Counseling, MC
Transform your passion for helping others into a profession. Expert faculty, hands-on learning and clinical experiences prepare you for licensure while you gain the competencies to serve people of all ages and backgrounds.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation and professional licensure
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
In the Master of Counseling program, with its strong focus on counseling across cultures, identity and human development, you learn to promote the health of individuals, families, groups and organizations in a multicultural society.
This 60 credit hour program prepares you to become a licensed professional counselor in Arizona and other states with comparable licensure requirements.
This program is approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. https://bbhe.az.gov/applying-licensure/accredited-or-approved-programs
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 you 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 MC 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).
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
60 credit hours and a thesis, or
60 credit hours and a written comprehensive exam
Required Core (39 credit hours) Electives or Research (6 or 12 credit hours) Other Requirements (9 credit hours) Culminating Experience (0 or 6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information The clinical portion of the program comprises CED 680 Practicum: Clinic and CED 684 Internship: Counseling I and CED 684 Internship: Counseling II. These are required for all students. CPY 691 Topic: Counseling in Spanish is also offered as a clinical elective option. 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 both topics of CED 684. CED 580 and CED 584 are not required unless additional clinical hours are needed.
CED 501 Research Evaluation and Data Analysis (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 (Counseling Skills I) (3)
CED 577 Foundations of Counseling (Counseling Skills II) (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)
CED 680 Practicum: Clinic (3)
CED 684 Internship: Counseling I (3)
CED 684 Internship: Counseling II (3)
CED 599 Thesis (6) or
written comprehensive exam (0)
Students choose either a thesis or a written comprehensive exam. The thesis option, available only to on-campus students, is for those whose program is focused on research; they take six credit hours of research coursework and six credit hours of thesis. The written comprehensive exam is for both on-campus and online students in the practitioner pathway; they take 12 credit hours of elective coursework.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Apply theory and frameworks in clinical mental health counseling in the culminating experience as required by the Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) accrediting standards. (Practitioner track)
- Conduct independent research in mental health counseling. (Research track)
- Employ competent clinical skills across the areas of assessment, diagnosis, and counseling/helping relationships in service delivery associated with a counseling placement site.
- Examine the major cultural and diversity influences on human behavior in multimedia course projects.
Apply theory and frameworks in clinical mental health counseling in the culminating experience as required by the Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) accrediting standards. (Practitioner track)
Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
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 a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Admission Information A video submission is required, in addition to the application materials; applicants should see the program website for submission instructions. Nonacademic, professional or life experiences: Applicants are required to submit a two- to three-page personal statement (12 pt. Times New Roman font with one-inch margin, double-spaced) that indicates their qualifications (e.g., professional experiences and personal attributes) and interest in the MC program. Specifically, applicants are asked to describe how their education, training, and volunteer and professional experiences have influenced their decision to pursue the MC degree. They also should outline how the program will help them meet their goals. Applicants are expected to discuss their ability to work with and be sensitive to the needs of a multicultural society, including members of diverse racial and ethnic groups and sexual minority individuals. If the applicant's cumulative GPA is lower than 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A"), the program recommends that the applicant explain in the personal statement how their prior academic difficulties would be overcome in graduate school.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 01/01 | Final* |
| Session A/C | Online | 02/01 | Final* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 08/01 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Graduates provide clinical services in a variety of settings, such as community agencies, hospitals, private practice and university counseling centers. They are also well prepared to pursue doctoral-level studies.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Counseling and Counseling Psychology
|
EDB 446
ccp@asu.edu
480-965-8733
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
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. 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.
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.
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.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
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.
