Undergraduate Major
Master of Arts Psych-MACC Bridge Program
The PSYCH/MACC degree is designed for students who wish to become ethical professional counselors skilled in treating mental health and addiction disorders. The psychology major can be followed as a 3+3 curricular track leading to potential matriculation into the MACC program in the senior year.
NCE Opportunity
Alvernia counseling students have the opportunity to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and choose the NCE because of its portability to other states for licensure purposes. Most students who take the NCE in their final semester of coursework pass this examination on their first attempt. Many graduates of the MACC program have become licensed without delay after successfully completing two years and 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience as required by law. Alvernia's masters program is available in a 4-year curricular format for part-time students and a 3-year curriculum format for full-time students.
Experiential Learning Opportunities
- Attending professional conferences offered through the American Counseling Association and the Pennsylvania Counseling Association. These activities offer the opportunity to network with other professionals at the state and national levels.
- Complete counseling internships among many public and private agencies in Reading, Philadelphia, Lancaster, Pottsville and the surrounding areas.
Career Outlook
After earning your Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:
- Counselor
- Community Health Worker
- Inpatient & Outpatient Rehabilitation
- Chemical Dependency Counselor
- Clinical Therapist
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Social Worker
- Prevention and Intervention
Fast-Growing Profession
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors is projected to grow 17 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than average for all occupations. The median annual wage in 2024 was $59,190.
Program Overview
- Psych/MACC Bridge Program Admissions
Decisions regarding admission into the university will be made by the Office of Admissions. Admission into the PSYCH/MACC bridge program (6 years) will be available to students who meet the criteria (3.0 high school GPA, 1100 SAT). Upon timely completion of ALL admission criteria, applicants will be offered admission into the university, and conditional admission into the graduate MACC Program, as determined by the maximum number of allotted seats in the program set by the university.
Students within the accelerated bridge (6 years) format will follow a curricular plan in PSYCH, with MACC listed as the student’s second major. At the beginning of semester 6, students submit a letter of intent to proceed into the MACC program to the MACC program director. Admission into the MACC program will be determined by the MACC admissions committee in accordance with the university admissions policies.
- Application Instructions
Through a rolling admission process, prospective students may apply to Alvernia at any time. Multiple start dates throughout the year allow accepted students to begin a program of study at an accommodating time. We constantly accept and review applications contingent on openings in specific academic majors.
Keeping on track is important throughout the process. We encourage you to work with an Admissions Counselor to submit all necessary materials by required deadlines. Our dedicated Admissions team will work directly with you to identify the best options that work for you and your unique situation.
Once your application is reviewed, we make every effort to notify you of our decision within two to four weeks.
- Financing Your Education
There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our financial aid page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.
- Accreditation Statements
- The PSYCH/MACC program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs. The curriculum includes the core academic requirements for Licensed Professional Counselors in Pennsylvania.
- Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.