The Master of Science degree program in Counseling provides academic, clinical, and dispositional training related to professional counseling. This program prepares students for professional counseling careers in a variety of diverse settings including community mental health agencies, hospitals, private practices, churches/ministries, human and social service agencies, college/student counseling centers, and addiction/substance abuse treatment centers. Graduates of this program are eligible to pursue licensure as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) or Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) in most states. Specifically, this degree was designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure (LPC) in the state of Arkansas. The M.S. in Counseling can be paired with emphases in specialized therapies, including Marriage & Family Therapy, Play Therapy, and Adventure Therapy.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
  • By graduation students will apply and manage the ethical responsibilities and professional functions of clinical mental health counselors
• Human Growth & Development
  • By graduation students will analyze and integrate theories of human development theories that promote wellness and resilience within counseling contexts.
• Social & Cultural Diversity
  • By graduation students will assess and develop cultural/spiritual sensitivities and counseling competencies that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Assessment & Testing
  • By graduation students will manage and model appropriate use of counseling assessments, including procedures for screening and reporting trauma, crisis, and risk.
• Career Development
  • By graduation students will appraise and correlate the interrelatedness of mental health and vocational functioning.
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • By graduation students will adapt and facilitate the appropriate identity, competencies, and scope of practice specific to the role of clinical mental health counselor.
• Group Counseling & Group Work
  • By graduation students will effectively perform and appropriately apply group leadership skills across diverse group experiences.
• Counseling & Helping Relationships
  • By graduation students will effectively perform and appropriately apply counseling skills in developing and maintaining effective therapeutic relationships across diverse client populations.
• Professional Disposition
  • By graduation students will exemplify and embody the appropriate dispositional competencies and behaviors specific to the role of a counseling professional.
• Research & Program Evaluation
  • By graduation students will interpret and critique the appropriate analysis and use of data in counseling.
• Program Mission
  • By graduation students will recognize and discern diverse spiritual and religious values and their impact on psychosocial functioning and counseling treatment.

Professional Development Gates

The Department of Graduate Counseling performs summative evaluations of student learning, performance, and development across extracurricular Professional Development Gates. These “gates” are scheduled checkpoints throughout the counseling program where key areas of student functioning are evaluated by Department of Graduate Counseling faculty. The entire gate evaluation process serves to help identify trainee development, competency level, and possible deficiencies across multiple points in the program.

Gate 1 - Admissions

This gate evaluates knowledge and disposition of program applicants as follows:

• Knowledge - undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher OR graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher across a minimum of 12 credits.
• Disposition - disposition quotient of 3 or higher on the PDCA-RA with no areas of concern noted as rated by Department of Graduate Counseling faculty based on admissions interview.

Gate 2 - Pre-Practicum

Students in the semester prior to applying for Practicum placement are evaluated for their “readiness” (knowledge, skills, and disposition) to begin entry-level clinical work as follows:

• Knowledge - cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher across Practicum pre-requisite courses with no areas of academic concern (e.g., course extensions, leaves of absence, Academic Progress Remediation) as noted by DGC faculty AND rating of “meets expectation” or higher on program key performance indicators (KPI) across completed coursework.
• Skill - successfully completes Counseling Skills and Group Counseling courses with no skill-based Student Remediation referrals as noted by DGC faculty.
• Disposition - disposition quotient of 3 or higher on the PDCA-R across completed DGC courses with no areas of concern as noted by DGC faculty.
• Clinical Site Placement Application - must be approved by DGC faculty/staff.*

Gate 3 - Pre-Graduation

Students in their last semester of the counseling program are evaluated for their “readiness” (knowledge, skills, and disposition) to graduate and begin post-graduate clinical work as follows:

• Knowledge - pass Comprehensive Exam.
• Skill - successfully completes Internship 2 course with no skill-based Student Remediation referrals as noted by DGC faculty.
• Disposition - disposition quotient of 3 or higher on the PDCA-R across completed DGC courses with no areas of concern as noted by DGC faculty.

Students must take all courses in their final semester within the Department of Graduate Counseling to ensure that final key performance and dispositional indicators can be assessed by program faculty.

Department of Graduate Counseling faculty will provide each student with an “Approved”, “Approved with Conditions”, or “Denied” evaluation rating at each gate. Students receiving an “Approved” rating successfully pass through a gate and may continue in the program in good standing. Students receiving an “Approved with Conditions” rating will be allowed to pass through a gate contingent upon engaging/completing the conditions outlined by the Department of Graduate Counseling faculty. Students receiving a “Denied” rating will be referred for Student Remediation and not be allowed to enroll in or matriculate through Department of Graduate Counseling course work until the remedial plan has been successfully completed. Results of Professional Development Gates evaluations are provided to students in writing and considered academic decisions. To this end, students may appeal results of a formal Professional Development Gates evaluation/academic decision at any gate by following the Academic Grievance Policy.

Student Remediation

The faculty and staff are committed to providing curricular, clinical, and remedial opportunities for students to develop professional competencies throughout the counseling degree program. The Department of Graduate Counseling faculty, staff, site supervisors, and program constituents retain the right to intervene with students and recommend remediation or dismissal from the Department of Graduate Counseling at any point in the counseling degree program.

Student Remediation is a process where Department of Graduate Counseling faculty assist students in addressing and overcoming issues, concerns, or deficiencies related to student’s professional behavior and functioning. Student Remediation is not a punitive process, but an opportunity for students to develop and demonstrate growth related to their personal and professional functioning as a counselor-in-training. Student remediation is a faculty-driven process in accordance with the ACA Ethical Codes governing gatekeeping/remediation.

Details on the student remediation process can be found in the Department of Graduate Counseling Handbook . 

Graduation Requirements

1. Satisfactory completion of all required course work with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and all CNL courses must have a grade of B- (Satisfactory) or better.
2. Satisfactory completion of all required Professional Development and/or Student Remediation Plans demonstrating evidence of growth and development as a counselor trainee and readiness to enter professional practice as outlined in the Department of Graduate Counseling Handbook . 
3. Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive exam (CPCE) with a passing score as outlined in the Department of Graduate Counseling Handbook . 

Requirements for the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Counseling