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 Program 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:
- 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.
Clinical Training
The core of the program’s clinical training takes place at Bastyr Center for Natural Health, the University’s teaching clinic. Bastyr Center is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary clinic providing quality training for students in all of the University’s programs. The clinical training program begins in the first year and is comprised of two rotations. Clinical entrance requirements include the following (details can be found in Student Clinician Handbook): completed PS5800 Clinic Entry; completed TB screening; received hepatitis B vaccination or titer or waiver; completed online HIPAA, BBP and safety training; submitted confidentiality form, Washington state patrol check and national background check; and current CPR (Basic Life Support). The criminal background check will be conducted prior to enrolling in clinical shifts. For more information, see Felony Conviction Disclosure and Background Checks in the Academic Policy and Procedure Manual, in the Student Policies and Procedures section of MyBU on Sharepoint. These requirements will be explained during PS5800 Clinic Entry. Documentation of completion of these requirements will be submitted in PS5800.
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 1. 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
| PS5401 | Mind-Body Approaches to Health Psychology | 3 |
| PS5402 | Fundamentals of Counseling 1: Relationship and Interview | 4.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 7.5 |
Fall
| PS5102 | Biopsychosocial Approaches and Whole Person Healing | 4 |
| PS5126 | Lifespan Development | 4.5 |
| PS5127 | Professional Orientation, Ethical and Law Proseminar | 4.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13 |
Winter
| PS5106 | Statistics | 4 |
| PS5128 | Multiculturalism, Diversity and Social Justice | 4.5 |
| PS5403 | Fundamentals of Counseling 2: Theory and Practice | 4.5 |
| PS5800 | Clinical Preparation | 0.5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13.5 |
Spring
| PS5303 | Psychopathology | 4.5 |
| PS5304 | Trauma Counseling | 4.5 |
| PS5410 | Theory and Practice of Group Counseling | 4.5 |
| PS5803 | Clinic Experience 1 | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15.5 |
Year II
Summer
| PS6304 | Substance/Chemical Addictions | 4.5 |
| PS6312 | Counseling Chronic and Terminal Illness | 3 |
| PS6804 | Clinic Experience 2 | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.5 |
Fall
| PS6112 | Family Systems | 4 |
| PS6205 | Theory and Practice of Counseling Assessment | 4.5 |
| PS6805 | Practicum and Practicum Seminar 1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 11.5 |
Winter
| PS6103 | Research Methods and Program Evaluation | 4.5 |
| PS6114 | Career Counseling | 4.5 |
| PS6806 | Practicum and Practicum Seminar 2 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12.0 |
Spring
| PS6115 | Psychology of Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PS6333 | Psychopharmacology | 4.5 |
| PS6807 | Practicum and Practicum Seminar 3 | 3 |
| PS6000 | Exit 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 2020-2021 Bastyr University Catalog are applicable to students entering during the 2020-2021 academic year. Please refer to the appropriate catalog if interested in curriculum and courses required for any other entering year.