Counseling Psychology Masters of Education (Ed.M.)
Program Description
The Master's Program (60 credit hours) can be completed full-time or part-time. The full-time program takes two years and the part-time program takes three years. Students choose a track soon after acceptance into the program.
The Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) approves the State Certification Program and the Master’s Program in Counseling Psychology. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has given approval for the master’s program, which provides State Certification for school counselors.
In general, the Program enrolls about 70 master's students at any given time.
Program Strengths
Highlights and Strengths of our Program include:
- Full-Time (usually takes two years to complete) or Part-Time (usually takes three years to complete)
- All Full-Time Faculty are also practicing Licensed Psychologists.
- Most Part-Time faculty are licensed as well.
- Multicultural Competence/Cultural Awareness woven into every course
- We are one of the oldest programs in the country to require a Multicultural Counseling course in order to graduate.
- State-of-the-Art Clinical Training
- Our Psychoeducational Clinic houses 11 counseling rooms equipped with hidden cameras to digitally record role-plays to review in class.
- 24 Semester Hours of Clinical Training (The most hours in the tri-state area!)
- Unique "Developmental Arc" of Clinical Training
- Students begin with Counseling Psychology experiential “Labs” in their first year, progress to Practica experiences in the summer of their first year, then move into their Internship during their second year (and third year for Part-Time students).
- Experiential Components incorporated into most courses
- Individualized Attention (clinical courses are limited to 10 students)
- Our program strongly believes that in order to be an effective counselor it is necessary for students to know themselves; that is, it is important that you understand your own strengths and areas for growth.
- Because counseling is an interpersonal process with considerable influence and power, each student is evaluated continuously for development toward mature, ethical and professional behavior.
- The Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) approves the State Certification Program and the Master’s Program in Counseling Psychology.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has given approval for the master’s program, which provides State Certification for school counselors.
Program Requirements
Required Core Courses
| Course Number | Title |
|---|---|
| CN PSY 5492 | Theories of Counseling Psychology |
| CN PSY 5519 | Group Counseling |
| EDUC 5325 | Introduction to Statistics and Research |
| CN PSY 5526 | Multicultural Counseling |
| ED PSY 5541 | Concepts in Human Development |
| CN PSY 5565 or CN PSY 5566 |
Professional Issues in Diverse School Settings (School Track) or Professional Issues in Agencies (Agency Track) |
| CN PSY 5579 | Introduction to Couples and Family Therapy |
| CN PSY 5591 | Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling Psychology |
| CN PSY 5593 | Career Counseling and Development |
| CN PSY 5511 or CN PSY 5691 |
Counseling in the Schools (School Track) or Diagnosis in Counseling Psychology (Agency Track |
| CN PSY 5694 | Introduction to Assessment |
| CN PSY 5698 | Counseling Psychology Laboratory I |
| CN PSY 5699 | Counseling Psychology Laboratory II |
| CN PSY 9387 | Practicum in Counseling Psychology I |
| CN PSY 9387 | Practicum in Counseling Psychology II |
| CN PSY 9185 and CN PSY 9085 | Master's in Cn Psy Internship (2 semesters) Advanced Counseling Techniques (FT Students) (2 Semesters) (Internship Experience = 12 credits total) |
| CN PSY 9285 | Master's in Cn Psy Internship (PT Students) (4 semesters) (Internship Experience = 12 credits total) |
| One 3-credit elective. |
View the full-time students course schedule.
View the part-time student course schedule.
Access the Graduate School Course Catalog for descriptions of all Counseling Psychology Master's Program courses at: www.temple.edu/gradcourses/educ/gsc_d01932.htm
Comprehensive Examination:
The comprehensive examination is designed to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to integrate and apply both their didactic and practice-oriented academic experiences.
- Exam Timetable -
- Students are eligible to complete the comprehensive examination after all of the required coursework has been completed.
- The comprehensive examination is given during the spring semester each year.
- Exam Subject -
- Students are given one broad question to respond to in a 4-hour period of time.
- Questions are designed to assess a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as legal and ethical issues.
- Exam Scoring -
- Faculty members independently score each examination response using a 5-point Likert scale.
- All responses are scored anonymously.
- Students who fail the written aspect of the examination must successfully complete an oral examination in order to pass the comprehensive examination component of the program.
- Students are allowed two attempts to pass the comprehensive examination.
Supervised Field Experience
Supervised field experience (school or community mental health agencies) provides "hands-on" training in which the role of the counselor in a multicultural society can be personally and professionally explored. The master's degree is awarded upon successful completion of the program. This requires:
- Maintaining a satisfactory grade point average.
