Program Structure

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Program Structure

  • The program offers two tracks:  

    A)     M.A. Clinical & Counseling Psychology:  Non Licensure track (48 credits). Please note that Practicum I and II are required for all students, including those in the non-licensure track. However, the non-licensure track does not include the summer courses that are required for those in the licensure track.
    B)     M.A. Clinical & Counseling Psychology:  Licensure track (60 credits): Students graduating from the 60-credit program are eligible to apply for licensure as Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) in the State of New Jersey. A Licensed Associated Counselor may practice counseling under the supervision of a qualified professional and accrue 4,500 supervised clinical hours necessary to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Jersey.
  • Incoming students are automatically enrolled in the Licensure track, 60-credit program. Those who wish to be changed into the 48-credit track can do so before the summer of their first year or later on in the program.  

  • The program can be completed on a full-time basis (12 credits per semester) in two years or on a part-time basis in three to five years.

  • In addition to the credit requirements listed above, graduation requirements also include 600 hours of supervised fieldwork experience (practicum). Practicum experience are arranged individually based on students’ interest. Additionally, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above and no more than 6 semester hours of C work, and must complete the Comprehensive Exam in a satisfactory manner and fulfill all requirements in the Practicum Course(s).

  • Students' training will culminate in a Comprehensive Exam during Practicum II, in which students answer questions concerning professional counseling and clinical psychology. The questions will be based on the NCE (National Counselor Examination) exam for persons interested in applying for a license as an Associate Counselor (during supervised post masters experience) and then as a Professional Counselor (after supervised post masters experience is completed). During Practicum I and II, students will complete either a Master’s Project which is a clinical case study based in a theoretical approach and integrating relevant empirical, theoretical, diagnostic, social, ethical, cultural and therapeutic issues in their discussion. A clinical research project can be considered as an alternative.

We offer both in-person classes during daytime (for example, Tuesday 9:30 am – 12 pm and 2 pm-4:30 pm) and evening online, synchronous courses that meet over Zoom. Please note that students are not permitted to take only online courses.

Our online synchronous classes are intended to increase flexibility for nontraditional students, but students are required to take in-person classes as well during the Fall and Spring semesters. The clinical practicum experience during the second year will also place students in sites that are in New Jersey (or nearby) and provide services in person.

Summer session classes are all delivered in online, asynchronous format, except for those who are enrolled in the Summer Practicum course which will have a zoom class scheduled on a weekly basis.