Officials with Missouri State University’s (MSU) Outreach Program and the MSU Department of Counseling, Leadership and Special Education in Springfield will offer a new cohort for the Master of Science in Counseling degree in fall 2023 at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP), provided enough students apply.

Students must apply by March 15, 2023, and be accepted into the program after an admissions interview on the Springfield campus for the cohort to begin, officials said. Because of the lengthy admissions process, area residents interested in the program should begin that process as soon as possible, they added.

“The admission process involves completing either the GRE or MAT exam, as well as the graduate college application and the departmental application. The GRE exam may be taken on the MSU-WP campus in the Testing Center. Students also must provide references,” said Deanna Smith, regional outreach administrator of Missouri State Outreach’s program on the West Plains campus.

“It is very important to start the admission process early,” she stressed.

More about the degree

Students admitted to the program will be able to earn the Master of Science in Counseling degree with an emphasis in elementary or secondary education, which is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), officials said. Students will be able to complete the entire degree on the West Plains campus in Gohn Hall utilizing evening, face-to-face, blended/online and Zoom classes, they added.

“The past success of the Master of Science in Counseling program offered at MSU-WP definitely proves the need for future cohorts to be offered locally,” Smith said. “Since courses for the counseling program began in spring 2007, local residents have had the ability to pursue this degree close to home and obtain jobs that meet the growing demand for area counselors, both in schools and in private agencies.”

“There is a shortage of counselors, and that need has grown during the pandemic, especially in rural areas,” said Dr. Marjorie C. Shavers, associate professor/department head of the MSU Counseling, Leadership and Special Education Department. “The MSU school counseling program is one of the best and will prepare counselors to address the growing social and emotional needs in the schools.

How to apply

Area residents interested in participating in the new cohort will need to meet all admission requirements by March 15, 2023. Due to this early deadline, those interested should contact Smith as soon as possible at 417-255-7777 or DeannaSmith@MissouriState.edu for detailed information concerning these requirements in order to have enough time to meet the deadline.

For more information about Master of Science in Counseling program, visit MSU Department of Counseling, Leadership and Special Education website at Education.MissouriState.edu/CLSE.

For more information about the programs available through MSU Outreach in West Plains, visit Outreach.MissouriState.edu/OffCampus/WestPlains.