Springfield College

Psychology and Counseling Degrees at Springfield

Springfield College appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Small Colleges for a Counseling Degree.

Springfield College's School of Arts, Sciences, and Professional Studies is bursting with specialized psychology or counseling opportunities to earn 11 majors and 15 concentrations. With a 12:1 student-faculty ratio, courses place learners within reach of PhD-level mentors and engaged practicum at 100+ clinical partners like Shriners Hospital for Children. Future mental health practitioners should consider these Springfield degrees:

B.S. in Psychology

Adhering to APA undergrad guidelines, Springfield's B.S. in Psychology is a traditional, 33-credit major building knowledge of behavioral science with four years of courses from human relations to cognitive psychology. Students could add the PreK-2 Early Childhood Licensure track, intern at The May Institute, declare the Addiction Studies Minor, join Psi Chi, and more.

M.S. in Art Therapy/Counseling

Consisting of 63 to 67 total credits, the M.S. in Art Therapy/Counseling is an AATA-approved Springfield program that satisfies Massachusetts LMHC licensing for graduates interested in using visual or performing arts to heal mental health conditions. Majors benefit from studio classes in Fuller Arts Center and 600 hours of clinical practicum at agencies like Lahey Health Behavioral Sciences.

M.S. in Psychology

Housed in Locklin Hall, the M.S. in Psychology emphasizes "humanics" while training Springfield graduates to apply knowledge of the mind and behavior to help people live better. Ranging from 48 to 60 credits, the curriculum offers concentrations for General Counseling, Athletic Counseling, School Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or Industrial/Organizational Psychology with master's thesis and non-thesis tracks.

M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling and Services

Nationally accredited by CORE, the M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling and Services at Springfield selectively admits 10 to 15 students per cohort to develop therapeutic strategies for treating physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. The 48-credit program adds clinical practicum in five concentrations: Alcohol and Substance Abuse, General Counseling and Casework, Pediatric and Developmental Disabilities, Psychiatric Rehabilitation, or Special Services.

Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology

Spanning four to six years full-time, the Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology was re-accredited by the APA in 2016 to educate practitioner-scholars for ethical, reflective therapy in two concentrations: Couples and Family Counseling or Athletic Counseling. The 91-credit curriculum integrates advanced courses like cognitive assessment, three doctoral practicums, and a year-long supervised internship without dissertation research.

Students pursuing helping professions could also attend Springfield College for the B.S. in Human Services, B.S. in Art Therapy, M.Ed. in Student Personnel Administration, M.S. in Human Services, or Ph.D. in Physical Education-Sport and Exercise Psychology.

About Springfield College

Springfield College was established in 1885 as the all-male YMCA Department of the School for Christian Workers. Six years later, the school made history as student James Naismith invented the sport of basketball. It wasn't until 1954 that Springfield College adopted its current name as a private, co-educational CIC member. Endowed for $64.4 million, Springfield now educates the mind, body, and spirit of over 5,100 Pride from its 100-acre headquarters in Massachusetts' Hampden County. Named a 2016-17 "College of Distinction," Springfield is ranked the 27th best Northern college, 14th most veteran-friendly school, and 12th top value by the U.S. News.

Springfield College Accreditation Details

Reaffirmed through Fall 2020, Springfield College is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Therefore, Springfield's campuses from Boston to Tampa and Tustin qualify for federal financial aid under the U.S. Department of Education. The Doctor of Psychology has programmatic accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA). The Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) accredits one counseling M.S. program. The M.S. in Art Therapy also gained approval from the American Art Therapy Association (AATA).

Springfield College Application Requirements

Featuring a Fall 2015 acceptance rate of 64 percent, Springfield College has a "selective" admission process. First-year applicants interested in the B.S. Psychology degree must graduate from an approved high school or obtain the GED. Strong college-prep courses, including four years of English and three years of math through Algebra 2, is required. On average, admitted freshmen hold a secondary GPA of 3.26. Undergrads also reach a mean SAT score of 1110 and ACT score of 22. Those with 15+ credits from regionally accredited colleges could transfer with a minimum 2.0 GPA.

Graduate admission for Master of Science programs will require holding a four-year bachelor's degree from an NEASC-accredited or similar institution. Those from non-English speaking countries need to score at least 550 on the TOEFL or 90 MELAB score. Master's applicants need a minimum 2.75 GPA with experience in student leadership. Having at least 12 credits in psychology, such as abnormal, developmental, and social, is essential. Applying for the Psy.D. mandates a bachelor's or higher in psychology, counseling, or social work fields. Doctoral candidates must have clinical experience, a cumulative GPA above 3.5, and above-average GRE scores.

Springfield College has an Early Decision deadline of December 1st and Regular Decision deadline of April 1st for undergrads. Rolling admissions for master's programs generally last until July 25th. Candidates must send the Common Application, complete an interview, and attach the following:

• $50 non-refundable application fee
• Official high school and college grades
• Standardized testing score reports
• At least one letter of recommendation
• Two to three page personal statement
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Portfolio of 10+ images (art therapy only)

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time Springfield undergrads are charged $36,020 for tuition and $515 for mandatory fees annually. Living on-campus adds $6,660 and $5,580 for room and board respectively. Indirect expenses like $1,000 for textbooks and $800 for transportation adds up. Total yearly cost of attendance for bachelor's learners is $51,775. Graduate courses in the Department of Psychology charge $1,017 per credit. Master's or Psy.D. students will pay a $215 fee per full-time semester. For example, the total tuition cost for the 48-credit M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling and Services would be $49,656.

The NCES states the 97 percent of starting, full-time Springfield Price earn financial aid at an average amount of $19,558. Institutional awards, including the Trustee Scholarship, Dean Scholarship, Transfer Achiever's Scholarship, Jesse L. Parks Scholarship, and Early Decision Award, are plentiful. Filing the FAFSA could unlock the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant, and loans like the Perkins. "Codfish State" residents may obtain the Agnes M. Lindsay Scholarship, MASS Grant, or Foster Child Grant. Springfield College undergrads can complete Federal Work-Study for up to 20 hours weekly.