Counseling Psychology

Master of Science, M.S.

Called to Help Others

Embark on a transformative journey with our Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, tailored for those inspired to blend their calling with their career. Designed to pave your path in diverse settings— from school guidance to community mental health, religious counseling, private practice, and beyond—our program equips you for impactful work in ministry, care facilities, and mental health institutions. With a curriculum that opens doors to licensure and/or certification, prepare to make a meaningful difference across various fields of care and counseling.

School Counseling

Required HOurs

48 semester hours required

PREREQUISITES

Hold a standard teaching license/certificate
Satisfy State requirements for Praxis CORE

OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 48-HOUR SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM

Satisfy State requirements for Praxis II(Guidance & Counseling) by the end of the trimester following successful completion of PSY 573, Fundamentals of School Counseling.

CORE EDUCATION COURSES (9 HOURS)

PSY620 or EDU 620 Introduction to Research or Teacher as Researcher
EDU 640 Curricula Planning
PSY 505 Advanced Developmental Psychology

SPECIALIZED COURSES (27-39 HOURS)

PSY 570 Multicultural Counseling
PSY 575 Use and Interpretation of Tests
PSY 600 Lifestyle and Career Development
PSY 641 Crisis Counseling
PSY 648 Consultation: Theory, Models and Practices
PSY 651 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counseling
PSY 573 Fundamentals of School Counseling
PSY 669 Counseling Skills and Techniques
PSY 698 Internship in Counseling: School (3-12 hours)

ELECTIVE COURSES (12 –15 HOURS)

PSY 506 Dynamics of Personality
EDU 660 Organizational Procedures for Special Education
PSY 601 Orientation to Professional Counseling
PSY 630 Analysis of the Individual
PSY 660 Techniques of Group Counseling
PSY 667 Advanced Theories and Techniques of Counseling
PSY 680 Practicum in Individual Counseling
PSY 665 Behavior Management
EDU 536 Classroom Management
PSY 676 Individual Analysis: The Wechsler Scales
PSY 677 Individual Analysis: The Stanford-Binet
PSY 632 Psychopathology
PSY 699 Thesis, Research and Publication (6 hours)
_______ Elective EDU/PSY course chosen with advisor
_______ Elective EDU/PSY course chosen with advisor

ALTERNATE PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT HOLD A LICENSE

PSY 630, PSY 660, PSY 665 or EDU 536, and a full year internship

Individuals pursuing the alternate route must pass Praxis CORE and II(Guidance & Counseling), by the end of the trimester following successful completion of PSY 573, Fundamentals of School Counseling.

Christian Counseling

Required Hours

60 semester hours required

The 60-hour M.S. in Christian counseling degree is designed for individuals who wish to become licensed professional counselors and practice in a religious setting. The program may lead to licensure and/or certification. No more than nine semester hours may be transferred from other institutions for this program.

CORE COURSES (45 HOURS)

PSY 505 Advanced Developmental Psychology
PSY 570 Multicultural Counseling
PSY 572 Psychological Aspects of Aging
OR PSY 654 Organization and Administration of Senior Services
PSY 601 Orientation to Professional Counseling
PSY 600 Lifestyle and Career Development
PSY 632 Psychopathology
PSY 640 Principles of Christian Counseling
PSY 641 Crisis Counseling
PSY 642 Marriage and Family Counseling
PSY 660 Techniques of Group Counseling
PSY 666 Psychology of Religion
PSY 667 Advanced Theories and Techniques of Counseling
PSY 669 Counseling Skill and Techniques
PSY 680 Practicum in Individual Counseling
PSY 698 Internship in Counseling: Christian (3-12 hours)

ELECTIVES

A minimum of 15 hours of electives in psychology or education must be selected with the approval of the advisor.

PSY 620* Introduction to Research
PSY 651 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counseling
PSY 654 Organization and Administration of Senior Services
PSY 506 Dynamics of Personality
EDU 621 Theories of Learning
PSY 630* Analysis of the Individual
PSY 665 Behavior Management
PSY 648* Consultation: Theory, Models and Practices
_______ Elective to be approved by advisor
_______ Elective to be approved by advisor

* Required for licensure.

Christian Counseling for Ordained Ministers

Required Hours

36 semester hours required

The 36-hour M.S. in Christian counseling is designed for ministers who are exempt from licensure requirements. Only ordained ministers are eligible for the 36-hour program. No more than six semester hours may be transferred from other institutions for the 36-hour program.

