Psychology and Counseling

Psychology and Counseling Department

Chairperson: Stuart Badner, Psy.D., CSP

The Psychology and Counseling Department provides a range of programs designed to serve the interests and professional orientations of varied human service practitioners. Marywood has been involved in the preparation of psychologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals for over 50 years.

Specifically, the Department strives:

To educate students in understanding the complexity and diversity of human behavior.
To develop the ability to think critically, understand research, research methodology, techniques of data collection and analysis, and respect for scientifically derived knowledge.
To educate students to develop and implement assessment and intervention strategies associated with individual and group behavior.
To facilitate students’ understanding of the varied roles, obligations, and ethics of human service providers and researchers.
To develop competencies to critically evaluate and contribute to research in the fields of psychology and counseling.

Programs have sufficient flexibility to permit individual students, under advisement, to plan part-time or full-time schedules appropriate to their individual needs and professional priorities. (Please note that the Psy.D. program is available only to full-time students.) Competencies are developed through formal courses, independent study, and extensive supervised practica and internships, both on and off campus.

Student advisement and review are essential components of the overall training program. Trainee progress is monitored by the faculty during periodic student progress review sessions. In order to acquire the required competencies, a student may need more than the minimum credits required. The department has a long tradition of preparing professionals for service in both clinical and educational settings. Those interested in clinical service may consider the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, or a Master of Arts in Psychology (Clinical Track). Other Master of Arts in general/theoretical psychology degree options are available for those who wish to develop a systematic understanding of human behavior for purposes of self-enrichment, pre-doctoral preparation, and other related purposes. Finally, a doctoral program in clinical psychology leading to the Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) degree is also offered.

Graduates of the Department of Psychology and Counseling have enjoyed excellent career opportunities and placements. Graduates are employed in institutions of higher education, public and private agencies, independent practices, elementary and secondary schools, and other educational organizations throughout the eastern United States. In addition, graduates have gone on to receive doctoral degrees at major universities across the United States.

Psychology and Counseling, Master of Arts, Master of Science, and Post-Master’s Certification Programs

Admission Requirements

Master’s degree and certification students in Psychology or Counseling programs must meet the general admission requirements of the University. While a strong undergraduate background in psychology is preferred, capable students with coursework in general psychology, developmental psychology, and statistics will be considered.

Three academic letters of recommendation are required, and if required by the program, when submitting a Graduate Record Examination (GRE), scores at or above the 50th percentile are preferred. Additionally, degree applicants may be required to participate in an on-campus interview, and no more than six credits earned prior to full admission may be applied to a degree in the Psychology and Counseling Department.

Counseling Admission Requirements

Degree seeking students in Counseling must meet the general admission requirements of the University.

Admission to the program is based upon a holistic review of undergraduate and graduate transcripts, letters of recommendation, a personal essay, and an on-campus interview.

Advisement

The faculty of the Department of Psychology and Counseling believe that advisement is a critical component of graduate training. As such, faculty are available to students during posted times. While the student’s advisor is an essential part of the student’s progress throughout the program, students are reminded that it is the student’s responsibility to schedule appointments, to register for courses in a timely manner, and to submit various departmental and graduate forms (Candidacy, Comprehensive Exams, Internship, and Graduation). Students should be very familiar with the Student Handbook in their program of study and consult with their advisor on a regular basis.

Counseling and Counseling Psychology Candidacy and Degree Requirements (60 credits)

To be eligible for candidacy in Counseling, students must meet the following requirements:

Fulfill all admission requirements.
Complete two semesters at Marywood with a QPA of 3.00 or better.
Complete four hours of community service.
Submit a career goal statement.
Submit current clearances.
Review and write a response to a summary of faculty evaluations for all completed coursework.
Receive departmental approval of a planned 60-credit program.

Degree requirements include a successful completion of all required coursework, practicum, internship, and final comprehensive examination. Details regarding these requirements can be found in course descriptions and in the Student Handbook.

Psychology Candidacy and Degree Requirements (48 credits)

To be eligible for candidacy in Psychology, all students must meet the following requirements:

Fulfill all admission requirements.
Complete twelve credits at Marywood with a QPA of 3.00 or better (3.25 for admission to the Clinical Services track).
Submit candidacy application.

Students seeking admission to the Clinical Services track must also provide the following at the time of candidacy:

Goal statement reflecting their objectives and goals upon completion of the program and specific program in which the student intends to earn a degree.
List of projected courses planned for the completion of the program, including anticipated dates of courses and projected completion date.
Letter of support from a full-time Clinical faculty member (preferred) or a licensed psychologist.
Competency rating form completed by a full-time Clinical faculty member (preferred) or a licensed psychologist.
Appropriate clearances as detailed in the Department Handbook.

Students seeking admission to the Clinical Services track will also be required to complete a personal interview. Note that students are not formally accepted into the Clinical Services track until they have successfully completed candidacy review.

Degree requirements include completion of 48 credits, a comprehensive examination, and a closure experience (professional contribution, thesis, or internship). Details regarding these requirements can be found in course descriptions and in the Student Handbook.

Department Requirements and Student Handbook

Grade Point Average Requirement

If a Psychology or Counseling student’s QPA falls below a 3.00, that student is given one semester to bring his/her QPA up to 3.00. The Clinical Services program in the master’s program requires a minimum QPA of 3.25. Failure to return to the minimum QPA may result in dismissal from the program or Clinical Services track.

Students who plan to apply for doctoral training programs after completing their master’s degrees are advised to review admissions requirements for the doctoral programs that they hope to attend. Graduation requirements at the master’s level may or may not meet the requirements of admissions for specific doctoral programs. Students may need to select particular electives in order to meet doctoral admissions requirements.

