Counseling Psychology M.A. Application Information

Admission Requirements

Students are accepted into the program based on academic record, human services experience, demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication, and the potential for becoming effective and ethical psychotherapists. Applicants are screened first on the basis of their application materials, and some are invited to move forward to the interview process. Students are admitted during the Fall semester only.

When evaluating applications to the program, we consider the following:

• Submission of a complete application packet via CalState Apply by the application deadline
• GPA: When calculating GPA, we include GPAs from all transcripts, including community colleges and transfer
  universities. We do not admit students with a GPA under 3.0
• Previous experience in the helping profession is a priority, like working as a school aide, in ABA, at a crisis
  line, peer mentorship, volunteering at a community mental health agency, etc. Working at a coffee shop, for
  example, while it is a service position, would not be considered a helping role.
• Research experience is also encouraged. This can include participating in a faculty member’s lab. Writing
  research papers for a course would not count.
• Strength of the letters of recommendations (at least two are required; three are encouraged). We suggest having
  at least one letter by a faculty member who knows the applicant well, and at least one letter by someone who
  supervised the applicant in a helping role.
• Quality of all written essays and statements, reflecting the core principles of our program and a potential for
  becoming an effective and ethical psychotherapist
• Completion of pre-requisite courses before the start of the program. If some courses have not yet been taken at
  the time of application submission, applicants can note their plan to take those courses during the summer. If
  accepted into the program, acceptance would be conditional to completion of those courses. This should be the
  exception rather than the norm.

All of the following course are required to be completed before the start of the program:

• Introduction Research Design
• Introduction to Statistics
• Introduction to Psychology

In addition, at least two of the following are required:

• Abnormal Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Personality Theory
• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Interviewing and Counseling

Policy on Personal Therapy

The Counseling Program requires trainees to undergo a minimum of 20 hours of individual psychotherapy, specifically
during the time they are in the program. We predict that personal issues will surface in class, in supervision, in reading
materials, and during sessions with clients which will need to be dealt with in order to be an effective counselor. Additionally, having had personal experience as a client makes the counselor role much more relevant and understandable to most trainees.

Please note that students will need to file for, and receive, approval from the Program Coordinator before beginning to
accrue personal psychotherapy hours. This is to ensure that the practitioner possesses the appropriate credentials and
that the form/modality will provide sufficient support to the student, based on the standards of the Counseling
Committee.