M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services

The Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychological Services program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and practical experience needed to enter into a successful career.

Students are given the flexibility to explore different areas of counseling and psychological services and discover their personal areas of interest. With classes taught by professors who are experts in their field combined with a practicum experience, the program gives students knowledge of the complex nature of human behavior and social interaction. It also helps students to develop tools for assessing human problems and assisting individuals in developing greater understanding and acceptance of themselves and their relationships with others.

The program is designed to help students meet the educational requirements for Minnesota licensure for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). In addition, coursework is offered for the educational requirements for Minnesota Licensure for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC).

Master’s level students enrolled in the M.A. in Counseling & Psychological Services program have the option to apply to the Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Counseling Psychology program as an early entry student. If accepted into the Psy.D. program, students then transition to the doctoral program and finish out their master’s degree within the doctoral program using courses from both the master’s and doctoral programs combined.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Graduation from an institution accredited by a CHEA-recognized body is required to meet educational requirements for counseling licensure in Minnesota.

Dual Program Option: M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services and Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies

Saint Mary's offers a new dual program option to prepare students to work in the field of mental health counseling as well as alcohol and drug treatment. The program is designed to help students meet the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy's educational requirements for licensure as Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADC), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC).

The emphasis of this dual program option is an integration of both mental health and substance use theory and skills that can be applied to the profession. Students in the dual program have the opportunity to develop skills academically and experientially to work in mental health, chemical health, dual-disorder, criminal justice, hospital, assessment, detox, residential, and outpatient settings.

This option combines the requirements of the M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services and the Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies in as few as 60 credits. An Integrated Practicum of 880 hours is based on the State of Minnesota's practicum requirements for licensure as a LPC/LPCC and LADC.

Related Programs

Counseling and Psychological Services master's students may also be interested in adding the Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies. Some students choose to apply to the Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD) in Counseling Psychology program. Master’s students may apply after they finish their master's degrees or as early entry applicants.

From Start to Finish

You can earn your M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services in as little as two years.
The program starts at the beginning of each semester in the spring, summer, and fall.

Apply by April 3, 2020, for a Summer 2020 start; or August 7, 2020 for a Fall 2020 start.