Mission Statement
Missouri Baptist University’s Graduate Program in Counselor Education exists to train graduate-level counselors through rigorous academic and hands-on clinical instruction. We seek to develop conscientious, professional, and highly skilled counselors who promote and facilitate the personal growth, development, and empowerment of those clients/students they serve. The Graduate School of Counseling is rooted in our Christian faith that calls us to love God and love one another.
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling - CACREP Accredited
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Goals
The goals of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Missouri Baptist University are to:
- Prepare passionate, effective counselors who are rooted in ethical standards of practice.
- Develop counselors with strong clinical and interpersonal skills who can meet the needs of a diverse client population by displaying an attitude of openness to those who are different from themselves.
- Produce counselors who strongly identify with the counseling profession.
- Prepare counselors to work in collaboration with other professionals within a comprehensive program addressing mental health issues.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Objectives
- Developing counseling professionals will learn and demonstrate the foundational knowledge necessary to be an effective counselor.
- Developing counseling professionals will learn and demonstrate effective counseling techniques through successful completion of counseling labs, practicum, and internships.
- Developing counseling professionals will demonstrate the ability to clinically conceptualize client/student problems and apply concepts from the eight common core areas of the curriculum.
- Developing counseling professionals will demonstrate the ability to implement effective, evidence-based theories and interventions for individuals, families, and groups.
- Developing counseling professionals will demonstrate professional dispositions of self-awareness, ethical awareness, respect for others, emotional congruence, valuing diversity, and openness.
Candidates who complete the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA-CMHC) degree will acquire the knowledge, skills, and personal attributes necessary to become clinical mental health counselors. To achieve this objective, the MA-CMHC degree is a CACREP accredited program and meets standards to address the following eight competency areas:
- Professional Orientation and Identity – Students will develop an understanding of the history and philosophy of counseling. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the counselor’s roles and responsibilities including the importance of advocating for clients and the profession. Students will demonstrate both knowledge and practice of ethical guidelines of the counseling profession.
- Social and Cultural Diversity – Students will develop an awareness of and appreciation for working with diverse clients. Identity development, social and cultural influences on behavior and the counselor’s role in eliminating barriers and prejudices will be demonstrated.
- Human Growth and Development – Students will develop an understanding of human developmental processes including physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development. Students will demonstrate the important role that theory plays in understanding human development and apply theory to contemporary issues such as addiction, crisis/ trauma, and promoting resiliency.
- Career Development – Students will develop an understanding of career development and its impact on mental health. Students will demonstrate an understanding of career development theories and assessing a client’s abilities, interest, values, and personality.
- Helping Relationships – Students will demonstrate an understanding of the theories and models of counseling, which includes the ability to conceptualize clients, use ethical and culturally relevant strategies for developing rapport, developing measurable outcomes for clients, and evaluate client progress.
- Group Work – Students will develop an understanding of group theory, group development, group dynamics, and group counseling models, interventions, and skills. Students will demonstrate group counseling skills and theory application in an experiential lab.
- Assessments – Students will develop knowledge and skills of assessments and assessment techniques. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skill of individual and group appraisal strategies and focus on the ethical and cultural considerations of selecting, evaluating and administering assessments as a counselor.
- Research and Program Evaluation – Students will develop an understanding of research methods, statistical analysis, needs assessment, and program evaluation. Students will demonstrate the ability to read, critique, and evaluate professional research. Students will complete a research project during their program of study.
Overview
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree is designed for those students who wish to pursue a career as a counselor in a clinical setting and not as a certified school counselor. This program meets the academic requirements for licensure as a mental health Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Missouri. Candidates must also meet additional state requirements beyond the master’s degree for counselor licensure including: 1) weekly supervision of 3000 hours of counseling and 2) jurisprudence exam, and successful completion of the National Counselor Exam (NCE).
The State of Missouri licensure office requires that candidates have good moral character. A criminal record can be defined as, but not limited to: immoral sexual acts; sexual abuse; use, possession, or the sale of narcotics, etc. If you have a concern about your background experiences, please contact the Committee for Professional Counselors for licensure.
Criteria for Full Admission to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
Applications for the Master of Arts in counseling programs are accepted throughout the year. Students are admitted to the program for the summer, fall, and spring terms. Courses follow a semester format. Admission to the Counselor Education program is selective. The minimum admissions requirements include:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher, or 3.00 for the last 60-hours of their undergraduate or graduate program
- Application materials must include the following:
- Completed online application
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- Submission of Essay/Personal Statement (See the Application Procedures – Master’s Degrees section of this Graduate Bulletin for detailed instructions)
- Submission of a current resume or CV
- Post-master’s Certification (PMC) considerations must have a master’s degree in counseling from a CACREP accredited institution and/or MBU. Based on transcript evaluation by the Counselor Education faculty, students will need to complete coursework and/or a minimum of six internship hours at MBU in order to fulfill the requirements of the add-on certification or licensure. PMC students must also meet GPA requirements and MBU admission requirements in order to be considered for enrollment in courses.
