Counselor Education
Program Description
The Counselor Education program offers three-degree programs:
1) The M.A. with two options in either school counseling or clinical mental health counseling
2) The Ed.S. for those with a master's degree in Counseling or a closely related field
3) The Ed.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision for those with a master's degree in Counseling and licensure or certification in school or mental health counseling.
We enjoy assisting in the enhancement of the lives of people in our region, state and nation. We welcome and encourage diversity, visible and invisible, both in our graduate students and in the populations our students and graduates serve.
In addition to this website, please check the program website at http://coehs.umt.edu/departments/counsed/default.php and download our Counselor Education Handbook for more information.
| Program |
Degree Offered |
| Counselor Education (School Counseling Option) |
M.A. |
| Counselor Education (Clinical Mental Health Counseling Option) |
M.A. |
| Counselor Education |
Ed.S. |
| Counselor Education and Supervision |
Ed.D. |
Degrees Offered
M.A. Counselor Education
Option: School Counseling
Requirements:
51 credit program
The master's degree option in school counseling (51 credits) meets state licensure requirements in School Counseling, K-12 and is NCATE-approved (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education). The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has granted accreditation to the school counseling, Counselor Education Program, Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling at The University of Montana.
Master's degree applicants should be aware that the Counselor Education program degree requirements include internship and practicum experiences. For the Master's degree in Counseling, school counseling option, students must complete 100 hours of practicum and at least 600 hours of school-based or school-related internship. Employment and volunteer-based services provided by students prior to enrollment in the program do not count towards internship hours. Internship is normally completed during the second or third year of graduate study, depending on the student's rate of progress through the program. Current employment also will likely not count for internship hours unless the hours include new professional responsibilities and an on-site supervisor who is licensed. Students, especially those who are employed full time, should plan to modify their employment responsibilities to complete the program.
M.A. Counselor Education
Option: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Requirements:
60 credit program
The master's degree option in clinical mental health counseling (60 credits) leads towards the fulfillment of the requirements for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Montana. Students interested in eligibility for mental health licensure in other states should contact the respective licensing boards. Portability of licensure eligibility between states is not guaranteed because each state has its own licensure requirements. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has granted accreditation to the Counselor Education Program Mental Health Counseling option in the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling at The University of Montana.
Master's degree applicants should be aware that the Counselor Education program degree requirements include internship and practicum experiences. For the master's degree in Counseling, clinical mental health counseling option, students must complete 100 hours of practicum and 1000 hours of mental health-related internship. Employment and volunteer-based services provided by students prior to enrollment in the program do not count towards internship hours. Internship and practicum are normally completed during the second or third year of graduate study, depending on the student's rate of progress through the program. Current employment also will not count for internship hours unless the hours include new professional responsibilities and an on-site supervisor who is licensed. Students, especially those who are employed full time, should plan to modify their employment responsibilities to complete the program.
Ed.S. Counselor Education
Requirements:
Requires a minimum of 18 post-master credits
The Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.) is intended primarily for those who possess a master's degree in Counseling that is insufficient for licensure as a school counselor or mental health counselor (LCPC). There may be specific courses lacking, the number of credits in the existing master's degree may be insufficient, or the degree may be outdated. People with existing master's degrees insufficient for licensure should be aware that we do not provide clinical training or academic coursework on an "as needed" basis. You must be admitted to one of our degree programs to take courses in the Counselor Education program, with the exception of certain summer session offerings. Those who possess a master's degree in another field, including an education degree, should apply to the master's degree because very little, if any of their prior work will transfer into the counseling degree. Admission to the Ed.S. degree is competitive.
Ed.S. applicants will likely have additional internship or other clinical requirements, depending on prior experience or training.
Ed.D. Counselor Education and Supervision
Requirements:
Minimum 96 credit program
The Ed.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision is intended for experienced professionals who wish to pursue a career in higher education and/or to supervise masters or bachelors-level counselors. It is not a clinical degree and is not intended to qualify graduates for psychology licensure. Applicants should be license-eligible when they enter the Ed.D. By the time of graduation, they should have at least two years, full-time equivalent (4,000 hours) of professional counseling experience since they were awarded the master's degree in Counseling Ed.
