Counseling MS

Master of Science in Counseling

The Master of Science in Counseling offers an emphasis in two programs, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 semester hours) for those students desiring licensure towards a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).  Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphasis includes a common core, courses specific to the emphasis and field experience courses in which students work with client populations under supervision.   An emphasis in School Counseling (48 semester hours) for those students seeking certification as a professional school counselor only,  School Counseling emphasis includes a common core, courses specific to the emphasis, an elective, and Practicum, in which students work directly with client populations under supervision.  Additionally, in all programs, students must enroll in COUN 501 and COUN 510 during their first semester of enrollment. After successfully completing COUN 501 and COUN 510, students then enroll in COUN 516 and COUN 528 in the same (typically, second) semester.  Please note that those students desiring to enroll in more than 6 hours per semester may take classes from among those listed as “Open” classes.

Program Requirements - MS

In order to graduate from degree programs of study in School Counseling and/or Clinical Mental Health Counseling, students must pass a comprehensive exit examination. The comprehensive exit examination is the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), a nationally standardized examination developed and published by the Center for Credentialing in Education. The CPCE is administered on-campus once per semester. Students needing an additional attempt during a semester may be certified to test at specified professional testing centers (See Department web for centers). Details regarding examinations and examination dates are available on the Counseling web site.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling students must complete 3 field experiences, COUN 551: Practicum, COUN 552: Internship.  The Practicum consists of a minimum of 100 contact hours, of which 40 must be in providing direct service to clients and client populations. Each Internship experience consists of a minimum of 300 contact hours, of which 120 must be in providing direct service to clients and client populations.  School Counseling students must complete 3 semester hours of COUN 551: Practicum.  The Practicum consists of a minimum of 100 contact hours, of which 40 must be in providing direct service to clients and client populations.

Master of Science in Counseling with an emphasis in School Counseling - Option II Non-Thesis

Master of Science degree in Counseling with School Counseling emphasis require the courses listed below:

All courses carry 3 semester hours credit unless otherwise indicated.
Open Courses - No Prerequisites (12 semesters hours)
COUN 512Career Development 3
COUN 517Assessment in Counseling 3
COUN 522Counseling Diverse Populations3
COUN 545Dev Issues/Strategy in Counseling 3
Courses 501 & 510 MUST be completed in 1st semester; Courses 516 & 528 MUST be completed in 2nd semester (12 semester hours)
COUN 501Introduction to the Counseling Profession *3
COUN 510Counseling Theories and Techniques *3
COUN 516Basic Counseling Skills *3
COUN 528Introduction to Group Dynamics and Procedures *3
Core Courses (6 semester hours)
COUN 595Research Literature and Techniques (3 semester hours required)3
COUN 548Advanced Counseling Skills *3
Specialty Courses (12 semester hours)
COUN 514School Counseling and Development3
COUN 520Advanced School Counseling3
COUN 534Counseling Children and Adolescents3
COUN 539Introduction to Play Therapy3
Elective (3 semester hours)
EDCI 519Response to Intervention Applied to Exceptional Learners3
Parcticum (3 semester hours)
COUN 551Practicum3
Total Hours48
*

Students pursuing the School Counseling emphasis in MS Counseling must earn a grade of A or B in: COUN 501, 510, 516, 528, & 548. 

Master of Science in Counseling with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Option II Non-Thesis

All courses carry 3 semester hours credit unless otherwise indicated
Open Courses - No Prerequisites (15 semester hours including an Elective course from the College of Education & Human Services).
COUN 512Career Development3
COUN 517Assessment in Counseling3
COUN 522Counseling Diverse Populations3
COUN 545Dev Issues/Strategy in Counseling3
Plus an elective from the College of Education & Human Services.3
(12 semester hours): 501 & 510 MUST be completed in 1st semester; 516 & 528 MUST be completed in 2nd semester
COUN 501Introduction to the Counseling Profession *3
COUN 510Counseling Theories and Techniques *3
COUN 516Basic Counseling Skills *3
COUN 528Introduction to Group Dynamics and Procedures *3
Core Courses (6 semester hours)
COUN 595Research Literature and Techniques (3 semester hours required)3
COUN 548Advanced Counseling Skills *3
Specialty Courses (18 semester hours)
COUN 530Clinical Mental Health Counseling3
COUN 540Diagnosis & Treatment Planning for Clinical Mental Health Counselors3
COUN 535Psychopharmacology in Clinical Mental Health Counseling3
COUN 564Individual and Family Crisis and Resources3
COUN 581Assessment and Treatment of Chemical Dependency3
COUN 611Introduction to Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy3
or COUN 513 Communication In Marriage
Clinical Field Experience Courses (9 semester hours; Written degree plan on file)
COUN 551Practicum3
COUN 552Internship (6 semester hours required)3
Total Hours60
*

Students pursuing the MS in Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphasis must earn a grade of A or B in: COUN 501, 510, 516, 528, & 548. 

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