CORE COURSES (30 HOURS)

PSY 505 Advanced Developmental Psychology
PSY 667 Advanced Theories and Techniques of Counseling
PSY 600 Lifestyle and Career Development
PSY 640 Principles of Christian Counseling
PSY 641 Crisis Counseling
PSY 660 Techniques of Group Counseling
PSY 666 Psychology of Religion
PSY 669 Counseling Skills and Techniques
PSY 680 Practicum in Individual Counseling
PSY 698 Internship in Counseling: Christian (3-12 hours)

SPECIALIZED COURSES (ELECTIVES -6 HOURS*)

PSY 570 Multicultural Counseling
PSY 572 Psychological Aspects of Aging
PSY 601 Orientation to Professional Counseling
PSY 620 Introduction to Research
PSY 632 Psychopathology
PSY 642 Marriage and Family Counseling
PSY 651 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counseling
PSY 654 Organization and Administration of Senior Services
PSY 506 Dynamics of Personality
PSY 630 Analysis of the Individual
PSY 665 Behavior Management
PSY 648 Consultation: Theory, Models and Practices

Counseling

Required Hours

60 semester hours required

CORE COURSES (54 HOURS)

PSY 505 Advanced Developmental Psychology
PSY 506 Dynamics of Personality
PSY 570 Multicultural Counseling
PSY 575 Use and Interpretation of Tests
PSY 600 Lifestyle and Career Development
PSY 601 Orientation to Professional Counseling
PSY 620 or EDU 620 Introduction to Research or Teacher as Researcher
PSY 632 Psychopathology
PSY 641 Crisis Counseling
PSY 642 Marriage and Family Counseling
PSY 648 Consultation: Theory, Models and Practices
PSY 651 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counseling
PSY 660 Techniques of Group Counseling
PSY 667 Advanced Theories and Techniques of Counseling
PSY 669 Counseling Skills and Techniques
PSY 676 or PSY 677 Individual Assessment: Wechsler Scales or Stanford-Binet
PSY 680 Practicum in Individual Counseling
PSY 698 Internship in Counseling: Clinical (3-12 hours)

ELECTIVES (6 HOURS)

PSY 551 Psychological Statistics
PSY 630 Analysis of the Individual
EDU 640 Curricula Planning
EDU 660 Organizational Procedures for Special Education
PSY 663 Learning Disabilities
PSY 665 Behavior Management
PSY 699 Thesis, Research and Publication
_______ Elective to be approved by advisor
_______ Elective to be approved by advisor

Gerontology

Required Hours

60 semester hours required

CORE COURSES (57 HOURS)

PSY 505 Advanced Developmental Psychology
PSY 506 Dynamics of Personality
PSY 570 Multicultural Counseling
PSY 572 Psychological Aspects of Aging
PSY 574 Case Management
PSY 575 Use and Interpretation of Tests
PSY 600 Lifestyle and Career Development
PSY 601 Orientation to Professional Counseling
PSY 620 or EDU 620 Introduction to Research
PSY 632 Psychopathology
PSY 641 Crisis Counseling
PSY 648 Consultation: Theory, Models and Practices
PSY 651 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counseling
PSY 654 Organization and Administration of Senior Services
PSY 660 Techniques of Group Counseling
PSY 667 Advanced Theories and Techniques of Counseling
PSY 669 Counseling Skills and Techniques
PSY 680 Practicum in Individual Counseling
PSY 698 Internship in Counseling: Gerontology (3-12 hours)

ELECTIVES (6 HOURS)

PSY 551 Psychological Statistics
EDU 640 Curricula Planning
EDU 660 Organizational Procedures for Special Education
PSY 665 Behavior Management
PSY 667 Advanced Theories and Techniques of Counseling
PSY 676 Individual Assessment: The Wechsler Scales
PSY 677 Individual Assessment: Stanford-Binet
PSY 662 Teaching Individuals With Mild Mental Retardation
PSY 699 Thesis, Research and Publication (6 hours)
_______ Elective to be approved by advisor
_______ Elective to be approved by advisor

Child and Adolescent Counseling

Required Hours

60 semester hours required

CORE COURSES (51 HOURS)

