MS in Clinical Psychology, Clinical Counseling
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Learners in the MS Clinical Counseling specialization who are seeking
a professional counselor license in certain states must complete at
least one 5-quarter-credit practicum course and at least one 5-quarter
credit internship course in order to satisfy that state’s
requirements. Capella University has designed PSY6400–PSY6409 to
fulfill the internship requirement for these learners.
The master’s Clinical Counseling specialization focuses on learners’
socialization into the counseling and clinical psychology profession
and presents foundational scientific theories and practices used in
the clinical psychology field. The specialization curriculum
emphasizes clinical assessment, counseling interventions,
psychological testing, research methods, ethical principles, and
diversity.
Personal Suitability and Fitness for the Profession
Capella embraces the principles and guidelines set forth by the
Council of Chairs of Training Councils (CCTC) related to professional
psychology programs in that the faculty, training staff, supervisors,
and administrators in the MS in Clinical Psychology degree program
have a professional, ethical, and potentially legal obligation to
ensure, insofar as possible, that all learners have the competence to
manage professional relationships in an effective and appropriate
manner and that they possess the emotional maturity, interpersonal
stability, and intellectual judgment required to work with vulnerable
populations. Personal suitability and fitness for the profession
includes but is not limited to demonstration of sufficient
interpersonal and professional competence; selfawareness,
self-reflection, and self-evaluation; openness to processes of
supervision; and resolution of issues or problems that interfere with
professional development or functioning in a satisfactory manner.
Throughout the graduate training of each learner, faculty and staff
are responsible for educating and assessing learners with regard to
their personal suitability and fitness for the profession.
Residency Requirement(s):
Two four-and-a-half-day residencies. See
university policy 3.04.05
Attendance at Residencies, the Residencies
page on Campus, and the Residency section, below, for more
information.
Core courses:
PSY5002 |
Foundations of Theory and Practice for Master’s Psychology Learners †
In this course, learners acquire the ability to navigate the Capella
courseroom and use the resources that support academic success,
including the library and writing center. Learners identify and
practice the academic requirements (including APA style and
formatting) necessary to successfully complete the Master’s degree
program in their chosen specialization; review their specialization’s
requirements, associated professional roles and organizations, and
ethics and professional standards; and articulate a professional
identity based on master’s-level psychology training.
For MS in Psychology and MS in Clinical Psychology learners
only. Must be taken during the learner’s first quarter. Cannot be
fulfilled by transfer.
| 5 quarter credits |
---|---|---|
PSY6095 |
Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
This course provides an overview of foundational counseling and
psychotherapy theories and research-based practice. Throughout the
course, learners examine various schools of therapeutic intervention;
their underlying theoretical assumptions; and their historical,
cultural, and ethical context, with an emphasis on the application of
current theory in a variety of clinical populations. | 5 quarter credits |
PSY6210 |
Introduction to Psychopathology
In this course, learners examine the assessment, diagnosis, and
treatment of various forms of psychopathology throughout the lifespan.
Learners review the etiology of psychopathology; examine theories and
research of psychopathology; and explore current methods of
psychological interviewing, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
Learners also discuss the politics of mental disorders, emerging
diagnoses, and ethical and multicultural issues associated with
psychopathology. | 5 quarter credits |
PSY7610 |
Tests and Measurements
Learners investigate essential concepts, principles, applications, and social and theoretical issues of psychological testing. Learners gain understanding in the construction of tests; analyze the development and use of tests in measuring aptitudes, achievement, attitudes, interests, and personality; and identify underlying theories of various tests. Learners analyze the characteristics desired in psychological and educational tests, with particular emphasis on reliability and validity, and evaluate best practices and professional standards for educational and psychological testing, including test bias and fairness. In addition, learners assess the role of technology in delivery, administration, scoring, and interpretation of tests. | 5 quarter credits |
PSY7860 |
Survey of Research Methods
Learners in this course critically evaluate research in order to gain an understanding of the scientific methods of inquiry and the ethical considerations of research. Learners develop and apply skills needed to become educated consumers and creators of research. Learners also use their research design skills to analyze and apply research methodologies, validity, reliability and other components of scientific research related to their field of interest. Learners may only earn credit for PSY7860 or RSCH7860. | 4 quarter credits |
Specialization courses:
PSY-R6230 * |
Introduction to Psychological Testing
This course includes both an online courseroom and a face-to-face residency experience. Learners engage in preparatory online courseroom activities to prepare themselves for the residency experience, during which they focus on the common psychological instruments (e.g., psychological tests, checklists, and rating scales) used to assess intelligence, achievement, vocational interests, adaptive and neuropsychological functioning, addiction, and personality traits, and their uses in professional practice. Learners then engage in a face-to-face residency experience that guides them as they study psychological testing instruments appropriate for their level of training and examine effective methods for making referrals to licensed psychologists. Ethical and cultural considerations of testing are embedded throughout the course. For MS in Clinical Psychology learners only. Test kits are required and are available for loan at psytestkits@capella.edu. Prerequisite(s): PSY7610, PSY-R6313. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer. | 5 quarter credits |
---|---|---|
PSY-R6313 * |
Clinical Interventions
This course includes both an online courseroom and a face-to-face
residency experience. Learners engage in preparatory online courseroom
activities to prepare themselves for the residency experience, during
which they explore and practice foundational counseling skills,
including establishing the therapeutic alliance, conducting clinical
interviews, applying psychotherapeutic techniques, and providing
feedback. Learners then engage in a face-to-face residency experience
that guides them as they study key professional competencies such as
psychological assessment, multicultural responsiveness and diversity
principles, and ethics in clinical work.
