Degrees, Licensure & Certificates
Degree Requirements
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 in the program's core curriculum and in all subsequent requirements. A total of 60 credits are required. In addition, two evaluative experiences are required to monitor the progress of matriculated students. The first follows the student's completion of 10 academic courses and precedes the internship placement. Before beginning the internship placement each student must formally demonstrate the academic and personal readiness to be an ethical and responsible counselor-in-training. The second is a capstone experience requiring MEd candidates to demonstrate their ability to apply, integrate, and synthesize what they have learned. The nature of the capstone experience is described below.
School Counseling
Required courses (60 credits):
Graduate courses in research in psychology, medical aspects of disabilities, principles of assessment, ethical standards and professional issues in counseling, abnormal psychology, vocational development, counseling theories and practice, individual counseling, lifespan human development, family therapy theories, orientation to professional school counseling, group counseling, perspectives in cross-cultural counseling, and child abuse and neglect such as:
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COUNSL 601 Research & Evaluation in Psychology |
COUNSL 613 Vocational Development & Career Information |
COUNSL 630 Orientation to Professional School Counseling |
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COUNSL 602 Medical & Psychological Aspects of Disabilities |
COUNSL 614 Counseling Theory & Practice |
COUNSL 650 Group Counseling for Children & Adolescents |
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COUNSL 605 Principles of Vocational, Educational & Psychological Assessment |
COUNSL 617 Child & Adolescent Counseling |
COUNSL 653 Perspectives in Cross-Cultural Counseling |
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COUNSL 606 Ethical Standards & Professional Issues in Counseling |
COUNSL 620 Clinical Application of Human Development |
COUNSL 635 Behavioral Counseling |
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COUNSL 608 Abnormal Psychology |
COUNSL 622 Family Therapy Theories |
COUNSL 632 Collaborative Consultation in Schools |
Required field experience:
COUNSL 688 (Practicum) (100 hours)
COUNSL 698 (Internship) (two semesters: 300 hours per semester, six credits per semester/600 hours and 12 credits total)
Required capstones: Prior to enrolling in the internship, School Counseling students must pass the literacy portion of the Massachusetts Test of Educator Licensure (MTEL). For the MEd in School Counseling students are required to pass two capstone requirements: a workshop presentation and a portfolio, both parts of the internship and seminar experience. Students select an area of interest relevant to the practice of professional school counseling and prepare and present a professional level workshop as part of the second semester Internship Seminar. In addition, a portfolio collection of Internship work samples is required to demonstrate skills and competencies in four areas: counseling, consultation, coordination, and curriculum.
The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS)
The CAGS is designed for students already holding a master’s degree in one of the counseling fields or its equivalent. The professional development opportunities offered through the CAGS curriculum enable students to acquire licensure in a second specialty area, including family therapy, mental health counseling, rehabilitation counseling, and school counseling. Students entering UMass Boston holding a master’s degree in counseling must complete a program of study of at least 30 academic credits, through which they meet the curriculum requirements of one of the above counseling programs as well as licensure requirements. Applicants who are seeking a Master’s degree from one of the four designated programs (Family Therapy, Mental Health Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling and School Counseling) may continue their graduate training beyond the 60 credit Master’s to earn a 78 credit combined MEd or MS/CAGS degree. Students complete 18 credits (or more depending on program and licensure requirements) beyond the 60 credit Master’s in any of the four counseling programs of interest. The additional credits beyond the Master’s degree will enable students to complete the requirements for two programs, preparing graduates to be eligible for dual licensure and additional employment opportunities.
