PREPARE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
School of Professional Studies Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
YOUR BEST NEXT STEP You are ready to take the next step in your education and your career. We are here to make sure you take the right one. With our compassionate faculty, adaptable programs, and focus on experiential learning, North Park’s Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (MACP) will empower you to complete your degree and change the course of your life. This is more than a degree.
IT’S A GREATER PURSUIT. EMPOWERING
COMPASSIONATE
In the MACP program, we’ll offer you meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth. Our expert faculty will be your bridge to life-changing professional experiences. Peer groups will become supportive networks, and counseling psychology and ethics courses will set you up for success in every part of life.
You are a real person with a real life. You need a college that recognizes this. In the MACP program, we strive to understand and support every one of our students with grace. Our staff and faculty will learn your individual story, address your practical questions and concerns, and help you find a path that works regardless of the barriers you may face.
EXPERIENTIAL
RESPONSIVE
Your path to a better career starts on day one of your first MACP class. Your assignments are designed to help you build practical, applicable, professional counseling skills. Your professors have real-world experience that they’ll pass on to you, because applied learning today will become greater job prospects tomorrow.
In a competitive and demanding job market, you need a degree that sets you apart. At NPU, we continually adapt our programs to stay ahead of the curve and set you up for success. Our advisors will work with you to meet your individual needs and turn your passions into marketable skills.
ADAPTIVE This education is not one-size-fits-all. North Park’s accelerated seven-week courses offer an innovative and agile approach to preparing you for whatever’s next, tailored to your schedule, your goals, and your learning style. Every class will give you exactly what you need to advance in your counseling career.
THE RIGHT PLACE FOR YOU North Park’s welcoming community and supportive learning environment are shaped by our Christian identity and city-centered location. From our dedicated faculty to our flexible course schedules, everything we do is designed to equip you with what you need to complete your degree and open doors professionally.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists is projected to grow 19 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average of all occupations. While careers in mental health counseling are rapidly changing, and becoming more available, credential requirements are also increasing. A master’s degree is essential to pursuing a career as a licensed professional counselor.
— Data provided by www.bls.gov
Prepare to serve clients as a compassionate, dedicated, and skilled professional counselor. Build foundational knowledge in counseling theory, acquire an understanding of legal and ethical responsibilities, and master assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of clients. Upon program completion, you will be eligible to apply for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
The personal support you want. Our caring, experienced faculty and committed advisors will provide personal guidance from your first class through graduation day—because we are just as invested in your success as you are.
The practical experience you need. Real career growth happens through real experience. We will give you hands-on experience at every turn, ensuring that your classroom learning doesn’t just stay in the classroom.
The perfect program for your future. The MACP is the degree you need to excel in the counseling field. Every one of our classes will equip you with practical skills and help you to achieve more and advance faster.
You have chosen a dynamic vocation in which you can truly make a difference in the lives of your clients and your community.
PROGRAM DETAILS Through the integration of spiritual and intercultural components into your coursework and training, you’ll become a well-rounded counselor, able to serve diverse populations. • Learn from expert practitioners • Put newly developed skills to use in real-world, multicultural settings • Immerse yourself in the world of counseling psychology • Acquire skills in culturally responsive and spirituality-integrated counseling
Pre-licensure preparation
MACP coursework provides the academic preparation needed for licensure. Following program completion, including 700 hours of supervised clinical work, you will be ready to apply for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) given by the National Board of Certified Counselors as required for Illinois licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
Coursework
The MACP consists of 48 semester hours with 16 required classes and a 700-hour internship. The program is designed to be completed year-round (fall, spring, and summer semesters) in as little as two years, depending on your schedule. Required courses are listed in a suggested course sequence. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor throughout the program.
Year One
Counseling Theory Professional, Legal, and Ethical Responsibilities Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling Psychology Counseling Techniques Substance Abuse and Addiction Psychopathology and Maladaptive Behavior Appraisal of Individuals Group Dynamics and Processing and Counseling Lifestyle and Career Development Couple and Family Dynamics
Year Two
Internship I Research and Evaluation Human Growth and Development Internship II Integrating Spiritual and Religious Issues in Counseling Advanced Culturally Competent Counseling Techniques, or Trauma and Healing
“The MACP professors are lively, friendly, and knowledgeable, and they make all the students feel at home in the program. I love the hands-on approach they take. And the scheduling is very convenient, with classes at night.”