- Once all materials are received and reviewed, students who desire full acceptance into the Counselor Education program are required to attend an oral interview with Counselor Education faculty. This interview must take place prior to the student’s first full semester of classwork. Following each student interview, Counseling Faculty will determine whether an applicant has passed the interview and inform Graduate Admissions whether the applicant is recommended for admission to the program. If the Counseling Faculty recommends that an applicant should not be fully admitted, the applicant may be admitted on probationary status and the Remediation Policy will take effect.
Transfer Students and Transfer Credit
Transfer credits must have been earned within seven (7) years prior to entry into the Graduate Studies Program. Students may not take courses from other graduate programs while enrolled at Missouri Baptist without written approval from the Vice President of Graduate Affairs.
Courses to be transferred must have similar content to those offered at MBU and must have been earned at a nationally or regionally accredited institution.* Only graduate level courses in which a student earned a grade of “B” (3.0) or better will be considered for transfer. The Counselor Education program at MBU will only allow a maximum of nine (9) credit hours to be transferred. All transfer credits must be approved by the Core Counselor Education Faculty.
Candidates must submit a Course Transfer Request Form for consideration by the Core Counselor Education Faculty after official transcripts have been received by the Graduate Admissions Office. Notification will be made via email once a decision regarding the transfer request has been determined.
*The University only recognizes institutions accredited by the current edition of Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education published by the CHEA and the American Council on Education.
Directed Studies: The Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors will not accept directed studies as meeting the academic requirements for counselor licensure; therefore, no directed studies are permitted in the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
Digital Asynchronous Courses: Students pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree are permitted by the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors to take an asynchronous course(s) if the coursework is a part of a CACREP accredited program.
Digital Synchronous Courses
Students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at MBU may be enrolled in courses that require in-class participation via interactive video conferencing. Live Stream courses are synchronous (real-time) classes that meet via an online meeting platform that enables students and the instructor to interact through webcam and audio. This format enables an instructor to conduct a course on MBU’s Main campus and stream a live feed to individuals enrolled in a Live Stream course. In many cases, students can connect via Live Stream from home or another location. Students participate in class via webcam and audio and are part of the interactive course discussion. Students at the Main campus will see a live video of all students who “stream” into the course, allowing for collaboration among all students, whether physically present in class or connecting to class via webcam. Students who wish to participate in a Live Stream course must sign a form indicating that they have access to the required technologies, and that they understand Live Stream course requirements, conduct, and etiquette.
Digital Synchronous Course Technology Requirements
- A reliable high-speed internet connection is required for students to participate in this class.
- Students must have a working webcam AND audio. This equipment is built in to many computers/laptops. If a computer does not have a webcam, one may be purchased relatively inexpensively at a tech store or online.
- Students are required to have a headset with microphone. These may be purchased at tech stores or online. Wired or wireless technologies are acceptable.
- Students who do not have ready access to the required technologies and are unable to remedy the situation will be asked to drop the course.
Digital Synchronous Course Conduct and Etiquette
- Students are expected to be logged in to the class on time. This is the equivalent to being “in your seat” and ready to learn in a traditional course.
- Follow the instructions outlined on the course’s Canvas page to access the course audio/video feed.
- Once logged into the class, webcam and speakers must be turned on, but the microphone should be disabled.
- The microphone should be enabled only when it is your turn to speak. (If the microphone is “on” and picks up on the speaker sounds from your computer, it will create a reverberation loop that is very distracting to classmates.)
- The instructor will discuss specifics about how to participate in the course during the first night of class.
- Students must make sure that they are in a quiet area, with minimal audio and visual distractions (in other words, dress appropriately for class, maintain a professional disposition throughout the class time, keep family members/pets/friends/ etc. in another room, avoid making distracting movements on-camera or off-camera, and make sure that what’s viewable in your web-feed is appropriate for your instructors and classmates to see).
- Students are not allowed to Live Stream while driving.
- If students are disconnected from the course, follow the instructor’s protocol for reconnecting.
- Students should always have a phone available to text the instructor to let him or her know if they have been disconnected and are unable to reconnect.
- In the event students miss class and/or are unable to reestablish a connection, they may be required to view a recording of the class and submit work to compensate for missed participation points.
- Students need to familiarize themselves with their technology prior to the first day of class and are responsible for their own technical equipment. Missouri Baptist University is only responsible for equipment used by the Main campus instructor.
- If students experience difficulties participating in a course in accordance with the conduct and etiquette policies established by the University, they may be asked not to enroll in a Live Stream course in the future.
