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Montclair State University

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Eight Montclair Degrees in Psychology and Counseling

Montclair State University appears in our ranking of the 30 Most Affordable Master’s in Addiction and Rehabilitation Counseling.

At Dickson Hall, the College of Humanities & Social Sciences offers a 120-credit BA in Psychology with a K-6 Teacher Certification option for Montclair State University Red Hawks to apply behavioral theory while engaging in Psi Chi and researching in the Perceiving People Lab. Chaired by Dr. Yoav Arieh, the MA in Psychological Science follows a 35-credit, 18-month sequence with a master’s thesis after advanced 500-level courses like Behavioral Neuroscience and Research Methods. Since July 2017, the MA in Counseling has enrolled 374 post-grads with four 60-credit, CACREP-accredited concentrations in Addictions, Clinical Mental Health, Student Affairs, and School Counseling for nearly 100 percent LPC certification success. The MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology builds a 36-credit, scientist-practitioner curriculum under Dr. Kevin Askew with evening classes after 5PM for 95 percent job placement.

Approved by the NASP, the EdS in School Psychology paves a 65-credit, non-thesis track to K-12 certification where Montclair State University post-grads take courses like Psychometrics, secure 1,200-hour supervised internships, and practice in the Psychoeducational Services Clinic. Directed by Dr. Tina Zottoli, the MA in Clinical Psychology has two 36-credit, 2.5-year doctoral prep specializations for Child/Adolescent and Clinical Forensic Psychology that require thesis research at on-site institutes, such as the Cerebral Lateralization Lab. The Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology also provides 86-credit, APA-accredited emphases for Clinical Child and Forensic Psychology with six practica semesters plus one-year externships at East Jersey State Prison, Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, Manhattan CRAN, and more. Each Fall, the Ph.D. in Counseling starts a 66-credit dissertation sequence led by Dr. Dana Levitt for licensed counselors to finish 800-level classes from Group Therapy to Cultural Issues and full-time internships.

About Montclair State University

Montclair State University first opened in 1908 when Governor John Franklin Fort welcomed an inaugural class of 187 to the New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair. In 1915, it became a residential campus when Russ Hall was built for dorms. In 1927, President Harry Sprague renamed it the Montclair State Teachers College. In 1929, Montclair alumnus William O. Trapp won a Pulitzer Prize. Eight years later, Montclair became the Mid-Atlantic region’s first accredited teachers college. In 1949, Montclair established the New Jersey School of Conservation. In 1958, Montclair State College was formed with the Panzer School of Physical Education. In 1973, Montclair hired New Jersey’s first African-American president, Dr. David W.D. Dickson. In 1994, the Montclair State University name was finally adopted. By 2011, MSU had launched the Center for Autism & Early Childhood Mental Health.

Endowed for $43.9 million, Montclair State University now employs 645 full-time and 1,247 part-time faculty teaching 21,115 Red Hawks from 38 countries online and on its 252-acre Essex County campus 14 miles west of Manhattan with 55+ clubs like Active Minds. In 2018, Montclair won an APPA Award for Excellence in Facilities Management. In 2019, MSU accepted a New Jersey Business & Industry Association Excellence Award. Montclair State University has a 2020 NACADA Region 2 Conference Award recipient too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Montclair 166th overall with the 121st best for vets education and 23rd top social mobility. On Niche, MSU boasts America’s 349th best location and 378th most diverse students. Money magazine crowned Montclair State University the 75th top value. Forbes named MSU the 142nd best public college and 179th top research institute.

Featured Programs

Montclair State University Accreditation Details

On June 22, 2017, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) reaffirmed Montclair State University through the Collaborative Implementation Project to keep Level VI accreditation current through the next 2025-26 evaluation under President Susan A. Cole, Ph.D. Located 96 miles down Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, this esteemed eight-territory East Coast accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to review MSU’s 54 undergrad and 130 post-grad majors. Further, the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has accredited Montclair through March 31, 2025. The Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology also earned “accreditation on contingency” from the American Psychological Association (APA) on August 16, 2019.

