Program Overview

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Introduction to the Counseling, MA Program

The Master of Arts degree in Counseling program is designed to prepare professionals for careers in community/mental health agencies, private practice, and public schools. The program offers two concentration areas: clinical mental health counseling and school counseling.

Program Overview

The Counseling program consists of 63 semester hours and is typically completed in three to three and a half years. The program includes core courses, concentration-specific courses, a practicum, and an internship. Both the clinical mental health and school counselor tracks are nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Program Requirements

Students in the Counseling program must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.00 in all coursework. Courses with grades below 2.7 may only be counted toward the degree with faculty permission. Students who receive a C or below in certain clinical skill-building courses must repeat the course and follow a remediation plan.

Course List

The following courses are required for the Counseling program:

• COUN 5010: Counseling Theories (3 hours)
• COUN 5100: Techniques of Counseling (3 hours)
• COUN 5110: Group Counseling (3 hours)
• COUN 5330: Counseling Issues and Ethics (3 hours)
• COUN 5400: Career Development (3 hours)
• COUN 5810: Multicultural Counseling Issues for Individuals and Families (3 hours)
• LDFS 6200: Human Development Over the Life Span (3 hours)
• RSEM 5110: Introduction to Measurement (3 hours)
• RSEM 5120: Introduction to Research Methods (3 hours)

Concentration Areas

Students must select one of the following concentration areas:

• Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA)
• School Counselor License (MA)

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA)

This concentration area requires the following courses:

• COUN 5200: Strategies of Agency Counseling (3 hours)
• COUN 5280: Addictions Counseling (3 hours)
• COUN 5835: Gender And Sexual Orientation (3 hours)
• COUN 6200: Trauma Informed Care for Diverse Populations and Co-occurring Disorders (3 hours)
• COUN 6250: Mental Health Diagnosis (3 hours)
• COUN 7100: Advanced Theories and Techniques in Psychotherapy (3 hours)
• COUN 5910: Practicum and Individual Supervision (3 hours)
• COUN 5911: Practicum and Group Supervision (3 hours)
• COUN 5930: Internship in Counseling (6 hours)
• Two additional elective classes (6 semester hours)

School Counselor License (MA)

This concentration area requires the following courses:

• COUN 5280: Addictions Counseling (3 hours)
• COUN 5425: Developing & Implementing a School Counseling Program: ASCA (3 hours)
• COUN 5815: Introduction to School Counseling (3 hours)
• COUN 5915: Practicum in School Counseling (3 hours)
• COUN 6140: Counseling with Children, Adolescents, and their Parents (3 hours)
• COUN 6230: Developmental Counseling in Schools: Prevention & Intervention (3 hours)
• COUN 6250: Mental Health Diagnosis (3 hours)
• COUN 5910: Practicum and Individual Supervision (3 hours)
• COUN 5911: Practicum and Group Supervision (3 hours)
• COUN 5930: Internship in Counseling (6 hours)

Additional Requirements

Students must take a national comprehensive examination, the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE), after completing all core courses. Alternatively, students may choose to conduct research and submit a thesis under faculty advisement.