MA in Clinical & Counseling Psychology

Application Information Request More Information

The application for Fall 2025 is now closed. The final application deadline was May 1, 2025. For more information, please visit our Admissions page.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) program in Clinical and Counseling Psychology prepares students for the professional practice of counseling, assessment and/or mental health research. The curriculum provides a solid grounding in both theories and interventions that can be applied to a wide variety of mental health, academic and research settings. We emphasize clinical skills, ethical responsibility, cultural competency, self-awareness, and current body of knowledge in the scientific, methodological and theoretical foundations of practice. Our program expects students to become compassionate and caring scientist-practitioners with motivation to continue learning and furthering their development throughout their professional careers. We are committed to social justice work and multiculturalism to better serve disadvantaged or marginalized groups in our society.

This program prepares our students for careers as Master’s level mental health clinicians, researchers, or to work in various human services settings. In addition, the program will offer a unique foundation for candidates pursuing doctoral-level studies.

The M.A in Clinical and Counseling Psychology program is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) under the psychology academic standards for the period of July, 2015 through July, 2025. 

We offer both in-person classes during daytime and evening online, synchronous courses that meet over Zoom to accommodate those with employment during the day. Summer session classes are all delivered in online, asynchronous format.

For more information about our program, please see our reasons for applying and learn more about our program structure. Please also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for additional program information and updates. 

Admissions Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or an appropriately certified foreign institution. Graduating seniors are expected to submit final transcript following graduation and prior to enrollment at WPU. 
  • Official transcripts from all colleges attended other than William Paterson University are required. All applicants should contact their prior institutions to request official copies of their transcripts be sent to WPU electronically or by post.
• An undergraduate degree grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) for all degree work.
•   Prerequisite courses: 
  • General Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Research Methods/Experimental Design or Statistics 
  • Abnormal Psychology
• Personal Statement, which addresses all of the following: 
  • What has led you to pursue a career in clinical and counseling psychology?
  • What do you see as your strengths and weaknesses and how will they impact your ability to attain your academic and professional goals?
  • Why does this program represent a good fit for you?
  • Any additional information or relevant experience that can help us evaluate you.
• Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae, which includes clinical, research and/or human services experiences.
• Official Transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended. You will need to order transcripts from EVERY school you have received credit, even if those credits show up on your conferral transcript. 
• Three Recommendation Letters from individuals who know you well, preferably drawn from academic and clinical/human service areas. Personal or non-professional references are not accepted. 
• Completion of an interview with a member of the M.A. Program Faculty (by program invitation only). 

Application Deadline

The application for Fall 2025 is now closed.

March 1st (Priority for Graduate Assistantship)

Non-degree status not available

Application Submission

We are no longer accepting applications for Fall 2025 entry. For more information about the admissions and application process, please visit our admissions page. For additional information about the program, please also visit our FAQ page.

Financial Assistance

A small number Graduate Assistantship (GA) awards are available to select students with outstanding credentials and financial needs. These assistantships involve a full tuition waiver along with a small stipend in exchange for working at William Paterson University for 20 hours per week from September to June. In the past, graduate assistants have worked as program assistants in various academic departments or university programs and provide administrative or research support. If you are interested in being considered for a graduate assistantship, please complete the supplemental questions to the application. 

 1) What types of skills and abilities would you be able to bring to an assistantship position?

 2) What is your main reason for applying for an assistantship?  To what extent does enrolling in the program hinge on your receiving an assistantship? (Optional: Please include information about your financial needs.)

Please note the below requirements for graduate assistantship eligibility:

• Students who are enrolled in the program full-time (12 credits/semester)
• Students who can work 20 hours per week on campus during the workday.
• Preferences will also be given to the student with a strong academic record, skillset, and demonstrated financial needs.
• Students who completed their MA program application (all materials received) by March 1st will be given priority consideration for the graduate assistantship.

For more information about the graduate assistantship, see here.

Contact Us

Nafin Elias, MA, LAC
Graduate Student Services Coordinator
eliasn3@wpunj.edu 

Kathy Torsney, PhD
Program Director
TorsneyK@wpunj.edu

Program or Admissions Questions? Please see our FAQs or email us at MACCpsy@wpunj.edu.

View our Program Flier

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