Additional Fees and Course Requirements
Upon admission into the Counseling program, students will be enrolled in a course that is utilized by the School of Counseling to track student progress throughout their program, facilitate field experience placement and supervision, and monitor student compliance with state certification and licensure requirements. This course gives students access to their online student Tevera account. The course associated with the initial access of the Tevera account is:
Students are required to register for a Tevera account within 30-days of enrollment in the counseling program.
Additionally, participation in the Counseling program requires students to maintain a professional counselor membership and professional liability insurance throughout the duration of the Counseling Program.
In order to apply for certain courses, students must complete and submit specific applications to the Counselor Education Clinical Director of Field Experience prior to enrollment. These applicants are submitted through Tevera. Hard copies of the application can be found in the Practicum-Internship Handbook, which can be found in the Counseling Student shell on Canvas. Courses that require applications include:
Applications for these courses must be submitted by the deadline prior to the semester in which the student plans to take each course. Students who do not submit their applications by the deadline cannot enroll and will have to wait until the following semester to complete the course. Application deadlines are as follows:
- Fall Semester: August 1
- Spring Semester: November 1
In addition to applications, students will be responsible for additional fees during the course of their degree program. These fees include the following:
| Tevera Fee |
$220.00 |
| Professional Membership Fee |
Varies |
| Professional Liability Insurance |
Varies |
| Practicum Fee |
$133.00 |
| Internship Fee |
$400.00 |
| CPCE Exam or NCE Exam (required for CMHC students) |
$75.00 - Internet-based testing (IBT) on campus (CPCE)
$150.00 - Computer-based testing (CBT) off campus (CPCE)
$275 (NCE) |
Exit Exam
Students pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree must successfully pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) or the National Counselor Examination (NCE).
Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE)
The CPCE has 160 questions with 20 questions in each of the eight content areas. Three of the 20 questions for each area are developmental/ experimental so the highest possible score on the exam is 136. To pass this exam, students must obtain a score of 1/4 standard deviation below the mean rounded to the next whole number or obtaining a raw score of 9/17 in each of the eight core competency areas. Students are encouraged to take the CPCE during the first month of their final semester. This will allow students multiple opportunities to take the exam.
National Counselor Examination (NCE)
The NCE is a 200-item multiple-choice examination designed to assess knowledge, skills and abilities determined to be important for providing effective counseling services. The NCE is a requirement for counselor licensure in many states including Missouri. It is also one of two examination options for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification. The exam covers the eight CACREP Curriculum Education Standards and six work domains described by the National Board for Certified Counselors. The NCE is graded as a pass-fail examination.
For students who complete the CPCE, once students have successfully completed and obtained a passing score, it is their responsibility to contact MBU’s Records Office at recordsoffice@mobap.edu to alert this office of their test completion and score. After receiving official notification from the testing organization, the Records Office will confirm the student has passed the exam and remove any holds related to test completion. CPCE test results are sent directly to MBU at no additional cost to the student.
For students who complete the NCE, once students have successfully completed and obtained a passing score, it is their responsibility to contact the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) to request that an official confirmation of successful test completion be sent to MBU (students can find additional directions for completing this step under the University and Program Policy Updates module of the Counseling Program: Student Shell). After receiving official notification from the testing organization, the Records Office will confirm the student has passed the exam and remove any holds related to test completion. Test results from the NCE are not sent directly to MBU. There is an additional $65 fee to have scores from the NCE sent to MBU.
Students will not be cleared for graduation until their passing CPCE or NCE score is verified by the Records office.
Summary of the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Process
To earn the M.A. degree, a student must complete each of the following steps:
- The student must develop a comprehensive plan of study with the Graduate Advisor.
- The student must complete all coursework included in the plan of study.
- The student must complete the required internships.
- The student must achieve a passing score on the CPCE.
- All graduate students must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in order to graduate from the program.
- An Application for Graduation, signed by the student, Graduate Advisor, and Vice President of Graduate Affairs, must be filed with the Graduate Office and the Records Office. Students must pay the required graduation fee. All graduate candidates for graduation during an academic year – Fall, Spring, and Summer – are encouraged to attend the commencement exercises which are held at the close of the Spring Semester. Students must pay the graduation fee whether they attend commencement or not.
Licensure: The Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors issues counseling licenses at two levels. Candidates can be licensed as a Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC) as soon as they have completed their education, passed the National Counselor Exam, and submitted the appropriate paperwork to the board. In order to attain full licensure as an LPC, candidates will also need to meet experience requirements. For an overview of requirements see http://pr.mo.gov/boards/counselors/lpcslidesgeneralwebsite.pdf.
