Mental Health Counseling, MA

Graduate Program Coordinator:
Dr.Janelle Bettis

Program Description

The Master’s of Arts Degree in Mental Health Counseling is a 60-credit hour program that gives students an option to complete the courses required for initial licensure in the State of Maryland as a part of a degree. In addition, this program has three field experiences that gives students the maximum amount of hours accepted pre-degree for licensure, 1000 hours.

Admission Requirements

1. Completion of a B.A. or B.S. Degree with a minimum of a 3.0 Cumulative GPA and at least 12 undergraduate credit hours in counseling, psychology or a related area.
2. Submission of three letters of recommendation. These letters of recommendation must come from an academic instructor or employer/supervisor.
3. Submission of a personal statement. The personal statement must be a typewritten statement not to exceed three single spaced pages in which the following points are addressed:
   1. Background information: Family, education and work.
   2. Goals: What do you expect to be doing in five (5) years? In ten (10) years?
   3. Strengths: What strengths do you have that would contribute to your being a good counselor?
   4. Change: What do you believe to be the facets of your personality, behavior, and/or outlook that, if modified or changed, would make you a better person/counselor? What plans, if any, do you have for making any such change(s)?
   5. Why Bowie State University? Why did you decide to apply to the counseling program at B.S.U.?
   6. Your comments: What additional information, thoughts, feelings, concerns and/or questions do you have?

Students will be able to apply for a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor License (LGPC) after completing the program. The University will be seeking specialized accreditation for this program from CACREP.