MA in Counseling Psychology | 2026-27 Academic Catalog

The Master’s in Counseling Psychology curriculum builds on the core curriculum emphasizing clinical courses as well as core courses that support the student’s evolving relationship to professional practice. The Master’s in Counseling Psychology meets the educational requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Senate Bill 33, Section 4980.36 of the Business and Professions Code (MFT). This degree also meets the educational requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Senate Bill 788, Section 4999.33 of the Business and Professions Code for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MA IN COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY:

Students are required to complete 92 credits (920 hours) plus 11 credits of fieldwork. Also, a 340 hour traineeship, which includes a minimum of 280 direct service hours, must be completed.
Forty hours of personal therapy in an individual, couple, family, and/or group setting are required. In some cases, this experience may be obtained prior to enrollment in Meridian’s graduate program.
Students have a maximum of six years to complete their Master’s in Counseling Psychology degree from their initial date of enrollment.

Preparation for California Marriage & Family Therapy Licensure

Curricular areas required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences are addressed by the following Master’s in Counseling Psychology coursework:Applied Psychotherapeutic Theories, Principles, and Methods Related to Marriage and Family Therapy:PSY 555, 556, 757: Psychotherapy Integration: Individual and Relational, Psychotherapy Integration with Couples, Psychotherapy Integration with ChildrenPSY 510: Group ProcessHuman CommunicationPSY 510: Group ProcessCultural Competency and Sensitivity:PSY 518: Psychology of Power, Privilege, and CultureHuman Growth and Development:PSY 505: Human DevelopmentPSY 501: PsychopathologyPSY 515: Healing and Transforming TraumaAging and Long-Term CarePSY 505: Human DevelopmentHuman SexualityPSY 772: Human Sexuality in Relational and Cultural ContextsPsychopharmacologyPSY 770: Principles of PsychopharmacologyCalifornia Laws and Professional EthicsPSY 520: Culture and the LawPSY 525: Career DevelopmentSpousal or Partner Abuse, Assessment, and InterventionPSY 556: Psychotherapy Integration with CouplesChild Abuse Assessment and ReportingPSY 520: Culture and the LawPsychological TestingPSY 776: Psychological Assessment: Principles and PracticesPsychopathologyPSY 501: PsychopathologyResearch MethodologyMER 590: Research MethodsSubstance Use, Co-Occurring Disorders, and AddictionPSY 530: Ecstatic States and CultureCase Management and Public & Private Systems of CarePSY 771: Resilience, Recovery, and Systems of CareSupervised PracticumPSY 751-753: Clinical Practicum: Therapeutic Contexts, Clinical Practicum: Therapy and Culture, Clinical Practicum: Classical ApproachesPSY 597: Supervised Fieldwork

Preparation for California Professional Clinical Counselor Licensure

Curricular areas required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for the LPCC are addressed by the following Master’s in Counseling Psychology coursework:Core Content AreasANC 101 Introduction to Transformative LearningANC 105 Emotional DevelopmentANC 110 Relational DevelopmentPSY 501 PsychopathologyPSY 518 Psychology of Power, Privilege, and CulturePSY 520 Culture and the LawPSY 525 Career DevelopmentPSY 510 Group ProcessPSY 771 Resilience, Recovery, and Systems of CarePSY 515 Healing and Transforming TraumaPSY 530 Ecstatic States and CulturePSY 555, 556, 757 Psychotherapy Integration: Individual and Relational, Psychotherapy Integration with Couples, Psychotherapy Integration with FamiliesPSY 505 Human DevelopmentPSY 776 Psychological Assessment: Principles and PracticesPSY 770 Principles of PsychopharmacologyPSY 772 Human Sexuality in Relational and Cultural ContextsAdvanced Coursework/ Specific IssuesANC 130 Transformative Learning PraxisMER 590 Research Methods and Program EvaluationPSY 770 Principles in PsychopharmacologySupervised PracticumPSY 751-753 Clinical Practicum: Therapeutic Contexts, Clinical Practicum: Therapy and Culture, Clinical Practicum Classical ApproachesPSY 597 Supervised Fieldwork