Central Methodist University Online MS in Clinical Counseling
Central Methodist University offers a master of science in clinical counseling, a 60-credit graduate program designed to equip students with the skills needed for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Missouri. This CACREP-accredited program prepares graduates for roles in settings like mental health centers, correctional facilities, psychiatric institutions, and private practice.
The program can be completed in less than three years through full-time study, with classes delivered digitally through a mix of evening in-person sessions one to two times per week and hybrid courses that alternate between face-to-face and online meetings. It includes 51 credits of core academic courses and nine credits of supervised practice through one practicum and two internships, totaling at least 100 hours in practicum and 600 hours in internships with direct and indirect client work. Students focus on professional identity, ethical practice, social and cultural diversity, human growth, career development, group work, assessment, research, and clinical mental health treatment.
Key courses cover introduction to clinical counseling; counseling theory; diagnosis and psychopathology; social and cultural diversity in counseling; legal and ethical issues in counseling; and group counseling techniques, plus supervised experiences like two counselor practicums and three counseling internships.
Admission requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, at least 18 hours of coursework in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field, and an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale, with conditional admission possible for lower GPAs based on factors like psychology course performance.
Applicants must submit an online application, official transcripts, a criminal background check acceptable to the admissions committee, three one-page written statements showing written communication skills and aptitude for counseling and digital learning, and two reference letters from clinical or academic professionals. Students must also pass the Counselor Education Comprehensive Examination (CECE) for graduation.
Central Methodist University is a private liberal arts university founded in 1854 and located in Fayette, Missouri. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and the MS in clinical counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
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MS – Clinical Counseling
411 Central Methodist SquareFayette, Missouri
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
No
2 – Two in-person residencies required
60
Fall, Spring
Can be completed in 3 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.0
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$400.00
$24,000.00
$400.00
$24,000.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Farheen Gani
WriterFarheen Gani has researched degree programs and salaries in counseling since 2020. She has written about topics such as genetic counselor salaries and family and human development bachelor’s degrees. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.