Counseling Psychology

MASTER OF SCIENCE, M.S.
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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.

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 

PSY 5050 - Advanced Developmental Psychology 3 hrs *
PSY 5700 - Multicultural Counseling 3 hrs *
PSY 5720 - Psychological Aspects of Aging 3 hrs
PSY 6000 - Lifestyle and Career Development 3 hrs*
PSY 6010 - Orientation to Professional Counseling 3 hrs*
PSY 6200 - Introduction to Research 3 hrs *
PSY 6300 - Analysis of the Individual 3 hrs *
PSY 6320 - Psychopathology 3 hrs*
PSY 6400 - Principles of Christian Counseling 3 hrs
PSY 6410 - Crisis Counseling 3 hrs
PSY 6420 - Marriage and Family Counseling 3 hrs*
PSY 6480 - Consultation Theory, Models, and Practices 3 hrs *
PSY 6600 - Techniques of Group Counseling 3 hrs*
PSY 6660 - Psychology of Religion 3 hrs
PSY 6670 - Advanced Theories & Techniques of Counseling 3 hrs*
PSY 6690 - Counseling Skills and Techniques 3 hrs*
PSY 6800 - Practicum in Individual Counseling 3 hrs*
PSY 6981 - Internship: Christian Counseling 1-12 hrs (3 hrs required)*

* Required for licensure.

ELECTIVES

A minimum of 6 hours of electives in psychology or education must be selected with the approval of the advisor.

PSY Elective 3 hrs
PSY Elective 3 hrs

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

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

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

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

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
PSY 5000 - Orientation to School Psychometry 3 hrs

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 5000 - Orientation to School Psychometry 3 hrs
PSY 5050 - Advanced Developmental Psychology 3 hrs
PSY 6760 - Individual Assessment: Wechsler Scales 3 hrs
PSY 6770 - Individual Assessment: Stanford-Binet 3 hrs
PSY 6960 - Practicum in School Psychometrics 3-6 hrs (3 hrs required)

Select 1 course.
EDU 6200 - Teacher as Researcher 3 hrs *
PSY 6200 - Introduction to Research 3 hrs

Select 1 course.
EDU 5720 - Survey of Exceptional Children 3 hrs
EDU 6400 - Curriculum Planning 3 hrs *

Select 1 course.
PSY 5750 - Use and Interpretation of Tests 3 hrs
PSY 6300 - Analysis of the Individual 3 hrs
COU 6260 - Clinical-Based Assessment 3 hrs
COU 6270 - School-Based Assessment 3 hr

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.

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