M.A. Counseling

Master of Arts in Counseling (45 unit)

 

Our vision imagines a region and world in which everyone has access to an inspiring education and the psychological tools and support to propel them toward flourishing lives of meaning, purpose and connection.  Our education is characterized by Strong Values, Social Justice, Transformative, Dverse Community.

The 45-unit MA in Counseling program is for students who wish to pursue work in which they will use counseling skills in a non-mental health setting but that still requires a Master’s degree. Examples of such work include career counseling, academic counseling in a college setting, behavioral health counseling in a medical setting, or pastoral counseling as a minister or lay person.  Graduates of this program have found work in a variety of fields, including serving as an academic counselor in the community college system, a career counselor or doing student life work in a wide range of college settings. This degree is also appropriate for students preparing for doctoral work in Clinical, Counseling, or School Psychology. Students in this program also have the option of taking courses centered in one of our emphasis areas.

 

Curriculum & Electives

 

Core Curriculum: 30 units, 10 courses

Elective Options: 15 units

• CPSY 200: Psychology of Interpersonal Communication

• CPSY 212: Psychology of Relationships

• CPSY 216: Psychology of Human Development

• CPSY 218: Theories of Personality and Psychotherapy

• CPSY 220: Research Methods

• CPSY 227: Counseling Process

• CPSY 231: Multicultural Counseling

• CPSY 275: Legal and Ethical Issues

• CPSY 291: Counseling for Grief, Loss and Trauma OR CPSY 320: Substance Abuse

• CPSY 331: Field Experience (1 quarter, focused on professional goals)

 

All other CPSY courses. Courses outside of CPSY in consultation with advisors and in alignment with professional and educational goals.

Students have the option to add an emphasis in Alternative and Correctional Counseling, Health Psychology, Latinx Counseling, or LGBTQ+ Counseling, as outlined in Graduate Bulletin.

Students who plan to seek admission to a PhD program are advised to take multiple quarters of 331 (Field Experience) and to conduct supervised research and complete a formal 6-unit, two MA Thesis (CPSY 399). MA Theses in the MA Counseling program will focus on topics related to Counseling Psychology.