Education
In order to obtain a provisional license, candidates must have a master’s degree in counseling, counseling psychology, clinical psychology, school psychology, or counseling and guidance. The degree must include coursework in each of the following areas:
- Helping relationships
- Human growth and development
- Counseling theory
- Individual appraisal
- Career development
- Social and cultural foundations
- Research methods
- Group dynamics
- Professional orientation
- Diagnosis
- Licensing Exam
National Counselor Examination (NCE): In order to apply for licensure in Missouri, candidates must take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) through the National Board for Certified Counselors. This exam is required to obtain a provisional license. Candidates can download a registration form from National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) website http://www.nbcc.org/. The form will need to be signed in ink. A $275 fee and an official sealed transcript that shows the date the master’s degree was conferred must accompany the registration form.
Jurisprudence Exam: Candidates will also need to take a jurisprudence exam (a test of Missouri laws and regulations). This is open book and administered via Internet at www.i-counseling.net. This is not a requirement for provisional status, but candidates will need to complete it before applying for LPC status. Candidates will pay the $45 fee electronically when they take the test. The exam is untimed, but it is advisable to spend some time reviewing the laws and regulations beforehand at http://pr.mo.gov/boards/ counselors/31461.pdf.
Supervised Practice (State of Missouri)
Provisional Licensed Professional Counselors (PLPC) are required to work under supervision for a minimum of 24 months. During this time, they must work at least 3,000 hours, spending at least 1,200 hours providing direct client care. (The remaining hours may be spent in other counseling-related activities like developing treatment plans, documenting cases, and attending seminars.)
All hours must be completed post-master’s degree. Candidates who work part-time may take longer than two years to accrue their 3,000 hours, but they are expected to meet the experience requirement within five years. Candidates must work at least 15 hours a week while accruing experience. While working as a PLPC, they will be supervised by a Licensed Professional Counselor or by a psychiatrist or psychologist. The clinical supervisor does not necessarily have to be an administrator at the candidate’s workplace. If it is someone from outside, though, there needs to be a formal contract. Candidates can obtain a model contract from the state board. Before candidates can obtain their provisional license, they will need to register a supervision plan. If it is necessary to make changes to the supervisory plan, the candidate must file them with the committee. Candidates should have an hour of weekly face-to-face supervision. No more than half of supervision hours may be group supervision (See: Post Degree Experience (PDF). Candidates will be evaluated by their clinical supervisor(s), and the supervisor’s final evaluation will be sent to the committee. Candidates may begin counting their experience when their registration and fee are received by the committee, which will be the official start date.
The Licensure Application Process
Candidates do not have to submit an application for provisional status, but candidates need to provide supplemental materials. The committee needs to approve supervision. They also need to receive NCE results, documentation of education, and criminal background check results. Registration of supervision costs $75. Candidates who are in-state applicants should have fingerprinting done by L-1 Enrollment Services Division. An appointment must be scheduled in advance. The board reports that the actual fingerprinting process takes approximately ten minutes. Send a copy of the receipt to the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors. There is a $100 application fee for LPC status. Candidates can expect to pay other associated fees as they complete and document requirements.
The address to send the application for LPC status is:
Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors
3605 Missouri Boulevard, P.O. Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Master of Arts in School Counseling
This program is not CACREP accredited.
School Counseling Program Goals
The goals of the School Counseling program at Missouri Baptist University are to:
- Prepare passionate, effective school counselors who are rooted in ethical standards of practice.
- Develop school counselors with strong interpersonal skills who can meet the needs of a diverse student population by displaying an attitude of openness to those who are different from themselves.
- Produce counselors who strongly identify with the school counseling profession.
- Prepare school counselors to work in collaboration with other professionals within a comprehensive program.
School Counseling Program Objectives
- Developing counseling professionals will learn and demonstrate the foundational knowledge necessary to be an effective school counselor.
- Developing counseling professionals will learn and demonstrate effective counseling techniques through successful completion of counseling labs, practicum, and internships.
- Developing counseling professionals will demonstrate the ability to conceptualize student problems and apply concepts and interventions from the core areas of the curriculum.
- Developing counseling professionals will demonstrate the ability to implement effective, evidence-based theories and interventions for individuals, families, and groups.
- Developing counseling professionals will demonstrate professional dispositions of self-awareness, ethical awareness, respect for others, emotional congruence, valuing diversity, and openness.
Candidates who complete the Master of Arts degree in School Counseling will acquire the knowledge, skills, and personal attributes necessary to become school counselors. In order to achieve this objective, the School Counseling program is aligned with the Missouri School Counselor Standards and the American School Counselor Association’s Mindsets and Behaviors.
Standard 1: Student Development
The School Counselor Candidate utilizes his/her skills and knowledge of student development and behavior to promote the mental health and well-being of all students by facilitating their academic, career, and social/emotional development.
- Quality Indicator 1 - Human Growth and Development: The School Counselor Candidate demonstrates knowledge of human development and personality, and how these domains affect learners and applies this knowledge in his/her work with learners.
