MA in Counseling Psychology

Reimagining Professional Practice

Degree Description

At Meridian University, our Master's in Counseling Psychology program offers a transformative journey that empowers students to realize their professional aspirations and excel in their therapeutic practices. This program is designed not merely to impart knowledge, but to instill the virtues that define a counselor's character.

Meridian University places a profound emphasis on the pursuit of meaning, a profound desire to aid others, and an acute sensitivity to the unique challenges of our era. As a student in our program, you will embark on a meaningful exploration of the historical foundations of psychology, delving into the rich tapestry of modalities through which healing, growth, and transformation can be achieved.

The MA in Counseling Psychology program is grounded in the belief that psychology's roots stretch deep into the core of human healing, all while providing students with a comprehensive skill set to navigate the arising complexities of the modern world. This, we believe, embodies the bridge between what we might call sacred purpose and professional practice.

At Meridian, we recognize that the path to becoming an effective counselor transcends academic learning alone; it is a profound journey that demands a resolute commitment to your own personal development. As a student, you will engage with diverse perspectives and develop the proficiency to navigate the intricate dimensions of the human psyche.

In just two to three years, Meridian’s integral and participatory approach to education will prepare you for licensure educational eligibility in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and Professional Clinical Counseling (LPCC) across multiple states. Therefore, the MA in Counseling Psychology program underscores the paramount importance of cultivating clinical skills, both in theory and practice. But going beyond these essential components; we are also devoted to your personal growth and self-discovery, aligning with a more holistic approach to learning.

The MA in Counseling Psychology program is meticulously designed to enable you to make a lasting impact, offering essential support, guidance, and healing to those in need. Join us at Meridian University and become part of a community that celebrates your unique qualities and empowers you to excel in the profound and purposeful realm of counseling psychology. Discover with us the transformative power of education and prepare to create a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of others.

MA in Counseling Psychology

Lili Jeree W.

Hear from Meridian student, Lili Jeree Weckler, what it takes to seek depth and how Meridian University offered her a process of learning that allowed Lili to be present with the power of vulnerability as a starting point for learning. Transformative learning offered the safe container needed to allow these deep feelings to move through, and ultimately it paved the way to help discover a calling to help others that are in need of safe places.

State Licensure

The Meridian student body is global. Students in the US can seek educational eligibility for licensure in multiple states and for multiple license types. Map is for illustrative purposes. For detailed license information per state, click below. In another state or region not listed below? Contact the Admissions Team for more information.

STATE LICENSURE DETAILS
meridian university is licensure map
meridian university is licensure map
California
MFT and LPCC
meridian university is licensure map
Alaska
MFT
meridian university is licensure map
Tennessee
LPC
meridian university is licensure map
Maine
MFT and LPC
meridian university is licensure map
Massachusetts
MFT
meridian university is licensure map
Alabama
MFT
meridian university is licensure map
Pennsylvania
LPC
meridian university is licensure map
Illinois
MFT
meridian university is licensure map
Hawaii
MFT and MHC
"We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us."
MARCEL PROUST
Meridian Students

Educational Objectives

  1. To develop leadership capacities which further professional engagement with the profession of psychology.
  2. To develop creative inquiry practices and skills.
  3. To identify one’s own culturally constituted, perceptual lenses.
  4. To acquire the knowledge base of Imaginal Psychology and to differentiate it from the major orientations to Psychology.
  5. To develop competencies for bringing principles and practices of transformative learning into cultural contexts.

At A Glance

Applications Accepted:

Quarterly

Highest Degree Required:

Bachelors

Learning Formats:

Hybrid & Online

Program Length:

24-36 Months

Total Credits Required:

92 Credits

Cost Per Credit:

$676

Accreditation:

WASC

Graduation Requirements

  • Students are required to complete 103 credits (920 hours) of which 11 credits are from fieldwork (340 hours).
  • Students have a maximum of six (6) years from their initial date of enrollment to complete their Master’s in Counseling Psychology degree.
  • Students must complete 40 hours of personal exploration in a psychotherapeutic process.

