Applying to the M.S. in Counseling Psychology Program
Admission Requirements
Students applying to the M.S. in Counseling Psychology program must meet the following admission requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- A grade point average of 3.2 or better in your most recent 60 semester units of academic work
- Before beginning courses in the program, accepted students must complete at least six undergraduate psychology courses including the following:
- Introductory statistics
- Abnormal psychology
- A developmental psychology course (i.e., child psychology, human growth and development, or lifespan development).
Prerequisite courses must be passed with a grade of no lower than “B-” (4.0 grading scale) and have been completed within five calendar years of beginning coursework in the Counseling Psychology graduate program.
Time Commitment
The MS in Counseling Psychology classes meet between the hours of 1 p.m. and 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
For both semesters of the second year of the 3-year program, students must be available at least three weekday afternoons per week to obtain supervised, hands-on practicum experience in our University Counselor Training Clinic. In addition, students are required to be available three afternoons (1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) per week during the second year (Practicum I and II).
For both semesters of the last year, students must be available at least 20 hours per week during regular business hours (Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for their clinical field placements in supervised settings within the community (Traineeship I and II).
Students who are employed full-time upon entering the program will likely need to modify their work schedule, especially during years two and three, to assure availability for mandated clinical and field work.
Application Procedures
Applications for the MS in Counseling Psychology are to be completed electronically using CalState Apply system. You can begin the application process using this link: https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/graduate
To apply, be prepared to provide the following:
1) a personal statement including your goals and objectives for entering the mental health field as well as your experiences and skills;
2) A current curriculum vita/current resume
3) Contact information for three references (referees will provide ratings and letters directly to us after you enter their email addresses);
4) Transcripts from ALL colleges/universities attended;
5) If your GPA is below a 3.2, you will submit a justification statement explaining this.
