Description of Programs and Mission
The counseling psychology program at Boston College was recently ranked #1 among top research universities by The Chronicle of Higher Education based on the scholarly productivity of the counseling faculty. Within this vibrant community, students may pursue a Master's degree in counseling at Boston College in mental health counseling, school counseling, or the joint degree program with Pastoral Ministry. The programs are situated within the Lynch School of Education, ranked 18th among schools of education nationally by U.S. News and World Report in 2008. The Master of Arts degree programs in counseling are two-year programs providing students with a broad background in contemporary counseling theories and skills; a social justice oriented perspective; best practices in school, mental health, and pastoral counseling; clinical training during practicum/internship; and exposure to research and scholarship at the forefront of the counseling profession.
These programs are designed to prepare students for a variety of career possibilities. Students may also further develop their skills and knowledge through the Ph.D., Ed.D., or Psy.D. programs.
Through excellence and ethics in scholarship, teaching, and service, the Lynch School - and the counseling program - aspires to enhance the human condition by promoting a world of greater equity and opportunity. Students at Boston College are taught to bring critical perspectives on race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation to their work as mental health and school counselors. Sensitivity to the ways in which an individual's membership in each of these groups shapes identity, influences experiences in society, and affects psychological health and well-being is a central part of students' training.
Degrees Offered
Students follow one of two program tracks: mental health counseling or school counseling. The program tracks are differentiated in terms of whether a student desires to work in a mental health agency or a school setting as a school guidance counselor.
Most students in the mental health counseling program complete the 60-credit hour program that meets the current pre-Master's requirement for licensing as a mental health counselor in the state of Massachusetts. A 48-credit hour mental health track option is also available for students who do not plan to pursue mental health licensure or who plan to enter doctoral study after completion of the Master's degree.
The school counseling program track is a 42-credit hour program that meets the current requirements of the Massachusetts Department of Education for initial licensure as an elementary or secondary school counselor.
The joint Master of Arts degrees in mental health counseling and pastoral ministry includes completion of the 60-credit hours mental health counseling program along with the 37-credit requirements for the M.A. degree in pastoral ministry. A small number of courses are shared between these programs resulting in a small reduction in the total number of credits required for the two degrees.
Students must commit to a program track prior to beginning their program of study. Students seeking licensure from other states are responsible for assuring that they meet the standards for credentialing in those states. The internship and practicum director, Dr. Sandra Morse, is available to assist students in reviewing the requirements of specific states.
Curriculum
In the first year of the two-year program, mental health counseling students complete academic and practicum course work and skills training, with internship and any remaining coursework to be completed in the second year. Similarly, school counseling students complete academic and pre-practicum course work and skills training during the first year, with practicum and remaining course completed in the second year. Students may take summer offerings from the program to assist in the completion of their degrees. Students in the 60-credit mental health counseling program must take summer courses to complete degree requirements in two calendar years.
In cases where an individual's background in behavioral and social sciences is limited, additional course work may be required. Courses in developmental, personality, social, and quantitative psychology are particularly good foundation courses.
Program of Study
http://www.bc.edu/schools/lsoe/academics/pos.html
Transfer of Credit and Waiving Courses
A maximum of six graduate credits not applied to a previous degree may be transferred from another institution. All transfers of credit from other institutions must be approved by the advisor, department chair, and associate dean.
