Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology
The motto of Mississippi State University is "Learning, Service, Research," and that's exactly what the school is known for by organizations like the Carnegie Foundation. The school has had a significant level of research activity and was ranked #18 in a list by Forbes magazine that featured schools that offered high quality education at an affordable tuition rate. The school has a history stretching back to 1878 and was originally a school that offered training in agricultural and mechanical studies. The Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology is dedicated to helping students expand their career opportunities through research and respect for the profession and the people who need counseling services.
M.S. Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Students who enroll in this master's program are prepared for work in many environments that feature counseling services, such as mental health facilities and healthcare agencies. Counselors with an interest in treating individuals at drug and alcohol treatment centers would likely fare well with this degree tract. The program features many classes designed to help students figure out how to create treatment plans and diagnosis difficult cases. Interesting topics like crisis management, substance abuse, and ethics are also featured as part of the curriculum.
M.S. Degree in School Counseling
Future counselors who wish to work in elementary school, junior high, or high school environments would want to consider the school counseling graduate program at Mississippi State University. The program covers a wide range of counseling topics in its curriculum with classes like Behavioral & Cognitive Behavioral Interventions and Child & Adolescent Development & Psychopathology. Upon graduation from the program, students will have accomplished the coursework required for licensure and passing the PRAXIS 1 general exam as well as the PRAXIS 2 exam for school counselors. Also, students will be have an in-depth understanding of the trends, ethics, history, and philosophy that guides counseling in today's educational environments.
M.S. Program – Emphasis in Student Affairs Administration
By enrolling in the Student Affairs program students are given a broad education that's designed to facilitate further study and work in higher education. One of the primary features of the program is coursework on student development at the college level as well as student assessment and development. As long as a student can maintain nine credits each semester, the program takes a maximum of two years. Students in this program will benefit from teachers and faculty who work in professional environments such as in residential life offices, alumni services, and the office of the dean of students. Graduates will be able to work with a variety of people in student affairs such as parents, teachers, and extended family who might have an impact on a student's time at school.
M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling
There are eight essential core areas that students must master during their time in the rehabilitation counseling program at MSU which include knowledge of human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, and career and lifestyle development, in addition to several other vital areas. As is to be expected in a rehabilitation counseling program that's part of several accredited counseling degree programs in Mississippi, students are taught how to communicate with people who need help in several surroundings. Those locations include mental health agencies and rehabilitation centers that feature physical rehabilitation as well as mental counseling assistance.
Ph.D. in Counseling
The doctoral program in counseling at Mississippi State University assumes that students already have real-world experience in counseling and have completed a graduate degree. The Ph.D. program prepares students to move into a high level of research and development within the profession by emphasizing research, advocacy, and experiential learning. Not only must students complete a comprehensive set of core classes, elective courses, and an internship, but students must also complete comprehensive exams and defend a dissertation. In addition, students must complete 900 hours of internship experience related to their area of concentration. The time spent experiencing counseling in the "real world" will ensure that graduates will be able to function as a counselor in a professional environment or work within education as a teacher and researcher.
Ph.D. Degree in School Counseling
Students who wish to pursue advanced study of clinical mental health counseling might want to investigate the Ph.D. Degree in School Counseling. Students may choose to emphasis in several areas such as mental health counseling, rehabilitation counseling, or student affairs. Before acceptance into the program is granted, Mississippi State University requires that applicants already hold a master's degree from an accredited institution with appropriate status with CACREP or the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). The program is intensive and takes at least three years of study, which includes summer work. Students need to be prepared to dedicate their full attention to the program to graduate in a timely manner.
Accreditations
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Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
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National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Contact
Department of Counseling & Educational Psychology
175 Presidents Circle
P.O. Box 9727
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: 662.325.3426
Fax: 662.325.3263
cjustice @colled.msstate.edu