M.A. in Counselling Psychology

The aim of the M.A. (non-thesis) in Counselling Psychology (Professional/Internship) is to produce graduates

1. who are trained in the major applied areas of Counselling
2. who will be qualified to work in a variety of settings where educational, vocational, personal, and developmental counselling is offered
3. who have had an extensive supervised internship in either a clinical or educational setting

The training program emphasizes:

1. Career and vocational theory and development
2. Individual and group counselling skills
3. Integrating multicultural, gender, and other diversity theories into practice
4. Diagnosis and assessment procedures

The program provides field placements in the Montreal area in diverse settings related to students' interests. These placements extend students' experiences to clinical settings. Most internship opportunities are in academic and school settings.

This degree requires two years (four semesters) and one summer term of full-time study.

This program qualifies graduates for membership into the Ordre des conseillers et conseillères d'orientation du Québec (OCCOQ). Regarding specific requirements for professional practice, students are advised to consult with the licensing bodies of the province, territory, or state where they wish to practice after their studies. For students planning on remaining in Quebec, please consult the Accreditation section of our website for links on the various accrediting bodies of Counselling Psychology for more information on licensing and professional activities in the field of mental health and human relations for psychologists and counsellors in Quebec.

Graduates typically enter the workforce as counsellors after successful completion of this stream. Students who wish to proceed from this stream to the McGill Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology have to demonstrate substantial competence in research.

To be eligible applicants must hold either:

1. A baccalaureate degree in psychology, including statistics, theories of personality, history and systems of psychology, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, and social psychology (18 credit core), with a minimum CGPA of 3.2 out of 4.0 over the final two years of full-time study in this degree.

OR

2. A baccalaureate degree in a field other than psychology, with a minimum CGPA of 3.2 out of 4.0 over the final two years of full-time study in this degree, and sufficient academic preparation to meet the following requirements:
   • 18 credits in psychology (consisting of core courses as listed above) and up to 24 credits in related disciplines in the social sciences.
     View a list of the 18 credits in Psychology courses: (M.A. Professional/Internship Pre-Admission Academic Checklist: counsellingmainternshipchecklist.doc).
     
     Please make sure to consult the provided Counselling Psychology Pre-Admission Academic Domains Guide [.pdf] for information and assistance in determining how to categorize courses when completing the Pre-Admission Academic Checklist provided in the 'How to Apply' section below.

Important Note on CGPA Requirements: Please be aware that a CGPA of 3.2 out of 4.0 over the final two years of full-time study in the successful completion of a Bachelor's degree is a minimum requirement only and does not guarantee acceptance. The average CGPA of all students admitted into the Counselling Psychology, MA: Internship Concentration for the fall 2010 semester was 3.68 out of 4.0.

If you are an international student and wish to find out whether you qualify under McGill University's CGPA Guidelines for Graduate Admissions please visit: International CGPA Equivalency

The aim of the M.A.(Non-Thesis) in Counselling Psychology – Project is to produce graduates with introductory academic preparation for research or clinical careers in counselling psychology.

Training is provided in the research domain through coursework in data analysis and a research project. Clinical preparation is initiated in the program through coursework in ethics, intervention, assessment, psychological testing, and multicultural issues, and through a practicum.

The program is intended to give students research preparation for doctoral training. The degree alone does not fulfill the requirements for membership in the orders that certify either guidance counsellors (OCCOQ) or psychologists (OPQ) in Quebec.

This degree is typically completed in four semesters over two years.

Graduates of this stream typically enter a doctoral program.

To be eligible applicants must hold:

• A baccalaureate degree in psy­chology consisting of 42 credits of core courses in specific domains.
  View a list of courses: (M.A. Research Project Pre-Admission Academic Checklist: counsellingmaprojectchecklist.doc).
  
  Please make sure to consult the provided Counselling Psychology Pre-Admission Academic Domains Guide [.pdf] for information and assistance in determining how to categorize courses when completing the Pre-Admission Academic Checklist.

If you are an international student and wish to find out whether you qualify under McGill University's CGPA Guidelines for Graduate Admissions, visit International CGPA Equivalency .

Applicants are required to identify a prospective supervisor(s) with research interests in common with their own prior to submitting their application to the Counselling Psychology program. After doing so, applicants will need to indicate the staff member on their online application form.

View information on Counselling Psychology Faculty Members.

Submission of Documentation: Applicants must collect all required documents (including transcripts and letters of reference, both in signed and sealed envelopes) for submission in one package to the Department by the application deadline (December 15th).

• Prospective applicants should ensure that they have taken the appropriate courses before beginning their application. This can be done by reviewing the relevant Pre-Admission Academic Checklists (see item 6 below) to ensure that they meet admission requirements.
• Applicants to the Project Concentration should make email contact with individual Counselling Psychology professors prior to applying in order to explore the fit between their own research interests and those of the professor. We suggest that in an exploratory email, you make an initial statement about the area of your research interests and enclose a current CV. View information on Counselling Psychology Faculty Members.
• Below is a checklist of all materials that are needed for a complete application to the M.A. Counselling Psychology (non-thesis) – program for both Project and Professional/Internship concentrations.
  1. Completed McGill online application form.
     Applicants to the Project Concentration must include the name(s) of their prospective supervisor on their web application.
  2. Two (2) official copies of all university transcripts (sent directly to the Department).
  3. A current CV (format based on M.A. Curriculum Vitae Form [.doc] template, please type directly into this template and adjust the format accordingly. Please do not write by hand).
  4. Three (3) completed M.A. Letter of Reference Form [.pdf] . In addition to completing this form, referees are invited, but not required, to write a separate letter of recommendation.
  5. A letter of intent NO LONGER than 500 words that includes:
     • your reasons for applying to the pro­gram,
     • your career aspirations,
     • any information that you believe the admissions committee should know about, and
     • a statement of research interest (for applicants to the Project concentration only)
  6. Completed Pre-Admission Academic Checklist.
     Please Note: The project concentration and the professional/internship concentration each have their own checklist. Be sure to select the appropriate checklist for your desired concentration:
     • M.A. Research Project Pre-Admission Academic Checklist: counsellingmaprojectchecklist.doc.
     • M.A. Professional/Internship Pre-Admission Academic Checklist: counsellingmainternshipchecklist.doc.

  Please make sure to consult the provided Counselling Psychology Pre-Admission Academic Domains Guide [.pdf] for information and assistance in determining how to categorize courses when completing the Pre-Admission Academic Checklist.

These forms are used by applicants to indicate the names of the courses they have completed that fulfill the requirement for this program. Prospective applicants should ensure that they have taken the appropriate courses before beginning their application.

• Application Deadline for M.A. Counselling Psychology (Non-Thesis) program is December 15th, of each year, for Fall (September) admittance.
• Please note: All application materials must be received before our admissions committee begins to review a file.
• Applicants will be informed of the admission committee's decision by April 1st.
• Remember, all applicants to the Counselling Psychology program are required to submit an application package directly to the department and submit an online application to McGill University.
• Completed Applications should be sent to:
  
  Alexander Nowak, Graduate Program Advisor
  Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology
  Faculty of Education
  McGill University
  3700 McTavish Street, Room 614
  Montreal, QC, Canada
  H3A 1Y2

In addition to the information provided on this website, all applicants should also visit the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office website for information on admissions and funding, as well as the requisite standardized tests (TOEFL).

If you have questions about the program after reading the information provided on this website, or if you are having problems with your application, please send an email to: counsellingpsych [dot] education [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Counselling Psychology, General Information)