M.A. in Counseling and Spirituality
Ottawa, Canada
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English, French
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
CAD 8,302 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* $8,302.32 per term, for full-time international students
Introduction
The Faculty of Human Sciences at Saint Paul University offers programs leading to a graduate diploma in Couple Counseling and Spirituality, and to a Master of Arts (MA) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counseling and Spirituality, all conferred jointly by the Senates of Saint Paul University and of the University of Ottawa, with which Saint Paul is federated.
The objective of the master’s program is to train specialists to counsel and guide couples or individuals with regard to their values, their spirituality, as well as both their individual and couple dynamics and to prepare graduates for a career in research.
Each concentration of the MA program includes three components: knowledge acquisition; a research project or thesis; and professional practice.
The MA program is offered in French and in English on a full-time basis, with part-time registration permitted only under exceptional circumstances. In accordance with University regulations, students are permitted to write assignments, exams, and theses in either French or English.
A collaborative program in Feminist and Gender Studies at the MA level is also offered.
Specialization: Collaborative Program in Feminist and Gender Studies
Students admitted to the MA in Counseling and Spirituality may add a specialization in Feminist and Gender Studies.
To do so, they must apply to the Collaborative Program in Feminist and Gender Studies at the Master's level and must meet the requirements of both programs (courses in Feminist and Gender Studies are normally counted as part of the student's primary program requirements).
Students must complete the two compulsory courses (FEM5103 Feminist Methodologies; FEM5300 Feminist Theories) before their first enrollment for the major research paper or thesis.
The thesis or major research paper must be on a topic related to women, gender, feminism, or sexualities. The proposed topic must be approved by the Feminist and Gender Studies Graduate Committee as well as by the student’s primary program. The thesis or major research paper must demonstrate knowledge of feminist scholarship in the field or fields appropriate to the topic, and of feminist methodologies where applicable.
Thesis or Major Research Paper Proposal: The thesis or major research paper proposal must be approved by the Feminist and Gender Studies Graduate Committee as well as by the primary program. Usually, the thesis or major research paper proposal is submitted to Feminist and Gender Studies by the end of the third term of the first year of studies.
The thesis supervisor must possess Feminist and Gender Studies expertise. In the case of a major research paper, the supervisor should, ideally, possess Feminist and Gender Studies expertise. If not, one of the readers must possess such expertise. Joint supervision by a professor from the participating unit and a professor chosen by the Feminist and Gender Studies Graduate Committee may be appropriate in some cases.
Examiner or Reader: One of the examiners (for the thesis) or reader (for the major research paper) must be a person approved by the Feminist and Gender Studies Graduate Committee.
Admissions
Curriculum
The MA program requires the 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 practice. 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 100 supervised direct client contact hours.
Concentration in Individual Counseling
Compulsory Courses (21 units)
- Methodology of Empirical Research (3u)
- Practical Theology (3u)
- Spirituality and Counseling (3u)
- Professional Ethics (3u)
- Psychopathology and Treatment (3u)
- Theories of Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy (3u)
- Research Seminar Preparation (0u)
- Research Seminar (3u)
Professional Practice (15 units)
- Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy I (Part 1 of 2) (3u)
- Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy I (Part 2 of 2) (3u)
- Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy II (3u)
- Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy III (Part 1 of 2) (3u)
- Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy III (Part 2 of 2) (3u)
Optional Professional Practice (0 unit)
- External Clinical Practicum (0u)
Elective Course (3 units)
Concentration in Couple and Family Counseling
Compulsory Courses (24 units)
- Methodology of Empirical Research (3u)
- Theories of Family Systems and Intervention (3u)
- Spirituality and Counseling (3u)
- Professional Ethics (3u)
- Psychopathology and Treatment (3u)
- Theories of Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy (3u)
- Theories of Couple Counseling (3u)
- Research Seminar Preparation (0u)
- Research Seminar (3u)
Professional Practice (15 units)
- Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy I (Part 1 of 2) (3u)
- Internal Clinical Practicum in Couple and Family Counseling and Psychotherapy I (3u)
- Internal Clinical Practicum in Couple and Family Counseling and Psychotherapy II (3u)
- Internal Clinical Practicum in Couple and Family Counseling and Psychotherapy III (3u)
- Internal Clinical Practicum in Couple and Family Counseling and Psychotherapy IV (3u)
Optional Professional Practice (0 units)
- External Clinical Practicum (0u)
Concentration in Spiritual Care
This concentration is not offered at this time.
Compulsory Courses (18 units)
- Methodology of Empirical Research (3u)
- Practical Theology (3u)
- Professional Issues and Ethics in Spiritual Care (3u)
- Theories of Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy (3u)
- Theology and Spiritual Care (3u)
- Research Seminar Preparation (0u)
- Research Seminar (3u)
Professional Practice (18 units)
- Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy I (Part 1 of 2) (3u)
- Internal Clinical Practicum in Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy I (Part 2 of 2) (3u)
- Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Practicum I (4u)
- Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Practicum II (4u)
- Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Practicum III (4u)
Elective Course (3 units)
All practica and Clinical Pastoral Education units include supervised work with clients at hospital placements or the Counseling and Psychotherapy Centre at Saint Paul University. Advanced students may be assigned external practica in community settings.
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.