–BINYOMIN WEISSWASSER, ’17
HOW IT WORKS
COHORT MODEL
In order to complete your degree in two years, you will be in classes year-round. During your first year, you will take several seven-week courses that meet just one evening a week per course. Courses blend theory with practice, preparing you for the LPC exam. You will also have opportunities to take advanced coursework in multi-cultural counseling and spiritually integrated counseling, tailoring the program to fit your professional goals.
The MACP program is based on a cohort model:
During your second year, you will put classroom learning into practice through an internship. You will complete 700 internship hours over two semesters, working under the supervision of a licensed counselor, delivering assessment, counseling, and related professional services.
TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
Our high-quality education, combined with affordable tuition, make North Park one of the best values for professional counselor training in the Chicago area. North Park also offers student loan options, and convenient payment plans.
FLEXIBLE We designed the MACP program with the working adult in mind. Our flexible schedule of accelerated evening courses—meeting once per week on our Chicago campus—allows you to remain employed while earning your degree in two years.
STUDENT-CENTERED The MACP cohort model is designed to encourage and support everyone’s contribution to the group. Each cohort attends classes together throughout their first year. Classes are held on the same night of the week from semester to semester so that students can plan their schedules well in advance.
SUPPORTIVE Cohorts spend a considerable amount of time together in small participatory group discussions, fostering deep friendships, peer support, and family-like bonds.
PROFESSIONAL NETWORK The professional relationships cohorts build can result in a network that extends beyond the classroom, and can significantly assist career development and professional advancement.
ALL TAILORED TO FIT YOUR LIFE. Flexibility is built into everything we do. All our programs are designed to let you balance the demands of work, family, and school. With new classes starting every two months and sevenweek accelerated courses that meet just one night per week, we’ll fit right in to your life.
FIND YOUR SUCCESS Completing your MACP degree will empower you to achieve personal, academic, and career success. Our supportive environment, flexible coursework, personalized advising, and innovative programming will help you achieve your career goals. “I appreciate the support and guidance I’ve received at North Park. I received my undergrad degree here and had a wonderful experience, which is one of the reasons I chose this MACP program.”
–ANA POULOS ’17
OUR MISSION To prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.
START HERE
We look forward to walking alongside you as you achieve your goals.
APPLY The application for admission to the MACP program is quick and easy to complete. There is no fee, and the application can be completed online. While there are no strict application deadlines, the MACP program accepts students twice a year in the fall and spring, so we encourage you to apply in advance of your term.
Required application materials: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution An electronic copy of your current résumé Two letters of recommendation An essay, as described on the application for admission Official academic transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended
DETERMINE YOUR COST • File your FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov, if necessary • See a basic estimate of the annual costs you can expect: www.northpark.edu/macp/aid • Students who completed an undergraduate degree at North Park University can enter the MACP program with a 20% tuition reduction through an Alumni Grant
INTERVIEW AND ENROLL The admissions process for the MACP program requires an in-person interview with the program director. After all application materials have been received, you will be contacted to set up an interview. A final admissions decision will be made following the interview.
Contact the Financial Aid office with any questions you may have at (773) 244-5560 or financialaid@northpark.edu.
COME SEE FOR YOURSELF One of the best ways to learn about North Park University is to attend an information session, where you will learn more about admission requirements, experiential learning opportunities, and financial aid. We look forward to meeting with you soon! • Attend an informational session at our Chicago campus. • Schedule a personal appointment with an admissions representative. • Sit in on a class. Plan your visit at northpark.edu/macp
School of Professional Studies Office of Graduate Admissions 3225 West Foster Ave., Box 40 Chicago, IL 60625 (800) 888-6728 (773) 244-4880 www.northpark.edu/macp