The Faculty of Education currently offers three graduate programs in Counselling Psychology.

If you are interested in applying to the Counselling Psychology MEd Program Thesis-based Route or the Counselling Psychology MEd Program Course-based Route, please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) before applying.

We also offer an MEd in School Counselling with admission every two years. The next admission cycle is March 2025. 

Notice: We are currently revising our Master’s in Counselling Psychology Programs. Please know that the changes will be communicated to you with your offer of admission.

Master's Program - Course-Based Route

Overview

Counselling Psychology is a helping profession devoted to preventing, remediating and ameliorating emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and interpersonal difficulties as well as enhancing human potential and quality of life. These aims are achieved through the integration of science and practice in the development of knowledge, skills, and judgment for working effectively in a variety of settings with diverse populations.

The course-based Counselling Psychology program is designed to train competent psychologists who possess the necessary professional abilities to enable them to adapt to the changing and diversifying roles of a psychologist. The program is based on the scholar-practitioner model of professional practice and is not intended to prepare students to undertake PhD studies.

Program Requirements

The program is comprised of (minimum) 11 three-credit courses, and a capping project.

1. Required Core Courses *30

  • EDPY 501, Introduction to Methods of Educational Research *3
  • EDPY 507, Measurement Theory I *3
  • EDPY 521, Foundations of Assessment *3
  • EDPY 530, Psychopathology and Diagnosis *3
  • EDPY 533, Foundations of Counselling Psychology: Theory and Clinical Practice I *3 
  • EDPY 534, Foundations of Counselling Psychology: Theory and Clinical Practice II *3 
  • EDPY 536, Ethical & Professional Issues in Psychological Practice *3
  • EDPY 538, Theory & Practice of Group Counselling *3
  • EDPY 539, Assessment Practicum in Counselling Psychology *3 (P)
  • EDPY 542, Cross-Cultural Counselling *3

Practicum Courses (P)

Please note that for the practicum courses listed above, considerable time is required in addition to the regularly scheduled lecture and seminar. Further information about practicum requirements will be specified in class.

2. Elective Course Credits *3

One required option (e.g., EDPY 635 Advanced Multicultural Counselling; EDPY 597, Career Counselling)

3. EDPY 903 - Project and Capping Exercise *3

At or near the end of their MEd program, students will complete a capping project. The project should be an investigation of an issue relevant to professional practice that arrives at a practical conclusion. It must be grounded in the field of counselling psychology and can be an intervention, evaluation or consultation. The project must not involve research as defined by the Tri-Council Policy Statement on Research Involving Humans. The capping project is intended to prepare students for professional practice and is carried-out under the guidance of a course instructor who will assist in identifying a topic, deciding on the form, and writing-up of the project.

4. FGPS Requirements

Ethics and Academic Citizenship Requirement

Master's Program - Thesis-Based Route

Program Overview

Counselling Psychology is a helping profession devoted to preventing, remediating and ameliorating emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and interpersonal difficulties as well as enhancing human potential and quality of life. These aims are achieved through the integration of science with practice and the development of awareness and skills to work with diverse populations from individual, social and organizational perspectives.

The Thesis-Based Counselling Psychology program is intended to train competent practitioners who have solid professional and research abilities that enable them to adapt to the changing and diversifying roles of a psychologist. The program is based on the scientist-practitioner model of professional practice. It is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills and judgment necessary to function effectively as a psychologist in a variety of settings and to undertake Ph.D. studies.

Program Requirements

The program is comprised of (minimum) 10 three-credit courses, and a thesis.

1. Required Core Courses *27

  • EDPY 501, Introduction to Methods of Educational Research *3
  • EDPY 507, Measurement Theory I *3
  • EDPY 521, Foundations of Assessment *3
  • EDPY 530, Psychopathology and Diagnosis *3
  • EDPY 533, Foundations of Counselling Psychology: Theory and Clinical Practice I *3 (P)
  • EDPY 534, Foundations of Counselling Psychology: Theory and Clinical Practice II *3 (P)
  • EDPY 536, Ethical & Professional Issues in Psychological Practice *3
  • EDPY 538, Theory & Practice of Group Counselling *3
  • EDPY 539, Assessment Practicum in Counselling Psychology *3 (P)

Practicum Courses (P)

Please note that for the practicum courses listed above, considerable time is required in addition to the regularly scheduled lecture and seminar. Further information about practicum requirements will be specified in class.

