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M.A. in Counseling & Psychological Services

Program Overview

The Master of Arts Program in Counseling and Psychological Services prepares graduates for professional work in counseling, psychotherapy, and other psychological services. It is designed to enhance the student's understanding of the complex nature of human behavior and social interaction, and to develop tools for assessing human problems and assisting individuals in developing greater understanding and acceptance of themselves and their relationships with others. Graduates work in a wide variety of settings applying their education.

Program Structure

The program is designed to help students meet the educational requirements for Minnesota licensure for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). In addition coursework is offered for the educational requirements for Minnesota Licensure for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC). Students planning to seek licensure with the Minnesota Board of Psychology after earning a doctorate can work toward some of their educational requirements in the master's program.

The core of this 48 credit program consists of six required courses which total 18 semester credits. Beyond the core students take courses in assessment, counseling, ethics, social psychology, psychophysiology, and near the end of the program, do a practicum. A variety of electives is offered. Students may take electives from several other related master's degree programs such as Marriage and Family Therapy, Human Development and Education.

A maximum of six graduate semester credits earned prior to admission at Saint Mary's University may be accepted as transfer credits upon the recommendation of the program director/site coordinator and the approval of the academic dean.

Program Delivery

The program is offered on the Twin Cities campus and in Rochester. Core classes are also offered at our Minnetonka site. For the convenience of students, many of whom work, most classes are offered in the evenings. Classes often have fewer than 25 students. Sections of some classes, including core courses are offered during the day including Saturdays. Each class meets once per week. Students may finish the program in two years or may take up to five years if needed.

Related Programs

After completing the core courses, students may choose the M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services or the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy. Saint Mary's also offers a Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy, a Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy and a Doctorate of Psychology in Counseling Psychology. Students planning to seek licensure after earning a doctorate may complete some of their educational requirements in the Master's program.


Locations Admission Contacts
Twin Cities Kristin Branlund-Girod - (612) 238-4520
Rochester Mark Stedman - (877) 768-4545
Minnetonka Ian Pannkuk - (612) 728-5158
 Course Information

    Degree Requirements

    Core Courses: 18 cr.

    PY605
    PY607
    PY608
    PY613
    PY620
    MFT611
    Developmental Psychology
    Theories of Personality
    Psychopathology
    Counseling Theory and Practice
    Statistical Techniques and Research Methods
    Foundations of Family Therapy
    3 credits
    3 credits
    3 credits
    3 credits
    3 credits
    3 credits
     

    Assessment Courses: 7 cr.

    PY621
    PY631
    PY632

    PY633
    Psychological Assessment
    Personality Assessment: Adolescent and Adult
    Child Assessment
    or
    Personnel and Vocational Assessment
    3 credits
    2 credits
    2 credits

    2 credits
     

    Counseling Courses: 8 cr.

    PY604
    PY642
    PY648
    PY665
    Career Counseling
    Group Therapy
    Multicultural Counseling
    Counseling Skills
    2 credits
    2 credits
    2 credits
    2 credits
     

    Additional Required Courses: 9 cr.

    PY575
    PY576
    PY606
    PY625
    Orientation to the Profession
    Social Psychology
    Psychophysiology
    Ethics and Professional Issues
    1 credits
    2 credits
    3 credits
    3 credits
     

    Required Practicum Experience: 4 cr.

    PY695
    PY696
    Practicum I
    Practicum II
    2 credits
    2 credits
     

    General Electives: 2 cr. (minimum)

    See the Elective Courses section.
     

    Integration and Oral Examination

    The final requirements of the program include 1.) a paper in which the students integrates his or her course, practicum, and other professional experience with a review of current professional research literature, 2.) a final one-hour oral examination based upon the integration paper.
     

    Total:
    48 credits
     

    Click on the courses below to expand their descriptions.

