Counseling, M.A.
Minimum Totals for Graduation: 60 hours
This program is also offered via Global Campus.
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 afternoons, evenings, and weekends, or online to better accommodate nontraditional students. Students who successfully complete the program of studies earn a Master of Arts degree in Counseling with a concentration in Addiction Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or School Counseling.
Faculty members include licensed professional counselors, licensed school counselors, and national certified counselors. Full-time counselor education faculty hold doctoral degrees in counselor education. Teaching excellence is a top priority of the faculty.
Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards
Admission Requirement Snapshot
GPA: 2.7
Entrance Exam: GRE
Application Deadline: February 1 for Summer/Fall admission OR September 1 for Spring admission
See Admission Requirement Details Below
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for Admission to the M.A. in Counseling program, a complete application includes:
- a graduate application;
- all transcripts from undergraduate and graduate degree work,
- recent (not more than five years old) Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score to be sent directly to the College of Graduate Studies (please use the CMU designator code #1106 when having your GRE scores sent to the university);
- written statement of purpose and general plans for graduate study; and
- Two completed Program Recommendation Forms with attached letters (one professional [e.g. supervisor, employer, academic professor/instructor] and one personal [not a family member]). Letters will only be accepted when attached to the Program Recommendation Form, sent to apply@cmich.edu.
The GRE assesses verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Testing centers, test dates and seating availability can be found here: https://mygre.ets.org/greweb/action/RegPortal. When selecting a test date, make sure your scores will be reported in time for your application deadlines of February 1st or September 1st (use 1106 as your institution code). For computer-delivered tests, score reports are sent to your designated score recipients approximately 10–15 days after your test date, but can take up to six weeks for paper-based scoring. CMU must receive the official score report from the testing company, rather than from the applicant.
The written statement should consist of a 2-3 page APA formatted essay detailing the following: (1) an explanation of why the applicant wants to enter the Counseling program/profession, (2) what skills the applicant possesses that would make the applicant successful in the graduate program in Counseling, and (3) how the Counseling program is congruent with the applicant’s career goals.
Two completed Program Recommendation Forms with attached letters are required for your application. One should be a professional reference from an academic instructor, current/past supervisor, colleague etc. The second should be a personal reference from a mentor, advisor, volunteer manager, etc. Letters written from family members or friends are not acceptable. Please use the Program Recommendation Form to provide to those people you wish to receive a recommendation from: Program Letter of Recommendation Form. The student should complete the top half of the form, and then the person providing the reference should complete the bottom portion of the form and submit it directly to the Central Michigan University Admission Office email at apply@cmich.edu.
The applicant’s cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) (2.7 minimum), 2 letters of recommendation, written statement of purpose and general plans for graduate study, and GRE score all are considered in determining admission. Students who have below a 2.7 minimum undergraduate GPA are still encouraged to apply and will receive consideration. All application materials and GRE score must be received in the Department of Counseling and Special Education before a decision will be made whether to invite the applicant on-campus for the in-person interview process. Application deadlines are: February 1 for Summer/Fall admission and September 1 for Spring admission.
If an applicant has met all of the requirements and is invited on campus for the interview process by department faculty, the applicant will participate in a ½ day in-person interview on the main campus in Mount Pleasant, MI. Attendance at the interview is mandatory and the dates of the interview will be made available in advance for you to make accommodations to be there.
Upon successful completion of the initial screening process and in-person interview, the applicant will be recommended for admission. This decision will be sent to Graduate Studies and if approved, the applicant will receive Regular Admission with Stipulations. To be eligible for removal of stipulations, the student must first complete a minimum of 9 semester credit hours of course work in the Counselor Education program with a minimum 3.0 GPA and receive a faculty vote of confidence.
Program Requirements
The Addiction Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and School Counseling concentrations require each candidate to successfully complete a minimum of 60 credit hours. Students will gain knowledge and experience in research, group techniques, counseling theories, counseling techniques, ethics, counseling philosophy, multicultural counseling, testing procedures, career development, and consulting. Practicum and internship experiences will complete the minimum requirements. Elective courses will provide students additional studies and experience in areas of personal interest.
Each student will participate in a supervised counseling experience (practicum) in the Center for Community Counseling and Development on CMU’s campus (Global Campus students’ practicum will take place in the field), and a field-based 600 hour internship experience. This program also requires successful completion of a comprehensive examination.
Elective courses will be selected with the approval of the advisor. The faculty recommends taking the comprehensive examination during the semester the student intends to graduate.