Montclair State University Application Requirements

Enrollment at Montclair State University is classified as “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since 10,170 of the 14,324 Fall 2019 applicants were triumphant for 71 percent acceptance. First-year Red Hawks flying toward the BA in Psychology must culminate a challenging high school curriculum or the GED. At least 16 college-prep units are prerequisite for freshmen. The Class of 2022 reported an average cumulative GPA of 3.26. The middle 50th percentile had SAT scores of 490-580 for math and 500-580 for reading. Mid-range admitted ACT scores were 18-24. Transfers with 30+ accredited, non-remedial credits and GPAs over 2.0 can forgo testing. International students still need a minimum 83 TOEFL iBT or 6.0 IELTS English score though. The Graduate School looks for four-year U.S. bachelor’s or foreign equivalent education. Twelve prerequisite psychology credits, including Statistics, are listed. Overall GPAs of 3.0 are mandatory. Ph.D. cohorts typically need 3.5 or better GPAs in master’s preparation. Competitive GRE scores above the 50th percentile are also needed.

Montclair State University set a December 1st priority and March 1st final deadline for freshmen. Psychology Department transfers are considered until April 15th for Fall and October 15th for Spring. The Graduate School generally has rolling admission year-round. One exception is the Ph.D. in Counseling, which closes on February 1st. Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology cohorts must file by December 1st. Accordingly, complete the MSU Application online for $65 ($60 if graduate). Have official transcripts mailed to 1 Normal Avenue in Montclair, NJ 07043 or faxed to (973) 655-7700. Send test results directly with ACT code 2572 or SAT/GRE code 2520. Attach supporting materials, such as the essay prompt, resume or CV, 2-3 recommendation letters, doctoral writing sample, and passport. Contact (973) 655-4000 or msuadm@montclair.edu with questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, Montclair State University is charging in-state BA in Psychology majors $6,040 each term. Non-resident bachelor’s tuition is $10,020 by semester. Mandatory semester student fees are $495. Studying part-time costs $435 to $701 per credit. Living at the Little Falls campus’ dorms like Blanton Hall adds $3,501 to $6,148 for semester housing. Rocky’s Unlimited meal plans for Freeman Dining Hall are $2,495 extra. Health insurance coverage incurs $2,759 unless waived. MSU budgets $1,240 for books and $2,120 for miscellaneous. Annual undergrad attendance averages $32,108 in-state and $40,068 out-of-state. The Graduate School charges New Jerseyans $730 and non-residents $1,054 per master’s credit. Doctoral programs bill everyone $669 per credit.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid at Red Hawk Central connects 81 percent of new full-time Montclair students to median tuition assistance of $10,191 each for $17.82 million combined. University funds include the Addiction Workforce Promotion Scholarship, Albert Wang Dissertation Award, Robert J. Lieberman Graduate Scholarship, Dominican Republic MESCyT Scholarship, Jeanne Wade Henningburg Scholarship, Cento Amici Scholarship, Don & Judy Miller Scholarship, Dr. Edward Martin Scholarship, Amanda Quesada Memorial Scholarship, Eby Ohamadike Scholarship, Novartis Graduate Scholarship, Harold S. Sloan Trust Award, and Peter Balsamo Study Abroad Scholarship. The Presidential Scholars Program presents $20,000 total to high-achieving, in-state freshmen in the top 10th percentile. The Student Government Association offers a Transfer Scholarship for incoming sophomores and juniors with GPAs above 2.75. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant or Work-Study Program, require FAFSA forms coded 002617. New Jerseyans can also claim the STARS II Scholarship, Urban Scholarship, Tuition Aid Grant, World Trade Center Scholarship, BEST Scholarship, and others.

Learn more about Montclair State University at the Psychology Department website.