Admission Requirements

  • A Bachelor's degree is required for admission to Meridian's graduate degree programs.
  • Students submit an online application form along with documents such as official transcripts, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation. The Admissions Committee reviews all applications and invites select applicants to proceed to an interview. More information is available on the Application Process page.
  • All students are expected to be proficient in the English language as all instruction at Meridian is offered in English.
Woman looks over her shoulder in the library while sitting at desk with laptop.Woman looks over her shoulder in the library while sitting at desk with laptop.Woman looks over her shoulder in the library while sitting at desk with laptop.

Academic Structure

Meridian’s academic structure gives students the flexibility to navigate the University’s curricular architecture in ways that match their passions, professional goals, and other life commitments.

The structure is designed to serve a diverse student body, who live around the globe, have varied cultural and clinical visions for their careers, and are at different stages in their professional journey.

Students enroll in a degree program, can elect a concentration, and register for one or multiple courses each quarter. In addition to core courses for the specific degree program and anchor courses that represent the Transformative Learning intent of Meridian’s curriculum, students select elective courses that align with their Meridian concentration, background, and career path.

Learn More
Learning Format Intro

Learning Formats

Meridian's graduate degree programs are offered in two formats, Hybrid and Online. Each quarter, students take one or multiple seven-week online courses. This schedule provides students with time between quarters to rest, engage, and prepare.

The University's multiple format options are designed to enable students to pursue their graduate education at a flexible pace, combining asynchronous coursework via the University's custom social learning platform, live course video calls with faculty, synchronous student community engagement, and optional onsite or online Transformative Learning Labs in-person.

Students can optionally select Transformative Learning Lab dates, locations, and formats based on their learning style, personal interests, and professional aspirations, if they choose to, based on availability of offerings.

Online Format Learning Format
Online Format Learning Format Icon

Online Format

In Meridian's online learning format, students can complete 100% of their coursework degree requirements online, via Meridian’s unique online learning platform and faculty-led learning model. Meridian’s online format is designed to be highly engaging and deeply human. Students build connections with faculty and fellow graduate students while taking advantage of the flexibility built-in to the University’s online courses model.

Online Transformative Learning Labs are also optionally available (often multiple times a year), sometimes as a 3+ hour live class, and sometimes over multiple days.

Hybrid Format Learning Format
Hybrid Format Learning Format Icon

Hybrid Format

Meridian’s hybrid learning format combines online courses with optional onsite Transformative Learning Labs which are one-week or less. By combining Meridian’s innovative online education methodologies with rich video calls and deep onsite connections, the hybrid format enables students to contribute locally and perceive globally.

When offered, Onsite Labs take place at Meridian’s San Francisco Bay Area Center and other University Centers, based on student interest and availability.

Accreditation and Financial Aid

Meridian University is a degree-granting higher education institution accredited by the Senior Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). As an accreditor, WASC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. WASC is also an accreditor of the University of California, Berkeley, UCLA, and Stanford University.

Meridian is approved by the U.S. Department of Education for participation in the Federal Student Aid programs as well as by the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs for the training of veterans and other eligible persons.

The University is approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide form I-20 to eligible international students, enabling travel to and stay in the United States.

Meridian offers institutional financial aid to qualified international students.

Meridion Celebrate 30 YearsMeridion Celebrate 30 Years Mobile

Submitting

Stay Updated

Sign up below to learn more and stay updated regarding Meridian University's graduate and public programs.

young woman working on laptop

San Francisco Bay Area Center

47 Sixth Street
Petaluma, California 94952
+1 (707) 765-1836

Los Angeles: Water Garden Campus

2450 Colorado Avenue
Santa Monica, California 90404
+1 (310) 876-2001

Athens Center

Ermou 56
Athens 10563, Greece
+30 21 1199 0060

Berlin Center

Greifswalder Strasse 226
10405 Berlin, Germany
+49 30 16637734

Johannesburg Center

Atrium on 5th 9th Floor
5th St, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa
+27 31 822 9032

Shanghai Center

501 Middle Yincheng Road
29/F, Shanghai Tower
Shanghai 200120, China
+86 10 5940 7141

Meridian University Logo