  • PY575 Orientation to the Profession of Counseling (1)
  • PY576 Social Psychology (2)
  • PY604 Career Counseling: Theory and Procedures (2)
  • PY605 Developmental Psychology (3)
  • PY606 Psychophysiology (3)
  • PY607 Theories of Personality (3)
  • PY608 Psychopathology (3)
  • PY613 Counseling Theory and Technique (3)
  • PY620 Statistical Techniques and Research Methods (3)
  • PY621 Psychological Assessment (3)
  • PY625 Ethics and Professional Issues in Psychology (3)
  • PY631 Personality Assessment: Adolescent and Adult (2)
  • PY632 Child Assessment (2)
  • PY633 Personnel and Vocational Assessment (2)
  • PY641 Marriage and Family Counseling (3)
  • PY642 Group Therapy (2)
  • PY648 Multicultural Counseling (2)
  • PY665 Counseling Skills and Practice (2)
  • PY695 Practicum I (2)
  • PY696 Practicum II (2)
  • MFT611 Foundations of Family Therapy (3)
 Elective Courses

    A student may elect up to 4 credits from other Saint Mary's University graduate programs, with prior approval of the Program Director. Students may wish to return after graduation to take electives to fulfill course requirements for licensure renewal.

  • HD585 Meditation (1)
  • HD589 Creativity and Self-Renewal (2)
  • HD603 The Therapeutic Use of Imagery for Psychological & (1)
  • HD671 Women's Self-Esteem and Spirituality (2)
  • HD672 Claiming Our Spirituality (1)
  • HD673 Journaling: Life's Companion (1)
  • HD674 Religious and Spiritual Development Through the Li (2)
  • HD683 Theory & Applications of Sport Psychology (1)
  • HD693 Psychological Transformation and the Spiritual Jou (1)
  • HD695 Children of Addiction (1)
  • PY599 Professional Psychological Writing (2)
  • PY600 General Psychology (3)
  • HD629 Exploring Spiritual Life through Literature (1)
  • PY630 Advanced Research Methods (2)
  • HD633 Many Faces of Art: A Psychological Perspective (2)
  • PY643 Humanistic/Existential Counseling Approaches (2)
  • PY644 Cognitive/Behavioral Counseling Approaches (2)
  • PY645 Introduction to Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (2)
  • PY649 Psychology and the Law (2)
  • PY654 Chemical Dependency (2)
  • PY656 Psychopharmacology (2)
  • PY657 Aging: A Behavioral Sciences Perspective (2)
  • PY658 Human Sexuality (2)
  • PY659 Brief Therapy (2)
  • PY660 ntroduction to Play Therapy (2)
  • PY668 Introduction to Correctional Psychology (1)
  • PY669 Advanced Psychopathology (2)
  • PY671 Child Sexual Abuse (1)
  • PY672 Employee Assistance Counseling: Theory and Practic (1)
  • PY673 Clinical Use of Hypnosis (1)
  • PY674 Living with Experiences of Trauma (1)
  • PY675 Clinical Issues: Bereavement (1)
  • PY679 Psychology of HIV/AIDS (1)
  • PY680 Stress Management (1)
  • PY701 Supervising Counselors and Psychotherapists: Theo (1)
  • PY702 Supervising Counselors and Psychotherapists: Clin (1)
  • PY703 Issues, Ethics, & Research in Supervision (1)
  • PY704 Clinical Treatment Planning (2)
  • PY705 Evaluation Methodologies (1)
  • PY706 Writing for Professional Practice (1)
  • PY707 Advanced Multicultural Counseling (1)
  • PLT601 Introduction to Play Therapy (2 cr.)


Program Staff
Counseling & Psychological Services - Adjunct Associate Professor, Master of Arts in Counseling & Psychological Services Program - Program Director
Counseling & Psychological Services - Associate Professor, M A in Counseling and Psychological Services - Professor, Master of Arts in Counseling & Psychological Services Program - Asso
Faculty Image
Counseling and Psychological Services/Marriage and Family Therapy - Program Coordinator