The MS in Counseling degree will be a 60-hour CACREP like program.  This program has classes in counseling theory, diagnosis, treatment, and ethics.  This program also has hands on clinical experiences with a practicum and internship.  This program has two pathways:  The Clinical Mental Health Counseling pathway which will meet all of the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counselors requirements to be eligible to apply to become a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) and eventually a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Arkansas as well as our Rehabilitation Counseling pathway that will meet the requirements for our students to sit for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counseling Certification (CRCC) exam to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).

• Prerequisite coursework includes undergraduate-level Research Methods (3 credit hours) and undergraduate-level Statistics (3 credit hours).
• Academic requirements include a 3.0 grade point average on all undergraduate, and any previous graduate course work. Applicants with a grade-point average of less than 3.000 in their last two years of undergraduate study must also submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination General Test (subject test scores are not required).
• Submit a Graduate Application to the Graduate School Admissions office.
• Applicants must be admitted to the Graduate School at Arkansas Tech University prior to, and separate from, admission to the Counseling program in the College of Education and Health.
• Applicants should submit three letters of recommendation. Recommendations should be from former instructors, employers, or other professionals in your community.
• Provide a statement of the applicant's professional goals.
• An interview with the Counseling faculty is required.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
CNSL 5163	Foundations of Substance Abuse	3
CNSL 5223	Ethics and Professional Development	3
CNSL 5233	Diversity and Inclusion in Human Service Settings	3
CNSL 5253	Psychopathology	3
CNSL 6013	Vocational Rehabilitation	3
CNSL 6023	Assessment in Counseling Environments	3
CNSL 6123	Counseling Theories	3
CNSL 6163	Addictions Diagnosis and Treatment Strategies	3
CNSL 6204	Counseling Skills	4
CNSL 6223	Family and Relationship Counseling: Theories and Techniques	3
CNSL 6233	Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling	3
CNSL 6803	Psychopharmacology and the Counseling Profession	3
CNSL 6823	Advanced Case Management Strategies for Counseling	3
CNSL 6973	Practicum in Counseling	3
CNSL 6986	Internship in Counseling	6
COUN 6213	Developmental Counseling: Theory and Application	3
EDFD 6003	Educational Research	3
Select one of the following:		5
CNSL 6991/6992/6993/6994/6995	Thesis Research
Elective
Total Hours		60

• Standard 1: Successful graduates comprehend the major concepts, principles, theories, and research underlying the philosophical foundations of clinical mental health and rehabilitation counseling, and they work successfully within organizational components.
• Standard 2: Successful gradates are able to comprehend and synthesize the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to clinical practice and apply this knowledge. They demonstrate the ability to build rapport, explore complex topics and situations, uphold professional ethical and legal standards, develop research-informed treatments plans, refer or perform necessary assessments as part of treatment, and keep accurate and timely records for each client they work with. They successfully model practices that affirm the diversity of all clientele.
• Standard 3: Successful graduates are successful in their various roles as clinical professionals. They serve as informed advocates for those with rehabilitation and/or mental health needs, and for providing consultative services to community organizations. They engage with families and community members to form collaborative relationships.
• Standard 4: Successful graduates can competently obtain, evaluate and utilize research, in addition to classroom knowledge, in a manner that scaffolds the clinical relationship.
• Standard 5: Successful graduates are knowledgeable of the various ways in which disabling conditions may manifest, the effect(s) of those conditions on the individual with the disability as well as their family and friends, and the impact the conditions may have on one or many of the major life areas (e.g., employment, relationships, spirituality). They serve as informed advocates for these clients, their support systems, and for responsive clinical practices.