Purpose. The two-year (60-semester-hour minimum) program leads to the professional degree Master of Counseling (M.C.). The M.C. program which focuses on community counseling is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This program is designed to prepare students for counseling as a profession, and it includes a set of required professional studies supported by elective subjects in related disciplines. Both practitioner and research options are available.
The M.C. degree identifies the recipient as a professional counselor and prepares individuals to work in a variety of human service fields. Certified teachers who complete this degree are eligible for school counselor certification in Arizona and most other states.
Admission. A student initiates application for admission to the M.C. degree program with the Graduate College. Admission is determined by a variety of criteria in addition to GPAs. Applications are accepted any time but must be completed before February 15 for admission for the following fall semester. The number of students admitted to the M.C. degree program is limited by the size of the faculty and the facilities available for practica. For more information, applicants should consult the Division of Psychology in Education.
Supervisory Committee. Following admission to the M.C. program, a supervisory committee consisting of a chair and two other faculty members are appointed to plan a program of study with the student and to prepare, administer, and evaluate the final examination(s).
Program of Study. The program of study should be planned in consultation with the supervisory committee. Candidates for the M.C. degree must complete one course in the College of Education core for master’s students, COE 501. See “Education Core Courses” for course listing. In addition to course work, the program may include supervised practica in consultation, individual and group counseling, marriage and family counseling, and stress management. These experiences involve a variety of client populations. The program of study must be approved by the supervisory committee, the division director, and the dean of the Graduate College.
Credit before Admission. A maximum of 32 semester hours of graduate course work earned in a completed master’s degree from an accredited institution may be applied to the program. In all other circumstances, a maximum of nine semester hours of prior course work may be applied to the M.C. degree program.
Final Examinations. Students in the practitioner option are required to take a final written comprehensive examination or prepare a final written paper.
Students in the research option are required to complete a thesis. An oral examination in defense of the thesis is also required.
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