Program Overview

Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling (MSJC) may be pursued as a stand-alone credential or in conjunction with another mental health program. With advance planning, all 12 credits may be applied to the Master's of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree. Completion of the MSJC certificate, however, does not guarantee acceptance into any other degree program.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for admission to the MSJC certificate program are:

• Current "good standing" (non-probation) in an UMSL graduate mental health practitioner training program (counseling, social work, or psychology)
• Alternatively, the following criteria must be met:
  • Undergraduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better
  • Enrollment in a graduate mental health practitioner training program or earned master's degree in mental health field
  • Two letters of recommendation with at least one from a current or former college-level instructor
  • Two-page personal statement explaining the applicant's personal and professional goals

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires 12 hours of coursework, including:

• CNS ED 6030: Foundations for Multicultural Counseling (3 hours)
• Electives (9 hours): Choose three of the following courses:
  • CNS ED 6220: Counseling Individuals with Disabilities
  • CNS ED 6600: Counseling Children and Adolescents
  • CNS ED 6810: Integrating Religion and Spirituality in Counseling
  • CNS ED 6820: Counseling Women Across the Lifespan
  • CNS ED 6830: Counseling Black Clients
  • CNS ED 6840: Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity in Counseling
  • CNS ED 6850: Social Class and Poverty in Counseling
  • CNS ED 6870: Counseling and Cultural Competence in a Global Society
  • Any other CNS ED 6800-level courses as offered
  • CNS ED 7010: Advanced Multicultural Counseling

Program Details

The MSJC certificate program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of multicultural and social justice counseling. The program is suitable for students who are currently enrolled in a graduate mental health practitioner training program or those who have already earned a master's degree in a mental health field. The certificate requires 12 hours of coursework, which can be completed as a stand-alone credential or in conjunction with another degree program.