Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology - 60 Credits

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Contact Information

Recruitment Counselor: Christine Vandenberg ext. 2071
Contact Phone: +1 (877) 236-4723
Email: graduateadmissions@centenarycollege.edu
Program Advisor: Dr. Harriet Gaddy ext. 2119

About Our Program

The Counseling Psychology course is a 60 credit program structured to promote student appreciation for the role of the professional counselor, to develop a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of counseling, and acquire mastery of the skills inherent to the program. This program meets the prerequisites for completion of the National Counselor Examination and the criteria for the New Jersey Professional Counselor Licensure.

Graduates of this program will

Gain a thorough understanding of and competence in the practice of individual and group counseling
Acquire an appreciation for the role of the counselor in society and an understanding of the ethical and legal responsibilities associated with that role
Acquire a comprehensive understanding of the theories of adaptive and maladaptive human behavior and their applicability to assessment and promotion of improved human functioning
Develop competency in the design, conduct, and evaluation of counseling research; and acquire professional skills
Acquire extensive practical experience in counseling under supervision in appropriate field settings.

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Admission Requirements

Completed application
Bachelors Degree in Psychology
Original transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Personal Statement
Minimum GPA 2.5
No GRE required

Applicants with an undergraduate degree in another discipline will be required to complete the following undergraduate psychology courses.
- Introduction to Psychology
- Personality Theory and Assessment
- The Psychology of Abnormal Behavior
- Quantitative Measurement in Psychology and Education
Original transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Personal Statement
Minimum GPA 2.5
No GRE required

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Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology - Program Requirements

Comply with the academic policies and procedures of Centenary College.
Complete the program's 60 perscribed graduate credit hours
Maintain a cumulative grade point average of "B" (3.0) or better for courses completed for the degree.
Complete a residency requirement consisting of minimally 51 credit hours at Centenary College
Comple the program within 6 years from the date of initial enrollment
After completing a total of 24 credits and as a prerequisite for engagin further graduate study, successfully pass the comprehhensive assessment consisting of a review and evaluation of student academic performance, clinical competencies, and demonstrated professionalism.
Demonstrate throughout the program course study of behavior consistent with the American Psychological Association Code of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct, and the National Board for Certified Counselors Code of Ethics.

Counseling Theory and Practice		(12 credits)
GPY 501	Counseling: The Profession	3 credits
GPY 505	Counseling Theory & Practice I	3 credits
GPY 506	Counseling Theory & Practice II	3 credits
GPY 510	Clinical Interviewing	3 credits

Counseling Groups		(6 credits)
GPY 520	Group Dynamics I	3 credits
GPY 525	Counseling Consultation	3 credits

Research, Evaluation and Assessment		(9 credits)
GPY 541	Statistical Analysis	3 credits
GPY 544	Research Methods in Counseling	3 credits
GPY 546	Diagnostic Assessment	3 credits

Development, Behavior and Diversity		(12 credits)
GPY 561	Human Growth & Development	3 credits
GPY 562	Social & Cultural Foundations of Behavior	3 credits
GPY 566	Personality Theory	3 credits
GPY 568	Maladaptive Behavior I	3 credits

Counseling Specialization		(9 credits)
GPY 584	Life Span Counseling	3 credits
GPY 586	Career Counseling	3 credits
GPY 588	Counseling Diverse Populations	3 credits

Field Experience		(6 credits)
GPY 601	Field Experience I	3 credits
GPY 602	Field Experience II	3 credits

Selected Electives		(6 credits)
GPY 521	Group Dynamics II	3 credits
GPY 530	Marriage and Family Counseling	3 credits
GPY 569	Maladaptive Behavior II	3 credits
GPY 582	Crisis Intervention	3 credits
GPY 590	Substance Abuse Counseling	3 credits
GPY 592	Psychopharmacology	3 credits

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Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology - Course Descriptions

