Program Requirements | Saint Paul University

M.A. in Counselling and Spirituality : Couple and Family Counselling

School of Counselling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality

Université Saint Paul University (USP SPU)

The MA program requires successful completion of 39 units (non-thesis option) or 45 units (thesis option). These units are distributed between coursework, practica, and research. The number of practicum units specified for each concentration is the minimum, and some students, depending on their profile, may be required to do a greater number. Students are subject to a mid-term and end-of-term evaluation in their practica. A written evaluation report is given to the student, at mid-term and at the end of the term. These reports are also kept in the student’s confidential file. The evaluations that are conducted at the end of the second and third terms are particularly significant in assessing the student’s capacity for continued participation in the program. The practica must be taken consecutively. In order to obtain the degree, the student must have completed 150 supervised direct client contact hours. Of these 150 hours, students must have completed at least 100 hours within their internal practica.

CONCENTRATION IN INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING

Compulsory Courses (21 units)

  • IPA5131 Methodology of Empirical Research (3u)
  • IPA5134 Spirituality, Counselling and Psychotherapy  (3u)
  • IPA5144 Spirituality and Counselling (3u)
  • IPA5146 Professional Ethics (3u)
  • IPA6108 Psychopathology and Treatment (3u)
  • IPA6120 Theories of Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy (3u)
  • IPA6155 Research Seminar Preparation (0u)
  • IPA6156 Research Seminar (3u)

Professional Practice (15 units)

  • IPA6135 Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy I (Part 1 of 2) (3u)
  • IPA6136 Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy I (Part 2 of 2) (3u)
  • IPA6137 Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy II (3u)
  • IPA6138 Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy III (Part 1 of 2) (3u)
  • IPA6139 Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy III (Part 2 of 2) (3u)

Optional Professional Practice (0 unit)

IPA7128 External Clinical Practicum (0u)

Elective Course (3 units)

CONCENTRATION IN COUPLE AND FAMILY COUNSELLING

Compulsory Courses (24 units)

  • IPA5131 Methodology of Empirical Research (3u)
  • IPA5138 Theories of Family Systems and Intervention (3u)
  • IPA5144 Spirituality and Counselling (3u)
  • IPA5146 Professional Ethics (3u)
  • IPA6108 Psychopathology and Treatment (3u)
  • IPA6120 Theories of Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy (3u)
  • IPA7104 Theories of Couple Counselling (3u)
  • IPA6155 Research Seminar Preparation (0u)
  • IPA6156 Research Seminar (3u)

Professional Practice (15 units)

  • IPA6135 Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counselling and Psychotherapy I (Part 1 of 2) (3u)
  • IPA6140 Internal Clinical Practicum in Couple and Family Counselling and Psychotherapy I (Part 1 or 4) (3u)
  • IPA6141 Internal Clinical Practicum in Couple and Family Counselling and Psychotherapy II (Part 2 of 4) (3u)
  • IPA6142 Internal Clinical Practicum in Couple and Family Counselling and Psychotherapy III (Part 3 of 4) (3u)
  • IPA6143 Internal Clinical Practicum in Couple and Family Counselling and Psychotherapy IV (Part 4 of 4) (3u)

Optional Professional Practice (0 units)

IPA7128 External Clinical Practicum (0u)

Thesis option

To be accepted into the thesis option, students must first be admitted into the MA program and have obtained 9 units either by completing courses following registration or through advanced standing. They must apply to the Director of the School who will reach a decision based on the academic file, the quality of the thesis proposal and the existence of appropriate supervisory arrangements and after consultation with the professors of the School. Students in the thesis option must complete the same program requirements as students in the non-thesis option with two exceptions: they replace IPA6156 with the thesis and they are exempted from completing the 3 elective units.