Graduate Counseling Programs

Evangel University Counseling Programs consists of a Master of Science in School Counseling and Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The Evangel University Counseling Program trains graduate students to become professional counselors who integrate the Christian faith while providing holistic and ethical counseling services to diverse individuals and groups across the lifespan.

Program Highlights

• Integration of Christian values and principles as a foundation for holistic and ethical practice.
• Courses are taught by practitioner faculty who are experts in the field of school and/or mental health counseling.
• Theories and practical applications are integrated throughout coursework.
• The program prepares students to become licensed professional counselors and/or certified school counselors in the state of Missouri.
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs are CACREP accredited until October 2027.

Admission Policies

In addition to general admission policies, the Counseling program requires the following:

• Hold an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
• 3.0 GPA or combined GRE score of 295.
• Nine hours of psychology courses plus one undergraduate statistics course (B- or better).
• Admission application, recommendations, essay, and APA writing sample.
• Entrance interview required for qualifying applicants.

Advancement to Candidacy Status. To move to the internship courses, students must have been approved for candidacy. Students admitted to a program of study must apply for candidacy after completion of 18 credit hours of graduate coursework at Evangel University. To be considered for candidacy, students must:

• Be fully accepted into the Counseling Program.
• Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on all 500 and 600 graduate level coursework with no more than two grades (six credit hours) of C (including +or -) for non-core courses.
• Achieve a B grade or higher (3.0) in Counseling Skills and Professional Orientation/Ethics.
• Complete 18 graduate hours or more in the Evangel University Counseling Program.
• Present a clear plan for completing the master’s degree to academic advisor for approval.
• Be recommended for advancement to candidacy by counseling faculty. Counseling candidates must complete Advancement to Candidacy screening interview.
• Submit candidacy forms to the Graduate Studies office. These are available for download on Course Commons or can be obtained in the Graduate Studies office.

In making a final decision regarding student advancement to candidacy, the Program Coordinator will consider whether the student:

• Demonstrates academic competency, professional integrity, and ability in the program.
• Proposes a course of study with sufficient merit.
• Demonstrates professional behaviors and dispositions.
• Demonstrates spiritual maturity and values consistent with Evangel University standards.
• Exhibits professional attitude, and psychological health that justifies continuation of study toward the master’s degree.

Candidacy interviews are scheduled in the summer and fall semesters of each academic year. Students approved for candidacy will be notified by letter from the Graduate Studies office.

Professional Behaviors and Dispositions. The Counseling Program expects students to demonstrate specific behaviors and dispositions associated with a counselor identity as researched by Lambie and Swank (2015). Behaviors include professional ethics and boundaries; knowledge and adherence to course/ field site policies and procedures; as well as record keeping and task completion.

Dispositions include multicultural humility (competency); emotional stability and self-control; motivation to learn and grow/initiative; openness to feedback; flexibly and adaptability; congruence and genuineness.

Faculty continually assess student dispositions but formally assess at critical points in the program: admission interview, candidacy and during field courses.