Master of Counseling

Majors:

  • Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling

  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling

  • Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling

  • School Counseling

  • Student Affairs and College Counseling

Goals

The general objective of the Master of Counseling (M.COUN.) degree is to prepare students to be professional counselors. The Department of Counseling faculty believe that the development of a strong professional identity, a rich knowledge base, and expertise in the skills of counseling are essential to functioning as a professional in each counseling setting.

The Master of Counseling degree is designed to be the strong foundation upon which graduates enter a lifetime career in the helping professions. This program prepares counselors to respond to the multitude of societal changes and to the ever-expanding counseling profession. In addition to knowledge and experience in the following eight common-core areas, graduates also have specialized knowledge and skills as identified in the objectives of the Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; School Counseling; and Student Affairs Counseling majors. For more specific details, please reference http://www.carep.org.

The Department of Counseling has curricular and professional objectives for each Master of Counseling student. Each of these objectives has specific outcome measures:

Curricular Objectives

  1. Students will have knowledge of Human Growth and Development in order to understand the nature and needs of persons at all developmental levels and in multicultural contexts.
  2. Students will have knowledge of Social and Cultural Foundations to be effective in a multicultural and diverse society.
  3. Students will be knowledgeable and skillful in Counseling and Consultation processes.
  4. Students will be knowledgeable about group development, dynamics, counseling theory, group counseling methods, and group work approaches.
  5. Students will be knowledgeable and understand career development and related factors.
  6. Students will understand and be knowledgeable about individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation.
  7. Students will be knowledgeable about various research methods, statistical analysis, needs assessment, and program evaluation.
  8. Students will be knowledgeable about the profession of counseling including history, organizational structures, ethics, standards, and credentialing.

Student Professional Objectives:

In addition to the above curricular objectives, the Department of Counseling has program-wide objectives. These include:

  1. School counseling students will obtain certification as school counselors.
  2. Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling students will obtain certification as rehabilitation counselors.
  3. Students in all specialty programs (Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Marriage Couple and Family Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; School Counseling; and Student Affairs Counseling) will obtain licensure as professional counselors (i.e., LPC).

Admission Requirements

Admission into the counseling program is competitive. A preset number of students will be admitted, according to faculty resources. The Admissions Committee will make the final recommendation regarding admission based on grade point and test score rankings, as well as on the committee's impression of the applicant's interpersonal style and compatibility of personality with the program's training philosophy, and on the student's written statement.

The applicant must:

  1. Have a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited in the United States, or its equivalent from a school in another country (must complete degree before onset of classes in the Fall semester in year of acceptance).
  2. Meet the guidelines for admission set forth by the Graduate School and the Department of Counseling. Those individuals meeting both criteria will be invited for an interview. The minimum master's level standards for admission using the GPA Standardized Test (last 60 credits) are as follows:
    • 3.0 to 4.0: No Performance Requirements Necessary
    • 2.5 to 2.999: Performance Requirements Necessary (3.25 GPA after 12 credits of graduate study in the Dept of Counseling)
    • Below 2.499: No Admission
      • The method for calculating an admission GPA is based on the last 60± semester undergraduate credits (90 ± quarter credits).
  3. Prospective students are expected to come to campus (Pocatello or Meridian) for an interview. Selected applicants will be interviewed by the Department of Counseling Admissions Committee as part of the admissions procedure. Ultimately, one's GPA qualifies one to take part in the interview process.
  4. Submit three (3) letters of recommendation from individuals who have knowledge of the applicant’s academic capabilities, work performance, professional potential, and character.
  5. Apply to Graduate School and Department of Counseling by online application by January 15.

Only applicants who have submitted all application materials on or before the application deadline will have their materials reviewed by the Admissions Committee to determine status as a competitive, qualified applicant (incomplete, late, or inaccurate files/forms will not be reviewed). Due to the competition for limited seats in the Master of Counseling program, satisfactory completion of the entry-level requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

Selection Schedule

After August 15, apply to Graduate School and Department of Counseling by on-line application by specified application date.

ISU-Pocatello

Application review begins January 15 and continues until all seats are filled. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for mid-February. Notification of admission decisions will be announced approximately early March. A maximum of 30-35 students are admitted to the Master of Counseling program each year at ISU-Pocatello. Classes begin the fall semester of each year.

