BA in Psychology, Preparation for Advanced Study in Counseling

Build upon your psychology degree with four courses that introduce the student to the world of counseling. This focus prepares the student for the advanced study necessary for a career in counseling.

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Preparation for Advanced Study in Counseling, is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in counseling, which requires an advanced degree. Students complete the full psychology degree coursework, along with their counseling courses. This provides an excellent broad-based foundation for continuing graduate study. This concentration introduces students to counseling and lays the groundwork for a graduate degree, such as a MA in Marriage and Family Therapy or a MA in Professional Clinical Counseling.

Students will:

  • Take four courses in this concentration, each of which addresses a different aspect of counseling.
  • Be introduced to the various options and settings for potential counseling positions.
  • Connect psychological theory to real-life applications.
  • Learn to work with various populations.
  • Focus on individual differences, normal and abnormal behavior, mental and emotional health, and mental disorders and their prevention.

Next Session

Spring I (Jan 6, 2025)

Estimated Tuition

$500/Credit

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Ways to Learn

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    The professors realized I have a life and wanted to pursue my dreams. They didn’t make me feel like I had to choose between family and school. They made me feel like I could be successful in both.
    Dominique H.
    BA, Psychology
    All of my instructors inspired me. They were working in the field as well as teaching, so the stories they shared made it relatable and attainable. The staff and faculty are all very positive and provide motivation for the students.
    Quinton J.
    BA, Psychology

    Admission Requirements

    Applicants for this program must complete the formal application process and submit required documents. Documents required vary based on the number of transferable credits and include:

    0 - 11 TRANSFERABLE CREDITS

    • High school diploma or GED equivalent
    • Official high school transcript indicating the date of graduation

    12 OR MORE TRANSFERABLE CREDITS

    • A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
    • Provide official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended
    active military?

    Admissibility and minimum transfer credit awarded will be determined based on the Community College of the Air Force, SMART, AARTS or JST transcripts.

    Transcripts

    Only credits from regionally accredited institutions may be accepted in transfer. Failure to report any previous academic work at another college or university may be considered a violation of academic integrity.

    HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT UNDERGRADUATE REQUIREMENTS? Request more information>

    Ways to Get Started

    Program Curriculum

    • Bachelor degrees require students to complete a minimum of 120 semester units which include a combination of General Education requirements and program specific requirements. In the absence of sufficient transfer credit, students may need to take additional general electives to satisfy the 120 total units for the degree which a UMass Global Academic Advisor will help you evaluate.

       

      Code Course Name Credits
      Basic Skills 12
      ENGU103 Writing Communication I: Writing and Rhetoric 3
      ENGU 104 Written Communication II: Writing About Literature 3
      MATU 103 Applied Mathematics 3
      COMU 101 Public Speaking 1 3

      		Quantitative reasoning 3

      		Oral communication 3
      Breadth Requirements 24
      Humanities Select from 3 different areas: Communications, English, Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, Humanities, Liberal Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies 9
      Natural Sciences Select 6 credits 6
      Social Sciences Select from 3 different areas: Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Economics, History, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, Political Science/Legal Studies, Psychology, Social Sciences, Social Work, Sociology 9
      Liberal Education Foundations 6
      LBSU 302 Information Fluency and Academic Integrity 3
      LBSU 304 Liberal Arts Core Foundations 3
      Total Credits 42

    • Code Course Name Credits
      PSYU 101 Introduction to Psychology

      3
      MATU 203 Introduction to Statistics

      3
      PSYU 301 Scientific Writing in Behavioral Social Sciences

      3
      PSYU 304 Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences

      3
      PSYU 306 Critical Thinking

      3
      PSYU 320 Human Development across the Lifespan

      3
      PSYU 328 Abnormal Psychology

      3
      PSYU 333 Physiological Psychology

      3
      PSYU 336 Social Psychology

      3
      PSYU 351 History and Systems of Psychology

      3
      PSYU 421 Cross-Cultural Psychology 3 
      PSYU 480 Psychology Capstone

      3
      Core Foundation in Psychological Science Subtotal

      36
      Concentration

      15
      Students will select a concentration from the options below. *

       
      Concentration Subtotal

      15
      Total Credits

      48

    • The preparation for advanced study in counseling concentration is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in counseling, which requires a higher level of education specific to this field. The students who choose this concentration will be provided with a variety of courses that address the study of counseling. In addition, clinical issues specific to mental health will be explored. This concentration provides students with a strong background to proceed to a graduate degree in counseling, including University of Massachusetts Global's Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and Master of Arts in Professional Clinical Counseling.

      Code Course Name Credits
      PSYU 450 Introduction to Counseling

      3
      PSYU 455 Family Systems and Dynamics

      3
      PSYU 418 Community Mental Health

      3
      PSYU 471 Issues in Aging

      3
      Total Credits

      12

    Ways to Get Started

    Meet Our Faculty

    Karina Bravo, Ph.D., LMFT

    arts-sciences

    Dr. Karina Bravo

    Assistant Professor of Psychology

    Specialty

    Marriage and Family Therapy

    Parenting

    Early Childhood Mental Health
    Marnie_Elam

    arts-sciences

    Dr. Marnie Elam

    Professor of Psychology

    Specialty

    Psychology

    Marriage and Family Therapy

    Professional Clinical Counseling
    Jenny Good

    arts-sciences

    Dr. Jennifer Good

    Associate Professor of Psychology

    Specialty

    Psychology

    Older Adults

    Depression and Anxiety
    Jennifer Hayes PhD headshot in black and white

    arts-sciences

    Dr. Jennifer Hayes

    Assistant Professor of Psychology

    Specialty

    Marriage and Family Therapy

    Professional Clinical Counseling

    Psychology

    Complex Trauma
    All arts & sciences faculty
    piggy-bank

    Tuition & Degree Timeline Calculator

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    Please contact an enrollment coach to learn more at apply@umassglobal.edu .

    UMass Global cannot guarantee the transfer of credits. Transfers are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on equivalent courses in the degree program. All credits, both transfer and from past experience, are given at UMass Global’s discretion. Please contact the office of Admission for more information at apply@umassglobal.edu.

    Please note that your Time-Cost Calculator results are only an estimate and do not include additional costs for items such as textbooks or university fees. In addition, transfer credits need to be reviewed and accepted by the university before applying to your program. For an in-depth estimate of university costs, please use the Net Price Calculator, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Their tool considers more variables, such as living expenses, to help undergraduate students estimate the total cost of university attendance. The Time-Cost Calculator does not replace the Net Price Calculator

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