Choose from multiple career paths

Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology

Earn a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology

The MA in Counseling Psychology program provides you with three potential career paths, each of which fully meets the educational requirements in Minnesota for the following MA-level licenses:

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
Joint licensure as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) and LPC/C
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

Because of the program’s strong reputation, MA graduates have another viable career path: to apply to doctoral programs in counseling or clinical psychology (e.g.,the St. Thomas PsyD program). The Graduate School of Professional Psychology allows some MA students to be admitted directly into the PsyD program after completing the MA program. Learn more about our MA with Direct Admission to the PsyD.

All students on any of the career paths in the MA program are assigned an advisor who is a full-time faculty member in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Each student is able to develop a flexible plan of study and connect to a strong network of diverse students, faculty and alumni.

Master's Degree (LPC/C)

The MA Program meets the educational requirements for licensure as professional counselors (LPC and LPCC).

Master's Degree (LPC/C)

Master's With Direct Admission to the PSYD

This program is for qualified candidates seeking direct admission to the PsyD program with a BA or BS degree. These students should be able to demonstrate preparation for doctoral study in a practitioner-scholar model.

MA With Direct Admission to PSYD

Family Psychology Concentration (LMFT)

Prepares students as licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT).

Family Psychology Concentration

Co-Occuring Disorders Concentration

Prepares students as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) and Licensed Professional Counselor/Clinical Counselor (LPC/LPCC).

Co-Occuring Disorders Concentration

Non-Degree Courses

We offer two options for non-degree courses:

If you’re not sure which direction to go, enroll in a non-degree course first. If you choose to pursue an MA after completing 1-3 non-degree courses, you can apply those course credits to your MA program upon admission.

The following non-degree courses are available, all of which are required for the MA in Counseling Psychology program:

CPSY 600: Psychological Statistics (offered fall and spring semesters)
CPSY 611: Theories of Counseling and Personality (offered fall and spring semesters)
CPSY 612*: Human Growth and Development (offered fall and spring semesters)
CPSY 631: Physiological Bases of Behavior (offered fall and spring semesters)
CPSY 650*: Introduction to Marriage and Family Counseling (offered fall, spring, and summer semesters)

Convenient and flexible schedule with evening and weekend classes.

Apply for free by filling out our short online application and submitting an official transcript showing completion of your bachelor's degree.

All registrations for non-degree courses must be approved by the director of MA and Certificate Programs.

Licensees (LPC or LPCC) needing to complete graduate-level coursework for the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) can meet this requirement by enrolling in a variety of courses. Advantages for a licensee taking one or more of these courses from the University of St. Thomas include:

Convenient and flexible schedule with evening and weekend classes
Instruction by core and adjunct faculty who practice in the field of mental health
Connection with a strong network of diverse students, faculty, and alumni

Get help finding your training site

Over 90 Training Sites

With over 90 different practicum sites to partner, master's students can apply to a wide range of agencies to complete a practicum that fits their interests. Sites include university counseling centers, community mental health clinics, correctional facilities, schools, hospitals and more.

Why St. Thomas?

As the primary point of our focus, you’ll be connected with an advisor who is a full-time faculty member in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology.

Flexible Plans

We'll help you develop a flexible, full- or part-time program plan with evening and weekend class options.

Faculty Advisors

Our faculty are practitioners who go out of their way to connect you to a strong network of diverse students, faculty and alumni.

Get Involved

Enhance your experience in groups for counseling psychology students, like the Graduate Student Organization and the Students of Color, Multiracial and Indigenous Students (SOCMI) group.

Invaluable experience

Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services

This Center offers psychological services to a diverse population of clients with mental health issues, while providing both practicum experiences and a pre-doctoral internship for graduate professional psychology students.

Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services

Faculty

Our full-time and adjunct faculty members are professionally engaged with a blend of applied (professional practice and consulting) and scholarly activities. Faculty bring their experience into the classroom.

Bryana French, Ph.D., L.P.

Dr. French teaches courses in Diversity Issues, Counseling Skills, Dissertation Methods, and Career Development. Her practice interests focus on multicultural counseling, advocacy, and sexual violence recovery. Her research interests focus on sexual coercion and radical healing from racial trauma.

DR. BRYANA FRENCH

Tatyana Ramirez, Ph.D., L.P.

Dr. Tatyana Victorovna Ramirez teaches theories of counseling, personality assessment, basic counseling skills, and master’s level practicum. Her current scholarly interests are focused on experiences of people with international backgrounds. She provides psychotherapy and collaborative personality assessment services as a practitioner.

DR. TATYANA VICTOROVNA RAMIREZ

Nathaniel Nelson, Ph.D., L.P.

Dr. Nathaniel Nelson teaches courses related to biological bases of behavior and quantitative methods. He retains various research interests in clinical neuropsychology and conducts neuropsychological evaluations among adults with histories of various neurological and psychiatric conditions.

DR. NATHANIEL NELSON

ALL FACULTY