Combined Bachelor’s - Master’s Degree Programs: M.A. in Counseling Psychology

Qualified undergraduate Psychology majors may take advantage of the opportunity to pursue their M.A. in Counseling Psychology in an accelerated manner through the combined Bachelor’s - Master’s degree program. This program is available for three different tracks in Counseling Psychology: generalist, specialization in school counseling, and specialization in art therapy. It is designed to facilitate the ongoing academic accomplishments of students who have established a record of excellence in Psychology or in Psychology/Art Therapy at the undergraduate level. Acceptance into the program will allow up to 12 Psychology credits to be "double-counted" toward both the B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Counseling Psychology. The student pays undergraduate tuition for graduate courses taken prior to completing the bachelor ’s degree, which is awarded upon completion of the bachelor’s requirements.

Note that the 12 double-counted credits will be designated as “applicable to the graduate degree” only after the student receives the bachelor’s degree and matriculates into the M.A. graduate program, which designation will be canceled if the student withdraws from graduate study before completing the master’s program. In that case, Caldwell College will count the credits only towards the student’s undergraduate degree. Note also that grades below B in required graduate-level courses will necessitate that the student retake that course; grades below B in an elective graduatelevel course will necessitate that the student either re-take the course or take another graduate-level course in substitution. Students will only be permitted to take one graduate course per semester while still an undergraduate (under special circumstances, with permission a student may take two).

Admissions Requirements

Students may apply in the semester prior to the semester during which they intend to begin the combined degree program.

  • Completion of at least 60 undergraduate credits with a minimum 3.3 overall GPA (this minimum must be maintained also for the remainder of the undergraduate coursework)
  • Psychology majors: Completion of PS 150 and PS 207, General Psychology I and II, and PS 232, Psychology of Personality (or their equivalent).
  • Double-majors with an Art Therapy Concentration: completion of at least three of the MA Program’s undergraduate Psychology prerequisites and of AR 111, Drawing; AR 113, 2D Design; and AR 118, 3D Design (or their equivalent).
  • Two letters of Recommendation from undergraduate faculty in Psychology and/or Art (forms provided)
  • Personal interview
  • Completed graduate application form
  • M.A. Counseling Psychology requirement of the GRE/MAT will be waived for students who matriculate through the combined degree program.

Curriculum Substitutions

Students may fulfill undergraduate program requirements or electives with graduate courses according to the tables below.

Toward a Master’s in Counseling Psychology – all options:

Undergraduate Course Graduate Substitute

PS 304 Biopsychology PS 535 Biopsychology
PS 310 Career Counseling PS 633 Career Counseling
PS 312 Applied Behavioral Psychology PS 595 Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis
PS 318 Cross-Cultural Counseling PS 653 Multicultural Counseling
PS 324 Psychology & the Law PS 545 Legal & Ethical Issues in Counseling
PS 330 Psychology of Addiction PS 637 Substance Abuse

Additional Substitutions for M.A. with Art Therapy Specialization:

Undergraduate Course Graduate Substitute

AT 310 Art Therapy Methods ATP 507 Psychology of Art Materials
AT 320 Art Therapy in Practice ATP 501 History & Development of Art Therapy

Additional Substitutions for M.A. with Art Therapy Specialization:

Undergraduate Course Graduate Substitute

PS 210 Child Psychopathology PS 575 Psychopathology & Assessment I
PS 328 Psychology of Learning PS 595 Principles of Applied Behavior Modification