Counseling Psychology MEd

Prepare for a career in a variety of settings as a mental health counselor or certified school counselor with Temple University’s Master of Education (MEd) in Counseling Psychology. Students acquire the assessment and therapeutic skills necessary to work with diverse populations. Learn to facilitate intrapersonal growth and support well-being across the lifespan with individuals, groups and systems.

At Temple University, we embrace diversity and prioritize multicultural competence and humility, and we have a strong commitment to social justice values. Our program fosters an inclusive learning environment where students develop the necessary skills to serve diverse populations with sociocultural awareness. You will be empowered to advocate for equitable access to mental health and educational resources.  

Students must select one of our two concentrations—Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling—each tailored to meet the specific licensure and certification requirements in Pennsylvania. 

Career Preparedness

Small classes foster direct, collaborative relationships with full-time faculty, instructors and classmates. The Counseling Psychology MEd provides ample opportunities for experiential training, culminating in a semesterlong practicum experience and a yearlong internship experience. Skills development components are also integrated into most courses.  

Amidst its core values is the program understanding that to be an effective counselor it is necessary for students to know themselves—that is, to understand their own strengths and areas for growth and to consider how their personal and professional experiences connect with their understanding of mental health and wellness. Engaging in reflective practice and receiving regular feedback across contexts is done to integrate this value in supporting the development of counselors-in-training.   

What sets apart the Counseling Psychology MEd at Temple?

• Curriculum: Knowledge, skills and awareness related to multicultural competence and cultural humility are woven into every course.

• Faculty experts: Faculty are credentialed professionals and bring real-world experience into the classroom.

• Real-world training: Extensive experiential training through 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship, supervised by experienced professionals in diverse settings. 

• Location: Deep ties to the Philadelphia community supports students’ preparation to work in diverse settings. 

Program Outcomes

Students will graduate with the following training and skill sets. 

• Develop a multicultural orientation: Exhibit a deep understanding of and sensitivity to diverse identities, committing to counseling practices that are culturally responsive. 
• Be prepared to achieve professional licensure or certification: Meet the educational requirements for licensure as a licensed professional counselor or certification as a certified school counselor in Pennsylvania, with opportunity to pursue similar credentials in other states.  
• Apply evidence-based practices: Utilize evidence-based counseling techniques across a range of client concerns, including relational issues, mental health disorders and systemic challenges. 
• Engage in social justice-oriented counseling: Approach counseling from a social justice perspective, working to explore and address inequities within mental health and educational settings. 
• Exhibit professional and ethical standards: Operate with the highest levels of professional, ethical and legal standards in all counseling practices. 

Classes & Curriculum

Choose to complete the MEd on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time students generally complete the program in two years and part-time students usually finish in three years. 

The clinical training component of the Counseling Psychology MEd follows a unique progression. Students begin with a counseling psychology experiential fundamental skills course in their first year, progress to practicum experiences in the spring or summer semester during their first year, and then move into an internship during their second year (or second and third year, respectively, for part-time students). Learn more about the internship components of the curriculum. 

Related Graduate Degrees

• School Psychology EdS
• School Psychology PhD