MA in Psychology

• You become a psychologist.
• You gain counseling and communication skills that are needed for every profession.
• You are ideally prepared for any PhD program.
• You have the opportunity to obtain the Propädeutikum certificate by adding the “First Aid Course” and hours of self-reflection with a registered psychotherapist (50 hours of individual self-reflection or 25 hours of a group self-reflection).

The Propädeutikum is the first important step to become a psychotherapist in Austria. If you would like to have more information about the process of getting the Propädeutikum certificate, please contact psych.dept@webster.ac.at.

1. A bachelor’s degree in Psychology from another accredited university with a cumulative GPA of a 3.0 from the applicant's undergraduate degree granting institution.

   Completion of course work in the following areas within undergraduate education:

   • Introduction to Psychology or Psychology: General
   • Statistics
   • Research Methods or Experimental Psychology

   Recommended completion of coursework in the following areas:

   • Social Psychology
   • Biological Psychology, Neuropsychology or Physiological Psychology
   • Personality Psychology
   • Human Development or Developmental Psychology
   • Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology

   While completion of coursework in these areas is not an unconditional requirement, participants with completed coursework in these areas (or equivalent) will be given preference in the admissions process. Please contact the Admissions Office should you have questions regarding courses you need to complete prior to starting the master's program.

2. For students coming from the Austrian higher education system, if your 1st Studienabschnitt in Psychology is completed, there is a possibility to convert the 1st Studienabschnitt to a Bachelor of Science (in Psychology) Degree.

   For more information please visit the following sites. Webster University is not liable for the content of the following links.

   • Transfer of 1st Studienabschnitt to a Bachelor in Psychology (page 6) (PDF)
   • Form needed for the transfer (PDF)

Get more information about tuition fees or contact our Admissions Office.

Graduate psychology students are required to submit a master's thesis, which is the culminating project of their studies at Webster Vienna. This page provides additional information, including departmental guidelines, forms and formatting templates, specifically designed for graduate students in the Psychology department.

The master’s thesis consists of an individual research project designed by the student and carried out over the duration of at least one semester, under the direction of a thesis faculty advisor. The thesis project allows students to contribute to research in the field and to gain important research experience necessary for entrance into a doctoral program.

• Guidelines for graduate thesis on Connections (requires login)
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Webster University (ethics in research)

Purpose and Scope

This Study Plan and Regulations lays out the specifications of the program Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology (MA), including the profile and learning outcomes, the structure of the curricula, program development and the criteria for admission and conferment of a degree.

This study plan and regulations is applicable to all students pursuing the Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology starting on or after Sept. 1, 2021. It pertains to the degree (MA) offered by WVPU which is accredited by the Agency for quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria in accordance with the Private Universities Act §2 and §3. The requirements for U.S. accredited degrees conferred by Webster University based in St. Louis, USA may vary slightly. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisor for details. 

Overview Table

Profile and Learning Outcomes 

The Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology (MA) provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become competent in counseling psychology and psychotherapy through academic and experiential learning. The program constitutes the first of two steps towards completing psychotherapy qualification in Austria, as it offers the possibility to take the Propädeutikum exam at the end of the program. Successful completion of the Propädeutikum allows students to enter the final stage of psychotherapy education (Fachspezifikum). Based on the scientist-practitioner training model whereby research and practice are taken as interdependent and mutually supporting, the program educates future psychologists with a sound knowledge of the theory and practice of counseling psychology. The program prepares students with the training and experience necessary to become practicing counseling psychologists while providing the research skills necessary to undertake doctoral studies in Psychology. 

Successful graduates of WVPU’s Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology are competent consumers and creative producers of social science and psychological research, competent in counseling practice and ethical and sensitive to the cultures, values, and worlds of various clients. 

