Commencement to Feature First Master’s Degree Grads in Counseling

On Saturday, May 7, Bluefield University will be graduating its first students from the new Master of Arts in Counseling program — students equipped to meet the increasing needs for mental health services.

Compassionate, well-trained mental health practitioners are needed more than ever in our world today. BU’s Master of Arts in Counseling (MA) program was designed to meet that need with options in clinical mental health or school counseling. Students in the program are taught to respond to the needs of individuals and groups, as well as become advocates for social justice.

To finish the program, students must complete 60 academic credit hours: 42 in the major and 18 in a concentration and through field experience. Once completed, students not only earn the Master of Arts in Counseling degree, but also are prepared for state licensure exams for counselor certification. 

Accredited by the Southern Association of College and Schools and the Virginia Department of Education, the program features experiential learning, advocate projects, research, and field experience leading to opportunities in school counseling, academic counseling, marriage and family counseling, mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, and critical mental health counseling.

The professors in the program — Brandy Smith, Dr. Kristen Moran and Dr. Challen Maybry — hold students to a high standard that values the community and helps transform the lives of others. Their experience gives students the confidence they need to tackle such a demanding calling in today’s world.

One of the MA graduates, Jennifer Sarver, will be using her master’s degree to serve as a school counselor. She also plans to continue her work as a clinical mental health counselor. She spoke about what she enjoyed most about her BU experience: “the guest speakers offering diverse points of view, the clinical expertise of my professor, cohort members, and field experience in the community working with school-aged students.”

Fellow graduate Crystal Taylor said she enjoyed “the support from the cohort members and the sense of community experience.” After graduation, she plans to be a school counselor. Joel Bunn also spoke about the value of the cohort group.

“When I met Professor Smith and the other cohort members, it just felt like a perfect fit,” Bunn said. “I also enjoyed the time spent with Kim Pack and Crystal Taylor in our first triad together during techniques. The time together I will treasure forever. We had each other’s backs, and the opportunity to graduate with them both is incredibly special to me.”

Another MA graduate, Penny Hartley, said she was “elated” when she heard that Bluefield University would be offering a master’s degree in counseling. She said she applied to the program right away and has been grateful ever since.

“I knew it would be challenging, but with the support of the professors and their guidance I knew I would be successful,” said Hartley, who also plans to become a school counselor. “I enjoyed my time with the cohort group and determined supportive people who will always stay with me forever. My time with Bluefield University has changed my direction in life, and I will forever be grateful.”

These fond memories and praises are just the beginning for the first graduating class of BU’s Master of Arts in Counseling program. Each one of the students should be commended for tackling such a demanding and much-needed career as should the faculty for their hard work in preparing these students to meet the various needs related to mental health.