Counseling, MS
The purpose of the Department of Counseling is to prepare a diverse student population at the master’s degree level for professional service as school counselors, clinical mental health counselors, student affairs professionals, and/or for advanced study. Graduates of the program are prepared to function professionally within their area(s) of concentration.
As dedicated practitioners, reflective scholars, and responsible citizens, our graduates are prepared to fill the need for highly trained professionals. Graduates are trained to support the broad range of counseling needs of the metropolitan community including: individual, couples, family and group counseling.
Program Related Information
Program Contact
unocounadmission@unomaha.edu
402.554.2764
Program Website
Other Program Related Information
- Earning a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling or school counseling satisfies only the academic requirements for licensure and/or certification in the state of Nebraska. Students should consult the appropriate state agency/department for guidance on gaining state licensure and/or certification.
- Students should be aware that licensure and/or certification requirements often vary by state. Students interested in gaining professional licensure and/or certification outside of Nebraska should consult their intended state’s licensing/certification office/department for appropriate guidelines and timelines.
- An alternative counseling endorsement is available for students in the school counseling concentration who do not hold degrees in education. This endorsement eliminates the two-year teaching requirement and includes an additional 12 credit hours. Students choosing the alternative endorsement route will complete a 60 credit school counseling curriculum instead of the 48 credit school counseling curriculum.
- Successful completion of all courses and a comprehensive exam in the student's respective concentration are requirements for graduation.
- Graduates are recommended only for positions consistent with the concentration they completed.
- Professional background checks are required for all students following admission to the program and again prior to beginning their practicum experience.
- Candidates are admitted and permitted to continue programs in counseling on the basis of their potential for successful training and professional practice. Candidates are evaluated on an ongoing basis while enrolled with respect to their suitability for continuation in the program prior to taking the counseling practicum or internship courses. Specific course and grade requirements to take practicum courses are available in the Department of Counseling.
- The P-12 school counseling and clinical mental health counseling concentrations are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP; 2009), the national accrediting agency for counselor education programs.
Unclassified Students
Students who have already earned a master’s degree in counseling and need to enroll in additional courses for licensure should apply as unclassified students. Unclassified students are allowed to take courses for which they meet the prerequisite. Successful completion of graduate courses as an unclassified student does not obligate the department to accept those courses for credit toward the fulfillment of degree requirements. Formal advisement in an endorsement area is required.
Admissions
General Application Requirements and Admission Criteria
Application Deadlines
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Clinical Mental Health Counseling and P-12 Counseling
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Spring 2026: September 15
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Summer 2026: February 15
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Fall 2026: February 15
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Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education and Unclassified
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Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Fall 2026: Applications for this concentration are accepted on a rolling basis. All materials must be submitted prior to the semester in which the applicant has elected to begin coursework.
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Please note, applications submitted for the student affairs practice in higher education or unclassified cannot be changed to the clinical mental health counseling or P-12 counseling concentrations.
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Other Requirements
- Bachelor's degree
- Three credit hours of behavioral science coursework is suggested.
- English Language Proficiency: Applicants are required to have a command of oral and written English. Those who do not hold a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from the United States, OR a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from a predetermined country on the waiver list, must meet the minimum language proficiency score requirement in order to be considered for admission.
- Internet-based TOEFL: 80, IELTS: 6.5, PTE: 53, Duolingo: 110
- Statement of Purpose: 2 pages (double-spaced) addressing the following:
- Reason(s) for pursuing the counseling profession,
- Relevant experience,
- Personal career goals,
- Reason(s) for choosing UNO's Counseling program.
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Letters of Recommendation:
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling, P-12 Counseling and Unclassified require two letters of recommendation and should be from persons who can speak to the applicant's professional competence and/or academic ability.
- Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education concentration requires no letters of recommendation.
- Group admissions interview (required for admission to the clinical mental health counseling and P-12 school counseling concentrations).
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Concentrations | ||
| Select an area of concentration: | ||
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 60 | |
| P-12 School Counseling 1 | 48 | |
| Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education | 30 | |
- 1
Alternative endorsement for school counseling students without education degrees (60 hours). Contact your advisor for more information.
Special Note
- Transfer credit is limited to nine hours except for credit earned within the University of Nebraska. Clinical Courses cannot be transferred, COUN 8030, COUN 8220, COUN 8250, COUN 8260.
- Only nine hours completed as non-degree at UNO are permitted to count toward a UNO counseling degree. Admission to the counseling program is not guaranteed for students who complete courses as non-degree.
Exit Requirements
- Comprehensive Examination for concentration area.
