Master of Science in Counseling
Applicants to the Oregon State University - Cascades Campus graduate Counseling program share a commitment to working with children, youth, adults or families in a school, community college, agency or professional setting.
Students elect to concentrate in one of two areas:
- School Counseling
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Both concentrations emphasize academic excellence, competence in counseling skills and personal growth. The small classes, advanced coursework and the collaborative cohort teaching model integrate academic knowledge and theory, with practical experience through closely supervised practicum and internships.
The Counseling program is accredited by the
Council for Accrediting Counseling and Related Educational Programs. CACREP is the gold standard in graduate counseling programs. The program is recognized by the
Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and the
National Board of Certified Counselors as meeting the coursework requirements for state licensing and national certification. This accreditation allows the student to take exams needed to meet initial eligibility requirements for licensure as an Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor.
To learn more, see the MS in Counseling Program Objectives.
The credo of the Counseling program is D.R.I.V.E.: Dignity, Respect, Integrity, Value, and Equality in our actions towards all humankind.
Application to the Program
Program Application Process
Start planning now for the cohort that begins June 2012. The 2012 application is posted below. All of the application procedures and requirements are located within the "Application Packet". Also helpful are the "MS with a Major in Counseling Program Handbook" and the "MS with a Major in Counseling Objectives" documents (see below). We offer a 2 year full time option and a 3 year part time option. The 2010-2011 curriculm is also posted below. Further information about OSU-Cascades admissions can be found at http://www.osucascades.edu/admissions/ .
Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 90 hours of a completed bachelor's degree, personal and emotional suitability, and volunteer or paid experience in the helping professions.
If you have any questions about the application process, contact Donna Harris, at (541) 322-3173, or Meredith Mason, at (541) 322-3127.
School Counseling Program Options
School Counseling (teaching experience/teaching license)
This program is designed for students who have already obtained a teaching credential and have at least two years of teaching experience. If you are a licensed teacher, you can be admitted to the M.S. program in counseling and complete the required courses for the Initial and Continuing School Counselor license as a part of your M.S. degree.
School Counseling (non-teaching experience)
This program is designed for persons without a teaching license or teaching experience. Students must complete the M.S. in Counseling Degree to be eligible for the Initial School Counselor license. Coursework in this track includes 125 hours of school-based observations and at least 75 hours of direct responsibility for classroom instruction.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
The clinical Mental Health counseling track is designed for person who want to work in community agencies, treatment programs, community colleges, and other counseling centers.
Counseling Program Objectives
This is a full detail document of the Program Objectives for the Master of Science in Counseling Program both School and Clinical Mental Health tracks.
Click on above link.
General Information
Program Information
The OSU-Cascades Master of Science in Counseling program offers a part time option that spans three years as well as a full time option that can be completed in two years. Program begins June of each year. Students choosing the part time option take two classes per term, while students choosing the full time option average four classes per term. All classes are held in the evenings, starting at 4:30. Classes are Monday through Thursday with an occasional class being offered in a weekend format. In addition to coursework, students complete a 100 hour practicum and a 600 hour internship for school track or a 900 hour internship for Clinical Mental Health. While the part time option is designed to fit into the lives of working individuals, the master's level internship hours in the final year are intensive.
There are no prerequisite courses for the program. No specific undergraduate program is required and students enter with a wide range of undergraduate degrees and careers. All have a passion for working in helping professions.
The coursework for this program integrates academic knowledge and theory with counseling practice and internships. Completion of this degree meets academic eligibility requirements for School Counselor Licensure from TSPC and Licensed Professional Counselor from the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists. The OSU-Cascades MS in Counseling program is accredited through CACREP (Council for Accrediting Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Jim Mockaitis Community Counseling Student
OSU Cascades MS Counseling 2008
My decision to participate in the OSU Cascades MS Counseling program is one that I will never regret. Over a period of approximately twenty years, the dream of becoming a counselor continued to tug on me. However, for a variety of reasons, life being what it is, I was never in a position to act on that dream. As a resident of Central Oregon, being able to access the program here in Bend made this a very practical option for me at just the right time in my life.
The program was comprehensive, enabling me to learn and practice many things which have been directly applicable to my work with clients. It expanded my perception of the human experience and the challenges people often face in navigating their lives.
I was personally challenged in many ways as well. My own growth and reflection was directly impacted by the flow, content and expectations of the MS program. I embraced this endeavor like a dry sponge to water, and it proved to be very cathartic for me. As a result, I emerged with a deeper appreciation for my own life experiences and how they too contributed to preparing me for this new profession. As an older student in this program, I always said that I had two educations, one of formal study and one from life experience. This graduate program honored both of those experiences.
I will always treasure the experiences shared with my fellow cohort members, the intimacy of the program, the caliber of the instructors and my internship site. For me, the MS in Counseling program at OSU Cascades was simply ‘just the right thing to do’ and I am happy to have had this very enriching opportunity.
Julie Mann School Counseling Student 2004 Cohort
Picking a graduate school was very easy for me. I did not want to move or give up my job. Flexibility and personal contact were also priorities on my list. When researching colleges, I quickly realized that OSU-Cascades was the perfect option for me.
Over the last couple years, my professors and classmates have gotten to know me on a personal level. They know me well and have provided an environment where my academic, professional, and personal growth could be maximized. Although I hit many roadblocks along the way, they supported me through each one. I am not just leaving this program with a degree and the confidence to start a new career. I am leaving with personal connections that I expect to have for years to come.
If you desire more information about our program, we invite you to call or email Meredith Mason, 541-322-3127, or Donna Harris, 541-322-3173.
If you wish to join the mailing list of prospective students for the 2012 cohort, please call or email Donna Harris, 541-322-3173.
2011 Master of Science in Counseling Cohort
Licensing Opportunities
School Counselor Licenses
The school counseling program has Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) approval to offer both initial and continuing state licensure as a school counselor. Individual advisement by your major professor is necessary to evaluate readiness for licensure. (For further information on TSPC, go to www.tspc.state.or.us/)
Licensed Professional Counselor
All M.S. Graduates are eligible to apply for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) from the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (www.oblcpt.state.or.us). Graduate students in counseling are eligible to take the National Counselor Examination (www.nbcc.org) during the last quarter of their degree program. The results of this examination and other post-degree experiences required by OBLPCT are used to earn LPC status in Oregon.
Information Sessions
Information sessions will be held on campus, the schedule is posted below. These information sessions are a great way to learn more about the program and the application process and to meet the faculty. The sessions are scheduled for noontime, evenings and Saturdays to accommodate everyone's schedule. Just let us know to add you to our e-mail invitation list by contacting Donna Harris, at donna.harris@osucascades.edu or calling (541) 322-3173.
Information Sessions
Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, 5:30 pm-7:00 pm
Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, 7:30 pm-9:00 pm
Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
All information sessions will be held in Cascades Hall, 2600 NW College Way, Bend, OR 97701, and the room number will be posted in the atrium. Sessions are free and no registration is required.
Meet the Counseling Faculty