2. Elective Course Credits *3

One Required Research Course option *3 (e.g., EDPY 503, Qualitative Methods; EDPY 505, Quantitative Methods)

3. Thesis

During their MEd program, students will complete a thesis. The thesis should involve conducting a valid research study under the supervision of a faculty member. The thesis is intended to prepare students to undertake the doctoral dissertation and is carried out under the guidance of a supervisor who will assist in identifying a research question, designing the study, and writing-up the thesis.

4. FGPS Requirements

Ethics and Academic Citizenship Requirement

View MEd Program Planning Sheet

 

Doctoral Program

Program Descriptions

Counselling Psychology is a helping profession devoted to preventing, remediating and ameliorating emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and interpersonal difficulties as well as enhancing human potential and quality of life. These aims are achieved through the integration of science with practice and the development of awareness and skills to work with diverse populations from individual, social and organizational perspectives.

The Doctoral Program in Counselling Psychology is based on the scientist-practitioner model and is dedicated to training leaders of the profession through pursuing disciplined inquiry, understanding and respecting human diversity, and developing, using and evaluating effective counselling practices. Scientist-practitioners engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research while routinely monitoring their own counselling effectiveness. The objectives of the Doctoral program are: (1) the scientific development of knowledge in counselling psychology; (2) the scientific application of psychological knowledge to counselling practice; (3) the promotion of ethical behavior; and (4) the understanding of and respect for human diversity. These objectives are accomplished via research, coursework, and supervised practice. The program operates from an integrative theoretical orientation whereby students are exposed to a wide variety of counselling approaches.

The Doctoral Program in Counselling Psychology at the University of Alberta has been accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association since 2001.

Program Requirements

The program is comprised of (minimum) 6 three-credit courses, one six-credit internship, an oral candidacy exam, and a dissertation.

1. Required Core Courses *18

The Doctoral Program in Counselling Psychology consists of the following courses:
(P) indicates a practicum course

  • EDPY 615 Program Evaluation *3
  • EDPY 632 History and Systems of Psychology *3
  • EDPY 633 Advanced Counselling Practicum I (P) *3
  • EDPY 634 Advanced Counselling Practicum II (P) *3
  • EDPY 630 Counselling Psychology Internship *6

Students in the Doctoral Program in Counselling Psychology must successfully complete a 1600-hour internship accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association or American Psychological Association. Students must, therefore, participate in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) matching process (Phases I and II). In order to meet this requirement, students should be prepared to attend an internship beyond the greater Edmonton area. Prior to applying for internship, students must complete all required coursework and their doctoral candidacy exam. Students are encouraged to have at least collected their dissertation data prior to commencing the internship.

Please note that for the practicum courses listed above, considerable time is required in addition to the regularly scheduled lecture and seminar. Further information about practicum requirements will be specified in class.

2. Elective Course Credits * 6

  • One Doctoral Research Course *3
  • One Graduate Level Option *3

3. Oral Candidacy Exam

4. Dissertation

5. FGPS Requirements

Ethics and Academic Citizenship Requirement

View PhD Program Planning Sheet

Length of Program

Students are expected to complete a minimum of three academic years of full-time, resident graduate study and one year of internship. The maximum time allowed to complete the program is six years.

The table below describes the applicant pool, acceptance rates, composition, and the average GPA of the students enrolled in the doctoral Counselling program for the past seven years.

  • In the past 7 years, 1 student has failed to complete the Doctoral Program in Counselling Psychology
  • In the past 7 years, all 40 graduates have successfully become registered psychologists
Breakdown of applicant pool, acceptance rates, composition, and the average GPA of the students enrolled in the doctoral Counselling program for the past seven years.

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

2017-2018

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

Applicant Pool

 

11

24

27

21

14

14 14

Gender

female

8

19

19

18

11

10 11

 

male

3

5

8

3

3

4 3

Accepted into Program

6

7

7

4

7

5 6

Gender

female

4

5

6

3

5

5 5

 

male

2

2

1

1

2

0 1

Age

range

25-35

24-29

26-43

25-41

25-38

25-36 25-43

 

average

28

26

33

30

30

32 32

GPA

average

3.6

3.9

3.8

3.9

3.9

3.8   3.9

Admission Requirements

Master's Program - Course-Based Route

In order to be considered for admission into the Master's Program in Counselling Psychology, applicants must:

