Master of Arts

The master of arts program offers two degree options, with concentrations in either:

• Elementary or Secondary School Counseling, fulfilling requirements for School Counselor Certification in Missouri
  or

• Human Development Counseling, fulfilling course and practicum requirements toward Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) status in Missouri.

After 12 semester hours in the M.A. degree program, a student may petition to transfer into the research master's degree program (with the advisor's recommendation).

Either M.A. program involves a minimum of 48 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree. Prerequisites include 18 semester hours in education, psychology or a related field. Program requirements include one semester of a practicum and two semesters of counseling internship in a community setting. The M.A. Checklist outlines the progression through the master's degree program.

Throughout the M.A. program, students receive instruction in the development of counseling skills. These skills include paraphrasing, empathy, clarification, summarizing, immediacy, confrontation/challenge, interpretation, use of silence, and others. Introductory courses allow for basic skill instruction and practice, practicum and internship courses provide an opportunity for skill application, and all other courses allow for skill set synthesis. Students are required to role-play, use audio/video taping to record counseling skills, and to interpret case studies as a means of strengthening the counseling skills learned.

Counseling Skills
Practicum
Internship
Advanced Practicum/Internship
Clinical Supervision
M.A. Portfolio
Oral Exams
Graduation