- Quality Indicator 2 - Counseling Theories and Interventions: The School Counselor Candidate knows and understands established and emerging counseling theories and applies knowledge of techniques and strategies for innovative and differentiated interventions.
- Quality Indicator 3 - Helping Relationships: The School Counselor Candidate establishes helping relationships with students through individual counseling, group work, classroom counseling, and mental health and well-being activities within the school counseling program.
- Quality Indicator 4 - Social and Cultural Diversity: The School Counselor Candidate demonstrates knowledge and understanding of how social and cultural diversity affects learning and development within the context of a global society and a diverse community of families through lesson plans, counseling activities, and interactions with students.
- Quality Indicator 5 - Appraisal of Student Growth and Achievement: The School Counselor Candidate knows and understands the principles of measurement and assessment, for both individual and group approaches, as they apply to the academic, career, and social/emotional development of all students through full implementation of a school counseling program and defines the counselor’s role in assessment consistent with level of training, expertise, and a fully implemented school counseling program.
- Quality Indicator 6 - Career Development and Planning: The School Counselor Candidate demonstrates knowledge and understanding of career development and planning processes across the life span and assists all students with career awareness, exploration, decision-making, and planning.
Standard 2: School Counseling Program Implementation
The School Counselor Candidate collaborates with school and community members to plan, design, implement, evaluate and enhance the school and district-wide school counseling program to advance the academic, career, and social/emotional development of all students.
- Quality Indicator 1 - Structural Components: The School Counselor Candidate knows and understands the structural components of a fully implemented school counseling program, including a philosophy and definition, facilities, advisory council, resources, budget and staffing patterns.
- Quality Indicator 2 - School Counseling Program Components: The School Counselor Candidate knows, understands and implements the four program components of the district’s school counseling program, providing all students with essential knowledge and skills defined by the Grade Level Expectations through the counseling curriculum, individual student planning, responsive services and system support.
- Quality Indicator 3 - Technology: The School Counselor Candidate integrates and utilizes technology for school counseling program delivery and management to promote the academic, career, and social/emotional development of all students.
- Quality Indicator 4 - School Counseling Program, Personnel, and Results Evaluation: The School Counselor Candidate knows, understands, and uses school counseling program, personnel, and results evaluation procedures to plan, design, implement, evaluate and enhance a school counseling program.
Standard 3: Professional Relationships
The School Counselor Candidate develops collaborative professional relationships throughout the school and community which support the school counseling program as well as the overall mission and improvement plans of the school and district.
- Quality Indicator 1 - Interpersonal Skills: The School Counselor Candidate promotes, models, and teaches interpersonal skills to enhance relationships with and among administrators, staff, students, families, community members, agency representatives, and other School Counselor Candidates to facilitate planning, implementing, maintaining, evaluating, and enhancing a school counseling program supportive of the academic, career, and social/emotional success of all students.
- Quality Indicator 2 - Collaboration: The School Counselor Candidate develops collaborative professional relationships with administrators, staff, students, families, community members, agency representatives, and other School Counselor Candidates in order to promote the academic, career, and social/emotional development success of all students.
- Quality Indicator 3 - Consultation Theories and Strategies: The School Counselor Candidate uses theories, models, and processes of consultation strategies to improve communication, develop and promote professional, family, and school relationships and coordinate school and community resources to promote the academic, career, and social/emotional development of all students.
- Quality Indicator 4 - School and Community Involvement: The School Counselor Candidate is actively involved in school and community initiatives that promote the academic, career, and social/emotional development of all students.
Standard 4: Leadership and Advocacy
The School Counselor Candidate serves as a change agent, demonstrating leadership, vision, collaboration, and advocacy for the on-going development of self, students, the school counseling program, and the school district.
- Quality Indicator 1 - Personal Well-Being: The School Counselor Candidate knows, understands, uses, and models techniques of self-care.
- Quality Indicator 2 - Leadership and Professionalism: The School Counselor Candidate knows, understands, models, and promotes personal leadership and professionalism.
- Quality Indicator 3 - Student Advocacy: The School Counselor Candidate knows and understands the advocacy processes needed to address individual, institutional and social factors that influence access, equity, and success for all students.
- Quality Indicator 4 - School Counseling Program Leadership: The School Counselor Candidate uses knowledge of school counseling program concepts to promote and enhance the success of students and the school counseling program while contributing to school improvement.
- Quality Indicator 5 - School Climate and Culture: The School Counselor Candidate uses the school counseling program to contribute to the development of a positive and safe school climate and culture.
Standard 5: Ethical and Professional Conduct
The School Counselor Candidate knows, understands, and adheres to current ethical and professional standards and legal requirements.
- Quality Indicator 1 - Ethical Standards: The School Counselor Candidate knows, understands, and practices in accordance with ethical standards appropriate to the school counseling profession.
