Master of Arts in Counseling

Position statement

We strive to embody social justice through a continuing cultivation of ethical and culturally relevant methodologies. In resonance with the values of the American Counseling Association, the National Board for Certified Counselors, accrediting organizations for counseling programs, and the Benedictine framework, we recognize the dominance of white/euro-centric norms and teach cultural humility by rejecting anti-immigrant rhetoric and action.

We affirm the self-determination of Indigenous and Native communities by hearing their stories and supporting decolonization. We work to deconstruct the walls of sexism and transphobia by integrating feminist and trans-valuing theories into our practice. We actively counter ageism, ableism, classism, racism, and heterosexism in our communities by admitting their pervasiveness and implementing corrective actions. In the spirit of Benedictine sincere hospitality, we extend welcome to members of all faiths and to those who do not identify as having a religious membership.

Program Outcomes

As the educators of future Professional Counselors, we strive to create an atmosphere that will encourage and promote:

• Preparing our graduates for National Certification through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), and WA State Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
  • Some students may pursue elective coursework that prepares for the WA State LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy) as well.
• Supporting the development of self-awareness skills essential to counseling through ongoing emphasis on developing “The Person of the Counselor”  
• Instilling a sense of commitment to professional ethics including decision making, courses of action, culturally-conscious diagnosis, and delivery of counseling services
• Cultivating contextual and discerning thinkers by fostering systemic thinking including the importance of a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach
• Contributing to the learning community at a program level and within the university as a whole through collaboration, mentorship, dialogue, modeling, curriculum integration, alumni community engagement and training opportunities
• Training future counselors in the theoretical foundations and skills necessary for a variety of professional settings and populations served by the MAC program and its graduates
• Facilitating understanding of developmental, relational, cultural, and environmental impacts on the human experience, including trauma and grief 

Program Highlights and Resources

• All required courses are offered at least once per academic year. All courses are offered on a schedule of one meeting per week with on-ground courses being offered in the afternoon, and digital delivery courses offered in the evening. In Summer term, most course are offered via digital delivery, or a combination of on ground and digital delivery (blended) format. During the Admissions process, MAC students are asked to indicate whether they intend to pursue the on-ground or digital delivery, method of instruction. While rare, from time-to-time, based on enrollment needs, courses may be offered exclusively in one format or the other in any given term.
• Coursework in the MAC program supports counseling careers and licensure in the State of Washington for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) and may also provide preparation for the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), dependent upon electives taken.
• MAC students are trained to work with individuals, couples, relationships, family systems, and groups.
• Teaching methods include dyad, small-group work, lectures, media, presentations, and discussions as well as supervised role playing, and introspective exercises.
• A required 100-hour practicum, and 600-hour internship complement coursework by providing students with a supervised, in-depth opportunity to work in a variety of counseling settings.

MAC faculty areas of interest

Anti-oppression, access and technology, collaboration, decolonization, community, indigenous wisdom, military and families, professional identity, relational approaches to research, spontaneity and creativity, subtle activism, and vulnerability.

Specialty areas

MAC Students are trained to work with individuals, couples, relationships, families, and groups from a systemic and contextually sensitive perspective. The program prepares students for licensure in the State of Washington as Mental Health Counselors (LMHC); and may prepare students for licensure as Marriage and Family Counselors (LMFT), dependent upon elective choice.

Methods of instruction

Teaching methods include use of dyads, small-group work, lectures, media, presentations and discussions, as well as supervised role playing, and introspective exercises. Students complete a required 100-hour practicum course, after successfully completing the pre-requisite courses, typically in their second spring or third fall of the program. Students complete a 600-hour internship during the fall and spring of the third year.

Advising

All students are assigned an advisor from the core faculty upon admission, and whom they will consult with each Fall and Spring in preparation for the next term. The advisor accompanies MAC students throughout their MAC journey and is often the first contact when students have scheduling and policy questions; provides assistance navigating conflict or misunderstandings; and supports students as they consider academic, clinical, and professional identity development needs. MAC also offers group scheduling meetings in the Fall and Spring semester that may be led by the chair of the program or by the students’ advisor. 

Matriculation Process

Each applicant who is admitted to the MAC program is admitted conditionally. Successful MAC students  maintain a 3.0 grade point average (or above), demonstrate alignment with the ACA Code of Ethics (2014) and the field of counseling, as well as engage in counselor appropriate reflection and analysis of growth opportunities through self-assessment and in collaboration with your advisor and faculty through the MAC 5 Areas of Assessment (in class and programmatically). These skills are reinforced during their Foundation (first year) and through the first half of their Impacts (second year) coursework and then students are given the opportunity to achieve full admission through the Degree Candidacy process (described in the MAC Handbook). Achieving Degree Candidacy status is a prerequisite for beginning MAC 668 Internship 1 and successfully completing the MAC program. 

Looking for handbooks, annual reports, or more resources?

Current students can access syllabi through Moodle and prospective students may contact the department chair to review current syllabi.

MAC Program Information Resources:

• 2024 MAC Annual Report
• 2023 MAC Annual Report
• MAC Program Outcomes

Check out MAC Resources