Master of Education in Counseling
Applications for the Stephens College Counseling program are being accepted for the Fall 2025 cohort.
Application reviews for admission to the Fall 2025 cohort will begin on February 1st, 2025. Here are some quick links to our application process and financial aid office.
Dr. Dan Kissinger, program director, can answer any questions regarding the program. You can contact him at dkissinger@stephens.edu.
Why Stephens?
Evening courses, program tracks, and committed faculty who care about your unique goals make it easy for you to pursue your Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counseling or earn the licensure you need.
Our focus on the individual ensures small class sizes and personal attention. We are committed to preparing the best counseling professionals and will help you transition successfully to the next phase in your career. Peer-to-peer support and dedicated advisers enhance the learning experience.
Program Features
Enhance your career with a degree or licensure provided by those who understand the industry and your commitment to making a difference.
- Dedicated faculty respect and support your personal goals, and provide support for the transition into the next phase of your career
- Faculty offer current, relevant experience
- Wide range of internship opportunities across clinical organizations and school systems in Columbia and across Mid-Missouri
- Founded on the scientist-practitioner training model for a more meaningful learning experience
- Strong peer-to-peer support networks with fellow counseling students
Strong Career Outlook
Counseling professionals with the right educational foundation and credentials are in excellent position for career success. Employment for those in the counseling field is expected to grow in the years ahead. Depending on the specialty area pursued, growth can be faster than the industry average.
Explore projected job growth for careers in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling.
Program Tracks
Clinical mental health counselors focus on promoting the mental health of individuals, families, groups and organizations in a diverse society.
Clinical Track
Professional School Counselors help students address their personal, social, educational and career needs in elementary, middle and high schools.
School Counseling TrackPost-Graduate Certification for School Counseling
The Post-Graduate Certification for School Counseling is for those who have completed a school counseling master’s program and are either
1) seeking certification in a different grade-level area than their original certification, or
2) seeking certification for the first time.
In the first case, certification consists of completing a practicum course while gaining practice hours in the grade-level area for which they are seeking additional certification. If the applicant completed a school counseling program but never become certified, the program director will review the transcript and outline a plan of study for coursework that must be completed to meet current certification requirements. If it has been more than five years since original coursework was completed, students may have to retake courses and field experience courses (practicum and internships). Post-Graduate Certification students are considered non-degree-seeking students, thus federal financial aid is not available.
M.Ed. in Counseling
More About Our Program
Enhance your career with a degree or licensure provided by those who understand the industry and your commitment to making a difference.
Related programs
Contact Us
Master of Education in Counseling (M.Ed.)
Dr. Dan Kissinger, Director
(573) 876-7207
dkissinger@stephens.edu