GPY 501	Counseling: The Profession	3 credits
	This course introduces the student to counseling as a profession. Students will acquire an understanding of the historical development of the counseling profession, the role of the counselor and human services in society, and the legal, ethical and psychological implications associated with the practice of the profession.
GPY 505	Counseling: Theory and Practice I	3 credits
	This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of the individual counseling process. Students will gain an appreciation for counseling as a process and acquire the skills necessary for planning, implementing, and evaluating this process. A focus on the person-centered theory of counseling as a model for the helping relationship is emphasized through an integration of theory with practice.
GPY 506	Counseling: Theory and Practice II	3 credits
	Prerequisite: GPY501 and GPY505 This course introduces the student to the cognitive behavioral theory of individual counseling. Students will acquire an understanding of this counseling model and develop practical skills in its implementation. An integration of theory with practice is promoted through a 30 hour supervised practicum experience.
GPY 510	Clinical Interviewing	3 credits
	Prerequisite: GPY505 This course introduces students to the practice of clinical interviewing as an assessment process for initial client contact. Students will develop skills in fostering client cooperation, addressing negative reactions, taking a life history, making behavioral observations, setting interview parameters, and summarizing findings.
GPY 520	Group Dynamics I	3 credits
	The student will be introduced to the historical development, fundamental concepts, and theories of small group counseling. The development of basic group counseling skills is emphasized and acquired with a supervised practicum experience.
GPY 521	Group Dynamics II	3 credits
	This advanced course in group counseling is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to more fully develop and expand the skills acquired in Group Dynamics I through in-depth participation under supervision in ongoing group experiences.
GPY 525	Counseling Consultation	3 credits
	This course introduces the student to the role of the counselor as consultant. Students will develop psychological self-awareness and an appreciation for their influence on the quality of professional communication and relations, acquire an understanding of the principles of effective individual and group communication, and develop the sills of effective interpersonal communication, problem definition, interpretation, and consultation. An integration of theory with supervised practice is emphasized.
GPY 530	Marriage and Family Counseling	3 credits
	The student will be introduced to the major theoretical approaches to counseling couples and families. The development of an appreciation of the family as an interdependent system and the acquisition of systemic intervention strategies are emphasized.
GPY 541	Statistical Analysis	3 credits
	Prerequisite: One Undergraduate Course in Statistics for Permission of the instructor. This course provides the student with a conceptual and practical understanding of the application of statistics to the description and analysis of counseling-related research. Topics include the use of descriptive statistics and such inferential statistics as t test, correlation, analysis of variance and multiple regression.
GPY 544	Research Methods in Counseling	3 credits
	Prerequisite: GPY541 This course provides the student with an understanding of the application of basic research methodologies in counseling research. Practical experience in the design, conduct and evaluation of research is emphasized.
GPY 546	Diagnostic Assessment	3 credits
	Prerequisite: GPY566 This course combines a focus on psychological measurement with a thorough examination of the use of tests and measurement in Counseling. The student will gain an understanding of psychometric theory within the context of a survey of a variety of objective and projective methods for the assessment of personality and clinical disorders.
GPY 561	Human Growth and Development	3 credits
	This course is designed to introduce the student to the principal theories of human development from the prenatal to late adulthood stage. The relevance of developmental change in cognition, affect, and behavior are explored with respect to their relevance to an understanding of client behavior.
GPY 562	Social and Cultural Foundations of Behavior	3 credits
	This course introduces the student to the fundamental concepts and theories of the effect of culture, socialization, and context on the nature of human behavior. A focus on specific issues concerning race, ethnicity and gender is maintained.
GPY 566	Personality Theory	3 credits
	This course is designed to provide the student with an in-depth understanding of human behavior from the perspective of major theories of personality. The application of such theories to the appreciation of client behavior is emphasized. Topics include the cognitive, psychodynamic, humanistic, and trait and factor theories.
GPY 568	Maladaptive Behavior I	3 credits
	This course is designed to introduce the student to the current Classification of psychological disorders. Students will acquire an Understanding of the etiology and treatment of such disorders while Developing skills in their diagnosis and recognition.
GPY 569	Maladaptive Behavior II	3 credits
	Prerequisite: GPY568 or Permission of Instructor This course is designed to introduce the student to the current classification of psychological disorders and the understanding of the etiology and treatment of disorders not examined in maladaptive Behavior I. The development of skills in diagnosis and recognition of substance related, cognitive, and adjustment disorders first diagnosed in infancy, childhood or adolescence are emphasized.
GPY 582	Crisis Invervention	3 credits
	This course introduces the student to crisis counseling as a specialized form of brief counseling employed in emergency situations for the purpose of reestablishing individual functioning. Students will become acquainted with the concept of a crisis, a variety of frequently occurring crises and models of crisis intervention. Practical application of theory under supervision is emphasized.
GPY 584	Life Span Counseling	3 credits
	This course introduces the student to the application of the counseling process to issues and problems related to the developmental transitions from childhood through adolescence to late adulthood The emphasis in this course is to assist the student in acquiring an appreciation or the nature of the problems related to life span transitions and developing a repertoire of relevant fundamental prevention and intervention counseling strategies.
GPY 586	Career Counseling	3 credits
	This course is designed to acquaint the student with the theories of counseling related to career development and occupational choice. Topics include theories of career and vocational development, use of tests and interest inventories in career counseling, and the use of educational and occupational information in career development and selection.
GPY 588	Counseling Diverse Populations	3 credits
	This course sensitized the student to the unique influence of group membership in the issues clients bring to counseling. Topics include a central emphasis on multicultural counseling with additional attention on the influence of client gender, disability, age and sexual orientation on the practice of counseling.
GPY 590	Substance Abuse Counseling	3 credits
	This course introduces the student to the theory and practice of counseling clients with substance-induced and related disorders. Students will develop a familiarity with the diagnostic criteria for substance dependence and the current theories and models of etiology and intervention.
GPY 592	Psychopharmacology	3 credits
	This course is designed to promote student familiarity with the principles and variety of psychopharmacologic treatments for Psychological disorders. Topics will include a survey of the most commonly prescribed medications including the antidepressants, antipsychotics, antianxiety, and mood stabilizers.
GPY 601	Field Experience I	3 credits
	Prerequisite: Completion of All Required Courses or Permission of Instructor This course provides students with the opportunity to participate under supervision in the actual practice of counseling in an appropriate community institutional, or organizational setting. The field experience component of this course will consist of a minimum of 500 hours during a maximum period of 15 weeks. an integration of theory with experience will be emphasized in the academic component of this course.All students will be required to obtain Student Liability Insurance.
GPY 602	Field Experience II	3 credits
	Prerequisite: GPY601 This course is designed to provide students with an additional opportunity to participate under supervision in the practice of counseling in an appropriate community, institutional, or organizational setting that may be similar of different from that utilized in GPY601. The filed experience component of this course will consist of a minimum of 500 hours during a maximum period of 15 weeks. An integration of theory with experience will be emphasized in the academic component of this course. All students will be required to obtain Student Liability Insurance.