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.

The application opens November 2. Apply by April 1, 2021, for priority consideration.

Apply

Two 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.

Details  
 

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.

Details

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 brand-new program at a university rated #1 in Missouri and #7 nationally for job placement by Zippia

Schedule a Virtual Visit

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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.

Practice both formal and informal methods of gathering pertinent information about clients.

Begin developing a professional counseling identity as you engage with common considerations and dilemmas in the profession.

Make informed decisions about your counseling approaches and service delivery while helping move the counseling profession forward.

Examine a broad array of social and environmental factors that influence development and mental health. Engage in self-examination and personal exploration.

Enhance your ability to connect with others through the intentional use of specific techniques

Learn the language, labels, and implications of symptomology and diagnosis

Learn the language, labels, and implications of symptomology and diagnosis

Cultivate an understanding of the group approach to counseling through skill development and participation in a group experience

Investigate the varied theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of counseling practice

Study variations in human development and their connections to health and wellness

Consider the impact of personal, natural, and societal crises while examining ways to build resiliency and intervene appropriately

Expand your impact by developing advanced counseling skills, additional counseling-related roles, and relationships with other types of professionals

Engage with systems-based approaches to work with families and couples

Look at the development and manifestation of common addictions, including substance abuse and addictive behaviors

Connect current understandings of physiology, biochemistry, and medications to counseling work with clients

Develop an in-depth understanding of work with minor clients


Apply theories and techniques of counseling with school-based clients in this 100-hour field experience

OR

Apply theories and techniques of counseling with community-based clients in this 100-hour field experience

Work directly with clients in this 300-hour field experience

Work directly with elementary school students in this 300-hour field experience

Work directly with middle and secondary students in this 300-hour field experience

Work directly with community clients in this 300-hour field experience


Delve into the nuances of counseling in school settings

OR

Delve into the nuances of counseling in community settings

Dr. Karl Witt, Chair, Counseling Department

Meet the Faculty

Karl

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.

Admission

AUGUST 2021 START:

Apply by April 1

JANUARY 2022 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:
Transcripts, personal statement, three professional references, background check

The GRE® is also required for applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.000. Once all materials are submitted, qualified applicants will be invited to participate in a Zoom interview.

Apply

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.