- A student must meet the standards of academic proficiency required by the Temple University Graduate School
- Academic dismissal will result if a student obtains three letter grades below a B- or two grades of F.
- Student disclosure of personal information.
- The program strongly believes that in order to be an effective counselor it is necessary to know yourself.
- That is, it is important that you understand your own strengths and areas for growth.
- While in the program, students are strongly encouraged to seek out their own personal counseling to work through their own issues and to experience the therapeutic relationship from the client’s perspective.
- Many courses in the program, particularly the clinical ones (i.e., Counseling Psychology Lab I & II, Practicum I & II, and Internship) often explore students’ values, personal beliefs and “blind spots.”
- These areas can include, but are not limited to the following:
- 1) Relationships with parents, peers, and spouses/partners;
- 2) History of abuse;
- 3) Issues around sexuality; and
- 4) Past psychological treatment.
- Continuing to develop satisfactorily both in personal and professional competencies
- Because counseling is an interpersonal process with considerable influence and power, each student is evaluated continuously for development toward mature, ethical professional behavior.
- Because counseling is an interpersonal process with considerable influence and power, each student is evaluated continuously for development toward mature, ethical professional behavior.
- Demonstrating appropriate professional behavior through attitudes toward and beliefs about people that indicate respect, tolerance, and acceptance of a variety of human characteristics such as race, culture, gender, sexual orientation,and presenting concerns.
- Also, students must demonstrate appropriate emotional responses to clients and overcome any personal issues that prevent them from mastering the necessary counseling skills.
- Failure to behave in an appropriately professional manner may result in dismissal from this program.
- Passing a comprehensive examination.
- During the semester in which the student is finishing all required coursework (i.e., non-electives), the student must complete and pass a special examination designed to demonstrate an integration of their learning experiences.
- This examination must be completed using a word processing program on either a Mac or PC computer.
- Basic computer mastery (i.e., word processing, Windows operating system), therefore, is required by the time the student takes his/her comprehensive examination.
- During the semester in which the student is finishing all required coursework (i.e., non-electives), the student must complete and pass a special examination designed to demonstrate an integration of their learning experiences.
Full-Time Program Requirements
- Students take 12 credits per semester (4 courses)
- Students take 6 credits (2 courses) per each of two summer sessions
- Students begin Internship in the fall semester of their second year
- Students entering the full-time program are responsible for completing required coursework and the Internship
- The combination of coursework and internship is particularly challenging during the second year of their program
- Required coursework plus two days per week of internship activities during the Fall semester
- Required coursework plus three days per week of internship activities during the Spring semester
- Students enrolled in the full-time program are often employed part-time to fund their education
- Students should solicit the support of their employer to allow them flexibility to complete the required academic/training hours
THE FULL-TIME PROGRAM USUALLY TAKES TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE
Part-Time Program Requirements
- Students take 6 credits (2 courses) per semester and per summer session
- All classes begin at 5:30pm (although summer courses may begin at 4:00pm and/or 7:00pm)
- The part-time program is designed solely for those individuals who must work full-time
- Part-time students enroll in an Internship section which allows them to spread their supervised field experience over four semesters
THE PART-TIME PROGRAM USUALLY TAKES THREE YEARS TO COMPLETE
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the master’s program, applicants must possess either of the following:
- An undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, or
- Three courses in the Counseling Psychology Master’s program as a nonmatriculated student with a 3.50 GPA or better.
Submitting Your Graduate School Application Materials
See the Application Checklist for complete details on how to submit your application materials. Required supplemental materials should be sent attention to:
Graduate Programs Office
Attn. Application Processing
Temple University - College of Education
150 Ritter Annex
1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6091
Please allow delivery and processing time before your application will be reviewed. For faster service, the College of Education at Temple University also receives supporting application materials for graduate admissions electronically via the Interfolio service.
How Applications Are Reviewed
The Master’s Admission Committee of the Counseling Psychology Program will subject the application materials to an initial screening. In reviewing each application, certain review criteria apply:
- Evidence of work experience and/or volunteer public service relevant to professional development in counseling psychology.
- Evidence of intra- and inter-personal skills (or potential for the development of such skills) as indicated in the personal and career statements submitted in support of the application.
- Evidence of analytical skill and aptitude for graduate level academic work as measured by the Miller Analogies Test or GRE.
- Evidence of aptitude for graduate level academic work as determined by graduate and undergraduate grades, especially work in the major and in prerequisite psychology courses.
Applicants who pass the initial application screening will be invited for a group interview with members of the faculty between February and April. The interviews will be used to obtain additional data related to admissions criteria (e.g., clarify questions raised by the candidate's application) and to assess the communications skills that are associated with success in counselor training
