Adams state university online masters in counseling

The Department of Counselor Education offers a doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision and master’s programs in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. The master’s programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).* The Master of Arts degree in Counseling is a 60-credit-hour program with areas of emphasis in school counseling or clinical mental health counseling. The clinical mental health counseling program meets state academic requirements for those seeking Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) status. The school counseling program meets the academic requirements for those seeking the Colorado K-12 school counselor licensure.

The Counselor Education Program is designed to serve all students interested in a quality education. In particular, it focuses on the needs of students from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds within rural Colorado. The Counselor Education Program provides an excellent educational experience by creating a supportive and challenging environment that integrates personal and professional growth for students. Through the use of research and applied experiential learning, students will develop a solid knowledge base, comprehensive skills, and an ability to self-challenge. The program develops competent counselors who are proactive, ethical, and capable of recognizing and affirming the diversity of people, ideas, and values. They will be persons of integrity who will be advocates for individual and societal growth. They will have the sensitivity, flexibility, and knowledge to serve the needs of diverse populations. They will be capable of developing collaborative relationships with community agencies, organizations, public schools, and families in rural and urban centers.

*Both the clinical mental health counseling and school counseling tracks are CACREP accredited in all delivery models Adams State University uses (on-campus and online).

2022-2023 Degrees

• Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision
• Master of Arts in Counseling

Department Faculty

Chairperson

Mark Manzanares, Ph.D.

Professors

• Laura Bruneau, Ph.D.
• Mark Manzanares, Ph.D.

Associate Professors

• Cheri Meder, Ph.D.
• Penny Sanders, Ph.D.
• Jared Thiemann, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors

• Courtney Allen, Ph.D.
• Neil Rigsbee, Ph.D.

Clinical Faculty

• Sherie Hawkins, Ph.D
• Angel Knoverek Ph.D.
• Theresa O’Halloran, Ph.D.
• Blaine Reilly, Ph.D.
• Mark Vander Ley, Ph.D.

For More Information

• ASU P.h.D. in Counselor Education, M.A. in Counseling Program

Students desiring to enroll in an online Master’s Degree program in the School of Counselor Education must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. Students enrolled in the final year of undergraduate study may be admitted to graduate study pending verification of receipt of the baccalaureate degree.

Deadlines & Cohort Information

Currently, there are no deadlines. Space is limited each semester, therefore, priority is given to complete applications submitted early. Please note that enrollment/admission may end before the aforementioned deadlines.

Our enrollment management system admits students per semester based on application completion date (the date all of your application materials are submitted and the application fee is paid).

The later you complete your application the greater the potential to be considered for a term later than you anticipated. The earlier the better!

Master of Arts in Counseling online cohorts begin every Fall and Spring semesters.

Admission Documents

A candidate who is interested in enrolling at Adams State University to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Counseling must:

1. Complete the online application

2. Pay the $30 non-refundable application fee at the time of application

3. Submit ALL supplemental admission documents at time of application or through the Self Service Center after application submission

These documents include:

• Short Essay Questions
  • Completed on the online application (highly encouraged to write out prior to copy/paste into online application):
    • Relevance of career goals—How do you plan to utilize your counseling degree?
    • Aptitude for graduate level study—Please explain your preparation for graduate level work.  Describe your skills and available resources that will enable you to succeed in this graduate program.
    • Potential success in forming effective counseling relationships—Describe your understanding of the counseling process.  What do you believe is important in forming an effective therapeutic relationship with your potential clients?
    • Respect for cultural differences—Explain how you would navigate working with a person(s) who has/have a different perspective or different values than your own.
    • Question assessing personal disposition—Describe (briefly) a hard truth you have learned about yourself as an adult.  How did you learn about it?  How have you responded to that knowledge?
• Two (2) online letter of recommendation forms from professional sources addressing the ability of the applicant to become a counselor, academic strengths, and potential. Recommenders will be sent an automatic email to complete this online letter of recommendation form during time of application. Please have recommenders’ first names, last names, and emails at time of application.

4. Send ALL official transcripts from previously attended institutions

Transcripts from ASU need not be requested. Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted. International transcripts must be evaluated by an approved international credential evaluator. Please have all official transcripts sent directly from the institutions to:

 (for electronic official transcripts)

OR

Adams State University
Office of Graduate Studies
208 Edgemont Blvd., Suite 2300
Alamosa, CO 81101

5. Download and read the

M.A. Counselor Education Student Handbook

Note

• Additional information may be requested by the School of Counselor Education before an admission decision can be determined.
• The School of Counselor Education Director will notify students of admission decisions.

• If you have below a 2.75 cumulative GPA from your last conferred degree, please provide a brief letter explaining the outcome of your GPA, what has changed, and how you feel that now you would be a successful candidate. If you have 12+ credit hours post-conferred degree, please let us know to re-evaluate your GPA with the additional credit.

• Admission is not possible at this time for international students.

Program Page