Counseling Psychology (MS)

Licensed mental health counselor is a master level licensing for counselors in the State of Massachusetts; other states may use slightly different terms. The NU MSCP program is consistent with the requirements for LMHC. The State, not the University program, is the body that licenses MH professionals. The State licensing regulations do require, in addition to a degree with specified course work and training experiences and an exam, additional post-graduate supervised experience.

Graduates of the MSCP program meet all of the Pre-master’s degree requirements for certification as Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This includes required course work; a Supervised Practicum, Pre-Master’s Degree Clinical Experience; and a Supervised, Internship Pre-Master’s Degree Clinical Experience. Following degree award, candidates are required to complete on their own the Post-Master’s licensure requirements which include passing the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), and completion of a Supervised, Post-Master’s Degree Clinical Experience.

Yes, we accept both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students complete the program in two years; part-time students take longer. Many, but not all, of the courses are offered at 4 and 7 o’clock for the convenience of students doing internships and part-time students. The program welcomes part-time students as long as they can make scheduling arrangements to attend MSCP or CAGS courses as scheduled. Some courses are scheduled at 1:00 and practica and internships are conducted during normal working hours. It is the student’s responsibility to make the necessary changes to their outside work schedule in order to meet the requirements of the MSCP or CAGS program they are enrolled in.

Please see Part-Time Curriculum in the Program Handbook (pg. 11).

In the MSCP program students can select a concentration or three free electives. The concentrations require course work and one of the two clinical experiences in the designated area. The concentrations are Child & Adolescent Counseling, Research, Early Intervention, and No Concentration. Students with particular interests in and who complete one of these concentrations may find their knowledge and skills as well as employment enhanced.

The orientation of the program is the ecological model which is a perspective or meta-theory that looks to multi-levels of influence on human development and functioning. In keeping with most programs, we present and expect student to know the array of personality and counseling theories. Yet our MSCP program expects and facilitates our students engagement in the ongoing process of understanding and conceptualizing human nature and human behavior. Additionally, the program seeks to provide competent practitioners with a thorough knowledge base of counseling and applied psychology and who can be evaluative consumers of the research literature that informs applied psychology and counseling.

Northeastern’s MSCP program takes a whole picture view of applicants to the program.

We expect to see:

• An undergraduate major in psychology or its equivalent (6-8 courses with emphasis on the science of human behavior)
• An undergraduate GPA in the range of 3.0-3.8 (our average is 3.5)
• 3 letters of recommendation, including strong recommendations from at least one former professor and hopefully from a supervisor in a human service setting
• TOEFL or IELTS (International Students)
• Evidence of some experience with and commitment to helping relationships
• Professional goals and personal development in line with the program as demonstrated in the personal statement and the interview

Applicants should meet the application deadline of January 15 for fall semester entrance. The MSCP faculty then read all the applications and selects those applicants who meet our requirements. Those selected are then invited to come to Northeastern for an interview process. (If distance or cost is prohibitive we will give a Zoom interview, but far prefer to meet the applicant.) This is usually held in March. All applicants come to a designated building and room where we introduce the faculty and explain the program in detail. We also provide information about housing and financial aid. Student questions are also addressed. We provide lunch and university tours as well as opportunities to speak with current students. The day ends after individual interviews for each applicant.

We seek to have an incoming class of about 30 students.

Class sizes range from 8-10 for internship seminars to approximately 25-35 for didactic classes.

Students select their sites from a list of approved agencies and services, with support from faculty and their individual advisors.

Advisors are assigned to each student as they enter the program. However, all faculty are available to the students and if interests come to be shared, a new advisor can be selected by any student.

Unfortunately in the 21st century, fully-funded graduate and professional education is no longer available for Masters Students in Counseling and Applied Psychology. Instead much like law, dental, and medical graduate professional school, the student typically borrows tuition and fees through educational loans. There are work-study positions available and very occasionally an assistantship might be found. The program tuition is roughly equivalent to more than a year of undergraduate tuition at a major private university.