For MS in Clinical Psychology learners only. Prerequisite(s):
PSY6090 or PSY6095 or PSY6310 or PSY8310.
| 5 quarter credits |
PSY5110 * |
Ethics and Multicultural Issues in Psychology
In this course, learners analyze multicultural perspectives and
factors such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and gender, and their
influences on the ethical behavior of psychology professionals.
Learners evaluate and articulate multicultural issues within the
context of different settings and practice applying ethical reasoning
principles and standards within their profession.
Prerequisite(s): PSY5002 or PSY8002.
| 5 quarter credits |
PSY5130 |
Career Counseling Theory
This course presents a survey of the history of career counseling,
the development of career counseling theory, and the basic tenets of
current vocational psychology. It covers theories of career
development, the relationship between training and vocation, and the
application of career counseling interventions in various settings and
among diverse populations. Learners are encouraged to participate in
experiential exercises and discussion topics that may include
disclosing information that is personal. | 5 quarter credits |
PSY6015 |
Lifespan Development
In this course, learners gain and apply knowledge of lifespan development from infancy through adulthood, including human development processes and milestones while considering individual and cultural differences. Learners evaluate theories and approaches for examining human development and analyze human development processes related to their specialization. | 5 quarter credits |
PSY6091 * |
Group Counseling
In this course, learners explore group counseling theories and
techniques, the dynamics of group facilitation and development, and
therapeutic movement within groups. Other course topics include the
use of groups across the intervention spectrum (prevention to
tertiary), various group-specific issues, and the integration of
developmental theory within group counseling and co-facilitation.
For MS in Clinical Psychology learners only. Prerequisite(s): PSY-R6313.
| 5 quarter credits |
PSY6391 * |
Master’s Practicum 1
This is the first course in a sequence of two required practicum courses during which learners fulfill 600 required practicum hours. Learners receive supervised master’s-level training in psychological testing, interviewing, assessment, intervention, consultation, and applied research in a setting chosen by the learner. Learners analyze psychological assessment using the current DSM and investigate treatment planning, case documentation, working with specific clinical populations, and their clinical strengths and limitations. For MS Clinical Counseling learners only. Prerequisite(s): PSY5110, PSY5130, PSY6015, PSY6091, PSY6095, PSY6210, PSY7610, PSY-R6230, PSY-R6313 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Approval of practicum application. All application materials must be received by the first day of the quarter preceding the quarter of the proposed start date. Refer to the current manual for further details. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer. | 5 quarter credits |
PSY6400 * |
Master’s Internship Series
The master’s internship series is a series of courses learners take to continue fulfilling the minimum of 600 on-site hours of clinical training required of learners in the MS Clinical Counseling specialization. Learners receive supervised, master’s-level professional psychology training at an internship site and engage in concurrent online course activities that monitor their internship experience. Throughout the course, learners engage in an in-depth examination of various psychological disorders, mental health concerns, and treatments and continue to strengthen their knowledge of recent research and practice literature, with particular emphasis on the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. For MS Clinical Counseling learners only. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites(s): PSY6391 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Approval of practicum and internship application. All application materials must be received by the first day of the quarter preceding the learner’s proposed start date. Refer to the current manual for additional requirements and further details. Cannot be fulfilled by transfer. | 5 quarter credits |
Two Elective Courses
At least 10 quarter credits
Choose two from the following four courses:
PSY5115 |
Human Sexuality
This course is an exploration of sexuality within the larger context
of human experience, emphasizing physical and psychosexual
development, cultural diversity, health-related issues, and the
application of scientific information to sexual topics and issues.
