College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Course Requirements

Required Core Course Curriculum (44 credits)

MHC 6401 Theories of Counseling (3 credits)

MHC 6402 Human Development (3 credits)

MHC 6502 Tools, Techniques, and Strategies of Counseling (3 credits)

MHC 6505 Ethics and Practices of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 credits)

MHC 6901 Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychopathology (3 credits)

MHC 7202 Group Counseling (3 credits)

MHC 7203 Counseling for Career Development (3 credits)

MHC 7501 Family Counseling (3 credits)

MHC 7605 Counseling Diverse Populations (3 credits)

MHC 7805 Appraisal Techniques (3 credits)

MHC 7806 Methods of Research and Program Evaluation (3 credits)

MHC 8020 Addictions Counseling (3 credits)

MHC 8091 Seminar – Professional Counselor Orientation and Advocacy (3 credits)

MHC 8092 Seminar – Consultation for Counselors (2 credits)

MHC 8093 Seminar – Supervision for Counselors (2 credits)

MHC 8094 Seminar – Psychopharmacology for Counselors (1 credit)

Required Field Experiences (12 credits)

MHC 7905 Practicum (Community Site) (4 credits)

MHC 9001- MHC 9002 Internship (Community Site) (8 credits)

The practicum and internship field experiences are supervised by experienced

professionals at the field sites in conjunction with the CMHC program faculty.

Electives (4 credits based on practicum/internship setting)

MHC 8011 Advanced Seminar - Counseling Children/Adolescents (2 credits)

MHC 8012 Advanced Seminar - Evidenced Based Family Treatment (2 credits)

MHC 8062 Advanced Seminar - Cognitive Behavioral Counseling (2 credits)

MHC 8061 Advanced Seminar - Humanistic Counseling (2 credits)

The total number of credits required for the Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is 60 in the required and elective courses identified above. Upon admission to the program, each student is assigned an academic advisor who guides and assists the student with the varied demands of the program, including curricular decisions.

Qualifications for the Master of Science Degree

To qualify for the Master of Science degree, a student must complete the prescribed 60 credit hours (including practicum and internship) with a 3.0 grade point average (GPA). All course work, practicum, and internship should be completed within three years of starting the program, but must be completed within five years. Re-application to the program is required if the program is not completed within a five-year period. Students are expected to demonstrate competencies in the eight core areas required by CACREP and the NBCC. The CMHC program requires completion of a comprehensive examination as part of the graduation requirements.

Students are evaluated throughout the program in three major areas:

  1. Academic Performance: Each student is expected to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.
  2. Interpersonal Skills: Each student is expected to demonstrate effective interpersonal skills considered requisite to the counseling field, including:
    • Effectiveness in close interpersonal relationships.
    • Ability to establish facilitative relationships with many different kinds of people.
    • Flexibility and openness to feedback and learning.
    • Self-awareness, openness to self-examination, and commitment to personal growth.
    • Appropriate attitudes.
  3. Ethical Behavior: Each student is expected to demonstrate awareness of and concern for the ethical standards of the counseling profession as specified in the Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association.

This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2012-2013 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2012 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.