Ball State’s master of arts in social psychology and clinical mental health counseling combines the academic challenge of social psychology with the hands-on, practical application of clinical mental health counseling. This program is an excellent choice if you enjoy the process of learning and applying your skills to help people.
As a graduate, you may enter exciting career fields such as education, criminology, and personnel services while working in environments that include:
- counseling centers
- nonprofit organizations
- human resources or personnel offices
- academic institutions
Our program integrates the group and societal orientation of social psychology with the applied individual focus of counseling. In addition to the topics covered in the social psychology program, you will learn about current trends in mental health counseling, roles and professional identity of mental health counselors, structures and operations of professional organizations, and ethical and legal considerations related to counseling.
Why Ball State?
As a student in our masters of counseling program, you will gain real-life experience both in our practicum clinic and in clinics across east-central Indiana. Your hands-on work with clients will prepare you to practice professionally as a licensed mental health or rehabilitation counselor.
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Graduates of our masters in counseling program have a stellar job placement rate. Due to the strength of our departmental courses and the hands-on experiences you will gain through the program, you’ll graduate as a highly attractive candidate in the eyes of employers, ready to immediately begin practicing in your field.
Our campus and community are diverse, and many of the students who pursue our masters in counseling are dedicated to social justice causes and fascinated with human behavior. Students in our programs aren’t afraid to tackle the tough issues, even when it’s challenging.
Our faculty members are experts in their areas of concentration. They’re committed to student excellence, active in professional leadership, and will encourage you to pursue excellence in your chosen field.
Read Their Bios
A limited number of graduate assistantships are available at the university that provide assistants with a stipend while offsetting most of the graduate tuition. In addition, Ball State has some of the most competitive tuition and fees in the Midwest.
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Program Requirements
This program consists of courses from our social psychology and clinical mental health counseling tracks.
Credits
Total: 60
Courses
A few of the classes you will take may include:
- SOPS 610 - Social Psychology
- SOPS 615 – Social Cognition
- SOPS 625 - Psychology of Gender
- SOPS 630 - Social Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination
- SOPS 635 - Social Psychology of Health
- SOPS 640 – Social Psychology of Attitudes
- SOPS 655 – Counseling Applications of Social Psychology
For a complete list of all department courses and their descriptions, please see our Graduate Catalog.
Accreditation
Masters of Art in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Dual Program Masters in Social Psychology and Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Ball State University are accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of September, 2024 through September, 2032.
MPCAC website https://mpcacaccreditation.org
What Can You Do with this Degree?
Program Booklet
To learn more about this program and its requirements please download our supplemental booklet.
Download Booklet (PDF)
An understanding of how people think, feel, and act toward one another is critical in a variety of careers, especially to a career in counseling or research.
As a graduate of our program, you will be well positioned to enter doctoral programs in clinical and counseling psychology, social psychology, I/O psychology, and related fields.
You may also find work in areas like:
- mental health counseling
- research
- education
- anthropology
- criminology
Paying for Your Education
A graduate assistantship is an excellent opportunity to gain meaningful professional experience while helping cover the costs of your degree. Learn more.
Ready to Apply?
Are you interested in pursuing this degree? Then you will need to meet our admissions criteria and apply.
More Information
What is social psychology and clinical mental health counseling? If you would like to learn more about this program or about Ball State Graduate School in general, please complete our online form to request more information. Or, if you’d like to speak with someone in our department directly by phone or email, please contact us.