Master of Science in Counseling

The counseling program at Southern provides practical knowledge combined with a highly supervised clinical experience. Students receive abundant support and evaluation, so they enter practicums and internships well-prepared and graduate with confidence about working with clients.

Southern advantages

CACREP accreditation: Both of the program emphases of the M.S. in Counseling degree have been conferred accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). School Counseling is also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Christian-based: The program is grounded in Adventist Christian principles and designed to train professionals for work in any setting.
Diverse faculty: The multicultural faculty members and widely varied professional experiences of the instructors and supervisors provide for abundant interpersonal growth and interaction.
Comprehensive program: Our program provides the academic preparation necessary for licensure anywhere in the United States.
Convenience: Classes meet one day a week during fall and winter semesters. Classes during the summer term are offered online.
Flexibility and efficiency: Full-time students can complete the program in as few as six or seven semesters. Part-time enrollment is also available. Students wishing to expand their career and future work opportunities may complete a master's degree with dual emphases in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling by adding one semester to their regular CMHC plan of study.
Smaller classes: Personal attention and group camaraderie are the well-designed result of limited class sizes.

Eligibility and prerequisites

Bachelor's degree: A bachelor’s degree (in any area) from an accredited program
GPA requirement: A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25
Behavioral science courses: Undergraduate upper-division coursework in the behavioral sciences (6 hours)

Admission process

Graduate application: Submit a graduate application (with non-refundable fee of $40). Apply now
Transcripts: Submit official college and university transcripts. Many institutions subscribe to the convenient transcript-request service at National Student Clearinghouse, or you may also contact your institution directly. Have your transcripts sent to Melodie Lopez in the Graduate Studies office (malopez@southern.edu). If you earned your prerequisite degree at Southern, you do not need to complete this step.
Recommendations: Submit three letters of reference along with the required recommendation forms (completed by work supervisors or professors). The forms should be distributed as part of the online application process. Alternatively, you may manually distribute the forms to your recommenders. Download form ?
Statement: Submit a statement of purpose. View guidelines
Resumé: Submit your current resumé through your Application Status Page.
Background check: Successfully complete an approved background check. (Alternatively, verification may be submitted by your current employer.) Download Instructions
Criminal/sex-offender statement: Submit the Criminal-Record Statement. Your signature on this form gives the School of Education and Psychology permission to retain your criminal-history record and affirms that you are not a registered sex-offender. Download form
Interview: After submitting items 1—7, schedule an interview with the faculty from your Application Status Page.
Personality test: Complete the MMPI personality test. This test must be completed on campus; please plan for approximately 45—50 minutes outside of your scheduled interview time to complete the MMPI.

Application deadlines

Term	U.S. Residents	International
Fall	April 1	April 1
Winter	October 1	September 1
Summer	April 1	Not applicable

International students

Applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States are considered international students and must meet additional requirements for admission.

View international-student admission requirements »
1. Applicants from non-English institutions must submit certified English translations and evaluations of official university records, including demonstration of the equivalency of a bachelor's degree.
  Transcript evaluations must be submitted directly to Southern from one of the following agencies:
2. Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must demonstrate English proficiency.
  Unless an applicant is a native English speaker or received the college/university degree from an English-medium institution, s/he must have a minimum TOEFL score of 100. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from the test date. Learn more at ets.org/toefl »
3. Submit Declaration of Finances.
  International students must have financial resources sufficient to support themselves for the calendar year, in addition to an international-student deposit of $3,000 (USD). Download Form
- - To be issued an I-20 Form, students must also provide a letter from financial sponsors (including their name and address), as well as copies of bank statements for the last three months showing the balance history for the student's account or the financial sponsor's account.

International students who will be coming to Southern's campus need some additional information about travel documents and living on campus.

More Information

Course guide

Select an emphasis:

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling emphasis prepares professional counselors for a variety of settings and with a variety of populations. The curriculum focuses on providing candidates with strong foundational knowledge and clinical practice. Coursework addresses areas covered by state licensing exams.

The School Counseling emphasis prepares professional school counselors to work in PreK-12 school settings. The curriculum provides knowledge and skills for addressing a variety of student issues faced in elementary, middle, or high school settings.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Core Courses			Credits
	COUN 510	Advanced Lifespan Development	3
	COUN 514	Drugs and Addictions	3
	COUN 516	Career Counseling	3
	COUN 521	Psychopathology	3
	COUN 524	Professional Counseling I	2
	COUN 525	Professional Counseling II	1
	COUN 530	Assessment and Appraisal	3
	COUN 537	Ethics and Legal Aspects of Counseling	3
	COUN 540	Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling	3
	COUN 553	Group Counseling and Procedures	3
	COUN 556	Theories and Techniques of Counseling	3
	COUN 559	Crisis Counseling	3
	COUN 561	Multicultural Issues in Counseling	3
	COUN 579	Clinical Practicum I	1
	COUN 580	Clinical Mental Health Counseling Clinical Practicum II	2
	COUN 581	Clinical Mental Health Counseling Clinical Internship	6
	COUN 590	Marriage and Family Counseling I	3
	COUN 593	Child and Adolescent Problems and Treatment	3
	COUN 598	Research and Program Evaluation	3
Clinical Mental Health Core Subtotal 54

Elective Courses			Credits
	COUN 507	Sexuality: Issues in Counseling	2-3
	COUN 565	Topics in Counseling	1-3
	COUN 578	Behavioral Health and Wellness Counseling	3
	COUN 591	Marriage and Family Counseling II	3
	COUN 595	Independent Study in Counseling	1-3
	COUN 599	Master’s Thesis	6
Elective Subtotal 6

Total 60

School Counseling Core Courses			Credits
	COUN 503	Foundations of School Counseling	3
	COUN 510	Advanced Lifespan Development	3
	COUN 514	Drugs and Addictions	3
	COUN 516	Career Counseling	3
	COUN 524	Professional Counseling I	2
	COUN 525	Professional Counseling II	1
	COUN 528	Learning and School Counseling Interventions	3
	COUN 530	Assessment and Appraisal	3
	COUN 537	Ethics and Legal Aspects of Counseling	3
	COUN 553	Group Counseling and Procedures	3
	COUN 556	Theories and Techniques of Counseling	3
	COUN 559	Crisis Counseling	2
	COUN 561	Multicultural Issues in Counseling	3
	COUN 577	Administration of School Counseling Services	3
	COUN 579	Clinical Practicum I	1
	COUN 585	Clinical Practicum II: School Counseling	2
	COUN 586	Clinical Internship: School Counseling	6
	COUN 598	Research and Program Evaluation	3
School Counseling Core Subtotal 50

Thesis Option Courses			Credits
	COUN 599	Master's Thesis	6
Thesis Option Subtotal 6

Total 50-60

Faculty

Master of Science in Counseling

All graduate degrees

Southern advantages

Eligibility and prerequisites

Admission process

Application deadlines

International students

Course guide

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Faculty

Bonnie Eder

Ileanna Freeman

Tami Navalon

Liane de Souza

Tron Wilder

Get Started

Mikhaile Spence

Graduate calendar

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