Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling
Southeast Missouri State University offers three regional campuses in the areas of Kennett, Malden and Sikeston. The Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling also allows students to attend courses at the Perryville Education Center, Mineral Area College at Park Hills and Southeast at Poplar Bluff campus. All courses are taught by full-time faculty in the department, rather than depending on adjuncts and temporary faculty. In addition, the department only teaches graduate-level courses. The program enjoys partnerships with several local public school districts in order to help facilitate an easier transition from coursework to practicum and internships.
Master of Arts in School Counseling: Majoring in Elementary, Secondary or K-12
The Master of Arts in School Counseling program allows students to focus on either elementary or secondary schools, or students can take courses that prepare them to work at any level from kindergarten through 12th grade. The program requires potential students to already possess a teaching certificate or complete prerequisite courses in the psychology of children with special needs, curriculum for leaders and theories of learning. Graduates of the program will be qualified to offer mental health, career or educational counseling in public, private or charter school settings. In addition, school counselors may also be asked to participate in special education programs and in school-wide crisis counseling.
Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling
The Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling program has been designed in order to prepare future counselors for careers in various mental health settings. Students can expect to take courses in subjects that include professional ethics, counseling theories, career development, group counseling, research and cultural diversity. In addition, students are required to take a practicum, an internship and an advanced internship. Mental health counselors are qualified to practice in settings that include hospitals, private clinics, community mental health agencies, substance abuse treatment centers or other mental health organizations. Program graduates will be qualified to work with both children and adults facing a variety of mental health issues, including psychological diagnoses, relationship and marriage issues, life transitions or addictions-related difficulties.
Master of Arts Degree in Career Counseling
Southeast Missouri State University's career counseling program is one of the newest fields of study at the university. The program has received approvals at various university levels but must receive final approval with the coordinating board before the program is fully implemented and admissions to the program can begin. The program requires that students take 18 total credits in the field of social sciences, including a 3 credit course in statistics, prior to beginning the career counseling program. Career counselors often work in adult vocational training centers with adults seeking to gain employment skills or in secondary schools with adolescents preparing to enter college or vocational training.
Accreditations
The Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling at Southeast Missouri State University is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). In addition, the department offers a Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) approved school counseling program.
Contact
Dept. of Educational Leadership and Counseling
Southeast Missouri State University
One University Plaza MS 5550
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701-4799
(573) 651-2137
jrjansen@semo.edu