(Anchorage, Alaska)—February 1, 2018.
As the February 15th application deadline draws near for the Fall 2018 MSCP and PsyD cohorts, we reflect on the 30-year history of Counseling Psychology programs at APU. Three decades ago, the Board of Trustees of Alaska Pacific University recognized that mental health was an essential component of strengthening communities in the state, and APU was positioned to offer graduate training for professional counselors with the creation of the Master’s of Science degree in counseling psychology (MSCP). The MSCP program graduated its first class in 1993, and 25 years later, the university continues to build accessible educational pathways for behavioral health and counseling professionals. Over 200 graduates of the program serve their communities as licensed counselors, Tribal Healthcare professional, wellness educators, student service providers, and non-profit leaders.
Over the past year, APU has redesigned the MSCP program to be delivered online and articulate seamlessly to the doctoral degree, for students who aspire to become licensed psychologists Focusing on contemporary mental health issues and incorporating culturally relevant practices and ways of knowing, the curriculum reflects APU’s commitment to serve Alaska and Alaska Native peoples.
Dr. Stephanie Morgan, director of APU’s Institute of Health and Wellness explains the program’s evolution: “In light of the 25th anniversary, we looked at the needs of the community and the state, and how our programs and curriculum can address them. One of our answers was to create a degree pathway from an associate’s degree to a doctoral degree. Historically, students have had to be in the Anchorage area for two years to complete their master’s degrees, but our bachelor’s and doctoral degrees are available in more accessible formats, so streamlining all of our offerings just made sense to serve the state’s needs.”
In addition to a series of professional development activities throughout the year, APU will celebrate the 25th anniversary year with an MSCP program alumni reunion in April.
The application deadline for the master’s and doctoral programs in Counseling Psychology is February 15. For more information about APU’s counseling programs, contact Dr. Ebony McClain, emclain@alaskapacific.edu. For information about admissions, contact admissions@alaskapacific.edu or 1-907-564-8248.
