Masters Programs in Counseling in the Seattle-Tacoma Area
A Masters degree in psychology or social work might prepare students for employment in community, non-profit social service agencies, local and federal government programs, and/or private practice groups. With an MA or MSW you might work in mental health clinics, public welfare agencies, family youth centers, state employment agencies, youth organizations, schools, and private businesses. With approved post-graduate supervision and state licensing, it also prepares counselors for consulting or private practice. Work settings, rather than the type of degree earned, tend to determine the specific skills to be developed. Programs have different orientations, so it is essential that you find the program that emphasizes skills you want to develop.
Antioch University
2326 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
http://www.antiochsea.edu/Psych/index.html
Degree Program: MA Psychology
Phone: 206-441-5352 (ext. 5810)
Program Director: Dr. Ling Tien, ltien@antiochsea.edu
Application Deadlines: Friday of the 10th week of quarter previous to quarter applied for
Admission Requirements: 2 letters of recommendation, essay questions on application, interview, some formal study in psychology (Theory of Personality, Lifespan Development, Abnormal Psychology), 6-12 months experience in a counseling-related capacity.
Program Goals: To give students a solid foundation in psychology, as well as to help them develop specific competence in the application of at least one approach. Also, to increase student understanding of the field of psychology from a variety of perspectives, theoretical and applied skills, and of self as instruments for change in the intrapsychic, interpersonal, and sociopolitical systems with which they interact.
Department orientation and emphasis: Individual students will choose from three areas of concentration: Mental Health Counseling, Couple and Family, or Individual Option (a self-directed study of psychology for varied application). Financial assistance: Washington Guaranteed Student Loans, Perkins Loans, and College Work Study.
Graduation requirements: A minimum of 6 quarters full time residency and 72 credits, including 24 core credits, 30 credits in student's area of concentration, and 18 internship credits. Additionally, satisfactory development and completion of a degree plan is required.
Placement of graduates: Graduates are employed in applied settings such as community-based counseling agencies, organizational settings, inpatient settings, health-care facilities, college counseling centers, and settings offering services to designated populations such as women, veterans, and minorities.
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA 98447
(253) 535-7151
http://www.plu.edu/~mftcntr
Degree Programs: MA Marriage and Family Therapy
Faculty Coordinator: Charles D. York, Chair & Clinic Director, (253) 535-7599
Application Deadlines: January 31st
Admission requirements: 3.0 GPA (lower GPA may be admitted provisionally), 2 letters of recommendation on PLU recommendation forms, autobiographical statement of professional and educational goals, personal interview, $35 application fee
Additional admission requirements: Courses in abnormal psychology, counseling methods/interviewing, human development, and theories of therapy. Students deficient in these requirements may be admitted if courses will be completed prior to the beginning of the graduate program.
Program goals: To train individuals to be competent in the scholarship and clinical practice of marriage and family therapy. The concentration emphasizes academic study, rigorous evaluation, and direct supervision of clinical competencies.
Placement of graduates: In academic and applied settings
Financial assistance: Guaranteed Student Loans, graduate assistantships, and head resident positions
Graduation requirements: 45 semester hours, including: 4 hours research & 41 hours in area of concentration
Note: PLU has an MA in Individualized Study which is designed to allow students to pursue their own personal educational goals, prepare for further graduate study, or prepare for careers or career advancement in a variety of fields, ranging from public service to social science research. For more information, contact Dr. Dick Jobst at (206) 535-7660.
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 281-2987
http://www.spu.edu/
Degree programs: MS Marriage & Family Therapy, M.Ed School Counseling
Financial Assistance: Loans, graduate assistantships, and campus employment
MS Family Therapy
Program Coordinator: Vicki Vorhes, (206) 281-2762, vvorhes@spu.edu
Program goals and orientation: To prepare students for service as counselors in mental health settings or as professional marital and family therapists. Systems Theory, Family Systems approach
Application deadline: February 15
Admission requirements: 3.0 GPA in last 45 credits of university work, 3 letters of recommendation (1 from a mental health professional), GRE (V + Q=950) or MAT (35)
Additional admission requirements: 24 quarter credits in social sciences (including statistics and lifespan development), experience in a helping occupation (not required but helpful)
Graduation requirements: 70 quarter credits and practicum
M.Ed School Counseling
http://www.spu.edu/depts/soe/academic.html
Program Coordinator: Roger Long, (206) 281-2210, soeinfo@spu.edu
Program goals: To prepare students to be elementary or secondary school counselors
Application deadline: March 15 for summer, July 1 for autumn
Admission requirements: 2 letters of recommendation (from present principles, supervisors, former professors, pastors, or colleagues), graduate application, bachelors in any field, official transcripts, GRE or MAT scores, personal statement
Graduation requirements: 68 graduate credits
Seattle University
Seattle, WA 98122
http://www.seattleu.edu/
Degree programs: MA Psychology, M.Ed. Counseling
Financial assistance: Federal Stafford and Perkins Loans, College Work Study, Institutional Scholarships and Family Tuition Rebate
MA Psychology
Program coordinator: Karen Lutz, (206) 296-5400, klutz@seattleu.edu
Program goals and orientation: To prepare students to enter the helping professions and/or study further the psychological world. Existential-Phenomenological Psychology focus, emphasizing a qualitative, experiential study of psychological events in the context of life
Application deadline: February 1
Admission requirements: 3.0 GPA, 3 letters of recommendation, autobiography (4 page minimum), interview (phone or personal), a copy of an undergraduate paper, applicable paid or volunteer experience, basic understanding of existential and phenomenological psychology, courses in statistics, research methods, developmental, personality, and abnormal psychology.
