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 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 512 | Career Development | 3 |
| COUN 517 | Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 522 | Counseling Diverse Populations | 3 |
| COUN 545 | Dev 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 501 | Introduction to the Counseling Profession * | 3 |
| COUN 510 | Counseling Theories and Techniques * | 3 |
| COUN 516 | Basic Counseling Skills * | 3 |
| COUN 528 | Introduction to Group Dynamics and Procedures * | 3 |
| Core Courses (6 semester hours) | ||
| COUN 595 | Research Literature and Techniques (3 semester hours required) | 3 |
| COUN 548 | Advanced Counseling Skills * | 3 |
| Specialty Courses (12 semester hours) | ||
| COUN 514 | School Counseling and Development | 3 |
| COUN 520 | Advanced School Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 534 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| COUN 539 | Introduction to Play Therapy | 3 |
| Elective (3 semester hours) | ||
| EDCI 519 | Response to Intervention Applied to Exceptional Learners | 3 |
| Parcticum (3 semester hours) | ||
| COUN 551 | Practicum | 3 |
| Total Hours | 48 | |
Students pursuing the School Counseling emphasis in MS Counseling must earn a grade of A or B in: COUN 501, 510, 516, 528, & 548.
| 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 512 | Career Development | 3 |
| COUN 517 | Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 522 | Counseling Diverse Populations | 3 |
| COUN 545 | Dev Issues/Strategy in Counseling | 3 |
| 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 501 | Introduction to the Counseling Profession * | 3 |
| COUN 510 | Counseling Theories and Techniques * | 3 |
| COUN 516 | Basic Counseling Skills * | 3 |
| COUN 528 | Introduction to Group Dynamics and Procedures * | 3 |
| Core Courses (6 semester hours) | ||
| COUN 595 | Research Literature and Techniques (3 semester hours required) | 3 |
| COUN 548 | Advanced Counseling Skills * | 3 |
| Specialty Courses (18 semester hours) | ||
| COUN 530 | Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 540 | Diagnosis & Treatment Planning for Clinical Mental Health Counselors | 3 |
| COUN 535 | Psychopharmacology in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 564 | Individual and Family Crisis and Resources | 3 |
| COUN 581 | Assessment and Treatment of Chemical Dependency | 3 |
| COUN 611 | Introduction to Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy | 3 |
| or COUN 513 | Communication In Marriage | |
| Clinical Field Experience Courses (9 semester hours; Written degree plan on file) | ||
| COUN 551 | Practicum | 3 |
| COUN 552 | Internship (6 semester hours required) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
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.
Note: Successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam is required of all students.
