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Graduate Degree Programs

Master of Science in Counseling Psychology
The Master of Science Program in Counseling Psychology is designed to help students become professional counselors whose areas of expertise lie in community, private, and/or school settings. The Counseling Psychology program, concentrated at the Newtown location, is designed for part-time students who attend classes scheduled in the evening or on Saturdays. All classes are conveniently located at our Newtown location just off I95.

Program Concentrations
The program allows students to concentrate their studies in the following areas:

The last three fields of study are Pennsylvania Department of Education approved certification programs in guidance counseling.

Eligibility for Licensure as a Professional Licensed Counselor (LPC)
The Master of Science Program in Counseling Psychology offers several concentrations of study that fulfill the educational requirements for licensure as a
  • Professional Counselor in the State of Pennsylvania
  • Professional Counselor of Mental Health and/or Associate Counselor of Mental Health in the State of Delaware, and
  • Professional Counselor and/or Associate Counselor in the State of New Jersey
Students interested in fulfilling the educational requirements to sit for the LPC exam need to work closely with their academic advisor to ensure that all educational and internship requirements for licensure are fulfilled.

Program Educational Philosophy
The program uses a scientist-practitioner approach in training students. Through involvement with program course work students become active and involved learners. They engage in both in class and out of class cooperative, collaborative and experiential learning that through interaction, exposure, immersion and problem solving enable them to integrate class material into their current knowledge and experiential base. The skill labs, Practicum and Internship courses provide the student with the professional experiences to synthesize course material with "real life" counseling experiences to develop the skills appropriate for beginning practitioners.

Eligibility for Licensure as a Professional Licensed Counselor (LPC)
The Master of Science Program in Counseling Psychology offers several concentrations of study that fulfill the educational requirements for licensure. These concentrations are: The Master of Science Program in Counseling Psychology program continues to offer non LPC concentrations in the following areas: Generalist, School Counseling Elementary - Certification Only, School Counseling Secondary - Certification Only, and School Counseling Dual - Certification Only.

Admission Requirements
For admission to the graduate program in counseling psychology, the applicant must meet the following requirements. The applicant needs:
  • A Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
  • An undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better on a four-point scale. Applicants with an undergraduate cumulative grade point average less than 3.0 are required to submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Millers Analogies Test (MAT) prior to being considered for admission.
  • Two satisfactory letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with applicant's academic and/or professional work.
  • A submitted application form with a non-refundable twenty-five dollar application fee.
  • A 250-500 word-processed personal statement of applicant's interests in the field, his/her future professional plans/goals, and his/her reasons for requesting admission. The quality of applicant's statement will be of critical importance to the success of his/her application for admission.
  • Official Transcripts of all previous college/university work.
  • Successful completion of a personal interview.
Applicants will be considered based on their academic ability, expression of interests and goals, life experience, and personal interview. Admissions to the Counseling Psychology program are rolling with the majority of admissions occurring in the fall semester and with a limited number of admissions occurring in the spring. Notification of acceptance into the program is usually completed within two weeks of the personal interview.

A two hundred dollar deposit is required to hold the accepted applicant's spot in the incoming class. This deposit will be credited to the students first semester of study.
Please note that the MS Counseling Psychology program is limited in size because of the intensive training requirements. It may not be possible to admit all qualified students. Qualified students may be placed on a waiting list for the next available opening.

Undergraduate Prerequisite Requirements
An undergraduate course in General Psychology is required prior to admission to the program. In addition the following two undergraduate prerequisites are required prior to enrollment in select courses in the Counseling Psychology program:
  • Statistics
  • Research Methods or Experimental Psychology (Any general course in experimental psychology, a research methods course, or a course in one of the specific areas of experimental psychology such as learning or cognition.)
These program requirements are foundation courses for continued work on the graduate level. They must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. These courses can be taken at any college or university while enrolled in the Counseling Psychology program or may be able to be fulfilled through additional graduate work. See "Course Descriptions" for specific undergraduate prerequisite requirements.

Additional Prerequisite Requirements for School Guidance Certification Students
  • Six credits of undergraduate English (3 credits of composition and 3 credits of literature)
  • Six credits of undergraduate Math.
These above prerequisites only apply to students who have not already earned an education certificate.

Advisement
The Master of Science Program in Counseling Psychology program views advisement as crucial to successful completing of the program. Advisement in the program is best characterized as a mentoring relationship between a student and a faculty member. This mentoring relationship is grounded in mutual trust, dignity, collegiality, equality and professionalism. The goal of this advising/mentoring relationship is to assist the student in developing an identity as a counseling professional who is engaged in a life long learning process.

Upon admission to the program each student is assigned a faculty advisor. This faculty advisor will have expertise in the student's area of concentration. The faculty advisor is the student's resource person in dealing with the program and Holy Family University. Students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisor on a regular basis. Students must meet with their faculty advisor for course selection, approval of practicum and internship sites, the comprehensive process, and any other administrative issues. Scheduling an appointment with your advisor is easy. Appointments may be made in person or by calling 215-504-2000, extension 4032. Faculty office hours are usually posted on faculty office doors.

Transfer Credit
Up to six (6) credits of graduate work for comparable course work may be transferred from an accredited institution. Grades of B or better are required in transferred courses. Transfer credit decisions are made on an individual basis and need the approval of the Program Director (or designee) and the Dean of the School.

Program Course Requirements >>
Program Concentration Offerings >>