Graduation requirements: 55 hours, including 37 credits in courses, 18 practicum credits, and an integration paper
M.Ed Counseling
Contact information: (206) 296-5900, grad-admissions@seattleu.edu
Program director: Hutch Haney, Ph.D. (206) 296-5751
Program goals: Prepares professionals for counseling in schools or higher education, and community agency settings
Application deadlines: March 1 for autumn, November 1 for spring
Admission requirements: 3.0 GPA, GRE required for students with less than a 3.0 GPA, bachelors in human or social services, social work, psychology, sociology, education, etc, two letters of recommendation on SU recommendation form, autobiography (3-4 pages), professional resume, relevant work experience ( 1 year post-BA or 1000 hours, 500 hours of which may be unsupervised care giving, parent, etc.)
Graduation requirements: 68 credits including graduate project
University Of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA 98416
http://www.ups.edu/
Degree programs: M.Ed Agency Counseling, M.Ed School Counseling, M.Ed Pastoral Counseling
Program coordinator: Dr. Grace Kirchner, (253) 879-3785, kirchner@ups.edu
Admission requirements: GRE, 2 letters of recommendation, essay (500 words minimum), personal interview
Application deadline: March 1
M.Ed. Agency or School Counseling
Program goals and orientation: To provide a competency-based curriculum allowing student to demonstrate knowledge of theories and skills in counseling. Program seeks to provide a balance between mastery of ideas and experience with people. It works from theories of motivation and learning, as well as development of values and the influence of culture and society as they affect behavior.
Financial assistance: Loan programs or teaching assistantships
Requirements for graduation: 78 quarter hours including a supervised internship in the field
M.Ed. Pastoral Counseling
Program goals: To train counselor ofr work in religious or religiously-oriented settings. Program is designed to assist people in meeting reuirements for admission to American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
Note: The Pastoral Counseling Program is affiliated with Northwest Pastoral Counseling. Fred Wegener is the contact person. He can be reached at (253) 566-7456
University Of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195
Degree programs: Master of Social Work (MSW), M.Ed Educational Psychology
MSW (Social Work)
Director of Admissions: John Armstrong, (206) 543-5676, armstroj@u.washington.edu
Program goals and orientation: To sensitize students to issues, trends, and dilemmas in the field of social welfare. To provide preparation in areas of concentration including 1)Health & Mental Health, 2)Children/Youth & Families, 3)Social Work Administration and 4)Multi-Ethnic Practice. The program is both research and practicum oriented
Admission requirements: 2 part essay, personal statement, GRE, resume, references, 3 letters of recommendation, transcripts
Application deadline: January 15
Financial assistance: FAFSA, tuition fellowships, Child Welfare Services Grants, emergency loans (apply through School of Social Work)
Graduation requirements: 74 credits, relevant field placement, required research sequence
Note: Two other options: a)A part-time evening program leading to an MSW is also available (3 years), b)Advanced Standing Program (1 yr. BASW required). Concentration choices are the same for day students
M.Ed Educational Psychology
edpsych@u.washington.edu
http://depts.washington.edu/edpsych/
Area program adviser: Shirley Shimada, (206) 543-1747, shirl@u.washington.edu
Program goals: Prepares professionals for work in one of two areas: School Psychology or School Counseling. Also provide concentrations in the areas of human development, cognition, cognitive studies, measurement statistics and research design
Admission requirements: GRE, 3 letters of recommendation, 15 credits of behavioral science (including abnormal psychology), interview, personal statement of objectives, experience with school-aged youngsters strongly recommended, candidates without teaching certificates must document 300 clock hours in K-12 setting (for School Counseling)
Application deadline: March 15 for School Counseling, December 15 for School Psychology
Financial assistance: Very limited teaching and research assistantships are available
Graduation requirements: 73 or more quarter credits for School Counseling. 92 or more quarter credits for School Psychology. Necessary credits depend on the chosen area of study and the student's academic and professional background.
University Of Washington—Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA 98402
Degree program: Master of Social Work (MSW)
Director of Admissions: Marceline Lazzari, (253) 692-5822, mlazzari@u.washington.edu
Program goals: Concentration on children, youth, and families
Admission requirements: GRE, bachelors degree, 3.0 GPA for last 90 credits, 2-part essay, course in human biology and statistics, resume, 3 letters of recommendation, application, and transcripts
Application deadline: March 1
Financial assistance: Student loans, campus scholarships (UW-Tacoma students only), child welfare training and advancement program (provide stipends), limited financial assistance through fellowships
Graduation requirements: 74 quarter credits, 1040 hours total of practicum
