Degree Programs offered:
Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Ed.S.); Master of Science Degree in School Counseling (MS); and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC).
Admission Deadlines for all programs:
April 1st for all programs for the Fall Semester only. The Counselor Education Program has adopted a cohort model of admission and will only take applications once per year. Exceptions may be considered for admission to certificate programs and for students applying for the school counseling program currently employed as school counselors. For more information, please contact the Counseling Program Director.
Program Objectives
The counseling programs at Arkansas State University educate, develop and train counseling professionals by utilizing the highest external standards set by state and national licensing/certifying boards. Our counseling programs offer three distinct options for students: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; School Counseling and Rehabilitation Counseling. Each program has a course of study that emphasizes the common professional identity of all counselors while providing specific course work that encourages the development of a specialized professional identity as well.
The principle mission of the Psychology and Counseling Department’s Counseling Programs are to prepare quality counselors for various settings in Arkansas and the nation. We train competent and ethical counseling practitioners that work in a wide range of counseling settings and serve a diverse population of clients representing a variety of cultural dimensions, lifestyles, and capabilities. We also believe that it is our mission to:
·instill a strong sense of professional identity in students,
·help students gain an appreciation of the rich knowledge base in counselor education,
·develop student expertise in the skills of counseling,
·aid students to become certified and/or licensed,
·aid students/graduates in their initial job placement,
·teach and perform research applicable to the practice of counseling, and
·aid students in understanding the diversity of views and cultures within our profession and the environment in which counselors practice.
Faculty:
Patrick L. Peck, Ed.D.
Sharon Davis, Ph.D.
Dianne Langford, Ed.D.
Asher Pimpleton, Ph.D.
Lacy Overley, Ph.D.
Peter Shane Butler, Ph.D.
Admission Requirements for all programs
Required Courses
Comprehensive Examinations
Annual Review
Practicum/Internship Handbook
Vital Statistics
Programs Offered:
Clinical Mental Health Counseling:
Graduates of the Clinical Mental Health program are prepared to work with diverse populations in a variety of clinical and agency settings as licensed professional counselors. Students will complete the graduate program with a clear professional identity, a diverse skill set, and a strong theoretical knowledge base. Emphasis is also placed on advocacy, ethical decision-making and cultural competence.
Rehabilitation Counseling:
Professional rehabilitation counselors encourage and support persons with disabilities and their families to fully participate in their community by providing individual and group counseling, vocational assessment, case management, advocacy, assistive technology, and consultation services to help meet their personal, social, vocational, psychological, independent living, and quality of life goals. Therefore, the mission of the Rehabilitation Counseling program at Arkansas State University is to prepare professional rehabilitation counselors who will provide quality rehabilitation counseling services for persons with disabilities from diverse backgrounds and their families.
School Counseling:
The purpose of the M.S.E. degree in School Counseling is to train school counseling professionals with expert skills in coordinating school counseling programs, supporting the teaching/learning process, counseling with students, and consulting with persons having significant influence on students' well-being and development.
