MEd in Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology with Emphasis in Counseling Psychology
The MU Masters program in Counseling Psychology provides students training and education in the scientist-practitioner philosophy that is consistent with most Counseling Psychology Ph.D. programs, including the one at MU. Students will complete core coursework in counseling psychology and receive clinical training in the form of practicum experience and research training through faculty labs, research teams, and other research projects. They will also be required to complete an independent research manuscript during their second year in the program. This program has more of a research focus than most counseling masters programs. The program is not designed for students interested exclusively in practicing at the masters level, and students who graduate from this program will not yet be license-eligible for a LPC in the state of Missouri (this would require additional coursework and training).
Degree Requirements
| General Psychology Core | 30 | |
| The Helping Relationship | 3 | |
| Counseling Methods and Practices | ||
| Social and Cultural Foundations | 3 | |
| Multicultural Issues in Counseling | ||
| Counseling Theory | 3 | |
| Theories and Techniques of Counseling | ||
| Lifespan Development | ||
| Career Development | 3 | |
| Foundations of Career Psychology | ||
| Professional Orientation | 3 | |
| Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychological Practice | ||
| Group Dynamics | 3 | |
| Methods in Group Counseling | ||
| Appraisal | 6 | |
| Foundations of Educational and Psychological Measurement | ||
| Interviewing, Diagnosis, and Assessment | ||
| Statistics | 3 | |
| Introduction to Applied Statistics | ||
| Counseling Psychology Core | 21 | |
| Research Methods | 9 | |
| Overview of Research Methods | ||
| Qualitative Methods in Educational Research I | ||
| Quantitative Foundations in Educational Research | ||
| Qualitative Methods in Educational Research II | ||
| Independent Research | 3 | |
| Research in Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology | ||
| Practicum | 3-6 | |
| Counseling Psychology Practicum | ||
| Counseling Psychology Practicum | ||
| Electives | 6-9 | |
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| ESC_PS 9000 | 4 | ESC_PS 8040 | 3 | ESC_PS 8070 | 3 |
| ESC_PS 7120 | 3 | ESC_PS 8640 | 3 | ||
| ESC_PS 8135 | 3 | ESC_PS 7170 | 3 | ||
| ESC_PS 8082 | 3 | ESC_PS 8020 | 3 | ||
| 13 | 12 | 3 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ESC_PS 8110 | 3 | ESC_PS 8060 | 3 | ||
| ESC_PS 8940 | 3-9 | ESC_PS 8095 | 3-6 | ||
| ED_LPA 8957 | 3 | ESC_PS 8940 | 3-9 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||||
| 9-15 | 12-21 | ||||
| Total Credits: 49-64 | |||||
Thesis/Non-Thesis Requirements
Students are required to pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) in Fall or Spring semesters of the second year to demonstrate they have gained the requisite knowledge for the profession.
Admissions
Applicants are required to meet two sets of minimum qualifications for admission: the requirements of the MEd in Educational, School & Counseling Psychology program and the minimum requirements of the Graduate School.
Apply online by submitting the following documents using the MU Graduate School application form by February 1st for the next Fall cohort.
- Three letters of recommendation
- Curriculum Vita
- Official academic transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 from an accredited institution in psychology, education, or a related major.
- Statement of purpose addressing the following:
- Describe interests and experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds (e.g. ethnic, cultural, socio-economic, religious, ability status, sexual orientation). How have these experiences influenced you? (250 word maximum).
- Describe experiences that demonstrate your potential for leadership that you believe distinguish you as a candidate for graduate study. (250 word maximum)
- Describe (1) your previous experience serving in a helping or counseling role, (2) your interests and career objectives, (3) how these interests and career objectives have developed, (4) how these interests match those of specific program faculty, and (5) how being accepted into the program of your choice will benefit your career aspirations and help you act upon your beliefs, goals, and philosophy. (Please limit to 1000 words)
- Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for tests taken on or after August 1, 2016 should have a combined Verbal and Quantitative score of 305.
- TOEFL for international students (preferred score of 580 for paper test, 92 iBT, IELTS 6.5 or higher)
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a field not related to psychology will be required to complete 15 hours of prerequisite courses in the behavioral sciences (including an introductory statistics course) either prior to, or concurrently with, coursework in the program. This prerequisite coursework is over and above that required for the master’s degree itself and is not counted on the Program of Study for the master’s degree.