MA in Counseling
Alert icon Applications for Fall 2027 are now open!
Master of Arts in Counseling (45 unit)
Our vision imagines a region and world in which everyone has access to an inspiring education and the psychological tools and support to propel them toward flourishing lives of meaning, purpose and connection. Our education is characterized by Strong Values, Social Justice, Transformative, Diverse Community.
Students should be aware that this degree does not lead to eligibility for licensure as a master’s-level psychotherapist. Under state regulations, courses completed in this program cannot later be transferred to a licensure-track program.
Graduates have pursued careers in fields such as academic counseling within community colleges, career counseling, and student affairs in higher education. The degree may also provide relevant graduate-level preparation for students considering doctoral study in clinical, counseling, or school psychology. Because doctoral admission requirements vary and often emphasize research experience, students should review the requirements of their intended programs and consult with a faculty advisor when planning their coursework.
Students may also choose courses focused on one of our concentration areas.
MA in Counseling Highlights
Curriculum & Electives
| Core Curriculum: 30 units, 10 courses | Elective Options: 15 units |
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| Comprehensive Exam in Counseling
Focus of the comprehensive exam will center on the theory and practice of counseling in non-mental-health care settings. |
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Concentrations
We offer five specialized interest areas. Our concentrations function like a minor. Students who don't choose a concentration may choose from a variety of electives. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Concentration is similar to the concentration, but requires additional elective coursework.
Latine Counseling
A focus on culturally and linguistically appropriate counseling experiences centered on a deep understanding of Latine culture, ethnicity, acculturation, and immigration.
Health Psychology
Apply psychology to issues of well-being, stress and stress management, the modification of health behaviors, health promotion, wellness, and disease prevention.
LGBTQ+ Counseling
Offering training in the application of counseling to issues of gender, diversity in sexual identity and expression, oppression, discrimination, and acculturation, among other topics.
Community Mental Health
Offers training to counselors seeking to work with individuals, youth, and families navigating complex systems and structural barriers.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Students will be trained to develop greater proficiency in supporting children, teens, and young adults. Coursework will focus on: issues in early intervention and infancy; issues in school-based settings; developmentally-appropriate interventions; working with disabled children and youth; trauma- informed care; evidence-based approaches to working with children and youth, including short term therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, expressive arts therapy, family therapy, and much more.
"After having just graduated from UC Berkeley, I was seeking a program that would provide me both a community and a solid academic foundation. And today I am so grateful to say that 91影视’s Counseling and Psychology program gave me exactly that. It’s because of the relationships, the knowledge, and the practice I received from this program did I then have the opportunity to become the type of therapist I had sought out to be."
- Kim Panelo Xue, ’10, Counseling Psychology