Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
M.A., Counseling Psychology
The Master of Arts in counseling psychology prepares graduates to become a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Oklahoma and to provide services in diverse settings. Graduates work in private practice, community mental health centers, youth and family service agencies, marriage and family counseling centers, child guidance clinics, university counseling centers, psychiatric hospitals, drug and alcohol treatment centers, and shelters or centers for child abuse and domestic violence. Some graduates go on to complete additional training at the doctoral level at universities around the nation. The program is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council.
Student Learning Objectives
Psychological Knowledge
- Graduates will be able to integrate basic and applied psychological findings from areas of social, biological, learning and developmental research to clinical practice.
Professional Communication
- Graduates will be effective at expressing themselves in both written and oral formats.
Assessment and Evaluation Skills
- Graduates will be able to select, administer and interpret cognitive, personality and psychopathology assessments.
Therapy Skills
- Graduates will be able to effectively engage in evidence-based case formulation, treatment planning and therapeutic intervention for a wide range of clients.
Multicultural Competence
- Graduates will appreciate cultural and gender diversity in all forms and integrate multicultural competence into their work with individuals, groups and communities.
Ethical and Professional Skills
- Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of the ethical and legal standards of behavior for mental health practitioners and consistently function in an ethical, professional manner.
Application Requirements
To be considered for admission into the M.A. in counseling psychology, candidates should have a preferred minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher OR a preferred 3.0 in the last 60 hours attempted. Candidates must also meet the preferred minimum GRE score of 290 combined verbal and quantitative and a 3.5 in writing. Additional admission requirements, application deadline, other requirements and a full list of all courses may be reviewed on the program's degree sheet.
Program Documents
Program Accreditation
The M.A. in Counseling Psychology is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of February 2017 through February 2027.
Career Opportunities
- Counseling
- Psychotherapy
- Applied behavior analysis
- Case management
- Mental health services
- Providing counseling and psychotherapy in inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization settings and community agencies
- Mental health administration for agencies and group practices
Community and Student Organizations
- UCO Psi Chi chapter
- Oklahoma Counseling Association
- American Counseling Association
- Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapies
- Oklahoma Psychological Society
