Be a LIGHT GRADUATE COUNSELING PROGRAMS
We believe faith & knowledge ARE POWERFUL TOGETHER WE ARE EQUIPPING YOU TO HEAL YOUR WORLD Missouri Baptist University’s Graduate Department of Counselor Education exists to train graduate level counselors through rigorous academic and hands-on clinical instruction. We seek to develop conscientious, professional, and highly skilled counselors who promote and facilitate the personal growth, development, and empowerment of the clients and students they serve. The Counselor Education Department is rooted in our Christian faith that calls us to love God and love one another.
Your community needs you. BE EXCELLENT. The objectives for students of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs at Missouri Baptist University are to: • Learn and demonstrate the foundational knowledge necessary to be an effective counselor. • Learn and demonstrate effective counseling skills and techniques through successful completion of counseling skills courses, practicum and internships. • Demonstrate the ability to clinically conceptualize client/ student problems and apply concepts from the eight common core areas and two specialty areas (CMHC and School Counseling) of the curriculum. • Demonstrate the ability to implement effective, evidencebased theories and interventions for individuals, families and groups. • Demonstrate professional dispositions of self-awareness, ethical practice, respect for others, emotional congruence, multicultural competence, genuineness and openness. Students who complete either of our Master of Arts (CMHC and SC) degrees will acquire the knowledge, skills and personal attributes necessary to become clinical mental health or school counselors.
ACCREDITED BY THE COUNCIL FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF COUNSELING AND RELATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS (CACREP) The quality and content of your counseling program matters. Beginning January 1, 2024, the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) will require a master’s degree or higher from a CACREP accredited counseling program. Graduating from a CACREP accredited program has several benefits including: • Students are taught the appropriate professional dispositions, knowledge and skills to be a successful counselor. • Potential employers will know graduates completed a rigorous program meeting the highest professional standards • Graduates will have the ability to apply to be a Nationally Certified Counselor allowing for greater portability of licensure from state to state and an easier process for state counseling licensure application. • The program will fulfill the education requirements for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) to become a licensed counselor.
CHALLENGE YOUR LIMITS As you progress through your degree program, you will find counseling courses that are rigorous and challenge your thinking. Professors will become family, recognize your potential and push you to realize your potential. By the time you graduate, you will leave with more than an expansive collection of impressive knowledge and experiences. You will be prepared to invest in the lives of others so they too may flourish and shine.
Find your light. EQUIPPING YOU FOR YOUR CALLING Missouri Baptist University is a Christ-centered university located in Saint Louis. MBU offers more than 40 undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees in a variety of areas including counseling and its terminal degree, the Doctor of Education. In addition to its 66acre West St. Louis County campus, MBU offers degree programs at 10 regional learning centers throughout Saint Louis, in Southern Illinois and online.
SCOTT SNODGRASS Chief Operating Officer | Sun Behavioral Columbus “MBU cared for me so that I could earn my degree and make a difference in the lives of others.” Read more | mobap.edu/Snodgrass
MBU COUNSELING TENURE MBU has a long track record in preparing students for successful careers in the counseling program. With more than 1,500 counseling graduates since 2002, MBU distinguishes itself as a leader in mental health education and school counseling. MBU’s Counseling Education program has a 79% employment rate by 3 months post-graduation — 35% of which had found employment in the counseling field prior to completing the program.
THE POWER OF PASSION The graduate program in Counselor Education trains graduate level counselors through rigorous academic and hands-on clinical instruction. The Counselor Education program is rooted in our Christian faith that calls us to love God and love one another. We seek to develop conscientious, professional, and highly skilled counselors who promote and facilitate the personal growth, development, and empowerment of those clients/ students they serve. Become a professional counselor under the tutelage of real, experienced counselors that genuinely care about helping you in your path to help others.
YOU WILL LEARN: • The developmental, ethical and theoretical knowledge necessary to be an effective counselor. • Effective counseling techniques through successful completion of counseling skill courses, practicum and internships. • How to clinically conceptualize complex client/student problems and develop plans for effective treatment. • How to implement current effective, evidence-based theories and interventions for individuals, families and groups. • The professional dispositions of self-reflection to enhance self-care to promote wellness, beneficence to work for the good of others and justice to ensure others are treated equitably to foster fairness and equality.
FALL, SPRING AND SUMMER ENROLLMENT NO GRE REQUIRED
Master of Arts in
CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING The graduate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares students to be competent and fully functioning professionals who serve a diverse and ever changing world. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program exposes students to current research in clinical mental health, counseling theory, and multi-cultural awareness to develop students into professionals capable of meeting the needs of the clients they serve. Rigorous academics, skills acquisition, and appropriate field experiences facilitate personal growth, development of skills, and knowledge that will prepare them to be effective counselors and meet state licensure requirements.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Licensed Clinical Counseling in: • • • • •
Community Mental Health Center/Outpatient Counselor Private Practice Counselor Residential Mental Health Center Counselor Hospital-Based Counselor/Mental Health Professional Mental Health Professional positions within the State Departments such as the Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Department of Social Services • Mental Health Professional positions with the Office of Veteran Affairs and other Federal Agencies
COURSE OPTIONS Courses offered in the fall and spring will typically be 16-week courses while courses offered in the summer will typically be 8-week courses. The cohort will take up to three classes each fall and each spring semester. Students are allowed to take up to four classes each summer. Classes are offered at night on the main campus or via live stream to help students with busy schedules.