PSY 505 Advanced Development Psychology
PSY 570 Multicultural Counseling
PSY 575 Use and Interpretation of Tests
PSY 600 Lifestyle and Career Development
PSY 601 Orientation to Professional Counseling
PSY 620 Introduction to Research
or EDU 620 Teacher as Researcher
PSY 632 Psychopathology
PSY 642 Marriage and Family Counseling
PSY 660 Techniques of Group Counseling
PSY 667 Advanced Theories and Techniques of Counseling
PSY 669 Counseling Skills and Techniques
PSY 676 Individual Assessment: Weschler Scales
or PSY 677 Individual Assessment: Stanford Binet
PSY 680 Practicum in Counseling
PSY 682 Counseling Children and Adolescents
PSY 683 Child Psychotherapy and Play Therapy
PSY 684 Adventure-Based Counseling with Children and Adolescents
PSY 698 Internship in Counseling Child and Adolescent Emphasis (3-12 hours)

ELECTIVES (9 HOURS)

PSY 630 Analysis of the Individual
PSY 641 Crisis Counseling
PSY 651 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counseling
PSY 660 Principles of Christian Counseling
PSY 663 Learning Disabilities
PSY 665 Behavior Management
PSY 666 Psychology of Religion
PSY 506 Dynamics of Personality
_______ Elective EDU/PSY course chosen with advisor
_______ Elective EDU/PSY course chosen with advisor

School Psychometry

Required Hours

48 semester hours required

CORE COURSES (9 HOURS)

PSY620 Introduction to Research
  or EDU 620 Teacher as Researcher
  or COU 621 Research Design and Evaluation
PSY 505 Advanced Developmental Psychology
  or COU 507 Human Growth and Development
EDU 640 Curricula Planning

SPECIALIZED COURSES (21 HOURS)

EDU 660 Organizational Procedures for Special Education
PSY 665 Behavior Management
PSY 575 Use and Interpretation of Tests
or COU 627 School-Based Assessment
PSY 630 Analysis of the Individual
or COU 626 Clinical-Based Assessment
PSY 676 Individual Analysis: The Wechsler Scales
PSY 677 Individual Analysis: The Stanford-Binet
PSY 696 Practicum in School Psychometrics (3-6 hours)

ELECTIVES (18 HOURS)

PSY 648 Consultation: Theory, Models, and Techniques
or COU 650 Collaboration and Consultation
PSY 660 Techniques of Group Counseling
PSY 632 Psychopathology
PSY 663 Learning Disabilities
PSY 662 Psychology of Individuals with Mild Mental Retardation
PSY 641 Crises Counseling
EDU 536 Classroom Management
PSY 699 Thesis, Research, and Publication (6 hours)
______ Elective to be approved by advisor
______ Elective to be approved by advisor

ADDING LICENSURE

Individuals who hold a master’s degree (AA Teacher License) and desire to add psychometry licensure must complete the prescribed program on the following page.

NOTE: The add-on endorsement in psychometry has been suspended on the Hattiesburg campus but is still available on the Tradition campus. All school psychometry endorsement students are advised at the Tradition campus.

Twenty-four hours selected from the courses below. If a teacher has EDU 620 and EDU 640 in their prior degree, a minimum of 18 hours will be required to bring their prior degree (assumed to be 30 hours) up to the 48 hour requirement for a degree in school psychometry. A minimum of 18 hours will be required to add on this endorsement, regardless of prior course work.

PSY 505 Advanced Developmental Psychology
   or COU 507 Human Growth and Development
   or any course(s) which covers the physical, emotional, and social development of the child across the lifespan (example: child and adolescent psychology)

PSY 575 Use and Interpretation of Tests
  or PSY 630 Analysis of the Individual
  or COU 627 School-Based Assessments (a course that covers basic testing procedures)

PSY 620 Introduction to Research
  or EDU 620 Teacher as Researcher
  or Research Design and Evaluation

EDU 640 Curricula Planning

PSY 648 Consultation: Theory, Models and Techniques
  or COU 650 Collaboration and Consultation

EDU/PSY 660 Organizational Procedures for Special Education
or a course that involves the study of special education regulations and procedures (EDU 661, 663, 572)

PSY/EDU 665 Behavior Management
or a course in teaching the emotionally or behaviorally disabled - must include an emphasis on functional behavioral assessment

PSY 676 Individual Analysis: The Wechsler Scales and other tests of ability and achievement

PSY 677 The Stanford Binet and measures of adaptive behavior and emotionality

PSY 696 Practicum in school psychometrics (3-6 hours)

You’ve got questions - We’ve got insights!

Are you fascinated by the intricacies of the human mind? Do you feel called to help others navigate the complex mix of emotions and thoughts? Explore the intersection of faith and science in our Psychology and Counseling programs at William Carey University, where we equip you to make a profound difference in lives and communities.