The WVPU Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology program emphasizes the importance of multicultural competence in both research and practice and embodies the university’s profile and objectives. Graduates of WVPU’s Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling are fully qualified for the degree they earned and are critical and adaptive thinkers capable of succeeding in a complex and changing labor market.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this program will be able to:

1. Explain the main approaches to counseling and psychotherapy and the role of the therapeutic relationship.
2. Describe important theories of human development and examine their significance to counseling psychology.
3. Discuss the major categories of psychological disorders and use this knowledge to assess and diagnose psychopathology.
4. Describe the mechanisms of action for a variety of psychopharmacological agents and evaluate the role of psychopharmacology in counseling psychology.
5. Describe the importance of professional ethics and demonstrate how ethical standards and legal requirements are relevant to the practice of counseling and psychotherapy.
6. Administer and interpret various widely-used psychological tests.
7. Construct the appropriate research design, collect data and implement the necessary statistical techniques to answer research questions relevant to counseling psychology which adds to the discipline.
8. Demonstrate practical counseling skills that can be applied to individuals and groups to address a broad range of issues and settings.
9. Integrate theory, experience, behavioral observation and analysis to systematically enhance counseling knowledge and skills.
10. Evaluate the appropriateness of various counseling approaches to different cultures, values and world-views of various clients and choose appropriate approaches.

The WVPU Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology program’s learning outcomes align closely with those of NQF Level VII in all areas of knowledge, skills, and competence. 

Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology 

 

Curriculum Overview and Workload

The Master of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling Psychology is organized into one core module consisting of 12 courses (90 ECTS), another 500 hours of internship (15 ECTS), and a thesis (15 ECTS). The total required workload is 120 ECTS including the thesis. 

Full-time students working toward the Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology will usually carry a course load of four courses per semester. For each course in the program, students attend 36 hours of courses and conduct approximately another 151.5 hours of self-learning, or slightly more than 10 hours per course per week. Students working toward the Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology (MA) can complete the program in a minimum of four semesters.

Each of the core Competency Courses (CC) is offered at least once a year. Full course descriptions, individual learning outcomes, details about ECTS, weekly study schedules, and assessment criteria are available in each course syllabus, available via WVPU’s publicly accessible  course schedule. 

 

Curriculum Overview

Core Competency Courses  - Psychology (90 ECTS)*

 

^{*Types of courses include: Competency Courses (CC), Discipline Courses (DC), and Enrichment Courses (EC)}

^{**[IL] – Interactive Lecture, [SE] – Seminar, [PT] – Practical Training, [CO] – Colloquium, and [TH] – Thesis}

^{***AT/SL = Attendance (in-class hours)/Self-Learning (time devoted on subject out of the classroom)}

Internship (15 ECTS)

 

Thesis (15 ECTS)

^{*The Master Thesis includes a public defense in which the program candidate presents their work to a Defense Committee and an audience of their peers.}

Roadmaps and Course Sequencing

Students working toward a Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology program can complete the program in a minimum of four semesters. Curriculum in this program develops as students’ progress through their studies. For that reason, adhering to prescribed course sequencing is an essential component to success. The course syllabus or WVPU’s publicly accessible course schedule both list course prerequisites, if any. 

Advisors are available to assist students with degree planning to help ensure proper course sequencing. Though most students will adhere to their respective program roadmap, advisors can help develop individualized degree plans when the situation warrants deviation from the roadmap. Advisors must approve all course registration requests before they are processed. Advisors also consult on issues related to academic and career goals, and university resources. 

The Psychology Department reserves the right to waive or adjust course prerequisites as necessary.

 

Program Development and Enhancement

The Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology program is subject to WVPU’s systematic Internal Quality Management System that incorporates continuous measures and involves the Executive Board, academic department heads, and the University Senate. This ensures that its learning outcomes and the content of its curriculum impart advanced knowledge in the discipline while delivering the skills and competencies requisite for a master’s degree. WVPU’s quality management processes include a triannual program review and assessment of learning outcomes, course evaluations, an annual review of academic policies and processes, semi-annual performance reviews with units and employees and collected stakeholder feedback through semi-annual meetings and surveys supported by the university’s internal information systems. 