Concentrations
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| COUN 8100 | RESEARCH PROJECT IN COUNSELING | 3 |
| or TED 8010 | INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH | |
| or EDL 8010 | INTRODUCTORY RESEARCH METHODS | |
| COUN 8010 | INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 8110 | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHO-SOCIAL INTERVENTION STRATEGIES | 3 |
| COUN 8030 | COUNSELING PRACTICES 1 | 3 |
| COUN 8040 | ETHICAL ISSUES FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS | 3 |
| COUN 8200 | COUNSELING THEORIES | 3 |
| COUN 8020 | COUNSELING FOR WORK AND WELLNESS | 3 |
| COUN 8230 | APPRAISAL TECHNIQUES IN COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 8360 | GROUP THEORY & TECHNIQUES | 3 |
| COUN 8400 | ADVANCED THEORY AND TECHNIQUES IN COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 8520 | COUNSELING MULTICULTURAL AND DIVERSE POPULATIONS | 3 |
| COUN 8610 | INTRODUCTION TO MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY | 3 |
| COUN 8700 | CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 8920 | TREATMENT PLANNING AND THE DSM | 3 |
| COUN 8280 | TRAUMA, CRISIS , AND GRIEF COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN/SOWK 8516 | CLINICAL TREATMENT ISSUES IN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS | 3 |
| COUN 8220 | COUNSELING PRACTICUM 1 | 3 |
| COUN 8250 | INTERNSHIP: CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING 1 | 3 |
| COUN 8260 | ADVANCED INTERNSHIP: CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING 1 | 3 |
| Elective | ||
| Select three hours with the following graduate course prefixes: COUN, CRCJ, GERO, PA, PHHB, PSYC, SOC, SOWK, or SPED | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
- 1
A student must receive grades of "B" or higher in clinical practice, practicum, and internship courses. (COUN 8030, COUN 8220, COUN 8250, and COUN 8260)
P-12 School Counseling Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| COUN 8100 | RESEARCH PROJECT IN COUNSELING | 3 |
| or TED 8010 | INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH | |
| or EDL 8010 | INTRODUCTORY RESEARCH METHODS | |
| COUN 8030 | COUNSELING PRACTICES 1 | 3 |
| COUN 8040 | ETHICAL ISSUES FOR PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS | 3 |
| COUN 8110 | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHO-SOCIAL INTERVENTION STRATEGIES | 3 |
| COUN 8200 | COUNSELING THEORIES | 3 |
| COUN 8210 | ORGANIZATION & ADMINISTRATION OF SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS | 3 |
| COUN 8280 | TRAUMA, CRISIS , AND GRIEF COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 8330 | PRACTICUM FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS 1 | 3 |
| COUN 8430 | INTERNSHIP IN SCHOOL COUNSELING 1 | 3 |
| COUN 8460 | ADVANCED INTERNSHIP IN SCHOOL COUNSELING 1 | 3 |
| COUN 8520 | COUNSELING MULTICULTURAL AND DIVERSE POPULATIONS | 3 |
| COUN 8630 | FOUNDATIONS AND ISSUES IN SECONDARY SCHOOL COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 8650 | ISSUES IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 8670 | CAREER DEVELOPMENT POST-SECONDARY TRANSITIONS | 3 |
| COUN 8700 | CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 8740 | SCHOOL COUNSELING GROUPS | 3 |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
- 1
A student must receive grades of "B" or higher in clinical practice, practicum, and internship courses. (COUN 8030, COUN 8330, COUN 8430, COUN 8460)
Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| COUN 8030 | COUNSELING PRACTICES 1 | 3 |
| COUN 8850 | THE COLLEGE STUDENT EXPERIENCE | 3 |
| COUN 8930 | HISTORY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND STUDENT AFFAIRS | 3 |
| COUN 8940 | DIVERSITY AND WELLNESS ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION | 3 |
| COUN 8950 | ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTRATION, AND LEADERSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION | 3 |
| COUN 8980 | DIGITAL LEARNING: POLICY, PROGRAMMING, & SYSTEMS | 3 |
| COUN 8810 | LAW AND ETHICS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND STUDENT AFFAIRS | 3 |
| COUN 8820 | CRISIS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION | 3 |
| COUN 8830 | CURRENT ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND STUDENT AFFAIRS | 3 |
| COUN 8450 | COLLEGE STUDENT PERSONNEL FIELD EXPERIENCE 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Academic Performance
Ethical Conduct: It should be understood that academic performance is not the only criterion for continuation in the program or for graduation. Candidates are expected to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct pertaining to academic course work, professional practice and research activity. Any breach in ethical conduct shall be subject to disciplinary action, regardless of the candidate's prior or current academic performance. See the "American Counseling Association Code of Ethics" for specific guidelines.