Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S.)
Admission Policies and Procedures

Who is Eligible to Apply for the C.A.S.

The C.A.S. program provides those students who posses a master's degree in psychology or an allied profession with an opportunity to advance their knowledge and skills in the area of clinical and counseling psychology. Students will take advantage of the opportunity to "tailor" courses to meet specialized job and certification requirements.

The student is not required to take comprehensive examinations or write a thesis. C.A.S. applicants do not need to submit Graduate Record Exam (G.R.E.) scores.

A total of thirty credit hours is required for awarding of the C.A.S. Students may choose courses according to their particular interests and needs, such as meeting educational requirements or credentials for their employment setting. Course offerings include those which are required by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists to become eligible to become a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (L.C.P.C.) The L.C.P.C. requires the completion of 60 credit hours of graduate coursework, including course work in specified areas from an accredited institution approved by the Board; at least three years of supervised experience, at least two of which must be post-Masters work; and successful completion of an examination approved by the Board. The L.C.P.C. is able to provide psychological services independently in Maryland, but is not a licensed psychologist. For further information about the L.C.P.C., contact the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists at 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215-2299 or (410) 764-4732.

Students who are admitted to the C.A.S. program will work closely with an advisor to design a course of study that is consistent with their professional goals. Courses are chosen from the offerings within the Masters program (600- and 700-level courses). There are no specific courses required for the C.A.S. program; however C.A.S. students must fulfill all prerequisites listed for their chosen courses, as identified in the Graduate Catalogue.

Admission Guidelines and Policies

The following materials must be received by the Office of Graduate Admissions by the application deadline:

• Completed application form and application fee.
• All graduate and undergraduate transcripts.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• An essay or personal statement describing professional goals and reason for applying to Loyola College.

G.R.E. scores are not required for admission to the C.A.S. program.

Non-Academic Activities

The admission evaluation is primarily an academic review. At the end of the process, we often find many applicants with similar academic records. At that point, extracurricular activities, special research and clinical experiences, or employment background may be considered. Applicants should indicate in their essay all the activities that they feel are important to the evaluation of their application.

Application Deadlines

Applications for the C.A.S. are accepted until April 15th for the Summer semesters, July 15th for the Fall semester, and November 15th for the Spring semester.

Program of Study

Course offerings include many of those which are required by the Maryland Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors to become a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (L.C.P.C.).

Certificate of Advanced Study in Clinical Psychology (partial course listing):

• Externship in Clinical Psychology
• Ethics and Legal Issues in Psychology
• Research Seminar
• Psychodiagnostics I and II
• Advanced Abnormal Psychology
• Psychopathology of Childhood
• Advanced Techniques of Counseling and Psychopathology
• Electives

Click here for more important information for the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.