Master of Science in Counseling Psychology
M.S. Degree Program
The master's program in counseling psychology prepares individuals aspiring to work as counselors or in counseling-related fields or those hoping to proceed on into doctoral training. The curriculum provides a broad and general introduction to Counseling Psychology theory, research, and clinical practice. Those earning the MS in Counseling Psychology have a focus on mental health counseling.
Graduate Admissions Requirements
Applicants must meet both the University and departmental admission requirements to be considered for the program.
University of Kansas Graduate Admission Requirements
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology Application Requirements:
- A completed graduate application.
- Application fee.
- Official transcripts of all degree-granting post-secondary institutions you have attended and an official transcript for each degree earned.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Personal statement (1-2 pages) outlining one's background, professional objectives, and specific interest in our program. There are not any additional formatting requirements.
- Current resume or CV.
M.S. Degree Requirements
The mental health concentration requires at least 60 credit hours of course work. Individuals wishing to become licensed professional counselors in Kansas need to meet additional requirements, described online. You also may wish to consult the American Counseling Association’s website for additional information. Besides a core of work in counseling psychology (including counseling theory, career development, interviewing, assessment, group counseling, professional issues, and practicum), work is required in developmental psychology, research, and diagnosis and psychopathology. All students complete either a thesis, a research project, or a comprehensive examination in order to graduate. After entering the program, students should meet with an advisor to plan a schedule for completing degree requirements.
M.S. Counseling Psychology (non-Phd aspirant)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses for M.S. Students (non-PHD aspirant): | ||
| EPSY 705 | Human Development through the Lifespan | 3 |
| EPSY 715 | Understanding Research in Education | 3 |
| EPSY 725 | Educational Measurement | 3 |
| EPSY 740 | Counseling and Interviewing Skills | 3 |
| EPSY 742 | Counseling Theory and Techniques | 3 |
| EPSY 825 | Positive Psychotherapy and Strength-Based Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 830 | Individual and Group Assessment | 3 |
| EPSY 841 | Center for Psychoeducational Services Practicum 1 | 6 |
| EPSY 842 | Counseling Practicum (Elementary, Secondary, Counseling Psychology) 2 | 9 |
| EPSY 844 | Theory of Group Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 845 | Substance Abuse Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 846 | Career Development | 3 |
| EPSY 856 | Theory of Couples and Family Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 875 | Understanding Cultural & Individual Differences in Professional Psychology | 3 |
| EPSY 880 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychology and Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 890 | Diagnosis and Psychopathology | 3 |
| Comprehensive Exam Option (minimum of 60 hrs.) | ||
| Students in the exam option take 3 additional credit hours. | ||
Elective 3 | ||
| Thesis Option (minimum of 64 hrs) | ||
| Students in the thesis option take an additional 7 credit hours. | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Analysis | ||
| Lab for Introduction to Statistical Analysis | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Master's Project Option (minimum 60 hrs.) | ||
| Student in the project option take an additonal 3 credit hours. | ||
| EPSY 898 | Master's Project | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | 60-64 | |
- 1
Students enroll in 3 hours of EPSY 841 in spring and 3 hours in summer.
- 2
Students enroll in EPSY 842 in their second year and take 6 hours one semester (fall or spring) and 3 hours the other (fall or spring), after they have taken EPSY 841.
- 3
Students consult with their faculty advisor on elective course.
M.S. Counseling Psychology (PhD aspirant)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses for M.S. Students (PhD aspirant): | ||
| EPSY 705 | Human Development through the Lifespan | 3 |
| EPSY 715 | Understanding Research in Education | 3 |
| EPSY 725 | Educational Measurement | 3 |
| EPSY 740 | Counseling and Interviewing Skills | 3 |
| EPSY 742 | Counseling Theory and Techniques | 3 |
| EPSY 825 | Positive Psychotherapy and Strength-Based Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 830 | Individual and Group Assessment | 3 |
| EPSY 841 | Center for Psychoeducational Services Practicum 1 | 6 |
| EPSY 842 | Counseling Practicum (Elementary, Secondary, Counseling Psychology) 2 | 9 |
| EPSY 844 | Theory of Group Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 846 | Career Development | 3 |
| EPSY 875 | Understanding Cultural & Individual Differences in Professional Psychology | 3 |
| EPSY 880 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychology and Counseling | 3 |
| EPSY 890 | Diagnosis and Psychopathology | 3 |
| Comprehensive Exam Option (minimum of 60 hours): | ||
Students take additional 9 hours of elective courses. 3 | ||
| Thesis Option (minimum of 61 hours): | ||
Elective (3 hrs) 4 | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Analysis 5 | ||
| Lab for Introduction to Statistical Analysis | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Project option (minimum of 60 hrs): | ||
Electives (total 6 hours) 6 | ||
| Master's Project | ||
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | 60-64 | |
- 1
Students enroll in 3 hours of EPSY in spring and 3 hours in summer.
- 2
Students enroll in EPSY 842 for 6 hours in the fall and 3 hours in the spring after they have taken EPSY 841.