  1. have obtained a four-year baccalaureate degree in psychology or education, or its equivalent, offered by a recognized degree-granting institution of higher education in Canada, a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the United States, or a University in another country acceptable to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies.
  2. have successfully completed at least 36 credits of undergraduate coursework in psychology (or educational psychology), including at least 3 credits of senior undergraduate coursework in each of the following areas:
    • Biological bases of behaviour (e.g., physiological psychology, comparative psychology, neuropsychology, psychopharmacology)
    • Cognitive-affective bases of behaviour (e.g., learning, sensation, perception, cognition, thinking, motivation, emotion)
    • Social basis of behaviour (e.g., social psychology; cultural, ethnic, and group processes; sex roles; organizational and systems theory)
    • Individual behaviour (e.g., personality theory, human development, individual differences, abnormal psychology)
    Senior undergraduate coursework is defined as coursework that is not introductory in nature or content and typically begins with 3xx or 4xx in the course. Exceptional applicants who are missing no more than 6 credits of pre-requisite coursework may be admitted into the program on the condition that they complete additional coursework that addresses the deficiencies, as co-requisites to their Master's program.
  3. have acquired practical experience in the application of psychology (e.g., crisis line volunteer, youth worker).
  4. provide three letters of reference; two of which must be from someone knowledgeable about the applicant's scholarly abilities and potential, and one of which must be from someone knowledgeable about the applicant's counselling abilities and potential.
  5. provide a two-page statement of intent indicating general areas of research and applied interest, previous academic and practical activity, and plans upon graduation.
  6. complete a Supplementary Application Form.
  7. The English Language Proficiency (EPL) requirements for this program are higher than the minimum scores required by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. Please review the required scores in the Application Process section below.

Admissions decisions are based on 6 core criteria: (1) academic record, (2) depth and breadth of psychology courses taken, (3) relevant research and applied/volunteer experiences, (4) letters of recommendation, (5) quality of writing and statement of intent, and (6) overall match with program goals and faculty interests. Admissions are also based on inferred scientist-practitioner sensibilities (i.e., interest in and awareness of-the scientist-practitioner training model in counselling psychology, as well as the commitment to balancing and integrating research and practice and monitoring one's development and effectiveness over time). Applications are reviewed by two faculty members and rated on a 5-point scale. Those with the highest average ratings are considered for admission.

Students are NOT required to complete the GRE for admission purposes.

If you are interested in applying to the course-based Counselling Psychology MEd program, please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) before applying.

Master's Program - Thesis-Based Route

In order to be considered for admission into the Master's Program in Counselling Psychology applicants must:

  1. have obtained a four-year baccalaureate degree in psychology or education, or its equivalent, offered by a recognized degree-granting institution of higher education in Canada, a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the United States, or a University in another country acceptable to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies.
  2. have successfully completed at least 36 credits of undergraduate coursework in psychology (or educational psychology), including at least 3 credits of senior undergraduate coursework in each of the following areas:
    • Biological bases of behaviour (e.g., physiological psychology, comparative psychology, neuropsychology, psychopharmacology)
    • Cognitive-affective bases of behaviour (e.g., learning, sensation, perception, cognition, thinking, motivation, emotion)
    • Social basis of behaviour (e.g., social psychology; cultural, ethnic, and group processes; sex roles; organizational and systems theory)
    • Individual behaviour (e.g., personality theory, human development, individual differences, abnormal psychology)
    Senior undergraduate coursework is defined as coursework that is not introductory in nature or content and typically begins with 3xx or 4xx in the course. Exceptional applicants who are missing no more than 6 credits of pre-requisite coursework may be admitted into the program on the condition that they complete additional coursework that addresses the deficiencies, as co-requisites to their Master's program.
  3. have acquired practical experience in the application of psychology (e.g., crisis line volunteer, youth worker).
  4. provide three letters of reference; two of which must be from someone knowledgeable about the applicant's scholarly abilities and potential, and one of which must be from someone knowledgeable about the applicant's counselling abilities and potential,
  5. provide a two-page statement of intent indicating general areas of research and applied interest, previous academic and practical activity, and plans upon graduation.
  6. complete a Supplementary Application Form.
  7. The English Language Proficiency (EPL) requirements for this program are higher than the minimum scores required by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. Please review the required scores in the Application Process section below.

