Counseling: M.A.

Year One

Orientation to the Counseling Profession*	Fall Term I	3 hours
Theories of Counseling	Fall Term II	3 hours
Professional Ethics and Legal Issues*	Fall Term	3 hours
Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology*	Spring Term I	3 hours
Human Growth and Lifespan Development	Spring Term II	3 hours
Counseling Skills and Techniques*	Spring Term	3 hours
Biblical Foundations for Counseling**	Summer Term	3 hours
Assessment Techniques in Counseling	Summer Term	3 hours

Year Two

Case Conceptualization and Treatment Planning*	Fall Term I	3 hours
Group Process and Counseling*	Fall Term II	3 hours
Research and Program Evaluation*	Fall Term	3 hours
Crisis and Trauma Counseling**	Spring Term I	3 hours
Relationship Dynamics and Family Systems**	Spring Term II	3 hours
Counseling Practicum***	Spring Term	3 hours
Social and Cultural Diversity**	Summer Term I	2 hours
Program Elective: Special Topic**	Summer Term II	2 hours
Internship I***	Summer Term	2 hours

Year Three

Addiction Therapies**	Fall Term I	3 hours
Lifestyle and Career	Fall Term II	3 hours
Counseling Capstone for CMHC**	Fall Term	3 hours
Internship 2***	Fall Term	3 hours

*Requires in-person intensive and synchronous class meetings Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. CST
**Requires synchronous Zoom activity (class meets Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. CST)

***Requires weekly supervision meeting

Admissions Requirements for the M.A. in Counseling:

• 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA on a 4.000 scale or 3.0 in last 60 credit hours of bachelor’s degree
• A letter of interest to give the counseling faculty a sense of why you want to pursue a degree in counseling
• Your letter of interest should include:
  • A short description of what led you to the counseling profession.
  • An explanation of why you want to get your degree at Ouachita Baptist University in a program that integrates Christian faith into your counseling education.
  • Information on how you plan to balance the degree requirements with any other personal or professional responsibilities in your life.

**Please practice appropriate self-disclosure as you write this letter of interest by not disclosing anything such as history of abuse or traumatic events that you endured. This letter of interest should be two pages and double-spaced.

• Three letters of reference with evaluation forms indicating evidence of character and capability to successfully serve as an effective mental health professional
• Admission interview with program faculty
• National Criminal Background Check and Sex Offender Registry Check

All admitted students must achieve a grade of B or better on all COUN coursework to satisfy Arkansas state requirements for licensure.

Students will be evaluated continuously throughout the program. This evaluation process is performed to fulfill our CACREP and professional gatekeeping responsibilities and to ensure that each student has the skills and emotional maturity needed for a professional counseling career.

All admitted students will be formally assessed at the end of their first semester to ensure they are making adequate progress. Evaluations include academic coursework, professional behavior, respect for diversity and ratings from interviews with a CORE faculty member. Students who are not making adequate progress will be given a remediation plan.

Remediation plans may include asking students to seek individual counseling, tutoring, mentoring or other specific ways to target identified areas of concern.

All admitted students will be evaluated by the Counseling Review Board prior to being approved to start the Practicum Course to ensure they are making satisfactory progress. The Counseling Review Board will consist of the Core faculty members and two additional Ouachita faculty from different disciplines. Each student will be evaluated based on the following criteria: academic course work, written Statement of Practice and scores on Competency Exam.