Behavioral Sciences/Counseling (B.A./M.A.)
B.A./M.A. Program in Behavioral Science/Counseling and Human Development: Mental Health or School Counseling
The B.A./M.A. program provides the best preparation for students who wish to pursue clinical mental health or school counseling careers. To accomplish this, the program integrates core theoretical and knowledge areas in psychology and sociology into a Behavioral Science major at the undergraduate level. At the graduate level, the program integrates the core theoretical knowledge and skill areas in professional counselor education needed for practice as a clinical mental health counselor or school counselor. B.A./M.A. coursework integration results in a holistic, streamlined educational program wherein students can meet educational licensure requirements in school counseling or clinical mental health counseling in approximately 6 years.
The program develops counselors who assist others in making differences in their lives. To meet this overall goal, students apply theoretical models to the understanding of human behavior and demonstrate the professional attitudes, behaviors and counseling skills needed to integrate their knowledge and skills with the ethical practice of counseling with diverse populations.
General program goals include:
- Develop within students the knowledge, competencies and attitudes necessary to function as professional counselors.
- Assist students to develop a sense of their identity as counselors and the professional orientation needed to work for the welfare of diverse clients.
- Assist students to understand both the scientific and humanistic perspectives in behavioral science and to apply this knowledge to counseling practice.
- Prepare students for specialized roles as clinical mental health counselors and school counselors.
B.A./M.A. students are dually admitted to the B.A. in Behavioral Science and the M.A. in Counseling & Human Development. In addition to meeting separate admission requirements for the B.A./M.A. program (beyond general admission to the university), students must maintain a 3.3 GPA in their undergraduate coursework, follow all undergraduate and graduate academic policies and procedures, and meet appropriate interpersonal and professional behavior standards to remain in good standing in the program. With the permission of their advisor, B.A./M.A. students take four graduate courses during the last four semesters of their undergraduate degree program: BSC 502: Research Methods and Program Evaluation; BSC 510: Principles/Techniques/Theories of Counseling and Development: BSC 526: Group Process and BSC 560: Introduction to Counseling and the Counseling Profession. Upon completion of the undergraduate requirements for the B.A. portion of the program, students are awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science. An official Change of Status form must be obtained from the Program Director of Social and Behavioral Sciences and filed with the Registrar to change the student status from undergraduate to graduate. Upon completion of all graduation requirements in the Counseling and Human Development program, students are awarded the Master of Arts in Counseling & Human Development (with Clinical Mental Health and/or School Counseling).
Admission to the B.A./M.A. program follows three possible tracks:
Track 1
Track 1 is for high school seniors through university freshmen students. Prospective students must meet two of the following three criteria:
- Have a minimum high school grade point average of 3.7 or university grade point average of 3.3.
- Have a minimum ACT score of 27 or SAT score of 1200.
- Graduate in the top 10% of their high school class
Prospective students must also meet the following criteria:
- Complete an application form and submit it to the Program Director, Social & Behavioral Sciences.
- Submit a writing sample.
- Participate in an interview with the B.A./M.A. faculty.
Students who do not meet requirements to enter the B.A./M.A. program as freshmen may apply through Track 2.
Track 2
Track 2 is open to students after their freshman year who meet the following criteria:
- Complete 30 semester hours, including transfer credits, with a minimum 3.3 GPA.
- Complete PSYC 120, SOC 101 and one elective in Psychology or Sociology (a total of 9 credits in Social and Behavioral Sciences).
- Submit the B.A./M.A. application, writing sample, and transcript to the Program Director, Social & Behavioral Sciences.
- Participate in an interview with B.A./M.A. faculty.
Students in the B.A./M.A. program must follow all undergraduate and graduate academic policies and procedures including a change of status for the graduate program.
