Join the Growing Field of Mental Health Experts

Empower change with a fulfilling career in counseling.

elm-pg-billboard-cta 2021-Center-for-Behavioral-Health-and-Accessibility-JMR-0415-034

What Does a Counselor Do?

Counselors play a vital role in helping individuals, couples, and families overcome emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges.

They provide therapy and support for issues like anxiety, depression, grief, substance abuse, and relationship problems. Whether in private practice, schools, hospitals, or community organizations, mental health counselors improve the well-being of individuals and communities, empowering them to lead fulfilling lives. School counselors focus on helping students navigate academic challenges, social pressures, and emotional issues. They guide students through key decisions about education, careers, and personal development, ensuring success in and out of the classroom.

How Will We Get You There?

Our CACREP-accredited programs offer a comprehensive approach to learning.

Additionally, our School Counseling program is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). You'll build a strong foundation through core courses, internships, and practicums, working closely with experienced faculty who offer personalized mentorship. From presenting at conferences to hands-on experience at our Counseling Education Training Clinic, you'll graduate prepared for licensure and certification. P.S. we will give you an inside look into the Counseling Education Clinic - stay tuned!

Where Will Your Counseling Degree Take You?

With a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling, the possibilities are endless.

You’ll be prepared for a range of careers in private practice, schools, hospitals, government agencies, and community organizations, depending on the program you choose. You’ll have the tools to make a real difference in people’s lives, and with the growing demand for mental health professionals, your career opportunities are expanding rapidly. Whether you want to counsel individuals, families, or groups, your expertise will be highly sought after in a variety of rewarding settings.

Some things to note about these programs.

Students in the School Counseling program will share foundational courses with Mental Health Counseling students, such as counseling theories, ethics, human development, and techniques. Both programs build core counseling skills, with similar topics like assessment and multicultural counseling.

As the programs progress, coursework becomes more specialized. School Counseling focuses on education systems and working with students, while Mental Health Counseling covers clinical settings, mental health disorders, and therapeutic interventions. Practicum and internship experiences are tailored to each field.

Check out the Groundbreaking Research Our Students Are Leading!

/ Dekyria '26

"I'm doing research on how black trauma affects black college students, and I use SEMO as my sample size. I put out a survey, and right now I'm working on a PowerPoint to go present at our Heartland Conference."

/ TeeJay '24

"In my research, we’ve been studying how people respond to different types of trials, such as use-of-force cases involving animals or police. During these trials, participants are asked to give their verdicts. We then measure their memory of the case, looking at how well they recall facts and events. The focus of my research is on how specific jury instructions affect their thinking and behavior. To analyze this, I’ve been coding and theming data using tools like SPSS and Excel. For example, I can track whether participants in one condition remember certain facts better than those in another condition."

/ Bailee '24

"The research I've been doing is on attorney general perceptions on attorneys based on gender and fluency. In our findings, we found that female attorneys that were not as fluent as male attorneys were perceived negatively and not as competent. And male attorneys that were not fluent in their opening statements, we found that they were viewed more highly than the female attorneys that had the same test fluency in their opening statements. So it's kind of just like a gender stereotype thing that I'm trying to somehow fix."

/ Sophie '25

"I got to explore the grief process related to losing a career and transitioning through different social statuses. Specifically, I focused on how people cope with moving from a work environment, where they had social connections, to a situation where those connections may no longer exist. I looked at what characteristics help individuals maintain their well-being during this transition. I also considered how retirement affects someone’s identity and relationships. For example, how do people cope with not being busy all the time or no longer having the chance to talk about their career? I explored how having resources can impact a smoother transition into retirement."

Come explore our programs and see how we’ll prepare you for a fulfilling career.

Your path to becoming a counselor starts here.

Visit Campus

Southeast Missouri State University

Office of Admissions

One University Plaza

Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Tel: (573) 651-2590
Email: admissions@semo.edu