Counseling, M.A.

Contact Information

• Academic Program Director: Sheri Atwater
• Assistant Director: Maryann Francis
• Academic Advisor: Ana Baez

Introduction/Overview

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling program prepares candidates to succeed as a counselor in diverse educational, community, private, and non-profit settings. This is a 60-semester hour program designed for those who intend to pursue Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) certification. This M.A. program meets the requirements of section 4999.40 of the California Business and Professions Code (BPC) and contains the LPCC course content as specified in BPC section 4999.33. Graduates of the M.A. in Counseling program are eligible to apply to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APPC) status. As an APCC, graduates then complete 3,000 hours of clinical work and pass two national exams (covering mental health and law and ethics) to receive LPCC status. Candidates enrolled in this 60-semester hours program have the option to pursue the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling.  Courses in this program are delivered in-person on the LMU campus. 

Program Outcomes

As a result of this training, students will:

• Apply effective counseling strategies to meet the diverse academic, social, emotional, and career needs of clients
• Counsel clients individually using appropriate theoretical approaches to address academic readiness, language proficiency, cultural background, and individual development
• Counsel clients in group settings using group facilitation skills derived from appropriate theoretical approaches to address academic readiness, language proficiency, cultural background, and individual development
• Evaluate clients using suitable/pertinent assessment measures based on the purpose of measuring instrument and identified counseling need
• Implement prevention and intervention strategies for diverse clients based on scientific research and program evaluations
• Consult effectively with clients, their families, and support systems; with peers and colleagues; and with appropriate clinical staff in order to improve client functioning
• Exemplify the main dimensions of personal growth and dispositions central to successful counseling, including self-awareness, self-care, and self-reflection
• Exhibit and defend the ethical codes related to the specific field of counseling within which one works (e.g., ACA Code of Ethics, LPCC ethical codes)
• Demonstrate advanced intervention techniques in the areas of addictions, trauma, community psychology, and human sexuality to address the diverse needs of clinical populations

Program Admissions Requirements

• Online Graduate Application
• Bachelor’s Degree from a Regionally Accredited Institution in Psychology or a related field (e.g., Education, Child Development, Human Services, Communication Studies, etc.)
• Official Transcript from all Colleges/Universities Attended, including all Community/Junior Colleges
  • Applicants who completed an undergraduate/graduate degree outside of the United States of America:
    • Official Transcript Evaluation from an approved evaluation agency that details content of coursework completed, degree equivalency, and cumulative GPA
    • Official Transcript still needs to be submitted with Transcript Evaluation
    • Cumulative Undergraduate GPA of 3.0, or 3.05 in the last 60 Undergraduate Units, a 3.0 in at least 9 Graduate Units, or Completion of a Request for Exception to GPA Requirement
• Applicants whose citizenship is from a country where English is not the primary language:
  • TOEFL or IELTS or Duolingo English Test Minimum Scores (unless a High School Diploma or a Bachelor’s Degree was obtained in the United States)
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• CTC Certificate of Clearance (COC)
• For candidates pursuing the PPS in School Counseling
  • Basic Skills Requirement (BSR)
• Personal Statement of Intent addressing:
  • The characteristics the applicant possesses that he or she thinks will make him or her an effective counselor;
  • In what specific ways does the LMU Counseling Program help the applicant achieve his or her professional goals;
  • The applicant’s commitment towards preparing himself or herself to be an effective counselor, including devoting the required time and financial planning to a culminating internship in the field, a time when it is difficult and ill-advised to work full-time, and becoming active in related professional organizations (e.g., CALPCC, CASC, ASCA);
  • The applicant’s related work or volunteer experiences with individuals from diverse backgrounds (e.g., culture, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class, and/or children/adults with disabilities);
  • The applicant’s perspective on multiculturalism and social justice, as outlined in the School of Education’s REAL conceptual framework;
  • A bulleted list (to be included at the end of Statement of Intent) indicating a) positions held, b) length of time/duration, c) supervisor name/contact information, and d) volunteer or paid positions.

