Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Science

Program Purpose

Wilmington University’s CMHC program seeks to prepare students to be effective counselors in a diverse world and profession. Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. Consistent with the values of the counseling profession, the CMHC program seeks to infuse multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills throughout the curriculum. The program is structured to ensure that students will develop a professional identity as a mental health counselor and will master the knowledge and counseling skills needed to practice effectively. Students are trained for careers in community mental health and human service agencies, educational institutions, private practices, as well as government, business and industrial settings. Two field experiences (practicum [100 hours] and internship [600 hours]) are required. Students are prepared to sit for the National Counseling Exam (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) which awards the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential. Following 3200 hours of post-master’s supervised experience by licensed, professional, individuals who have NCC status may apply for state licensure to become a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH) in the state of Delaware. Wilmington University has not made determinations for Licensure in states outside of Delaware. Wilmington University has not made determinations for licensure in states outside of Delaware. For state-by-state contact information for inquiring about individual state licensure requirements, please visit NC-SARA's Professional Licensure Directory.

CMHC Program Goals, Objectives and Competencies

The CMHC Program Goals, Objectives and Competencies are based on the standards set forth by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Goal # 1 Knowledge in Core Counseling Subject Areas

Objectives for Goal #1:

Become knowledgeable about the counseling profession and ethical practice in counseling

Become knowledgeable about social and cultural diversity

Become knowledgeable about human growth and development

Become knowledgeable about career development

Become knowledgeable about helping relationships, counseling theories and the counseling process from individual and family system perspectives

Become knowledgeable about group work

Become knowledgeable about assessment

Become knowledgeable about research and program evaluation

Competencies Expected for these Objectives:

Proficient knowledge base in each subject area

Proficiency in the application of subject area knowledge

Proficiency in oral and written communication related to subject area knowledge

Goal #2 Knowledge, Development and Demonstration of Clinical Mental Health Counseling Skills and Practices

Objectives for Goal #2:

Demonstrate foundational knowledge regarding the provision of mental health treatment services including treatment models, agency operations, and clinical supervision

Develop and demonstrate skills in mental health counseling, prevention and intervention

Develop and demonstrate skills in addressing issues of diversity and providing advocacy

Develop and demonstrate skills in assessment and clinical evaluation

Develop and demonstrate skills in research and evaluation of counseling programs and outcomes

Develop and demonstrate skills in clinical diagnosis

Competencies Expected for these Objectives:

Proficiency in developing counseling relationships, performing culturally competent counseling interventions, and advocating

Proficiency in performing intake interviews, assessing clinical information, and writing professional clinical case notes and reports

Proficiency in conceptualizing cases, developing treatment plans, and evaluating treatment outcomes

Proficiency in applying evidenced based practices in counseling

Course Requirements

Required Core Course Curriculum (44 credits)

MHC 6401 Theories of Counseling

MHC 6402 Human Development

MHC 6501 Tools, Techniques, and Strategies of Counseling I

MHC 6502 Tools, Techniques, and Strategies of Counseling

MHC 6505 Ethics and Practices of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

MHC 6901 Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychopathology

MHC 7202 Group Counseling

MHC 7203 Counseling for Career Development

MHC 7501 Family Counseling

MHC 7605 Counseling Diverse Populations

MHC 7805 Appraisal Techniques

MHC 7806 Methods of Research and Program Evaluation

MHC 8020 Addictions Counseling

MHC 8092 Seminar: Consultation for Counselors

MHC 8093 Seminar: Supervision for Counselors

MHC 8094 Psychopharmacology for Counselors

Required Field Experiences (12 credits)

MHC 7905 Practicum

MHC 9001 Internship

MHC 9002 Internship II

MHC 7905, MHC 9001, MHC 9002: Community Site

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

MHC 8012 Advanced Seminar: Evidence Based Family Treatment

MHC 8062 Advanced Seminar: Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling

MHC 8064 Motivational Interviewing

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 at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA)*. The program is designed such that all course work, practicum, and internship can 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:

a.  Effectiveness in close interpersonal relationships.

b.  Ability to establish facilitative relationships with many different kinds of people.

c.  Flexibility and openness to feedback and learning.

d.  Amenability to clinical supervision during the Practicum and Internship process;

e.  Self-awareness, openness to self-examination, and commitment to personal growth.

f.  Appropriate attitudes.

3.  Ethical Behavior: Each student is expected to demonstrate awareness of and concern for the ethical standards of mental health and all other disciplines within the counseling field. Ethical   behavior will be monitored and assessed in several venues throughout the student’s academic career, including:

a.  In the classroom, as evidenced by ethical conduct in issues concerning peer relationships and works scholarship; and

b.  In the community, as evidenced by ethical conduct at Practicum and Internship agency placements, including adherence to the employment policies of said agencies.

*University requires a 3.0 GPA for good academic standing in graduate programs and to qualify for Masters degrees.  For the CMHC Program, there is a minimum grade requirement of "B" in all respective courses; therefore, cumulative GPA may exceed the University standard.

This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2022-2023 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2021 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.