The Counseling program builds on bachelor’s degrees in a variety of areas to prepare professional counselors to help you and groups with family, mental health, career and educational issues. Our master’s degree meets the educational requirements needed to become licensed as a Professional Counselor or certified as a School Counselor. Our Education Specialist degree provides opportunities to retool your career, develop areas of professional specialization and broaden your career options.
The Counseling program offered through the UCM is organized to reflect the professional standards and competencies designed by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs, as well as the Missouri Standards for the Preparation of Educators defined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Coursework addresses:
Vision Statement
The Counseling Program at the University of Central Missouri aspires to prepare individuals for exemplary practice as Professional Counselors in school and clinical mental health settings.
Mission Statement
The Counseling program at UCM prepares professional counselors at the Master and Education Specialist levels who:
Practicum Internship Site Application
UCM is always looking for new opportunities for our students to gain real world experience. If you wish to become an approved clinical site for the Counseling Program, please complete this form.
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To be considered for admission to the Counseling program, applicants must first be admitted to Graduate Studies. Once applicants have been admitted they may request the Counseling application Form. A full application packet to the program contains:
The Counseling Program offers two degrees, the Master of Science in Counseling and the Education Specialist Degree in Human Services, Professional Counseling. The Counseling Program is designed to meet the academic requirements for certification as professional school counselors and for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC). The program is approved for the school counselor certificate issued by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Students may also select courses that fulfill academic requirements for registered play therapists (RPT) and licensed professional counselors (LPC). All students, including those seeking additional certification and licensure must apply to and be accepted by graduate studies and the Counseling program.
The Counseling program at UCM sponsors the Zeta Chi chapter of Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International. Chi Sigma Iota is the international honor society of professional counseling. It was established in 1985 through the efforts of leaders in the profession of counseling whose desire was to provide recognition for outstanding achievement as well as outstanding service within the profession. CSI was created for counselors-in-training, counselor educators, and professional counselors whose career commitment is to research and service through professional counseling.
Zeta Chi is our local chapter of Chi Sigma Iota. For chapter information, please contact the chapter adviser, Dr. Nancy Forth, 660.543.8093, or email nforth@ucmo.edu.
Students are also eligible for student membership in the:
“I believe UCM's Counseling program gave me a solid foundation to become a well-rounded, empathic, and ethical counselor. Because this program is so comprehensive and meticulously follows CACREP guidelines, I believe my career options are greater than counselors who graduated from other universities.”
“By far, I believe the Counseling program prepared me better than peers who graduated from other programs in the area.”
“Thank you for the excellent preparation that you provided me for my career as a professional school counselor!”
“The Counselor Ed program is beyond question the best in the state. The professors hold students to a very high standard and I'm proud to have been part of such a quality graduate program.”
“The counseling program at UCM was and continues to be phenomenal. The faculty and staff are top rate and each went above and beyond to teach, share and provide opportunities for learning, growth and experiences which prepared me well for my career in this field.”
“I have worked with many recent grads from other counseling programs- I am so thankful that I went to UCM. I felt so prepared with my degree and we covered so much more than what some other programs did. The best part of my UCM education was the amazing, caring, brilliant professors. Thank you for all you have taught us.”
“The counseling program at UCM has an outstanding teaching staff. They are all extremely professional and knowledgeable. All of them are leaders in the counseling field. I am honored that I was able to work with them and grateful for their dedication to helping me become the best counselor I could be.”
“I am extremely impressed with UCM's Counseling program and often encourage those seeking training to pursue it there.”
“UCM's counseling program is by far one of the best around. The expectations of students are extremely high, as they should be when entrusting their students with the precious lives of so many.”
“UCM is best in Missouri!”
UCM is the longest continuously CAEP accredited public institution in Missouri
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs has accredited the Counseling Program (Masters degrees for School and Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentrations) for an eight-year period with conditions through October 31, 2026.
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