- Quality Indicator 2 - Professional Standards: The School Counselor Candidate knows, understands, and practices in accordance with standards associated with the counseling profession.
- Quality Indicator 3 - District and School Policies: The School Counselor Candidate knows, understands, and practices in accordance with local school policy and procedures.
- Quality Indicator 4 - Legal Requirements: The School Counselor Candidate practices in accordance with local, state, and federal statutory requirements and is familiar with legal resources.
Overview
The School Counseling program is designed to meet the certification requirements for the state of Missouri. (If the student is not already certified to teach in Missouri, an additional nine hours will be required to meet DESE requirements for certification.)
Students pursuing School Counseling must complete a Professional Counseling Portfolio, which meets the research and assessment requirements for the Master of Arts degree as an exit assessment. The portfolio must be completed and scored before the degree is conferred.
To be considered a program completer, students must complete all required coursework, pass all required assessments and graduate with the Master of Arts in School Counseling degree. In addition to the Professional Counseling Portfolio, required assessments include a passing score on the Missouri qualifying exam and a passing composite score on the MEES summative evaluation completed during the internship.
Background Checks: The State of Missouri requires that candidates be of good moral character in order to be certified. A criminal record can be defined as, but not limited to: immoral sexual acts; sexual abuse; use, possession, or the sale of narcotics, etc. If you have a concern about your background experiences, please contact the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. A current FBI fingerprint background clearance (not older than one calendar year) is required for certification.
Criteria for Full Admission to the Counselor Education Program
Applications for the Master of Arts in School Counseling program are accepted throughout the year. Students are admitted to the program for the fall and spring terms. Courses follow a semester format. Admission to the School Counseling program is selective. The minimum admissions requirements include:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- An undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher, or 3.00 for the last 60-hours of their undergraduate or graduate program
- Application materials must include the following:
- Completed online application
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- Submission of Essay/Personal Statement (See the Application Procedures – Master’s Degrees section of this Graduate Bulletin for detailed instructions)
- Post-master’s Certification (PMC) considerations must have a master’s degree in counseling from MBU or another approved institution. Based on a transcript evaluation by the School of Counseling faculty, students will need to complete coursework including an internship at MBU in order to fulfill the requirements of the add-on certification (for those certified in K-8 or 7-12 seeking K-12 certification) or initial student services certification. PMC students must also meet GPA requirements and MBU admission requirements in order to be considered for enrollment in courses.
Transfer Students and Transfer Credit
Transfer credits must have been earned within seven (7) years prior to entry into the Graduate Studies Program. Students may not take courses from other graduate programs while enrolled at Missouri Baptist without written approval from the Vice President of Graduate Affairs.
Courses to be transferred must have similar content to those offered at MBU and must have been earned at a regionally accredited institution with either a state-approved school counseling program or a nationally accredited counseling program.* Only graduate-level courses in which a student earned a grade of “B” (3.0) or better will be considered for transfer. The School Counseling program at MBU will only allow a maximum of nine (9) credit hours to be transferred. All transfer credits must be approved by the School Counseling faculty.
Candidates must submit a Course Transfer Request Form for consideration by the School Counseling faculty after official transcripts have been received by the Graduate Admissions Office. Notification will be made via email once a decision regarding the transfer request has been determined.
*The University only recognizes institutions accredited by the current edition of Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education published by the CHEA and the American Council on Education.
Directed Studies: No directed studies are permitted in the Master of Arts degree in School Counseling.
Online Program: Students pursuing a Master of Arts in School Counseling will complete all coursework online-asynchronously, for most courses, or synchronously via Live Stream technology for practicums and internships.
Live Stream Courses
Only three courses in the Master of Arts degree in School Counseling will require participation in classes via interactive video conferencing: SCED 5253 , SCED 5383 , and SCED 5801 (for candidates who are already certified as a school counselor in either grades K-8 or 7-12 or who have completed a master’s degree in School Counseling with an appropriate Elementary or Secondary School Counseling internship, minimum 200 clock hours, and wish to be certified as a K-12 school counselor). Live Stream courses are synchronous (real-time) classes that meet via an online meeting platform that enables students and the instructor to interact through webcam and audio. This format enables an instructor to stream a live feed of the course to individuals enrolled in the practicum or internship course. In many cases, students can connect via Live Stream from home or another location. Students participate in class via webcam and audio, and are part of the interactive course discussion, allowing for collaboration among all students. Students must sign a form indicating that they have access to the required technologies, and that they understand Live Stream course requirements, conduct, and etiquette.
Live Stream Course Technology Requirements
- A reliable high-speed internet connection is required for students to participate in this class.
- Students must have a working webcam AND audio. This equipment is built in to many computers/laptops. If a computer does not have a webcam, one may be purchased relatively inexpensively at a tech store or online.
- Students are required to have a headset with microphone. These may be purchased at tech stores or online. Wired or wireless technologies are acceptable.