- 3
Students consult with their faculty advisor on elective courses.
- 4
Students consult with their faculty advisor on elective course.
- 5
Students enroll in EPSY 710/11 or another statistics course in consultation with their faculty advisor.
- 6
Students consult with their faculty advisor on elective courses.
At least 50% of coursework in the master degree must be at the 700 level or above.
M.S. Counseling Psychology (Comprehensive Exam option)
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 725 | 3 | EPSY 825 | 3 | EPSY 715 (Summer enrollment recommended, but can be taken in the fall) | 3 |
| EPSY 740 | 3 | EPSY 830 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 742 | 3 | EPSY 841 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 880 | 3 | EPSY 875 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 890 | 3 | ||||
| 12 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 705 | 3 | EPSY 845 | 3 | EPSY 841 | 3 |
| EPSY 842 | 6 | EPSY 856 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 844 | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| EPSY 846 | 3 | EPSY 842 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | 3 | |||
| Total Hours 60 | |||||
Masters of Counseling Psychology - Thesis option
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 725 | 3 | EPSY 825 | 3 | EPSY 715 (Summer enrollment recommended) | 3 |
| EPSY 740 | 3 | EPSY 830 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 742 | 3 | EPSY 841 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 846 | 3 | EPSY 875 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 880 | 3 | EPSY 890 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 705 | 3 | EPSY 842 | 6 | EPSY 841 | 3 |
| EPSY 710 | 3 | EPSY 845 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 711 | 1 | EPSY 856 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 842 | 3 | EPSY 899 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 844 | 3 | ||||
| 13 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Total Hours 64 | |||||
Masters in Counseling Psychology - Project option
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 725 | 3 | EPSY 825 | 3 | EPSY 715 (Summer enrollment recommended, but can be take in the fall) | 3 |
| EPSY 740 | 3 | EPSY 830 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 742 | 3 | EPSY 841 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 880 | 3 | EPSY 875 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 890 | 3 | ||||
| 12 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 705 | 3 | EPSY 842 | 3 | EPSY 841 | 3 |
| EPSY 842 | 6 | EPSY 845 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 844 | 3 | EPSY 898 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 846 | 3 | EPSY 856 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | 3 | |||
| Total Hours 60 | |||||
Students that wish to gain their PhD are encouraged to follow the following Master's programs:
Masters of Counseling Psychology - Ph.D. Aspirant Track - Comprehensive Exam option
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 725 | 3 | EPSY 825 | 3 | EPSY 715 (Summer enrollment recommended, but can be taken in the fall) | 3 |
| EPSY 740 | 3 | EPSY 830 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 742 | 3 | EPSY 841 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 880 | 3 | EPSY 875 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 890 | 3 | ||||
| 12 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 705 | 3 | EPSY 842 | 3 | EPSY 841 | 3 |
| EPSY 842 | 6 | Elective (Statistics required) | 3 | ||
| EPSY 844 | 3 | Elective (EPSY 845 recommended) | 3 | ||
| EPSY 846 | 3 | Elective (EPSY 956 recommended) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | 3 | |||
| Total Hours 60 | |||||
Masters of Counseling Psychology - Ph.D. Aspirant Track - Thesis option
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 725 | 3 | EPSY 825 | 3 | EPSY 715 (Required) | 3 |
| EPSY 740 | 3 | EPSY 830 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 742 | 3 | EPSY 841 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 846 | 3 | EPSY 875 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 880 | 3 | EPSY 890 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 705 | 3 | EPSY 842 | 6 | EPSY 841 | 3 |
| EPSY 710 | 3 | Elective (Statistics required) | 3 | ||
| EPSY 711 | 1 | EPSY 899 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 842 | 3 | ||||
| EPSY 844 | 3 | ||||
| 13 | 12 | 3 | |||
| Total Hours 61 | |||||
Masters of Counseling Psychology - Ph.D. Aspirant Track - Project option
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 725 | 3 | EPSY 825 | 3 | EPSY 715 (Summer enrollment recommended, but can be taken in the fall) | 3 |
| EPSY 740 | 3 | EPSY 830 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 742 | 3 | EPSY 841 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 880 | 3 | EPSY 875 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 890 | 3 | ||||
| 12 | 15 | 3 | |||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 705 | 3 | EPSY 842 | 3 | EPSY 841 | 3 |
| EPSY 842 | 6 | Elective (Statistics required) | 3 | ||
| EPSY 844 | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| EPSY 846 | 3 | EPSY 898 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | 3 | |||
| Total Hours 60 | |||||
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Ability development in integrating theory, research, and practice.
- Research skills development.
- Research involvement.
- Overall academic performance.
- Development of clinical competence.
- Respecting cultural and individual differences.
- Ability development in responding effectively to legal and ethical issues.
- Development of professional identity as a counselor.
- Interest in developing a specialty area.
- Development of awareness of your own strengths and areas for growth.
- Development of life-long learning.
- Overall classroom behavior.
- Professional behavior.
- Interpersonal relationships.
- Ability development in collaborating with other professionals.
- Receiving and implementing feedback.