The University of Missouri

University of Missouri Counseling and Psychology Degrees

University of Missouri in our ranking of The 25 Best Low-Cost Master’s in Counseling Online Programs.

Prospective students will find a variety of degree programs in the counseling and psychology fields at the University of Missouri. The institution's Psychological Sciences Department offers undergraduate and graduate programs. At the undergraduate level, students may choose from either a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree. The BA is designed for students with an interest in human behavior who plan to either find work after the program or continue on to a graduate program in counseling, management or social work. The BS program features a curriculum that is geared toward scientific research. Students who envision a future in graduate programs such as quantitative psychology or neuroscience or continuing on to medical school should enroll in this program.

The main focus of the graduate program in the Psychological Sciences Department is the Ph.D. in Psychology. A Master of Arts in Applied Psychometrics also is offered. Both programs are offered in a traditional, classroom-based environment. In the Ph.D. program, students delve into subject areas that include cognition and neuroscience, clinical psychology, social and personality psychology, child clinical and developmental psychology, quantitative psychology and developmental psychology. As students progress through the Ph.D. program, they will earn a master's degree and complete the majority of their coursework within three years. The remainder of the program is spent in completing a thesis. The Master of Arts in Applied Psychometrics is the only terminal master's degree program offered in the department. All others are part of the Ph.D. programs.

The Department of Educational, School & Counseling Psychology is administrated within the larger College of Education. Within the department, several post-baccalaureate programs are offered. Some programs are available in both traditional and online formats. The Counseling Psychology programs include Masters of Education degrees in Counseling Psychology, School Counseling, Sports Psychology and Career Counseling. A Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology also is available.

Other programs in the department include a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology, Master of Education in Educational Psychology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology. Alternatively, students may choose an emphasis on school psychology. Options include a master of education, master of art or doctor of philosophy program, as appropriate. Similar degree programs are available with an emphasis on Statistics, Measurement & Evaluation in Education.

About the University of Missouri

A public institution, the University of Missouri was established in 1839. At the time, it was the first public university west of the Mississippi River. Nearly 31,000 students enrolled in the college's many programs in 2017. With 300 degree programs and 20 academic colleges, the curricula are extraordinarily diverse.

The University of Missouri is ranked as a top research institution. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report named it to the 103rd place among national universities.

When it was established, the University of Missouri was the first public university to be located within the Louisiana Purchase. As such, Thomas Jefferson's philosophies regarding public education were used as a foundation for the original degree programs. The Civil War forced the university to close for a time. Land-grant status was accorded in 1870, leading to the establishment of increasingly diverse academic programs.

In 1908, the university founded the first school of journalism in the world. The campus and the number of programs have only grown since then. For research, public service and academic excellence, few institutions can compare.

University of Missouri Accreditation Details

As a whole, the University of Missouri has received accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. Psychology and counseling degree programs have received additional accreditation from the American Psychological Association. In fact, the department has enjoyed this accreditation for nearly 70 years.

University of Missouri Application Requirements

Freshmen applicants who are interested in the undergraduate psychology degrees must have suitable SAT or ACT scores. Additionally, their official transcript must show that they have completed the following high school coursework: four units of mathematics, four units of English, three units of science, three units of social studies, two units of a foreign language and one unit of fine arts. Prospective undergraduates must complete an online application and pay a $55 application fee.

Admission to a master's degree or Ph.D. program in psychology similarly begins with an online application and payment of a $65 application fee. Each applicant must already hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for the final 60 hours of undergraduate-level coursework. Applicants must submit GRE scores, a 500-word personal statement and additional materials as requested. Some programs require an interview before admission. Letters of recommendation and resumes similarly are required. Applicants will be considered based upon their professional goals and how well their research and study goals align with the department's faculty and resources.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Assuming 14 credit hours per semester, an undergraduate student at the University of Missouri may expect to pay approximately $11,250 per year. The expense is the same for both residents and non-residents of Missouri. Housing and dining add another $10,785 to the expenses, with books costing approximately $1,200.

At the post-baccalaureate level, students may expect to pay approximately $7,700 for tuition per year of enrollment. This assumes nine credit hours per semester. On-campus students may pay around $10,000 for housing and dining and an additional $1,000 for books.

Several types of financial aid are available to students at the University of Missouri. The institution itself sponsors several scholarships every year. To be considered, students must complete an MU Annual Scholarship Application. An online Endowed Scholarships Database makes it easy for students to find an award that is appropriate for them.

Students of the university may seek grants. In addition to Federal Pell Grants and TEACH Grants, Missouri Land Grant and Missouri Land Grant Honors are available. There also is an MU Grant for which students may apply. Federal work-study programs further are available on campus.

Various education loans also are accepted at the university. Federal government loans are the most common, but private student loans from banks and credit unions also are available.

With a wide variety of degrees in the fields of counseling and psychology, students will find that many stimulating programs are available at the University of Missouri.