Master of Arts in
SCHOOL COUNSELING The graduate program in School Counseling utilizes rigorous academics, skills development, and relevant field experiences to develop students into competent and effective school counselors that serve diverse populations in a changing world. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education approved program helps prepare students to be school counselors within a school system through personal growth, knowledge acquisition, and active instruction of skills.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES • K-12 School Counselor
COURSE OPTIONS Courses offered in the fall and spring will typically be 16-week courses while courses offered in the summer will be 8-week courses. The cohort will take up to three classes each fall and each spring semester. Students are allowed to take up to four classes each summer. Classes are offered at night on the main campus or via a live streaming service to help students with busy schedules. Students are also allowed to take most classes online asynchronously.
JON-PIERRE MITCHOM Licensed Practicing Counselor | Casa de Salud Director of Equity and Inclusion | Priory Schools “I was fully prepared to serve others in my career and pass my exams after graduating from MBU. My professors genuinely cared about me and my calling.”
Master of Arts in
SCHOOL COUNSELING (LICENSURE TRACK) The graduate program in School Counseling (Licensure Track) crosstrains school counselors for the preparation to be Licensed Professional Counselors who serve school populations. Students will complete the school counseling program as well as the clinical mental health program work. The school counseling program (licensure track) prepares students to meet state clinical licensure requirements and develops students to be competent and effective school counseling professionals.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES • • • • • •
K-12 School Counselor Community Mental Health Center/Outpatient Counselor Private Practice Counselor Residential Mental Health Center Counselor Hospital-Based Counselor/Mental Health Professional Mental Health Professional positions within the State Departments such as the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Department of Social Services, etc. • Mental Health Professional positions with the Office of Veteran Affairs and other Federal Agencies • School-based Clinical Mental Health Counselor
COURSE OPTIONS Courses offered in the fall and spring will typically be 16-week courses while courses offered in the summer will typically be 8-week courses. The cohort will take up to three classes each fall and each spring semester. Students are allowed to take up to four classes each summer. Classes are offered at night on the main campus or via live stream to help students with busy schedules.
Psychological Examiner CERTIFICATION
Psychological Examiner is K-12 certification through DESE. MBU offers this program for individuals who have a master’s degree in School Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Educational Psychology, or Education and who also possess school counseling or teaching certification. For more information about psychological examiner certification, please contact the Office of Online & Graduate Enrollment Services at (314) 392-2327 or graduateadmissions@mobap.edu.
Play Therapy CERTIFICATE
Play Therapy is a post-master’s certificate program focused on the therapeutic benefits of play. Play therapy differs from regular play in that the therapist helps children to address and resolve their own problems. Play therapy builds on the natural way that children learn about themselves and their relationships in the world around them. Applicants to this program must be enrolled in or have a master’s degree in School Counseling, Counselor Education, School Psychology, Social Work, or Marriage & Family Therapy as well as state licensure as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed School Psychologist, Licensed or Certified School Counselor or Licensed Clinical Social Worker. For more information about play therapy, please contact the Office of Online & Graduate Enrollment Services at (314) 392-2327 or graduateadmissions@mobap.edu.
Admissions FIND YOUR LIGHT. APPLY TODAY.
QUALIFICATIONS: • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university • For full admission to a graduate program, a 2.75 or higher cumulative GPA is required or a 3.0 GPA for the most recent 60 credit hours. Applicants with a cumulative GPA between 2.5 – 2.74 may be admitted on probation, with approval.
STEP ONE: Complete the free online application at apply.mobap.edu STEP TWO: Submit the following admission documents: • 3 Letters of Recommendation - Each letter should be from someone who can attest to your ability to succeed in a graduate-level program. You (or the person writing the letter) may submit it to graduateadmissions@mobap.edu. • Professional Statement - This essay (approximately 2 pages, double-spaced) will be reviewed for content and used to assess your written communication skills. Please visit mobap.edu/graduate/admissions-application for specifics on the essay topic. • Official Transcripts - This includes all colleges or universities that you have attended. Transcripts are accepted electronically or by mail. Official transcripts must come directly from that institution to Missouri Baptist University. Transcripts that are “Issued to Student” cannot be accepted. • Resume or C.V. - You may submit this by email to graduateadmissions@mobap.edu.
STEP THREE: Once all admission documents are received, the final step is to schedule an interview.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Online & Graduate Enrollment Services at (314) 392-2327 or graduateadmissions@mobap.edu.
OFFICE OF ONLINE & GRADUATE ENROLLMENT SERVICES graduateadmissions@mobap.edu 314.392.2327