Specific details regarding tentative two-year course schedules, course sequencing, program, and degree requirements are outlined in student handbooks for each program of study (Ed.S., Counseling, M.A. Psychology and Psy.D. programs). Students can access the handbook for their program of study through the department website and should consult their handbook to insure timely completion of the program. Students should check with their advisor for information regarding access to the Student Handbook for their program of study.

Endorsement Policy

The faculty of the Counseling programs limits its endorsement to those students who have completed one of the CACREP-accredited programs. Students will be endorsed only for the programs they have successfully completed.

Professional Conduct

The department requires students to conduct themselves as professionals-in-training. As such, students are expected to act in a manner that displays the highest regard for human dignity and ethical standards. This professional behavior is expected both in and out of the classroom.

Students enrolled in the Counseling program are required to adhere to the ethical code of the American Counseling Association (ACA). Students in the Psychology programs are required to adhere to the ethical code of the American Psychological Association (APA). Students in the Counseling programs, and Clinical Services track, are also required to demonstrate the requisite interpersonal and professional behavioral skills that the graduate faculty in these tracks determine to be essential to operate effectively as a clinician in contemporary society. Students who violate any of the ACA, APA, or NASP requirements or who fail to show the required interpersonal and professional behavioral skills may be placed on probation. Students who demonstrate academic or professional conduct concerns may be placed on a professional development and/or a corrective action plan (CAP). Students who do not successfully complete either plan in the time frame articulated by the plan may be dismissed from the program. In the case of egregious violations of ethical requirements, students may be dismissed immediately. Students may dispute departmental decisions in this area by following the appeals procedures of the college. Further details about this policy are contained in the student handbooks.

Clearances

As part of the candidacy review process, students in the Ed.S.in School Psychology, Counseling, the Clinical Services track in psychology, and Counseling Psychology programs will be expected to obtain clearances from the Pennsylvania State Police (criminal record clearance), the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (child abuse and neglect clearance), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (fingerprint clearance); the department also reserves the right to require other local, state, or national clearances. Details are available in program handbooks. Students whose clearances contain indications of a criminal record or an allegation of child abuse or neglect that was determined to be founded may be subject to a corrective action plan or dismissal from the program. Presence of a criminal record or founded instances of child abuse or neglect may prevent the student from completing practicum and internship courses which are required for the degree.

Professional Counseling Licensure

Current Pennsylvania State regulations require a minimum of sixty (60) graduate credits to be considered for licensure as a professional counselor. Further, the applicant must possess a degree from a graduate program with a minimum of forty-eight (48) credits. These standards also require both supervised counseling experience after earning the degree and passing a national licensing exam (e.g., National Counseling Examination; NCE).

In order to assist both Psychology and Counseling graduates to academically meet these qualifications, the Psychology and Counseling Department offers a post-master’s licensure program. The program is based on the educational requirements of the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors for counseling graduates or the North American Association of Masters in Psychology (NAMP) for psychology graduates.

Programs of study are developed using the educational requirements for Pennsylvania licensure, which include:

human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, helping relationships, group work, career and lifestyle development, appraisal, research and program evaluation, professional orientation, and clinical instruction. The post-master’s licensure program is open to both Marywood and non-Marywood graduates. For further information, contact the Counseling Program coordinator.

A student enrolled in the Marywood University Master of Arts in Psychology degree program with aspirations to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania must complete the 48-credit program. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their advisors as well as the Pennsylvania Department of State licensing board for Professional Counseling (http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa), to facilitate the most efficient completion of licensing requirements. Students who graduate from the 48-credit psychology program will need to complete additional counseling courses as well as practicum and internship experiences in order to meet licensing requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania. More information about licensing issues is presented in the Student Handbook.

The Master of Science in pre-K-12 School Counseling and the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling are 60-credit graduate programs. Students in either program meet the educational requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania.

Certification

The pre-K-12 School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Graduates from these programs meet all educational requirements for National Certified Counselor (NCC) status and can complete the NCC certification examination (NCE) prior to the completion of the program. Furthermore, graduates of the pre-K-12 School Counseling program meet the requirements for the Pennsylvania Department of Education Educational Specialist I certification in school counseling. Students must receive a passing score on the Praxis II: Professional School Counselor exam in order to be eligible for certification.

Psychological Services Center

The Psychology Program operates a training clinic, the Psychological Services Center (PSC), which provides quality, no cost mental health services to the university and local communities while providing students with supervised training as part of their graduate studies in Psychology and Counseling. As part of their training, students in the master’s and doctoral programs of the department may be asked to assess and treat clients in the PSC, under appropriate supervision, to meet course requirements. Final determination of course requirements in this regard lies with individual course instructors in consultation with the PSC Director.

Counseling Programs

Master of Science in Counselor Education (pre-K-12 School Counseling)

The pre-K-12 School Counseling program, leading to the Master of Science in Counselor Education degree, is designed to provide graduates with the professional knowledge and skills for developing competencies in PK-12 professional school counseling. These include individual and group counseling, classroom guidance, educational planning, school wide programming, career development, consultation, leadership, and advocacy. This degree meets the educational requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education for Educational Specialist I certification as well as Pennsylvania licensure (LPC).

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program, leading to the Master of Arts degree, provides graduates with the professional knowledge and skills for developing competencies in professional counseling. These include individual and group counseling, development of theoretical orientation, ethical practice, substance abuse counseling, marital and family counseling, career development, counseling techniques, human development and psychopathology, and assessment. This degree meets the educational requirements for Pennsylvania licensure (LPC)