MA Psychology - Frequently Asked Questions

Will a Master of Arts Degree with a concentration in Counseling Psychology enable me to get licensed?

A Master of Arts from UI&U may enable you to achieve your licensing goal. While the department (like other practitioner programs) does not guarantee licensure or certification, faculty helps learners to achieve professional credentialing objectives. Ultimately, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that his/her specific program of study complies with personal objectives. We gladly assist our students with any questions that may arise from their own research on this topic.

What, then, is my job as a student when it comes to preparing for licensing/certification?

If you have not done so already, secure a copy of your state’s credentialing requirements and compare it to the coursework and internship guidelines that are delineated in the Master of Arts with a concentration in Counseling Psychology Academic Concentrations and Tracks Guide (available from: Union Institute & University , Office of Graduate Admissions, 3 University Way, ste 3, Brattleboro, VT 05301-3669; TEL: 802.257.9411). Should your state’s requirements differ from the academic program plan outlined in the Concentration and Tracks Guide, your studies can often be realigned to achieve your desired outcome.

I’m seeking admission to the counseling psychology track. What if I don’t have an undergraduate degree in psychology or have not completed a minimum of 12 credits in psychology prior to acceptance?

In certain circumstances, exceptional applicants may be granted conditional acceptance, full acceptance being contingent upon the completion of 12 preparatory credits of psychology coursework.

Preparatory courses are offered through the Department of Lifelong Learning. Contact Lifelong Learning at LifeLongLearning@myunion.edu or 802.257.9411 x8901. In some circumstances, successful completion of these preparatory graduate level courses will be counted toward degree requirements.

When can I start the program and how long will it take me to earn my degree?

Students may enroll in January, July, or October. The hybrid Counseling Psychology program offers students a blended online and resiedncy based academic experience. Students will attend three, three-day weekend residencies annually, along with full-featured online course delivery . Residencies are held on the Brattleboro, Vermont Campus. Students may complete this 60-credit licensure track program in 2 years. .

What occurs during a residency?

Residencies offer you the opportunity to connect directly with your peers and are viewed as a critical part of your program. Students attending their first residency will engage in degree planning workshops and attend their first core group meeting. The core group serves you throughout your program as a “learning team” in which you share resources, provide critique, and participate in peer evaluation. A myriad of professional seminars, content seminars, and student presentations round out the rest of the residency and expose students to the common core topics relevant to their academic concentration.

Is there a difference between a M.A. with a concentration in Counseling Psychology and a M.S.W.?

Although one can counsel with either degree, social work is much more centered on case management (coordinating with state agencies and community resources to assist clients with accessing medical care and meals on wheels services, etc), while counseling psychology is, as its title would suggest, focused rather exclusively on direct therapeutic services (and the diagnostic and assessment steps that are precursors to direct services). The difference between these two fields, then, is largely an issue of personal preference. Our faculty obviously favor spending their time teaching (and historically working with) direct service, while preferring to leave the coordinating of community resources to the social workers who have that interest/emphasis.

As a busy adult, how difficult is it to combine a full-time job with my studies?

The majority of students enrolled in the Master of Arts with a concentration in Counseling Psychology degree program balance their education with other responsibilities. There are many reasons why the low-residency options work for our students, but the most prevalent answer seems to be the freedom the educational model allows – you can work on your studies when your schedule allows. This is a graduate degree program with rigorous coursework that requires time, commitment, discipline, and a passion for what you are studying. It is amazing where time can be found when you are determined, creative, and don’t care what your neighbors think of your unkempt lawn. The payoff is clear, however, and in a minimum of two years you will have a Master of Arts degree.