Online Program
Master of Arts in Counseling
Develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions you need to become a reflective practitioner in the art and science of counseling. Gain the experiences you need to pursue entry-level licensure or certification as a caring, committed, competent, and culturally aware professional.
ApplyTwo Degree Paths
Master of Arts — Mental Health Counseling
Equip people to navigate relationships, environments, and challenges in their lives and communities as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Master of Arts — School Counseling
Meet the academic, career, and personal/social needs of culturally diverse students in the elementary, middle, and secondary schools as a Certified/Licensed School Counselor.
Why Truman?
- Experienced professors with a history of strong results on licensing/certification exams
- Fully online courses combined with practical experience in the field
- An emphasis on reflective practice, cultural awareness, and relationship/skill development
- Practical application of wellness, prevention, and intervention principles
- A research-supported cohort system designed for the working professional
- A program at a university rated #1 in Missouri and #7 nationally for job placement by Zippia
Schedule a Virtual Visit
Virtual Visit
Get an inside look at the online learning environment, meet your professors, and get all your questions answered during a virtual visit.
Accreditation
The Master of Arts in Counseling at Truman State University follows a cohort model designed to meet the most commonly accepted national standards for counselor preparation: those of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
For information on State Authorization and licensure requirements in a particular state or territory, see State Authorization.
Curriculum
Your degree will be a mix of core coursework, internships, a practicum, and professional practice.
OR
OR
Meet the Faculty
Dr. Karl Witt, Chair, Counseling Department
A native of rural Texas, Dr. Karl Witt has a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and also holds an M.S. in Counseling from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi and a B.A. in Physics with a Mathematics minor from Texas A&M University. He is a national board-certified counselor and a dually-licensed counselor and counselor supervisor with current research interests in rural mental health and counselor training.
Dr. Emily Donald, Assistant Professor of Counseling
Dr. Donald has both her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte but is a Clemson Tiger at heart given the years of being in Tiger Band as an undergrad. Her clinical experience has been primarily in agency settings and spans a range of ages and concerns. However, she considers counseling (and play therapy!) with children and families a primary area of expertise. Her research interests include these areas, as well as supervision, counselor training, and multicultural and social justice issues in counseling. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys running, hiking, traveling, and being very silly with her two children and partner.
Dr. Elsa Soto Leggett, Associate Professor of Counseling
Dr. Leggett earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi (CACREP Accredited) and has worked in higher education as a counselor educator since 2004. A licensed professional counselor and supervisor in Texas, she also holds certifications as a registered play therapist supervisor and professional school counselor (TX). Her clinical experience, research, and publications focus on children and adolescent counseling, counseling in schools, solution focused counseling, play therapy, and clinical supervision.
Admission
AUGUST START:
Apply by August 1
JANUARY START:
Apply by October 1
Rolling Admission
Admission is made on a rolling basis but is limited to 24 students per cohort (across both Mental Health and School Counseling programs). Apply early for priority consideration. Once a given cohort is full you will be asked to defer until the following term.
Application Requirements
In addition to the online application, you’ll need to submit the following:
The GRE® is also required for applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.000. Applicants with an earned master’s degree from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies recognized by the US Department of Education and reflecting a graduate GPA of 3.000 or above are exempt from the GRE requirement.
Once all materials are submitted, qualified applicants will be invited to participate in a Zoom interview.
Tuition
You’ll pay a flat tuition rate of $500 per credit hour regardless of whether or not you are a Missouri resident, bringing the total cost of the program to $30,000. No student fees. No online course fees.
Financial Aid
Enrolled students taking at least six credit hours per semester are eligible for federal financial aid programs. For more information, see our Financial Aid Resources for Graduate Studies page or contact the Financial Aid Office at (660) 785-4130 or finaid@truman.edu.
We hope to introduce institutional scholarships and graduate assistantships as the program grows, but these are not currently available.