Applicants should plan to teach or co-teach with program faculty a university level course with a focus in counseling. The doctoral teaching and supervision requirement is intended to prepare students for work in their chosen field, and is not necessarily compensated. Ed.D. applicants must also complete doctoral level coursework in research, theory, and clinical supervision as well as the dissertation. There is one doctoral teaching assistantship available.
Admission
1. Application Materials and Deadline
Our admission deadline, based on postmark or fax date is February 1. Admission to our degree programs is competitive. It includes submission of written materials as well as a personal and/or group interview with faculty and program students for applicants who have met the standards of the first review.
Instructions for applying to the Graduate School are in the Applying for Admission section on this web site.
In addition to the application materials required by the Graduate School, the Counselor Education Program also requires:
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A current resume.
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A letter of intent. This letter should explain your interest in pursuing a graduate degree and career in counseling, your experience in human services and/or teaching, and your understanding of the field. It is also important in your letter of intent to demonstrate your writing quality and professional presentation.
All completed materials should be sent to the Departmental Administrative Assistant, Counselor Education, School of Education, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812. Remember, the deadline for yearly applications is February 1. If admitted, students may begin their graduate program in either Summer Session or Fall Semester. Attendance in at least one summer session during the degree program is required of master's students.
2. Program Requirements for Admission
The Admissions Committee determines an applicant's probable success in the program and the goodness of fit between the applicant, the program and the profession. Goodness of fit includes the ability to form trusting, constructive and ethical relationships with others in a professional setting, as well as the mastery of academic knowledge. Evaluation for these characteristics begins with the admissions process and continues throughout the student's graduate program. Each applicant must complete the following for his/her application file:
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The three letters of recommendation must include at least one from a professor and one from a person who has supervised the applicant's work, volunteer or paid, in a human service or teaching capacity. (We prefer electronic submission through the Admission Application. If the electronic method is used there is no need to send paper copies of the letters to the department.)
The Department of Counselor Education requires criminal background checks upon beginning your academic studies with us. This can be arranged through the licensure specialist in the School of Education.
The Counselor Education program strongly encourages applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds. Our program is enormously strengthened by a student body with a variety of life experiences. International students have been successful in our programs, though a person's facility with written and spoken English is an important factor success.
Refer to the department web site for a list of commonly-asked questions, program prerequisite courses and a list of core courses.
3. International Students
Financial Assistance
For additional information about financial assistance, see the Financial Information section on this web site.
Counselor education faculty generally select one master's level student (in the form of an assistantship) to help support the department in the overall operation of the graduate program and counseling center. This student is a second or third year student. The term of this appointment is one year.
Listed are some of the tasks performed by the department's graduate assistant:
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Serve as preliminary adviser to students new to the program;
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Consult with individuals outside the program regarding licensure requirements;
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Refer individuals with special concerns to appropriate faculty;
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Complete initial phone intakes/requests for counseling services for clients;
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Advertising, interviewing, training, scheduling and supervising work-study students;
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Emergency coverage of the building when work-study students do not come as scheduled;
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Practicum room scheduling;
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Correspond with outside supervisors regarding availability and willingness to supervise, responsibilities, roles, payment and evaluation forms;
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Assign practicum students outside supervisors in consultation with the faculty;
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Provide jocularity when necessary;
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Provide assistance to faculty teaching responsibilities.
The Counselor Education program also has one doctoral teaching assistantship. The doctoral teaching assistant teaches or co-teaches courses with faculty, provides clinical supervision to master's level students and assists with program administration. The doctoral teaching assistant must be clinically licensed, school counseling licensed, or license eligible in the State of Montana.
If you have specific questions or would like to request a graduate assistantship application, please contact:
Administrative Associate
Counselor Education
School of Education
The University of Montana
32 Campus Drive #6356
Missoula, MT 59812-6356
(406) 243-5252
Department website
Campus Location
Phyllis J. Washington College of Education & Human Sciences, Room 210
Federal Express Delivery - Street Address
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, MT 59812-6356
(406) 243-5252
Fax: (406) 243-4908
Contact Information
counselored@mso.umt.edu
