Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance
"In the Masters program you are challenged to think deeply, encouraged to be self-reflective and to really learn about who you are and what you bring to the role of counselor, and you are supported to stretch beyond the bounds of the program to gain skills, knowledge, and experiences uniquely related to your own interests. The programs is academically rigorous, but support and encouragement is available every step of the way.
You are provided opportunity to learn thoroughly about academic topics such as human development, behavior, counseling techniques, etc. and provided with ample experience in individual and group counseling situations by professors who really embody the counseling spirit. They show genuine care both personally and professionally: they are supportive of your needs and circumstances (both good and bad), and are truly invested in seeing you grow and succeed both as a student and as a person. In this program you are taught by example how to relate to others with compassion, understanding, and a non-judgmental openness while still being challenged to stretch your academic, intellectual, and personal boundaries."
— Abigail Rotholz
Get the Program Brochure
Description of the Program
The MA Counseling Program is a 60 semester hour program with dual licensure opportunities in mental health (http://www.rld.state.nm.us) and school counseling (http://www.sde.state.nm.us).
The Masters program (MA) is housed in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology in the College of Education at New Mexico State University.
Please also see Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance Handbook for more detail about the program.
Accreditation
The MA Counseling Program is accredited in Mental Health Counseling by the Council for Accrediting of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Admission Requirements
- Transcripts from all Univerities and Colleges attended
- GRE scores, Verbal, Quantitative and Writing
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty or supervisors
- Personal Statement
- Resume or curriculum vita (List of completed upper division and/ or graduate course work (including grades) related to counseling)
- Writing sample (optional)
- Interview if requested
- For more Information
DEADLINE for applications is February 1 - Apply Here
Course Work
Students may complete the program on a full, three-quarter, or half- time basis.
All entering students must declare at the time of their application their intention to pursue full, three-quarter, or half-time study.
Courses are offered in Block Schedule. This means that students proceed through the program and take course work with the specific group of applicants with whom they entered the program.
The MA program maintains low faculty-student ratios, particularly in courses where individual and small-group supervision is offered.
Required Courses
- CEP 512- Human Development
- CEP 517- The Psychology of Multiculturalism
- CEP 542- Appraisal Theory and Technique
- CEP 524- Professional Issues in Mental Health Counseling
- CEP 550- Counseling Theory and Technique
- CEP 551- Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
- CEP 558- Child and Adolescent Counseling
- CEP 552- Career/Life Planning and Vocational Assessment
- CEP 566- Group Work Theory and Technique
- CEP 572- Counseling Practicum
- CEP 562- Family Therapy Theory and Technique
- CEP 556- Addictions Counseling
- CEP 532- Counseling Research
- CEP 522- Organization and Administration of School Counseling
- CEP 578- Advanced Counseling Practicum
- CEP 580- Counseling Internship (Comprehensive Exam)
Students have the choice of:
- completing over 1,000 hours of supervised practice,
- completing a masters thesis, or
- completing a minor in an area of interest.
Licensure Information
For More Information:
Dr. Jonathan Schwartz, Department Head
Email: jschwartz@nmsu.edu
Telephone: 575-646-2121
Dr. Ginger Dickson, Training Director
Email: gdickson@nmsu.edu
Telephone: 575-646-4092
Dr. Lisa Grayshield
Email: llgray@nmsu.edu
Telephone: 575-646-2124
Dr. Anna Lopez
Email: annalo@nmsu.edu
Telephone: 575-646-5753
Dr. Michael Waldo
Email: miwaldo@nmsu.edu
Telephone: 575-646-4095