses: 1-3 cr.

Students who need additional time to complete their practicum hours may be required to take one or more of the following courses:

Dual Enrolled Practicum Courses: 6 cr.

MPY students dually enrolled in MPY and ADS programs register in the following sequence of practicum courses, consisting of a minimum of 880 hours, two semesters of 440 hours:

Required Elective Courses: 12 cr.

Degree seeking students may select any combination of elective course offerings to complete the 12 credits of required electives for degree completion. Non-degree seeking students may take any of the following courses to help meet licensure requirements.

Additional Elective Course Options

Students may enroll in courses numbered 500 - 599 in the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy program or any course in the Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies program to fill the elective requirement. Students must seek permission from the program directors in the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy or Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies program to enroll in these courses.

Direct Admit and Early Entry Option to Counseling Psychology, PsyD program

For those interested in the Direct Admit or Early Entry options to the Counseling Psychology PsyD program, please see additional information and admission requirements in the Counseling Psychology PsyD course catalog under the Counseling Psychology, Psy.D. section

Requirements for both M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services and Addiction Studies Graduate Certificate

For those students seeking both the M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services and Addiction Studies Certificate please see the dual program requirements.

Counseling and Psychological Services, M.A. and Addiction Studies Graduate Certificate

Professional Licensure

Students should be aware that licensure requirements vary from state to state, are subject to change periodically, and may include educational or degree requirements, work experience, background checks, character and fitness qualifications, fingerprinting and other requirements. Students are responsible for confirming licensure requirements prior to enrolling in any Saint Mary’s program. More information can be found at https://www.smumn.edu/professional-licensure, which includes a program contact at Saint Mary’s.

Faculty

The majority of the faculty members and advisers for the Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychological Services program have earned doctorate degrees. The MPY program values having a faculty that represents variety and collaboration across mental health disciplines. As such, our faculty also is representative of different educational levels and licensure types. Faculty members are selected for their educational and professional experience and expertise.

Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply for admission to the Minneapolis location for a fall, spring or summer semester start. Applications to the online location are only accepted for a fall semester start. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and have maintained an overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. Applicants who did not have an undergraduate degree in psychology or a similar area must have taken a general psychology course at the undergraduate level or they must take a general psychology course prior to starting the program or concurrently with the MPY600 class. Applicants must also demonstrate the language proficiency necessary for successful graduate coursework. Applicants complete an interview with a program staff member as part of the admission process.

Application Process

Applicants must submit the following:

Completed application form with the nonrefundable application fee (fee not required for alumni or students seeking readmission or veterans and active military personnel), and
An official transcript(s) issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. (An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution. Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course by course basis by a university accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards). Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted.
An admissions essay addressing the following questions in 500 words or less:
1. What are your career goals and how would a master’s degree in Counseling and Psychological Services help you meet your goals?
2. Why are you interested in Saint Mary’s Counseling and Psychological Services MA program specifically?
3. What location are you interested in attending and why?
4. What will make you a successful graduate student in our program?
Three letters of recommendation that verify professional and/or volunteer experience and academic ability; and
A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.
Applicants with international transcripts may require an English language proficiency exam (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or MELAB accepted.)

Please Note: Application materials should be sent to the attention of the Office of Admission on the Minneapolis Campus.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Office of Admission
2500 Park Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404

Winona Campus

Twin Cities Campus

Rochester Locations

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