- Students who do not have ready access to the required technologies and are unable to remedy the situation will be asked to drop the course.
Live Stream Course Conduct and Etiquette
- Students are expected to be logged in to the class on time. This is the equivalent to being “in your seat” and ready to learn in a traditional course.
- Follow the instructions outlined on the course’s Canvas page to access the course audio/video feed.
- Once logged into the class, webcam and speakers must be turned on, but the microphone should be disabled.
- The microphone should be enabled only when it is your turn to speak. (If the microphone is “on” and picks up on the speaker sounds from your computer, it will create a reverberation loop that is very distracting to classmates.)
- The instructor will discuss specifics about how to participate in the course during the first night of class.
- Students must make sure that they are in a quiet area, with minimal audio and visual distractions (in other words, dress appropriately for class, maintain a professional disposition throughout the class time, keep family members/pets/friends/ etc. in another room, avoid making distracting movements on-camera or off-camera, and make sure that what’s viewable in your web-feed is appropriate for your instructors and classmates to see).
- Students are not allowed to Live Stream while driving.
- If students are disconnected from the course, follow the instructor’s protocol for reconnecting.
- Students should always have a phone available to text the instructor to let him or her know if they have been disconnected and are unable to reconnect.
- In the event students miss class and/or are unable to reestablish a connection, they may be required to view a recording of the class and submit work to compensate for missed participation points.
- Students need to familiarize themselves with their technology prior to the first day of class and are responsible for their own technical equipment. Missouri Baptist University is only responsible for equipment used by the Main campus instructor.
- If students experience difficulties participating in a course in accordance with the conduct and etiquette policies established by the University, they may be asked not to enroll in a Live Stream course in the future.
Additional Fees and Course Requirements
Upon completion of the first semester in the Counseling program, students will be enrolled in a course that is utilized by the School of Counseling to track student progress throughout their program, facilitate field experience placement and supervision, and monitor student compliance with state certification and licensure requirements. This course gives students access to their online student Tevera account. The course associated with the initial access of the Tevera account is
Students are required to register for a Tevera account within 30-days of the beginning of their second semester in the counseling program.
Additionally, participation in the Counseling program requires students to maintain a professional counselor membership and professional liability insurance throughout the duration of the Counseling Program.
In order to apply for certain courses, students must complete and submit specific applications to the Counselor Education Clinical Director of Field Experience prior to enrollment. These applications are found in the Practicum-Internship Handbook, which is dispersed midway through the first year of the program. Courses that require applications include:
Applications for these courses must be submitted by the deadline prior to the semester in which the student plans to take each course. Students who do not submit their applications by the deadline cannot enroll and will have to wait until the following semester to complete the course. Application deadlines are as follows:
- Fall Semester: August 1
- Spring Semester: November 1
In addition to applications, students will be responsible for additional fees during the course of their degree program. These fees include the following:
| Tevera Fee |
$220.00 |
| Professional Membership Fee |
Varies |
| Professional Liability Insurance |
Varies |
| Practicum Fee |
$133.00 |
| Internship Fee |
$400.00 |
| The Missouri qualifying exam (required for School Counseling students) |
$130.00 |
Exit Exam
Students pursuing a Master of Arts degree in School Counseling must pass the Missouri qualifying exam with a score of at least 220, the minimum passing score for certification. For more information, or to register for the Missouri qualifying exam, visit https://praxis.ets.org Candidates must also achieve a passing composite score on the Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) summative evaluation in SCED 5383 to meet the performance assessment requirement for certification (or SCED 5801 for candidates who are already certified as a school counselor in either grades K-8 or 7-12 or who have completed a master’s degree in School Counseling with an appropriate Elementary or Secondary School Counseling internship, minimum 200 clock hours, and wish to be certified as a K-12 school counselor).
Summary of the MA in School Counseling Degree Process
To earn the M.A. degree, a student must complete each of the following steps:
- The student must develop a comprehensive plan of study with the Graduate Advisor.
- The student must complete all coursework included in the plan of study.
- The student must achieve a passing composite score on the MEES summative evaluation at the conclusion of the internship.
- The student must achieve a passing score on the Missouri qualifying exam.
- The student must pass their Professional Counseling Portfolio.
- An Application for Graduation, signed by the student, Graduate Advisor, and Vice President of Graduate Affairs, must be filed with the Graduate Office and the Records Office. Students must pay the required graduation fee. All graduate candidates for graduation during an academic year – Fall, Spring, and Summer – are encouraged to attend the commencement exercises which are held at the close of the Spring Semester. Students must pay the graduation fee whether they attend commencement or not.
- All graduate students must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in order to graduate from the program.