All incoming candidates are interviewed by faculty, allowing the department to directly assess the quality of candidates and thereby ensure that the high standards of the program are sustained. At the course level, each syllabus (including criteria and methods of assessment) is reviewed and approved by the department at least one semester prior to being published on the university’s course offerings, ensuring that learning outcomes are clearly stated and appropriately paired to the course’s content and assessment criteria. All students have access to the syllabus before the course begins, and in addition, faculty are required to review the syllabus on the first day of class. During the running of any course students interact with both the faculty member and the department’s administration alerting them to any problems that might arise and triggering procedures based on academic policies and procedures, particularly with reference to disputes between students and faculty.

The base selection of course offerings for any academic year is determined two years in advance through regular planning sessions. The process includes consultation with representatives of student government and incorporates additional student feedback through face-to-face meetings, town halls and anonymous course evaluations. Teaching assignments pairing faculty to courses are completed one year in advance. Prior to assigning a course to a faculty member, the department head verifies the individual’s qualifications and experience as an instructor. Students evaluate all first-time instructors in the third week of their course to provide feedback and allow for corrective measures if necessary. 

Other continuous processes also play an important role in sustaining and enhancing the integrity of the program. The university solicits semiannual student feedback on degree programs through student focus groups involving 30-minute structured dialogues at the start of selected courses. The head of the department meets monthly via video conference with global partners to evaluate the program and suggest changes adding and shaping curricula and course content to meet WVPU student needs and national regulations while also integrating partner experiences from around the world. Department representatives participate in on-going process evaluation measures providing suggestions on how to improve subject relevancy, program competitiveness, research components and technology. 

 

Admission to the Study Program

In addition to the General Admission Requirements for Graduate Programs, applicants to the Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology program must fulfill the following requirements: 

• Applicants are required to have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology; or 
• Provide official transcripts from an accredited university or college proving that the applicant has completed bachelor’s degree courses on the subjects of:

• • Introduction to Psychology or General Psychology
  • Statistics
  • Research Methods or Experimental Psychology

• Confirmation that applicants have met these completed bachelor course requirements is subject to review by the head of the Psychology department. Recommended courses in the following areas:  

• • Social Psychology
  • Biological Psychology, Neuropsychology, or Physiological Psychology
  • Personality Psychology
  • Human Development or Developmental Psychology
  • Abnormal Psychology

• As per the General Admission Requirement for Graduate Programs, the Admissions Committee require that students complete additional coursework prior to undertaking courses in Core Module 1.

 

Supplementary Requirements for Conferment of the Degree 

WVPU confers the academic degree of Master of Arts in Psychology with an Emphasis in Counseling Psychology following the successful completion of all modules as stated in the Curriculum Overview and Workload and in accordance with the following rules:

1. Candidates must complete all modules (120 ECTS) as stated in the Curriculum Overview. 
2. Students must successfully earn all 120 ECTS while in residence at WVPU.
3. All courses must be completed with a grade of B- or better.

The University reserves the right to approve and assign transferred credits as equivalencies to courses, which could result in fewer than 120 overall ECTS completed in residency. 
 

WVPU Policies and Student Obligations

WVPU policies support and maintain the highest quality of education and service level for students. All students attending WVPU are obliged to adhere to university academic policies, including the Study and Examination Guidelines and the Code of Conduct, available on the WVPU website. Students are solely responsible for familiarizing themselves with all applicable university policies and procedures including those dictating academic standards. 

Students are also fully responsible for managing their degree progress in compliance with the curriculum. This includes, but is not limited to: ensuring schedule accuracy each semester, adhering to all registration and payment deadlines, proactively addressing any issues that may interfere with degree progress, exclusively using the university assigned email address for all academic-related correspondence and observing course-specific deadlines and policies. 

WVPU retains the right to update policies and procedures. Students will be informed of any such changes in a timely manner.