Progress through the program is based on satisfactory grades (grade point average of "B" or better) and satisfactory evaluations of pre-professional functioning (e.g., demonstration of appropriate personal and professional skills, ethical standards, and behaviors). Serious and persistent difficulties in pre-professional functioning may result in dismissal from the program.
Program Requirements
Select one of the following concentrations:
Counseling: Addiction Counseling Concentration
This concentration prepares students interested in qualifying for licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) in Michigan and who wish to work in the addiction field. Potential work settings would include: community-based social service agencies, institutions of higher education, criminal justice institutions, counseling personnel in public and private schools, and private practice.
Core Courses (36 hours)
| CED 610 | Career Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 620 | Introduction to Multicultural Issues in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 630 | Ethics and Consultation in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 640 | Assessment in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 650 | Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 660 | Counseling Techniques | 3(3-0) |
| CED 665 | Personal and Professional Development Across the Lifespan | 3(3-0) |
| CED 677 | Counseling Theories | 3(3-0) |
| CED 690 | Counseling Practicum | 1-6(Spec) |
| CED 695 | Research in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 699 | Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
Additional Requirements (12 hours)
| CED 641 | Introduction to Counseling for Addictions | 3(3-0) |
| CED 642 | Neuropsychopharmacology | 3(3-0) |
| CED 643 | Etiology of Addiction | 3(3-0) |
| CED 644 | Addiction Oriented Systems and Methods of Care | 3(3-0) |
Electives (6 hours)
Select other CED courses, approved SPE courses, or approved transfer credits to bring credit hour total to at least 60.
Plan B Requirement (6 hours)
Satisfied by CED 691 (6 hours) and Comprehensive Examination.
Total: 60 semester hours
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration
This concentration prepares students interested in qualifying for licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) in Michigan. Potential work settings would include: community-based social service agencies, institutions of higher education, counseling personnel in public and private schools, and private practice.
Core Courses (36 hours)
| CED 610 | Career Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 620 | Introduction to Multicultural Issues in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 630 | Ethics and Consultation in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 640 | Assessment in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 650 | Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 660 | Counseling Techniques | 3(3-0) |
| CED 665 | Personal and Professional Development Across the Lifespan | 3(3-0) |
| CED 677 | Counseling Theories | 3(3-0) |
| CED 690 | Counseling Practicum | 1-6(Spec) |
| CED 695 | Research in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 699 | Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
Additional Requirements (12 hours)
| CED 603 | Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 641 | Introduction to Counseling for Addictions | 3(3-0) |
| CED 679 | Crisis and Trauma Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 686 | Psychopathology in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
Electives (6 hours)
Select other CED courses, approved SPE courses, or approved transfer credits to bring credit hour total to at least 60.
Plan B Requirement (6 hours)
Satisfied by CED 691 (6 hours) and Comprehensive Examination.
Total: 60 semester hours
Counseling: School Counseling Concentration
This concentration is designed for students who are interested in a school counseling endorsement or school counseling licensure. Students with a valid Michigan teaching certificate may seek a school counseling endorsement on their teaching certificate. Upon completion of the degree program, these students may apply through CMU’s EHS Center for Student Services to add a counseling endorsement to their teaching certificate. Students who do not have a valid Michigan teaching certificate may apply for school counseling licensure through CMU’s EHS Center for Student Services upon completion of the degree program.
Core Courses (36 hours)
| CED 610 | Career Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 620 | Introduction to Multicultural Issues in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 630 | Ethics and Consultation in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 640 | Assessment in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 650 | Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 660 | Counseling Techniques | 3(3-0) |
| CED 665 | Personal and Professional Development Across the Lifespan | 3(3-0) |
| CED 677 | Counseling Theories | 3(3-0) |
| CED 690 | Counseling Practicum | 1-6(Spec) |
| CED 695 | Research in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 699 | Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Counseling | 3(3-0) |
Additional Requirements (18 hours)
| CED 604 | Introduction to School Counseling | 3(3-0) |
| CED 615 | Postsecondary Planning for School Counselors | 3(3-0) |
| CED 641 | Introduction to Counseling for Addictions | 3(3-0) |
| CED 645 | School Counseling Seminar | 3(3-0) |
| CED 651 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3(3-0) |
| CED 679 | Crisis and Trauma Counseling | 3(3-0) |
Plan B Requirement (6 hours)
Satisfied by CED 691 (6 hours) and Comprehensive Examination.
Total: 60 semester hours