Towson offers a graduate-level counseling psychology program with the flexibility
to achieve diverse educational and career goals. The counseling psychology concentration
provides the necessary training to become a licensed clinical professional counselor
(LCPC) or to pursue advanced training at the doctoral level.
Students learn to facilitate personal, educational, vocational and group adjustment
across the lifespan. They are prepared to work in a in a variety of settings such
as community mental health agencies, group homes, university career and counseling
centers, rehabilitation programs, substance abuse treatment centers and psychiatric
hospitals.
Tracks within the Counseling Psychology Concentration
In this concentration you can pursue either the practitioner track or the research
track.
Practitioner Track
The practitioner track prepares you to work as a counselor or therapist at the master's
level. The curriculum of the program maps directly onto the requirements for licensure
in Maryland, and can be applied in other states. Graduates of the practitioner track
may also choose to continue their education in a doctoral program.
Research Track
The research track provides you with the experience, knowledge and skills required
for successful PhD program admission. Students on the research track gain intensive
training and mentorship in research methodology, statistics, and design by completing
a master’s thesis under the supervision of a faculty member in your area of interest.
Following graduation, you may apply to doctoral program in counseling psychology or
a related field, or pursue licensure at the master’s level.
Accreditation Information
Accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC)
for the period of February, 2016 though February, 2026.
Program Statistics At A Glance
In compliance with our program’s MPCAC accreditation, the following information represents
a snapshot of our program’s statistics:
Applicant and Student Information:
Number of Applications received to matriculate in academic year 2019-2020: 63 Of those applications, number of students admitted: 21 Of those admitted, number of students newly enrolled in academic year 2019-2020: 12
Of those who were newly enrolled in AY 2019-2020, number who continued this fall (fall
2020) into year two (first year retention rate) 11
Total number of students enrolled in the program during the academic year 2019-2020:
37 Number of students who graduated in the academic year 2019-2020: 17
Number of full-time students who started the program and graduated within the expected
time frame (two or three years, depending on your program length). This would NOT
include part-time students who graduated in the AY 2019-2020: 14
Percent of students who enrolled in the program in fall 2015 (AY 2015-2016) who graduated
from the program (5-year graduation rate): (17/17) 100%
Percent of those who graduated in the years 2016 to 2018 who became fully licensed
and/or credentialed (as mental health counselors, professional counselors, BCBA, substance
abuse counselors or other similar titles): 85.7%
Percent of those who graduated in 2019-2020 who became certified or licensed (depending
on your state's regulations) as school counselors: 0%
Please enter the percentage of courses taught by adjunct or part-time faculty over
the 2019-2020 AY: 18.7%
the 2019-2020 AY
Faculty Information:
Full time faculty: 4 Full-Time Faculty (2 African American, 1 Asian American, 1 Caucasian) Part time faculty: 4 (3 female, 1 male; 3 Caucasian, 1 Latinx) Adjunct faculty: 6 (3 female, 3 male; 3 Caucasian, 1 Latinx, 1 African-American)
Working Towards Licensure
The program allows you to accumulate as many as 1,000 of the 3,000 supervised hours
required for licensure while in the master's program. Faculty members work closely
with students to ensure clinical requirements are met.
Towson’s counseling psychology program is unique in the area as it operates from a
small cohort-based model. This model allows students to receive excellent advising
and mentoring from faculty to best meet their individual career goals. Students and
faculty get to know each other well and faculty are committed to fostering strong
mentoring relationships with all students.
Focus on Multiculturalism and Social Justice
The counseling concentration at Towson University is strongly committed to providing
excellent training in multicultural competence and social justice work. As we prepare
students to work in a diverse world, there is a strong emphasis on developing cultural
competence throughout the curriculum, including in courses, practicum and internship
experiences and extra-curricular activities.
Flexible Schedule
Students can complete their degree requirements in two calendar years with full-time
attendance. However, some students opt to attend part-time. Courses meet once a week
for 2.5 hours and every attempt is made to schedule them together to minimize the
number of days students need to come to campus. Our program works to accommodate students who work full- or part-time while attending
graduate school.
Prepare for Licensure as a Professional Counselor
The curriculum of the counseling concentration at Towson University aligns directly
with the requirements for licensure in Maryland as a Licensed Clinical Professional
Counselor (LCPC). Students interested in pursuing the LCPC will have completed the
majority of the state’s requirements for licensure, as well as up to 1000 of the 3000
supervised clinical hours required. Faculty members work closely with students to
ensure placement at a practicum agency and to ensure that clinical requirements are
met. Additionally, students are well-prepared for the National Counselor Examination
(NCE) that is required in most states for licensure as a professional counselor. Among
alumni who have graduated within the last three years (2013-2015) and have taken the
NCE, 100% have passed the exam.
