Play Therapy

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Graduate programs

Certificate in Play Therapy

Karrie Swan, Program Director
Park Central Office Building, Room 131
KarrieSwan@MissouriState.edu

Program description

The Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy provides a 9 hour graduate-level experience for students in counseling, counselors and other mental health professionals who are interested in play therapy practice. The program provides for the acquisition of specific knowledge and skills necessary for understanding and practicing play therapy, and draws on research-based principles and findings. The certificate is designed to provide the coursework to achieve the Registered Play Therapist and Registered-Play Therapist-Supervisor credentials from the Association for Play Therapy. Through an introduction and advanced study of play therapy in school and mental health contexts with individuals, groups, and families, students will benefit from experiential and instructional methods to become excellent practitioners in play therapy.

Admission criteria

To be considered for the program, a student must have a 3.0 grade point average as well as apply and be admitted to or in possession of the Masters in Counseling or a closely related Graduate Degree. Admission to the certificate program does not constitute admission to any other Missouri State University graduate program.

Required courses - 9 hours total

Course Code Course Title Credit Hours
COU 708 Play Therapy and Child Counseling Techniques 3 hrs
COU 757 Group Counseling Through Play 3 hrs
COU 700, COU 765, COU 782, COU 788, COU 789, COU 790, COU 795 Special Topics Classes Explicitly Related to Play Therapy with Advisor Approval 3 hrs

Completion requirements

Courses must be completed with a 3.00 GPA for successful completion of certificate.