Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counselor Education

Program Description

Clinical mental health counseling is a distinct profession with national standards for education, training and clinical practice. Clinical mental health counselors are highly-skilled professionals who provide flexible, consumer-oriented therapy. They combine traditional psychotherapy with a practical, problem-solving approach that creates a dynamic and efficient path for change and problem resolution (https://www.amhca.org/about/about-us).

School counselors are certified/licensed educators with a minimum of a master's degree in school counseling, making them uniquely qualified to address all students’ academic, career and social/emotional development needs by designing, implementing, evaluating and enhancing a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes and enhances student success (https://www.schoolcounselor.org).

Both tracks require that all students successfully complete a range of program requirements. These experiences include satisfactory completion of coursework and course experiences, development of basic counseling skills, acceptable performance in practicum and internship, and a demonstration of specific clinical competencies beyond class requirements.

Practicum & Internship

Practicum and Internship serve as an integrating component in master’s degree programs, affording students a structured and supportive environment in which to apply counseling theories, techniques, and skills learned in previous coursework. Ideally, the 100-hour practicum provides students the opportunity to provide individual and/or group counseling to diverse clients with varying life situations. In the 600-hour internship, students develop even more skills in observation, feedback, case preparation, interview analysis and reporting. They should also become more aware of a variety of professional resources, including technological resources, and community referral agencies. A Practicum & Internship Manual outlining the detailed requirements of both experiential courses is provided to each student when beginning practicum.

Licensure

We look forward to helping you reach your professional goals through our graduate program. As you prepare to advance in your career, we would like to make sure you are informed about licensing. The Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The University of Mississippi is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). At graduation, students are eligible to sit for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and apply for a provisional license in professional counseling (P-LPC) in the state of Mississippi. A P-LPC has a license to practice counseling in the state of Mississippi under the supervision of a Mississippi Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor (LPC-S). Only a P-LPC practicing under the supervision of a MS LPC-S is allowed to count supervised experience toward becoming an LPC in Mississippi. A P-LPC cannot practice independently. The program does meet the educational requirements for professional licensure in Mississippi.

The program has not made a determination whether the degree meets the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification of states, territories, or entities outside of Mississippi. Individuals must meet state regulations, determined by occupational settings, for the state in which they wish to practice. Compliance with state regulatory requirements is mandatory, and the only avenue towards legal practice. The Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors Licensure regulates the practice of counseling in the state.