Holy Names University
M.A. in Counseling Psychology
Campus-Based
Holy Names University
3500 Mountain Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94619
Program details below are quoted from program websites, supplied here for informational purposes only, and subject to change at any time. Refer to the program website for current information, deadlines, complete admission requirements, etc. It is the responsibility of the prospective student to verify with program administrators program details and that the program still meets BBS requirements for licensure in the state of California.
Program Snapshot
Accreditation
WASC
Concentrations/Specializations Offered
Optional dual degree: MA, Counseling and Forensic Psychology
LMFT Track or Dual LMFT/LPCC Track
LMFT/LPCC Dual track
Length of Program
63 units (81 for dual degree option). It typically takes 2 years for our students to complete the MA in Counseling Psychology and 3 years for the Dual Degree MA in Counseling Psychology + Forensic Psychology.
Schedule/Format
We have a flexible course schedule and courses are offered in the later afternoon, evenings, and weekends. This year we will be having a hybrid and online section available for each course. This means students have more flexibility of how much they are required to be on-campus for classes. Because the first year of the Counseling Psychology program is academic in nature, students are able to take their first year completely online if needed.
Program Start
Counseling and Dual students can start in Spring. Fall is truly the idea start, but Spring is okay as well. You’ll take all the same classes, but due to when courses are offered, a lot of the foundational courses are taken in two semesters rather than three when they start in Spring.
Estimated Total Program Tuition
$63,189 ($81, 243 for dual degree option)
Religious Orientation
None
Entering Class Size and Classroom Sizes
35-40 students accepted. Each class will have 20 or fewer students in each. This number allows students to have plenty of 1:1 time with faculty to develop their skills and understanding in counseling.
Fieldwork Hours Accrued During Program
Students need 300 hours minimum in the field minimum to graduate. Most students usually complete 300-700 hours during their time at HNU and this counts towards the 3000 hours needed for licensure. We have a field placement coordinator that works with you and our contracted agencies to find a placement that fits your career interests. We also host a field placement fair in the Spring so that students and agencies can learn more about each other. This fair is where a bulk of students end up finding their placement of interest. Our program prides itself on collaboration with the local community and we have 75 affiliated organizations and partners in the Bay Area.
Personal Psychotherapy Requirement During Program
Students are required to complete 24 hours of psychotherapy before they can be placed in the field.
Comprehensive Exam/Culminating Project/Thesis/Etc:
One of your last classes is CPSY 298 Integrating Seminar. You’ll have a culminating paper that is 12-14 pages in length that gets read by more than one faculty member, and you are also taking a comprehensive MFT prep exam that is very close to the real thing as practice.
Application Process
Application Deadline
Rolling admissions, but mid-July is strongly encouraged
Undergraduate GPA Required
2.6 minimum GPA is needed to be considered for the program.
GRE Requirement
None
Prerequisite Courses
Applicants must have completed PSYCH 101 (or any higher level PSYCH course) with a B grade or higher. Applicants who do not meet this are usually able to take a course at their local community college.
Application Highlights
Admissions essay: The faculty of the Counseling and Forensic Psychology Programs and Holy Names University are committed to students’ development of ethical practice, clinical competence, and assessment of personal fitness for the profession.
Please respond to the questions below (minimum 500 words per question), all of which provide a format for you to present your current academic and emotional capacities as you contemplate a career as a counselor, therapist, or forensic specialist.
a. Discuss how your personal life/work/school experiences may have influenced your current educational path. How did those experiences prepare you to think critically and consider alternative perspectives?
b. Discuss your ability to work with all forms of diversity (not just ethnic/cultural). Include self-reflection about your own biases and how you might maintain awareness of them in a helping context.
c. Emotional intelligence, the capacity to manage and understand one’s own and others’ emotions, includes the ability to assess the impact of our behaviors on others. What data do you use to assess the effect of your personality and behaviors on others? Why would it be important to know something about how you affect others when considering a career as a helper? How does this aspect of emotional intelligence relate to the capacity for empathy?
Two recommendations from previous professors or current or previous work supervisors.
Interview Requirement
Interview with the Admissions Committee for the Counseling and Forensic Psychology Program
Program Summary
Attending our graduate programs in Psychology means so much more than receiving your degree. We’ve curated a psychology curriculum that prepares you for your future career with expertise, flexibility and unique learning methods. Our program is perfect for students who seek the best education possible, even when they have to juggle a job at the same time.
When you attend Holy Names University, you have a rare opportunity to be part of a small, inclusive community. We’re dedicated to social justice and other intrinsic values that have a positive impact on our students. We believe that the best approach to higher education is a student-centered strategy, and we prioritize our students each day.
HNU’s small size makes a difference. Unlike larger institutions, HNU has an average class size of only 15 students. With such small classes, our faculty members have more resources to provide individual attention to each of our students. These relationships help us support our students during class time and after the lessons are over.
Students in various programs at Holy Names University have the chance to interact with the Oakland community. Community impact and care for the underserved are core to the Holy Names experience.
At Holy Names University, we understand that your career may look entirely different from other students in clinical psychology master’s programs in California. We designed our counseling psychology degree to be as versatile as possible. Our program gives you the opportunity to receive a diverse education in the classroom and real-world experience in a field unit. As an alumnus, you’ll have the education and experience to enter a variety of professional environments.
Program Highlights
Real-word experience: students complete a field placement/traineeship with a partner agency.
Flexible course schedule: courses are offered in late afternoons, evenings, and weekends.
Learn from working professionals: our faculty members are experienced clinicians and researchers.
Regular campus workshops and lectures with local partners and professionals.
Free licensing exam preparation, which leads to above-average MFT Licensing Exam pass rates for HNU graduates.