ISU-Meridian

Application review begins January 15 and continues until all seats are filled. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for mid-February. Notification of admission decisions will be announced approximately early March. A maximum of 25-30 students are admitted to the Master of Counseling program each year at ISU-Meridian. Classes begin the fall semester of each year.

If the January 15 deadline has passed, please contact the Department of Counseling. A secondary admission process may be conducted.

Classified w/Performance Requirements Status

Students must request a change of status from Classified (w/PR) status to Classified status upon completion of their first semester of graduate study. The change from Classified (w/PR) to Classified status must be approved by the Department of Counseling and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Our Department offers Professional Development workshops substantial enough to count as 1 or 2 class credits, which Non-Degree Seeking Students may utilize.

Approval of Master's Degree

Final Program of Study

A student who has been admitted to the Master of Counseling (M.COUN.) program may submit a final program of study following the completion of COUN 6621 Professional Orientation and Ethics, COUN 6627 Theories of Counseling, COUN 6696 Practicum Counseling Techniques, and during the semester in which COUN 6697 Practicum in Counseling is being completed. The final program of study must include all coursework required to complete the selected M.COUN. major and must be approved by two counseling faculty members who have graduate faculty status (one of whom will serve as committee chair). Prior to the semester of the proposed graduation, the final program of study must receive the approval of a majority of the Counseling graduate faculty.

General Requirements

For the Master of Counseling (M.COUN.) degree, the student is required to complete the equivalent of at least four full semesters of resident graduate study beyond the bachelor's degree. For the Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling; School Counseling; and Student Affairs and College Counseling majors, a minimum of 60 semester hours must be completed in the Core and Major Course Requirements.

Core Course Requirements
COUN 6611Research in Counseling Profession2
COUN 6612Assessment and Diagnosis in Counseling3
COUN 6614Lifespan Development2
COUN 6621Professional Orientation and Ethics2
COUN 6623Career Development2
COUN 6624Cultural Counseling3
COUN 6625Crisis Interventions and Trauma Counseling3
COUN 6627Conceptualizing Counseling Theory3
COUN 6630Addictions Counseling2
COUN 6660Theories of Family and Couple Counseling3
COUN 6676Small Group Activity1
COUN 6677Group Counseling Techniques3
COUN 6696Prepracticum Counseling Techniques3
Major Course Requirements
Major in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
COUN 6661Issues in Family Counseling3
COUN 6664Family Assessment2
COUN 6665Advanced Family Systems Theory2
COUN 6697Practicum in Counseling2
COUN 6697LPracticum in Counseling Lab0
COUN 6698Internship in Counseling18
COUN 6698LInternship in Counseling Lab0
MCFC Electives1
Major in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
COUN 6690Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling3
COUN 6691Professional Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling3
COUN 6697Practicum in Counseling2
COUN 6697LPracticum in Counseling Lab0
COUN 6698Internship in Counseling18
COUN 6698LInternship in Counseling Lab0
CMHC Electives2
Major in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
COUN 6615Foundations of Clinical Rehabilitation3
COUN 6616Professional Issues in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling3
COUN 6617Medical & Psychosocial Aspects of Disability2
COUN 6697Practicum in Counseling2
COUN 6697LPracticum in Counseling Lab0
COUN 6698Internship in Counseling18
COUN 6698LInternship in Counseling Lab0
Major in School Counseling
COUN 6629Counseling Children and Adolescents2
COUN 6638Foundations of School Counseling2
COUN 6639Application of School Counseling Foundations2
COUN 6697Practicum in Counseling (school setting preferred)2
COUN 6697LPracticum in Counseling Lab0
COUN 6698Internship in Counseling18
COUN 6698LInternship in Counseling Lab0
Major in Student Affairs and College Counseling
COUN 6680Foundations of Student Affairs3
COUN 6683Administration of Student Affairs Practice3
COUN 6697Practicum in Counseling (student affairs setting preferred)2
COUN 6697LPracticum in Counseling Lab0
COUN 6698Internship in Counseling (student affairs setting preferred)18
COUN 6698LInternship in Counseling Lab0
SC Electives2