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Counselling Psychology MA, MEd

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Academic Prerequisites:

A Bachelor degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0/4.33 (B), or a grade point average of at least 3.33/4.33 (B+) based on the last 60 credits of undergraduate courses will normally be required for admissions. Applicants must also have completed EDUC 323-3 (Introduction to Counselling Theories) and EDUC 423-4 (Helping Relationships) or equivalent courses as well as additional prerequisite courses in specified areas of study. Please see the prerequisite category (below) that applies to you.

Completion of the undergraduate Minor in Counselling and Human Development (or equivalent coursework) is recommended.

Frequently Asked Admission Questions on the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website.

Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to applying to the program.  Applications must include transcripts that show grades in all prerequisite courses.

Contacts

  • Trina Zindler 
    Admissions & Administrative Enquiries
    counsadm@sfu.ca
    778-782-8120

Additional Information about Prerequisites:

All prospective applicants should be aware that courses listed as prerequisites for entry to the Counselling Psychology Master's program may have undergraduate prerequisites.

Applicants are responsible for determining and completing any undergraduate prerequisite courses that may be required by their home institution before completing the courses required to apply to the Counselling Psychology program.

What prerequisite courses do you need if you:

Have a psychology major?

As a psychology major, you will only need to complete a course in counselling skills (EDUC 423 or equivalent) provided that the completion of coursework in developmental, cognitive and educational psychology and research methodology was required for your degree. An undergraduate course in counselling theories (EDUC 323 or equivalent) is strongly recommended but not required for applicants with majors in psychology. Please note that at some institutions, including Simon Fraser University, the Counselling Theories course (EDUC 323) is a prerequisite for the Counselling Skills course (EDUC 423). Applicants are responsible for completing all undergraduate prerequisites required by their home institution.

Are a certified teacher?

If you are a certified teacher, you will need an undergraduate course in counselling theories (EDUC 323 or equivalent) and an undergraduate course in counselling skills (EDUC 423 or equivalent) as well as at least 4 other courses relevant to counselling psychology:

  • 1 course in developmental psychology
  • 1 course in research methods
  • 1 course in cognitive psychology or educational psychology
  • 1 course in any 
    • social psychology,
    • multicultural counselling or education,
    • personality theory,
    • psychopathology or 
    • abnormal psychology.  
    • A course in sociology, cultural anthropology, or women’s studies that is relevant to counselling psychology will also satisfy this requirement.

Have completed the SFU minor in Counselling and Human Development?

As part of the SFU minor in Counselling and Human Development, you will need to have completed the required course EDUC 323 and the elective EDUC 423 or equivalents.

Have completed the SFU PBD in Counselling and Human Development?

If you have completed the SFU PBD in Counselling and Human Development, you will have to make sure that you have also completed a course in research methods (e.g., EDUC 222 or another course in research design or methods in the social sciences).

Have completed the UBC Diploma in Guidance Studies?

If you have completed the UBC Diploma in Guidance Studies, you will also need to make sure that you have completed a course in research methods.

Don’t fit into any of the above categories?

We consider applicants from diverse academic backgrounds.  All applicants must have completed EDUC 323 and EDUC 423 or equivalents (an undergraduate course in counselling theories and an undergraduate course in counselling skills) as well as at least four other related courses:

  • 1 course in developmental psychology
  • 1 course in research methods
  • 1 course in cognitive psychology or educational psychology
  • 1 course in any 
    • social psychology,
    • multicultural counselling or education,
    • personality theory,
    • psychopathology or 
    • abnormal psychology.  
    • A course in sociology, cultural anthropology, or women’s studies that is relevant to counselling psychology will also satisfy this requirement.

What if you’re not sure if you have courses in the prerequisite areas?

Here is some additional information to assist you in assessing and choosing your undergraduate courses:

  • Counselling Skills Requirement: SFU EDUC 423 (Helping Relationships) or equivalent course.  To be equivalent, the course must cover basic counselling skills and must include an experiential component in which students practice counselling skills, evaluate and reflect on their use of counselling skills, and receive feedback from an instructor on their use of counselling skills (usually through the recording and transcribing mock counselling sessions with classmates).
  • Counselling Theories Requirement: SFU EDUC 323 (Theories of Counselling) or equivalent course.  Any course that is entirely devoted to a survey of theories of counselling and psychotherapy is a suitable equivalent.
  • Developmental Psychology Requirement: Any course that provides an overview of developmental psychology or that is devoted to particular topics in developmental psychology (e.g., cognitive development, social development, developmental psychopathology) or to looking at a particular stage from the perspective of developmental psychology (e.g., infant development, childhood development, adolescent development, adulthood and aging).  SFU EDUC 322 (Social Lives of School Children) and SFU EDUC 464 (Early Childhood Education) are suitable for this requirement.
  • Research Methods Requirement: Any course that covers research methods (quantitative or qualitative) or design in the social sciences (including courses in statistics or data analysis).
  • Cognitive Psychology/Educational Psychology Requirement: Suitable courses include those in learning disabilities, educational psychology, the psychology of memory, cognitive psychology, or learning theory.
  • Other Relevant Course Requirement: At a minimum, all applicants must have courses in counselling skills, counselling theories, research methods, developmental psychology, and cognitive or educational psychology plus one additional relevant course.  The additional course may be drawn from any one of the following areas: social psychology, multicultural counselling or education, personality theory, psychopathology or abnormal psychology.  A course in cultural anthropology, sociology, or women’s studies that is relevant to counselling psychology will also satisfy this requirement.

What are some of the course equivalents at other institutions?

* EDUC 423 & 323 Course Equivalencies March 2020.pdf

Admissions Contacts:

For admissions/administrative enquires, contact Trina Zindler (counsadm@sfu.ca; 778-782-8120). If Trina is unavailable, contact other staff in the Graduate Programs office.

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