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Counseling, MC

Counseling, MC


CAREERS, Community, Diversity, Latina/o, Mental Health, Psychology, Wellness, clinical, counseling, helping

Prepare for licensure as a professional counselor while gaining cultural competencies that enable you to serve clients in a diverse society.

Program description
Degree awarded: MC  Counseling

The MC program in counseling is approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (https://www.azbbhe.us/node/553).

The mission of the 60 credit hour program is to prepare students to become licensed professional counselors in Arizona and other states with comparable licensure requirements.

Students in the Master of Counseling program, with its strong focus on multicultural counseling across the life span, learn to promote the health of individuals, families, groups and organizations in a diverse society.

Faculty research and clinical foci include:

  • advocacy
  • children and adolescents
  • counseling process and outcome
  • couple and family relationships
  • crisis assessment
  • culturally responsive treatment
  • mental health disparities
  • nonbinary stress and resilience
  • play therapy

The program instills in students the importance of research in advancing the counseling profession. The crucial link between science and practice is evident in the three complementary functions of the program's state-of-the-art Counselor Training Center: clinical service provision, high-quality training, and innovative process and outcome research.

The Master of Counseling program endorses the American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics and the following American Counseling Association competencies: ALGBTIC Competencies for Counseling LGBQIQA Individuals (2012), Competencies for Counseling the Multiracial Population (2015), Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (2015), Competencies for Addressing Spiritual and Religious Issues in Counseling (2009) and Multicultural Career Counseling Competencies (2009).

At a glance
Degree requirements

60 credit hours and a thesis, or
60 credit hours and a written comprehensive exam

Required Core (39 credit hours)
CED 501 Introduction to Research and Evaluation in Counseling (3)
CED 522 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy (3)
CED 523 Psychological Tests (3)
CED 529 Lifespan Human Development (3)
CED 534 Occupations and Careers (3)
CED 545 Assessment and Diagnosis (3)
CED 567 Group Dynamics and Counseling (3)
CED 576 Foundations of Counseling (3)
CED 577 Counseling Prepracticum (3)
CED 645 Professional Issues and Ethics (3)
CED 671 Multicultural Counseling (3)
CED 672 Couple and Family Counseling (3)
CPY 673 Trauma in Counseling (3)

Electives or Research (6 or 12 credit hours)

Other Requirements (9 credit hours)
CED 680 Practicum: Clinic (3)
CED 684 Internship: Counseling (6)

Culminating Experience (0 or 6 credit hours)
CED 599 Thesis (6) or
written comprehensive exam (0)

Additional Curriculum Information
Students choose either a thesis or written comprehensive exam pathway. The written comprehensive exam is for students in the practitioner pathway, and they take 12 credit hours of elective coursework. The thesis option is for students who are focusing their program on research, and they take six credit hours of research coursework plus six credit hours of thesis.

The clinical portion of the program comprises CED 680 Practicum: Clinic and CED 684 Internship: Counseling. These are required for all students. CED 580 Practicum Clinic and CED 584 Internship may be taken by students who need to log required clinical hours after they have completed CED 680 and CED 684. CED 580 and CED 584 are not required unless additional clinical hours are needed.

Admission requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or they must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

  1. graduate admission application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. two- to three-page personal statement
  4. at least two, and a maximum of three, letters of recommendation
  5. proof of English proficiency

Additional Admission Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. This program requires a TOEFL iBT score of at least 100.

Finalists may be invited to submit supplemental materials in support of their application, including video recordings of their responses to a set of questions. Applicants will be provided with more information about these materials during the review process.

Nonacademic, Professional or Life Experiences:
Applicants are required to submit a two- to three-page personal statement (12 pt. Times New Roman font with 1" margin, double-spaced) that indicates their qualifications (e.g., professional experiences and personal attributes) and interest in ASU's MC program. Specifically, applicants are asked to describe how their education and training, as well as volunteer and professional experiences, inform why they want to pursue the Master of Counseling degree. They also should outline how the program will help them meet their future goals. Applicants are expected to discuss their ability to work with and be sensitive to the needs of a multicultural and diverse society, including members of diverse racial and ethnic groups and sexual minority individuals.

Recommendations:
At least two, and at most three, recommendation letters are required. These should be from persons able to evaluate the applicant's academic potential (e.g., faculty member) and professional or volunteer experience (e.g., a supervisor). Applicants are discouraged from asking for recommendations from individuals or acquaintances who have not overseen their professional, volunteer or academic work.

Students should see the program website for application deadlines.

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Attend online
ASU Online

ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.

Application deadlines
SessionModalityDeadlineType
Session A/CIn Person 01/03Final
Career opportunities

Graduates provide clinical services in a range of settings, such as community agencies, hospitals, private practice and university counseling centers. The program also prepares graduates who wish to pursue doctoral-level studies.

Professional licensure

ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.

Graduates of the Master of Counseling program meet the requirements for licensure as a professional counselor with the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. Because requirements vary by state, students should consult the licensing requirements for the state in which they intend to reside.

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is WRGP (Western Regional Graduate Program)?
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.

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