Admissions decisions are based on 6 core criteria: (1) academic record, (2) depth and breadth of psychology courses taken, (3) relevant research and applied/volunteer experiences, (4) letters of recommendation, (5) quality of writing and statement of intent, and (6) overall match with program goals and faculty interests. Admissions are also based on inferred scientist-practitioner sensibilities (i.e., interest in and awareness of-the scientist-practitioner training model in counselling psychology, as well as the commitment to balancing and integrating research and practice and monitoring one's development and effectiveness over time). Applications are reviewed by two faculty members and rated on a 5-point scale. Those with the highest average ratings are considered for admission.

Students are NOT required to complete the GRE for admission purposes.

If you are interested in applying to the thesis-based Counselling Psychology MEd program, please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) before applying.

Doctoral Program

For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Faculty of Education will only consider applicants to the PhD program with full-time status if they meet one of the following conditions: 

  • Remains professionally employed at or above .5 FTE (this includes four over five arrangements) during their studies. 
  • Has a supervisor who has expressed in writing the ability and intention of funding the student to $25,000 for each of the first two years (this includes financial co-sponsorship with another faculty member).
  • Is applying as an Indigenous student (1 studentship) or a member of an equity-denied group (1 studentship). 
  • Is sponsored by an external agency at or above $25,000 per year or has an external scholarship at or above $25,000.

Minimum Admission Requirements

Students applying to the Doctoral Program in Counselling Psychology must have:

  1. obtained a four-year baccalaureate degree in psychology or education,
  2. obtained a Master's degree in Counselling Psychology (preference will be given to applicants who have successfully completed a Master's thesis),
  3. successful completion of at least one half-year graduate course, or a two-semester (or two one-semester) senior undergraduate course in:
    • Biological bases of behaviour (e.g., physiological psychology, comparative psychology, neuropsychology, psychopharmacology)
    • Cognitive-affective bases of behaviour (e.g., learning, sensation, perception, cognition, thinking, motivation, emotion)
    • Social bases of behaviour (e.g., social psychology; cultural, ethnic, and group processes; sex roles; organizational and systems theory)
    • Individual behaviour (e.g., personality theory, human development, individual differences, abnormal psychology)
  4. successful completion of at least one half-year graduate course in:
    • scientific and professional ethics and standards
    • research methods
    • systems of counselling
    • statistics
  5. acquired graduate training in:
    • psychological assessment
    • test construction and psychological measurement
    • group counselling
    • individual counselling
    • cross-cultural counselling
  6. provide three letters of reference; two of which must be from someone knowledgeable about the applicant's scholarly abilities and potential, and one of which must be from someone knowledgeable about the applicant's counselling abilities and potential.
  7. provide a Statement of Intent,
  8. complete a Supplementary Application form.
  9. The English Language Proficiency (EPL) requirements for this program are higher than the minimum scores required by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. Please review the required scores in the Application Process section below.

Exceptional applicants, on the basis of previous academic record, academic background in area of interest, relevant experience, letters of recommendation, and statement of intent, who do not meet all of criteria 3, 4 or 5 above may be admitted into the Program on the condition that they complete courses to address any deficiencies in addition to the required courses listed below. The additional courses they would have to take would then become co-requisites for their doctoral program.

Students are NOT required to complete the GRE for admission purposes.

Application Process

Check Your Eligibility

Please review the admissions requirements to confirm your eligibility. An applicant's undergraduate academic performance, letters of reference, work experience, letter of intent, and areas of academic interest are all taken into account during the selection process for all graduate programs. Due to the necessity for quotas in many program routes and the limited resources of the Faculty, many highly qualified applicants cannot be admitted. While the Faculty encourages as many applicants as possible, it also recommends applicants apply to other universities in the event they cannot be admitted to the University of Alberta.

Obtaining Supervision

Masters Programs

All graduate students applying to the MEd Thesis program are encouraged to reach out to faculty members prior to applying in order to secure a supervisor. This is not required but strongly recommended. Course-based students do not need to reach out.

Doctoral Programs

Graduate students applying to the PhD program are strongly encouraged to reach out to a potential supervisor from our list of Faculty Staff to discuss your application in advance of applying to the Doctoral program.

Please Note

The following faculty will be accepting students for the upcoming admissions cycle: Drs. Taymy Caso, Rebecca Hudson-Breen, Noorfarah Merali (open to co-supervising doctoral students only), Phillip Sevigny, Gwendolyn Villebrun, and Sophie Yohani.

