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What does MA mean for a therapist?

Master of Arts A Master of Science (MS) and a Master of Arts (MA) are both postgraduate degree programs that prepare you to be a clinician in fields such as mental health counseling, marriage and family counseling, and substance abuse counseling.

regiscollege.edu - MA in Counseling vs MS in Counseling: What's the Difference?

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When choosing a master’s in counseling program, many aspiring students stress about the difference between a Master of Arts (MA) and a Master of Science (MS). This is one of the greatest sources of confusion for students who are considering different programs, triggering questions like:

What’s the difference between an MA and an MS in Counseling?

Is one option considered to be “better” or “worse” than the other?

Which degree is better for my career aspirations?

And more

The good news is that regardless of your career goals, earning either an MA or an MS in Counseling should empower you to reach them. The more important factor to consider is the depth of the curriculum, which varies from institution to institution and from program to program. Below we take a closer look at the difference (or lack thereof) between an MA and MS in Counseling and answer other common questions that students tend to have about the program.

What’s the difference between an MA and MS in Counseling?

A Master of Science (MS) and a Master of Arts (MA) are both postgraduate degree programs that prepare you to be a clinician in fields such as mental health counseling, marriage and family counseling, and substance abuse counseling. "The reality is that there really isn’t much of a difference between the two degrees at all," says Dr. Karen Miranda, Director of Graduate Counseling Programs at Regis College. “Many students see the word ‘arts’ and make an assumption that you're drawing from liberal arts, and see the word ‘science’ and make an assumption that you're drawing more from the sciences. While that’s more true at the undergraduate level, it’s not really the case at the graduate level, at least for counseling programs.” Why? Because all licensure prep counseling programs are required to have the same, roughly 16, core courses, depending on the state’s requirements. According to Dr. Miranda, whether you're pursuing an MA or MS degree, the core curriculum will cover mandatory fundamentals, such as theories of counseling, human growth and development, helping relationships, social and cultural foundations, and research methodology. There simply aren’t enough “free slots” in the curriculum for an MA or MS designation to make any real difference.

Questions to Ask About the Program Instead

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Promotion

Instead of choosing a program based on whether it is an MA or MS, prospective students are better served by ensuring the coursework meets the qualifications for licensure. If you plan to become a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC)—the most common option for someone with a degree in counseling—here are the questions to ask when choosing a graduate program.

1. Do the program’s core courses fulfill the requirements in the state in which you wish to practice?

Although there is significant overlap in the core coursework for each state, some required coursework does vary. Research any program you're interested in to make sure it includes all the required courses for the state where you intend to practice, especially if you're planning to attend school online or out of state. Many professional groups urge students to be wary of MA or MS counseling programs that offer credits based on life experience. Your transcripts must demonstrate that you completed the specific courses required for licensure, and there are no quick substitutions. If you are unsure of whether or not a particular program meets the requirements of a particular state’s licensing process, Dr. Miranda recommends you reach out to a member of the program’s staff. They can usually provide clarity.

2. Does the program consist of 60 credits?

You must complete 60 credits of master’s level coursework to meet the educational requirements to become a licensed mental health counselor. However, some master’s-level counseling programs only consist of 48 credits but are still marketed as “master’s” programs. If you decide to enroll in one of these shortened programs, you’ll still need to complete the additional 12 credits before you meet the educational requirements to become a licensed counselor.

regiscollege.edu - MA in Counseling vs MS in Counseling: What's the Difference?

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