37 credits

The Certificate in Pre-Counseling is offered for students who wish to pursue graduate study in a mental health field such as clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, or clinical psychology. Students develop foundational skills and knowledge in helping skills and psychological disorders, and contextualize their applied skills and knowledge within the broader science of psychology.

Students who earn this certificate will meet the prerequisite course requirements for most accredited graduate programs in mental health fields in the State of Oregon and elsewhere, though students are encouraged to inquire directly about the requirements of specific programs in which they may be interested. To be awarded a Certificate in Pre-Counseling, students must be in one of the following categories: a) a graduating SOU student who has earned a Bachelors degree (the Certificate in Pre-Counseling and Bachelors degree may be awarded concurrently), or b) a student who has already earned a Bachelors degree (post-baccalaureate). To complete the certificate, students must earn a grade of C or higher in each course applied toward the certificate and must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.7 in the 36 credits of coursework listed below.