Recommended
Required
- General Education Requirements
- Internship
- Students must maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA
core required courses (24 credits)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 120 | T1:Principles of Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 101 | T1:Principles of Sociology | 3 |
| BSC 221 | Stats for Behavioral Science ((Prerequisite MATH 104)) | 3 |
| PSYC 251 | Physiological Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 340 | H1:DV: Addictions | 3 |
| PSYC 401 | DV:Abnormal Psychology ((Prerequisite PSYC 251)) | 3 |
| BSC 430 | DM:DV:Applied Behav Science Se | 3 |
| BSC 440 | SL:H3:DV:Applied Behav Sci Int | 3-9 |
choose any 4 electives from Psychology or sociology (12 credits)
Core graduate level courses (12 CREDITS)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BSC 502 | Research Methods/Prog Evaluati | 3 |
| BSC 526 | UG:DV:Group Process | 3 |
| BSC 560 | DV:Intro Counsel/Counsel Prof | 3 |
| CHD 610 | Prin/Tech/Theories of Coun/Dev | 3 |
additional courses for school counseling track only (6 credits)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 107 | School and Society: Intro Educ | 2 |
| EDUC 206 | DV:Except&MultiCultGlobSoci | 3 |
additional courses for mental health and school counseling tracks (9 credits)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 107 | School and Society: Intro Educ | 2 |
| EDUC 206 | DV:Except&MultiCultGlobSoci | 3 |
| CHD 612 | Lifepsan Development | 3 |
M.A. IN COUNSELING AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL COUNSELING
(Student must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BSC 502 | Research Methods/Prog Evaluati | 3 |
| or CHD 602 | Research Methods/Prog Eval | |
| BSC 526 | UG:DV:Group Process | 3 |
| or CHD 626 | Group Process | |
| BSC 560 | DV:Intro Counsel/Counsel Prof | 3 |
| CHD 603 | Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| CHD 610 | Prin/Tech/Theories of Coun/Dev | 3 |
| CHD 612 | Lifepsan Development | 3 |
| CHD 620 | Found/Organ of School Counsel | 3 |
| CHD 624 | Career Counseling | 3 |
| CHD 635 | Addictions | 3 |
| CHD 637 | Consult,Collabor & Leadership | 3 |
| CHD 650 | Develop Inf Tram, Cris, Gr Int 1 | 3 |
| CHD 655 | Couns Children & Adolesc 1 | 3 |
| CHD 657 | Dvlp Iss & Dis in Child & Adol 1 | 3 |
| CHD 662 | Individ Study: Counsel/Dev (optional) | 3 |
| CHD 680 | Issues in School Counseling | 3 |
| CHD 730 | Soc/Cult Diversity in Coun | 3 |
| CHD 740 | Ethics/Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| CHD 790 | Practicum: Counseling Tech | 3 |
| CHD 795 | Internship: School Counseling 2 | 3 |
| CHD 795I | Internship Sch Counsel I 1 | 3 |
| CHD 795II | Internship Sch Counsel II 1 | 3 |
| CHD Elective | ||
| Total Hours | 63 | |
Graduate course descriptions are listed in the Graduate Catalog.
| 1 | For students admitted Fall 2020 and after |
| 2 | For students admitted prior to Fall 2020 |
M.A. IN COUNSELING AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
(Student must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BSC 502 | Research Methods/Prog Evaluati | 3 |
| or CHD 602 | Research Methods/Prog Eval | |
| BSC 526 | UG:DV:Group Process | 3 |
| or CHD 626 | Group Process | |
| BSC 560 | DV:Intro Counsel/Counsel Prof | 3 |
| CHD 603 | Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| CHD 610 | Prin/Tech/Theories of Coun/Dev | 3 |
| CHD 612 | Lifepsan Development | 3 |
| CHD 624 | Career Counseling | 3 |
| CHD 635 | Addictions | 3 |
| CHD 665 | CMHC:Foundations for Practice | 3 |
| CHD 730 | Soc/Cult Diversity in Coun | 3 |
| CHD 740 | Ethics/Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| CHD 772 | Advanced Abnormal Behavior | 3 |
| CHD 775 | Diag Mental/Emot Disorders | 3 |
| CHD 777 | Treat Mental/Emot Disorders | 3 |
| CHD 780 | Personality Assessment | 3 |
| CHD 790 | Practicum: Counseling Tech | 3 |
| CHD 796I | Internship in MH Counsel I | 3 |
| CHD 796II | Internship in MH Counsel II | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Two CHD Electives | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Graduate course descriptions are listed in the Graduate Catalog.
Walsh University