Current issues include sexual deviation, sexual inadequacy, treatment
of sexual problems, trauma, sexual identity, gender identity, and
reproductive health care. Learners examine scholarly literature
related to the implications of these issues and research
evidence-based interventions in human sexuality. | 5 quarter credits |
---|---|---|
PSY5125 * |
Introduction to Sex Therapy
Learners in this course gain an understanding of common sexuality
concerns including low sexual desire, sexual compulsivity, recovery
from sexual abuse, and treatment of sex offenders. Learners analyze
strategies for sex therapy and demonstrate competence in cultural
elements associated with sex therapy, taking a sex history, and
assessment.
Prerequisite(s): PSY5115.
| 5 quarter credits |
PSY5135 |
Issues and Trends in Addiction-Related Treatments
This course presents current addiction research, clinical trends, and
substantive field-related issues. Learners use evidence-based practice
and practice-based evidence to examine ways of identifying and
defining substance-related problems and behaviors with addictive
features and to explore pharmacologic and other emerging treatment
approaches. Other course topics include managed care, mental health
parity, Internet resources used in addiction training and treatment,
and the changing role of the counselor in the addiction field. | 5 quarter credits |
PSY6092 |
Counseling Skills and Procedures
This course provides an introduction to the fundamental skills and
core conditions associated with effective counseling practice, from
development of the therapeutic alliance through termination.
For MS in Clinical Psychology learners only.
| 5 quarter credits |
PSY7330 |
Psychopharmacology
Learners in this course explore the behavioral and therapeutic
effects of psychoactive drugs. Course topics include synaptic
transmission, behavioral role of specific neuromodulatory systems,
pharmacological treatment of mental and neurological disorders,
addiction, the various side effects of psychoactive drugs, and how
these may interact with key characteristics such as age or general
health. Drug effects on learning, creativity, memory, sleep,
perception, and sexual functioning receive special attention. Learners
also examine the efficacy of treating patients with a combination of
psychotherapy and psychotropic medications for a number of diagnosed
mental disorders including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety,
obsessive compulsive behavior, schizophrenia, and childhood
disorders. | 5 quarter credits |
Total
At least 74 quarter credits
* Denotes courses that have prerequisite(s). Refer to the descriptions for further details.
Learners who do not complete all program requirements within quarter credit/program point minimums will be required to accrue such additional quarter credits/program points as are associated with any additional or repeat coursework necessary for successful completion of program requirements.
This specialization is not accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Capella University cannot guarantee eligibility for licensure, endorsement, other professional credential, or salary advancement. State licensing regulations and professional standards vary; learners are responsible for understanding and complying with the requirements of the state in which they intend to work. For more information, see the professional licensure disclosures for this program on Capella’s website.
MS in Clinical Psychology Residencies
The residency requirement for the MS in Clinical Psychology, Clinical Counseling specialization is satisfied by completion of two five-day residencies (Track 1 and Track 2). The school recommends that all learners register for Track 1 within the first two quarters of enrollment and Track 2 when they complete between 20 and 40 quarter credits. Learners must have completed both tracks prior to starting their practicum (PSY6391).
The MS in Clinical Psychology residencies provide training and practice in the areas of interventions, assessment, diversity, culture-specific issues, and ethics. The two tracks are cumulative rather than sequential, allowing learners to receive training and practice in the above skill areas.
At all MS in Clinical Psychology residencies, in addition to formal instruction and practice, learners participate in cohort group sessions that allow faculty and learners to interact as a community of scholars; individual advising sessions with faculty to support their degree completion plans and assess academic progress; and specialization networking opportunities with other learners and faculty.
Through MS in Clinical Psychology residencies, learners gain a stronger sense of academic community by networking and discussing research, coursework, and projects face-to-face with fellow learners and faculty. This experience provides a learning environment that fosters the application of critical thinking and integrated knowledge to professional and research issues.
For more detailed information on MS in Clinical Psychology residencies, learners should refer to their specialization manual.