M.A. in Counseling

Stockton University's Master of Arts in Counseling program is designed to educate students about best practices in mental health and human services and train students in the skills necessary to work with clients in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, social service agencies, residential treatment centers, community mental health centers, and other organizationsOur program prepares individuals to provide evaluations, referrals, and counseling services to help people prevent or remediate personal problems, conflicts, and emotional crises. Our curriculum includes instruction in human development, psychopathology, individual and group counseling, personality theory, career assessment, patient screening and referral, observation and testing techniques, interviewing skills, professional standards and ethics, and applicable laws and regulations.The Master of Arts in Counseling program aims to educate students regarding best practices in counseling. Curriculum will focus on the eight core areas delineated by CACREP standards: professional counseling orientation and ethical practice, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, career development, counseling and helping relationships, group counseling and group work, assessment and testing, research and program evaluation.The objectives for the program are specifically:To provide meaningful educational experiences to prepare graduates with foundational skills, critical thinking ability, and dedication to the counseling profession,To prepare graduates for employment, licensure, and certification by meeting the standards set by the appropriate accrediting and licensing agencies,To inspire graduates to become advocates for their clients and leaders in their profession,To encourage patience, sensitivity, and understanding in the delivery of counseling services to diverse communities,To prepare graduates for a commitment to ethical professional practice, and .To prepare students to use research as a guide for identifying effective counseling techniques (Chwalisz, 2003).Graduates of the program will be qualified to take the National Counselor Exam (NCE), which is administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). Passing the NCE exam qualifies graduates as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC).