Athabasca University

What you'll study

The curriculum covers core counselling competencies, professional ethics, research methods and supervised practicum experiences to apply clinical skills. Students choose either course-based or thesis options and may take electives to align with career interests. The Counselling Psychology specialization is structured to meet the graduate coursework requirements for licensure with the College of Alberta Psychologists.

Entry requirements

Admission requires an undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA, a specified minimum number of psychology or educational psychology credits, and counselling‑related experience is preferred. For Alberta registration as a psychologist, the College of Alberta Psychologists requires an additional 30 to 36 psychology credits (generally at the undergraduate level). Non‑thesis students aiming for registration in Alberta must have a total of 72 psychology credits, which means 36 credits beyond the 36 credits in the Master of Counselling; options to obtain missing credits include taking additional graduate courses in GCAP or undergraduate psychology courses at Athabasca or another institution.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles as counselling therapists, counselling psychologists or psychotherapists in settings such as health care facilities, educational institutions, private practice and community organizations. The Counselling Psychology specialization aligns program coursework with the College of Alberta Psychologists’ graduate requirements, but learners from other provinces should verify their own provincial regulatory body requirements for licensure.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Tuition and program fees apply; Athabasca publishes detailed fee schedules and optional discounts (for example, an Indigenous tuition reduction noted for eligible students). Prospective applicants should review AU financial services pages, program fee information and speak with the university’s financial or admissions advisors about scholarships, bursaries, and fee timelines relevant to graduate students.