Overview
The primary mission of the counselor education program is to provide a high quality education that develops effective professional counselors with strong clinical skills who are committed to lifelong learning. Students will expand their knowledge of themselves and their ability to counsel and advocate for clients in a diverse society.
The Counselor Education faculty at Central Michigan University offer courses and programs designed to prepare students to work as counseling personnel in public and private schools, institutions of higher education, community-based social service agencies, and private practice. Many classes are offered nights and weekends to better accommodate the nontraditional student. Students who successfully complete a program for Counselor Education earn a Master of Arts degree in Counseling, focusing in either
or
. The coursework and training experiences at Central Michigan University are equivalent to the standards established by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and exceeds the Michigan requirements for school counselor licensure/endorsement and/or counselor licensure in professional counseling.
Each student participates in a sequence of intense supervised counseling experiences prior to a community or school counseling internship placement. In conjunction with foundational coursework, students will translate knowledge to skills in their growth as professional counselors. A unique feature to their training is a clinical practicum at the
within the Educational Health Services Building providing counseling services for community residents, area school students, and Central Michigan University students. Under the supervision of Counselor Education faculty advanced counseling trainees provide individual counseling for children, adolescents, and adults; family and couples counseling; play therapy for children; general counseling for emotional problems and life adjustment concerns; career and employment counseling; referral help in finding appropriate services for identified problems; and consultation with community agencies and schools.
Counselor Education Faculty
Faculty members include licensed professional counselors, nationally certified counselors, and licensed psychologists. Teaching excellence is a top priority of the faculty. Our Counselor Education faculty are:
Admission Requirements
- Applicant screenings are conducted twice a year. All application materials (see below) must be received by submission deadlines: February 1 or September 1.
- In addition to submitting the application, all transcripts, and written statement of purpose and general plans for graduate study, the applicant must arrange for a recent (not more than five years old) score to be sent directly to the Department of Counseling and Special Education and be received by the application deadline. The MAT score, undergraduate GPA, and the applicant's statement of purpose and general plans for graduate study are all considered in determining admission. The MAT is available through testing centers such as the Center for Learning Assessment Services located on the CMU campus.
- Applicants chosen in the screening process will be initially admitted to the program on a conditional basis. To be eligible for Regular Admission status, the student must first complete a minimum of 10 semester hours of coursework in the Counselor Education program with a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
- In addition to the above requirements, applicants seeking school counseling endorsement must have or be eligible for Michigan Teacher Certification.
Degree Requirements
The candidate should decide on one of the following program options and complete his/her Authorization of Degree Program form with the assigned adviser after achieving Regular Admission status. Elective courses will be selected with the approval of the adviser. The faculty recommends taking the comprehensive examination during the semester the student intends to graduate.
Additional information can be found , our graduate handbook.