Drs. Jessica Van Vliet (on sabbatical) and William Whelton, will NOT be accepting students for the upcoming admissions cycle.

Applying Online & Submitting Documents

Once you have verified your eligibility, please apply for admission through the Graduate Studies Management System (GSMS). The  Graduate Studies Management System is managed by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) which plays a key role in providing final admissions approval for all graduate students across the University of Alberta. 

All items must be received by the application deadline, including reference letters. Therefore, please ensure that your application for admission is submitted at least two weeks before the deadline.

Please note that the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies requires all transcripts and mark sheets to meet specific guidelines.

In order to successfully submit your application for admission, you will be required to upload the following supporting documents to the online application system:

Curriculum Vitae (Resume)

A current CV is required when applying for admission.

Statement of Intent (2 pages)

The main purpose of the statement of intent is for you to outline your research or interests and goals. Secondly, include a personal statement that briefly outlines why you want to go to graduate school, your academic career so far, and your tentative career plans. You may also include any additional information that you feel would be helpful to the Admissions Committee.

Supplementary Application Form

Three letters of reference

Provide three letters of reference; two of which must be from someone knowledgeable about the applicant's scholarly abilities and potential, and one of which must be from someone knowledgeable about the applicant's counselling abilities and potential.

To submit the letters, please provide the system with electronic addresses of your 3 referees. The system will then send an electronic invitation to each referee requesting a letter of reference that they will upload only after the applicant has submitted their application.

Transcripts (from all post-secondary institutions attended)

You are required to scan and upload each page (front and back) of your transcript(s). Please see FGPS's requirements for academic documents. All North American transcripts must be issued within 12 months of the date of application. Preference is for official scanned copies of transcripts. If not, follow the instructions for online/web versions strictly.

Applicants from other countries must provide (scanned copies):

  • Original language marksheets/transcripts, or attested true copies, directly from each institution;
  • Original language final degree certificates, or attested true copies, directly from each institution;
  • Original English translation of marksheets/transcripts directly from each institution or an official translator and;
  • Original English translation of final degree certificates directly from each institution or an official translator.

If admitted to the program, original documentation will be required by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies.

English Language Proficiency (ELP)

The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) requires all applicants to demonstrate English language proficiency. Applicants with degrees/qualifications in a language other than English need to demonstrate English Language Proficiency by completing an approved English language exam.

The following scores are acceptable:

  • TOEFL score of 580 paper-based; OR
  • TOEFL score of 237 computer-based; OR
  • TOEFL score of 93 Internet-based (IBT), with a score of at least 24 on speaking and writing, and 21 on reading and listening (ITP not accepted); OR
  • IELTS Academic score of 7 with no band less than 6.5; OR
  • Pearson Test of English score of 63
  • Duolingo English test score of 120 with minimum of 100 in each band
Await the Official Admission Decision

Once we have received all of the required documents, your application is considered complete and the application will move forward to the review process. Applicants will be notified in the GSMS Application Portal once an official decision has been made.

Successful applicants will receive the official letter of acceptance issued by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS) in the GSMS portal. A department letter will follow that will outline further details of the admission including potential information such as funding offers or program information. Successful international applicants will require the letter of acceptance from FGPS in order to proceed with the application for travel documents such as a study permit and VISA.

IMPORTANT: Official documents (transcripts, degree certificates, etc.) may be required upon receiving the conditional offer of admission letter. Documents must be sent directly from the post-secondary institution to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies office. Detailed instructions will be outlined in your offer letter.







 

What you need to know

Accepting Applications from:

Master's Program
September 1, 2024 - December 1, 2024

Doctoral Program
October 1, 2024 - December 1, 2024

Contacts:

Graduate Advisor
Please direct admissions questions, program inquiries, etc., to essgrad1@ualberta.ca.

Director of Training
Dr. Bill Whelton
wwhelton@ualberta.ca

Program Coordinator
Dr. Sophie Yohani
sparkins@ualberta.ca 

Program Faculty
Dr. Taymy Caso
Dr. Rebecca Hudson Breen
Dr. Denise Larsen
Dr. Martin Mrazik
Dr. Phillip Sevigny
Dr. Melissa Tremblay
Dr. Jessica Van Vliet
Dr. Gwendolyn Villebrun
Dr. Bill Whelton
Dr. Sophie Yohani

Clinical Supervisor
Dr. Jonathan Dubue
Dr. Karen Cook