Certification in a State Other Than Missouri: The M.A. degree in School Counseling leads to initial student services certification in the state of Missouri. If certification in another state is desired, candidates must check with that state to determine if additional certification requirements are mandated. Missouri certification may or may not be reciprocal with another state. It is the responsibility of candidates to determine if there will be additional requirements for their state. All students must be considered program completers in the state of Missouri, which means that all course requirements must be met and the professional counselor portfolio, the Missouri qualifying exam, and composite score on the Missouri Educator Evaluation System (MEES) summative evaluation must be passed, before recommendation paperwork for out-of-state certification will be processed.
Graduate Certificates
Graduate Certificates may be earned in the fields of Play Therapy and School Psychological Examiner (program specific information regarding the Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy and School Psychological Examiner can be found below). These certificates are stand-alone certificates and may not be earned concurrently with a master’s degree in the same discipline or track. Students who begin a certificate program and wish to switch to a master’s program must make application to the master’s program through the Graduate Admissions Office and submit all documentation for full admission. Classes may not be transferred in for the certificate programs, and students must complete the required twelve (12) hours through Missouri Baptist University.
Students returning to pursue a master’s degree after earning a certificate may transfer up to six (6) hours from their certificate program into the master’s program. Six (6) alternative hours will replace completed core classes. The student and advisor will decide on appropriate classes with the approval of the Dean of the College of Education.
The graduate certificates require a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to be granted.
Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy
The MBU Play Therapy Program offers the complete 150 hours of play therapy training required for the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and School-Based Registered Play Therapist (SB-RPT) credentials established by the Association of Play Therapy (APT) in seven 1-credit graduate classes. These classes take place over the course of two years to meet the APT’s training standards. To complete the program in two years, students are recommended to take one class per semester (spring, summer, and fall) and take two special topics classes in their second spring semester. Students are recommended to complete the program in two to three years.
The MBU Play Therapy Program offers an integrative approach to play therapy training by providing students with live demonstrations of play therapy techniques by a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor with children in the play therapy training lab, personal hands-on experience in the training lab under the instruction of a RPT-S instructor to develop skills, and education on play therapy history, theories, methods, skills, and special topics that meet the training criteria of the Association for Play Therapy training standards. Our program is geared towards developing well rounded play therapists through in-depth training and educational experience that meets the three phases of play therapy training established by APT. Students will also be paired with RPT-S’s in their community to complete the supervision and play therapy experience component of the play therapy training process (this component is not covered under the tuition cost and is the student’s responsibility to coordinate and complete).
MBU offers a fully functioning play therapy training lab for the play therapy program. Students can expect to witness play therapy firsthand from instructors and fellow students through the audio/visual equipment and two-way mirror provided by our space. The audio/visual equipment also allows for sessions to be recorded and reviewed later for additional training purposes. Students will receive hands-on instruction and experience in the play therapy training lab throughout their program.
Classes
Classes will be offered on weeknights and Saturdays in eight-week segments every spring, summer, and fall semester. Students can successfully start the program during any semester and complete it in the two-year minimum training time. Students are recommended to complete the program in 2-3 years. The first three classes offered are foundations of play therapy with the remaining classes focusing on special topics of play therapy.
Graduate Certificate in School Psychological Examiner
Overview
The School Psychological Examiner Certification program is designed for counselors and educators who are involved in individual diagnostic assessment within a school setting. In order to be eligible for the School Psychological Examiner, the candidate must hold a valid Missouri professional teaching certificate or student services certificate of license to teach as an elementary or secondary school counselor. Completion of a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counseling, or Education is a requirement for this student services certification. Candidates must complete a minimum of 18 hours of the state certification requirements at MBU in order to be eligible to earn this graduate certificate from MBU. Candidates must apply to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education separately upon completion of all course requirements in order to be certified as a School Psychological Examiner in Missouri.
The certification may also be completed in conjunction with the Master of Arts in Teaching degree for those who do not already hold a master’s degree or are interested in earning a second master’s degree instead of a graduate certificate.
The program consists of 30 hours of graduate courses including a 150-hour Psychological Examiner Internship (EDPS 583 ). Students must have completed the course EDPS 453/553 , or its equivalent, prior to entering the program. MBU students who have completed the Master of Arts degree in School Counseling program will be able to count SCED 5153 , SCED 5223 , and SCED 5263 toward completion of the program. MBU students who have completed the Master of Arts in School Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will be able to count COUN 5153 , COUN 5203 , COUN 5223 , COUN 5263 toward completion of the program. Non-teacher graduates of either program will also be able to count EDSP 533 toward completion of the program. Students seeking Psychological Examiner Certification must maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 in their coursework.
Candidates must already hold a master’s degree in counseling psychology, educational psychology, school counseling, or education and must be certified as a teacher or school counselor to be admitted into this program.
Programs of Study
Specific course requirements can be found on the corresponding program page.
Master
Graduate Certificate
Certification
Post-Master Certification
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