Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology

    Program Overview

    NOTE: The Counseling Psychology Ed.M. program is not currently accepting new applications.

    The Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology program at the GSE prepares students for various roles in the mental health profession as well as for admission to doctoral-level training programs in professional psychology. Students entering the program can expect a broad-based learning experience that will develop their understanding of the foundational principles of individual and group counseling, statistical research methods, psychometric theory, educational psychology, and learning, cognition, and development. The program at the GSE places specific emphasis on the multicultural aspects of counseling psychology. Both full- or part-time enrollment options are offered.  

    This program does not include coursework resulting in New Jersey licensure for either mental health counseling or school counseling.

    Students in the Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology program commonly enroll with intent to go on to pursue a doctoral degree in professional psychology and the goal of becoming a professional psychologist. Admission into doctoral-level programs following satisfactory completion of the Ed.M. program is not guaranteed, though the program serves to prepare prospective applicants by providing an opportunity for students from diverse cultural, educational, and personal backgrounds to demonstrate competency completing graduate-level courses required by doctoral programs in professional psychology.

    Program Goals as of 2022-2023
    (Last updated: 7/25/2022)

    Knowledge/Understanding 

    • Students will build foundational knowledge and graduate-level mastery in counseling psychology and related areas such as multicultural, family, and career counseling.  
    • Students will learn and apply theories, models, and psychological principles of counseling and development, as well as research in the field, to help individual, group, or institutional clients with the development of human potential and the prevention and remediation of human problems.  
    • Students will learn to effectively integrate their developing knowledge of American Psychological Association (APA) and American Counseling Association (ACA) professional standards and core values related to the foundation and practice of counseling psychology.  

    Communication/Community Building 

    • Students will engage in professional and scholarly communities of practice in their coursework and through their work in counseling psychology fieldwork.
    • Students will develop their written and oral presentation skills and other interpersonal skills that contribute to effective communication, including giving and receiving feedback, engaging clients, collaborating with colleagues, and effectively advocating for clients and the profession.
    • Students will develop professional relationships through participation in organizations such as APA.   

     Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) 

    • Students will engage in practices that promote DEI and social justice in counseling through coursework that explores the concepts of diversity and equity and their importance in educational and counseling settings.  
    • Students will develop skills relevant to cultural humility and culturally responsive counseling through class assignments and continual self-reflection. Students will learn about themselves and others through activities that reflect an understanding and appreciation of cultural and human differences.   
    • Students will gain awareness and sensitivity to socio-cultural factors that affect help-seeking behaviors and develop culturally appropriate counseling practices informed by counseling research. 
    • Students will understand the importance of the role of social justice and advocacy in educational and counseling settings and promote equity by establishing a counseling environment where diverse backgrounds and perspectives (educational, cultural, personal, social, economic) are valued and respected and inequities are addressed.  

    Research/Professional Practice 

    • Students will be introduced to research methods and develop an understanding of how to apply these methods to practice.  
    • Students will learn to examine, interpret, and evaluate research evidence to inform their professional practice, address problems of practice, and become more sophisticated consumers of educational and counseling research.  
    • Students will gain essential experience in counseling practice through diverse classroom opportunities and opportunities for field experience.  

     Assessment 

    • Students will learn about assessment models and approaches and how to effectively apply these methods to their work in counseling psychology.

    Professional Development/Self-Reflection 

    • Students will engage in multiple opportunities for self-reflection through coursework that incorporates self-reflection as a key component of applying theory to practice and addressing one’s biases and assumptions as students build a professional counseling psychology identity.   
    • Students will participate in professional development activities through active engagement in professional psychological organizations such as APA. 
    • Students will develop essential skills for working as a professional counseling psychologist, including effective counseling skills and interventions; interpersonal communication; time and task management; advocacy and leadership; professional ethics; and self-care.

    For more information about this program:

    Program Details

    Application Deadline

    Dec 15 / Oct 15

    Entry Term(s)

    Fall/Spring

    Program Level

    Masters

    Program Type

    Degree

    Format

    On-campus

    Credits

    33

  • What You’ll Learn

    Students who enroll in this 33-credit master’s program will be encouraged to explore the professional speciality of counseling psychology through research-driven coursework informed and led by faculty experts in the field. Students will exit the Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology program with knowledge of the principles of individual and group counseling, statistical research methods, psychometric theory, educational psychology, and learning, cognition, and development. They will possess an understanding of the role professional psychologists play in helping individual, group, or institutional clients with the development of human potential and the prevention and remediation of human problems. While the program does not include practicum training, students may enroll in a fieldwork experience if they obtain faculty approval, which can provide a competitive edge when applying to doctoral-level programs. Prospective students should note that most courses for this program are offered in the late afternoon and evening hours, and as a result both full and part-time study are possible.

    For more information about the courses in this program, please visit the course catalog and online schedule of classes.

  • Program Requirements

    This program typically takes 2 years to complete and includes:

      • 33 Graduate Course Credits*
        • 9 Credits – Counseling Psychology Core
        • 9 Credits – Basic Psychology Core
        • 9 Credits – Educational Statistics, Measurement, & Evaluation Core
        • 6 Credits – Electives

    Accepted students will have 5 years to complete the program. 

    *The Ed.M. program in counseling psychology does not include practicum training although students can enroll in a fieldwork experience if they obtain faculty approval. Students should be aware they may be less competitive for professional psychology programs without practicum experience.

  • Careers and Outcomes

    The Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology program at the GSE prepares students to pursue a doctoral degree in counseling psychology, as well as for a number of careers both within and external to traditional education settings. These roles may include student development consultant, assessment coordinator, education program researcher, mental health coach, crisis intervention counselor, clinical coordinator, and human resource development specialist, amongst others.

  • Admissions Requirements
    • Personal Statement
    • 3 Letters of Recommendation
    • Official Undergraduate Transcripts
    • Official Graduate Transcripts (if applicable)

    Criteria for admission emphasize aptitude for graduate study, interpersonal effectiveness, breadth and relevance of experience, and appropriateness of career goals.

    The candidate’s personal statement and letters of recommendation receive particular attention in the review process. These documents are most useful to the Admissions Committee when they include specific and concrete evidence of effective performance and interest in the field. Three letters of recommendation are desirable, preferably from current or recent employment supervisors and professors who have supervised the applicant’s prior academic work. Any test scores submitted must be less than 5 years old as of the application deadline.

  • How to Apply
    1. Collect the materials required for admission
    2. Submit your application online at http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/
    3. Submit supporting materials online
    4. Any supporting materials that cannot be submitted electronically should be mailed to Graduate Admissions’ New Brunswick office. Their mailing address can be found here: https://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/about/contact-us
  • Tuition & Financial Assistance

    Tuition: 

    For tuition and fees information please visit the tuition landing page.

    Financial Aid:

    While students are encouraged to apply for federal student aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), there are a number of other merit- and need-based support options, including loans and college work-study programs within and external to Rutgers. For more information, please visit the Office of Financial Aid website.

    Scholarships, Fellowships & Assistantships:

    Generous GSE alumni, friends, and community members have established and continue to donate to more than one dozen fellowships and scholarships to help deserving students reach their goals. These awards are granted on the basis of academic achievement and or financial need. While these awards are competitive, interested students are encouraged to apply for consideration and submit the required materials. Students must also submit a FAFSA application to be eligible.  

    To review all current awards and learn more about the donors that established them, please click here.

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