M.A. in Counseling Psychology

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Program Chair:
Bryan Kim, Ph.D. (bryankim@hawaii.edu)
Department of Psychology
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
200 West Kawili Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Tel: (808) 974-7439
Web Site: http://counseling.uhh.hawaii.edu/

Faculty:
B. Christopher Frueh, Ph.D. frueh@hawaii.edu
Steve Herman, Ph.D. hermans@hawaii.edu
Bryan Kim, Ph. D. bryankim@hawaii.edu
Errol Yudko, Ph.D. errol@hawaii.edu

Program Description

Counseling psychology as a psychological specialty aims at facilitating personal and interpersonal functioning across the life span with a focus on emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns. Through the integration of theory, research, and practice, and with a sensitivity to multicultural issues, this specialty encompasses a broad range of practices that help people improve their well-being, alleviate distress and maladjustment, resolve crises, and increase their ability to live more highly functioning lives. Counseling psychology is unique in its attention both to normal developmental issues and to problems associated with physical, emotional, and mental disorders. (Counseling Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association, http://www.div17.org/Students/whatis.htm)

Mission Statement

The mission of the Master of Arts program in counseling psychology is to provide multicultural, student-centered, graduate training in counseling psychology. The program is designed to train students to become knowledgeable, skillful, ethical counselors who will be able to help people in need of professional counseling services. For students who may wish to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology later, the program provides training in advanced statistics and research methodology. It also offers opportunities for students to gain research experience by participating in ongoing projects and/or by initiating their own research projects or a Master’s Thesis. The program assigns a high priority to meeting the educational and personal needs of its students and is based on a scientist-practitioner model, with an emphasis on empirical research and evidence-based practices.

Program Goals

1. To provide students with the knowledge and skills to counsel clients from different ethnic, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds;
2. To provide students with a broad understanding of general counseling theory and practice;
3. To provide students with the knowledge of the social, psychological, health, and economic problems that people of Hawai’i face along with the professional skills to help people cope with and manage these problems in the future;
4. To prepare students for the academic requirements of a doctoral degree in counseling psychology or a related field.

Prospects for Graduates

The Graduates of the program will be able to seek employment as professional counselors. Employment prospects for professional counselors are good in Hawaiʻi and in many other areas of the United States. Currently a shortage of qualified counselors exists, and employment opportunities in this field are expected to grow at a faster than average rate over the coming years. Professional counselors may find employment in a wide variety of settings, including the following:

• Community mental health clinics
• Public and private elementary and secondary schools
• Colleges and universities
• Correctional facilities
• Vocational rehabilitation centers
• Job training and career counseling centers
• Residential care facilities
• Drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs and agencies
• Private practice settings
• Mental hospitals and psychiatric wards
• General medical hospitals and other healthcare facilities
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Child welfare and other family assistance agencies
• Military settings

Licensure

The program curriculum meets the requirements for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in the state of Hawaiʻi. See the following website at the Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for additional information: http://hawaii.gov/dcca/areas/pvl/programs/mental/.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program, students must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. A baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution;
2. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
3. A strong background in psychology or a closely-related field, with a minimum of 15 semester hours of course work in psychology; strongly recommended are an introductory or survey of psychology, statistical techniques, research methods, and at least two 300-level or higher psychology courses. For these 15 semester hours, similar courses in closely-related fields of study may also be acceptable;
4. At least one 3-credit course in statistics and one 3-credit course in research methods from any discipline;
5. A score of 550 on the TOEFL (required of applicants for whom English is not their native language and whose undergraduate degree was earned in a non-English speaking country).

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Eligible applications are reviewed by the Psychology Graduate Admissions Committee which uses multiple criteria for the assessment of applicants. Admission is selective. Priority will be given to students applying for full-time enrollment. Depending on program needs, a few outstanding applicants for part-time enrollment may be admitted.

Application Procedure

The application priority deadline for Fall admission is February 1. Applications received in the UH Hilo Graduate Office of Admissions after the deadline will be considered only on a space available basis by the program. Students who submit applications after the February 1 deadline may not be eligible for certain types of financial aid.

Complete applications that meet the minimum admission requirements will be forwarded to the Psychology Department’s Graduate Admissions Committee which will review each application. Admission decisions will be made by this committee and forwarded to the UH Hilo Graduate Office of Admissions.

The UH Hilo Graduate Office of Admissions receives applications and supporting documents and maintains the applications through final notification. In general, for applications received by the priority deadline, Admissions will notify each applicant of acceptance or rejection by March 15.

Applicants must submit all of the following items:

1. UH Hilo Graduate application form;
2. Application fee;
3. Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended (must be received directly from the institution or in a sealed envelope if submitted with your application);
4. Personal statement (see the program website);
5. Resume;
6. Three professional recommendation letters, which may use the special recommendation forms (not required, however) included with the application materials. The recommendations should be sent directly to the UH Hilo Graduate Office of Admissions by the referees;
7. GRE general test scores (sent to UH Hilo directly by the testing service).

In addition, international applicants must submit the following items:

• Supplementary Information Form for Foreign Students (http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/forms/);
• TOEFL scores (if English is not the applicant’s native language);
• Official college transcripts in the original language accompanied by official translations into English.

Applications will be considered only when all of the above documents have been received. For more detailed information and to download application forms, students may use the program website. Application forms also may be obtained from the UH Hilo Graduate Office of Admissions:

Transfer of Credits

Requests for transfer of credits must be made during the first semester in which the student is enrolled in the program. Students will need to obtain departmental approval for all credit transfers. Only credit hours with a grade of “B” or better from accredited universities are transferable. Credit hours for practicum and internship courses are not transferable. Transfer credit hours must have been completed within five years prior to admission.

Program Curriculum

Total semester hours required: 60

1. Required courses (50 semester hours):
   • PSY 601 (4) Applied Multivariate Statistics
   • PSY 602 (3) Research Methodology and Program Evaluation
   • PSY 603 (3) Psychological Assessment
   • PSY 604 (3) Professional Identity, Ethics, and Legal Issues
   • PSY 611 (3) Lifespan Human Development
   • PSY 612 (3) Career Development
   • PSY 613 (3) Psychopathology over the Lifespan
   • PSY 620 (3) Counseling Theory
   • PSY 622 (4) Group Work and Counseling
   • PSY 623 (3) Social and Cultural Foundations
   • PSY 624 (3) Counseling Skills
   • PSY 640 (6) Counseling Practicum
   • PSY 659 (9) Internship
2. Electives (10 semester hours required):
   • PSY 614 (3) Family System
   • PSY 641 (3) School Behavior, Adjustment, and Problems
   • PSY 642 (3) Educational and Vocational Assessment
   • PSY 643 (3) School and Career Guidance and Consultation
   • PSY 651 (3) Theories of Family Counseling
   • PSY 652 (3) Couple Counseling
   • PSY 694 (3) Advanced Topics
   • PSY 699 (3) Directed Studies
   • PSY 700 (3) Thesis Research (repeatable)