Required Coursework

Course List

Code	Title	Semester Hours
EDSP 6362	Counseling Theories and Techniques	3
EDSP 6365	Research Methodology and Statistics	3
EDSP 6368	Career Counseling and Educational Planning	3
EDSP 6376	Crisis and Trauma Counseling	3
EDSP 6377	Multicultural Counseling	3
EDSP 6378	Group Counseling	3
EDSP 6379	Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Functioning	3
EDSP 6382	Ethical and Legal Issues	3
EDSP 6386	Culturally Responsive Counseling with Individuals	3
EDSP 6390	Lifespan Development	3
EDSP 6391	Foundations of Counseling	3
EDSP 6392	Psychopharmacology	3
EDSP 6393	Assessment, Appraisal, and Diagnosis	3
EDSP 6394	Helping Skills	3
EDSP 6395	Counseling for Addictions and Substance Use Disorders	3
EDSP 6396	Human Sexuality and Gender Identity	3
EDSP 6400	Community Psychology: Theories and Practice	3
EDSP 6508	Student Diversity and Exceptionalities	3
EDSP 6995	Comprehensive Examination (fee based, $300)	0
Fieldwork courses pertaining to the candidate’s specialization:
Clinical Mental Health Specialization 1
EDSP 6940	Fieldwork in Mental Health Counseling I	3
EDSP 6945	Fieldwork in Mental Health Counseling II	3
Total Semester Hours		60

¹

Candidates opting to pursue the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling must take the following two courses in lieu of the above Fieldwork courses:

• EDSP 6970 Fieldwork in School Counseling I
• EDSP 6980 Fieldwork in School Counseling II

Additional Requirements

• 100 completed hours of practical experience prior to enrollment in Fieldwork courses
  • EDSP 6391 Foundations of Counseling (20 hours)
  • EDSP 6362 Counseling Theories and Techniques (10 hours)
  • EDSP 6394 Helping Skills (10 hours)
  • EDSP 6378 Group Counseling (25 hours)
  • EDSP 6386 Culturally Responsive Counseling with Individuals (25 hours)
  • YOUR CHOICE Pre-Counseling Hours (10 hours)
• Candidate Disposition evaluations
  1. By end of first semester: One Self-Assessment Disposition Form and One Faculty-Assessment Disposition Form must be completed and turned in to the Counseling Program Advisor and Assistant Director no later than the end of the candidate’s first semester in the Program.
  2. By end of EDSP 6386 Culturally Responsive Counseling with Individuals: One Self-Assessment Disposition Form and One Faculty-Assessment¹ Disposition Form must be completed and turned in to the Counseling Program Advisor and Assistant Director upon your completion of EDSP 6386 Culturally Responsive Counseling with Individuals with Individuals.
• Completion of a total of 600-800 fieldwork hours (400 hours per semester, if adding PPS)
• Fieldwork I Application Form
• Pre-Counseling Documentation Log (“Your choice 10 pre-counseling hours”)
• Counseling Organization Membership
• Proof of Liability Insurance with Counseling Organization
• Fieldwork Planning Document
• Approval of Fieldwork Site
  • Candidates seeking the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential must complete their fieldwork at an approved school site.
• Completion of all courses prior to enrollment in Comprehensive Exam with the exception of:
  • EDSP 6392 Psychopharmacology
  • EDSP 6395 Counseling for Addictions and Substance Use Disorders
  • EDSP 6396 Human Sexuality and Gender Identity
  • EDSP 6400 Community Psychology: Theories and Practice
  • EDSP 6508 Student Diversity and Exceptionalities
  • Fieldwork courses pertaining to the candidate’s specialization:
    • Clinical Mental Health Specialization:
      • EDSP 6940 Fieldwork in Mental Health Counseling I
      • EDSP 6945 Fieldwork in Mental Health Counseling II
    • School Counseling Specialization:
      • EDSP 6970 Fieldwork in School Counseling I
      • EDSP 6980 Fieldwork in School Counseling II
    • Child Welfare and Attendance Coursework
      • EDSP 5303 Foundations in Child Welfare and Attendance
      • EDSP 5304 School Attendance Improvement and Truancy Remediation: Prevention and Intervention
      • EDSP 5305 CWA Supervision in Community Partnerships and Fieldwork Hours
• Application for Degree
• All coursework must be completed within 5 years.

¹

This Faculty Assessment MUST be completed by the candidate’s EDSP 6386 Culturally Responsive Counseling with Individuals Instructor.

Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential Requirements

• To apply for the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential candidates must complete their fieldwork at an approved school site with an approved site supervisor.
• All above listed coursework and program requirements must be met in order to be eligible for a credential recommendation.
• All coursework must be completed within five years.