Program: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MS - National University

Description of Program

The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program is focused on training highly skilled counselors to provide impactful and culturally sensitive mental health services in their communities. The program is designed to provide the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to operate in a variety of professional counseling settings and to provide services for individual clients and groups from diverse backgrounds. Our curriculum provides an in-depth exploration of counseling theories, ethical and legal standards, and evidence-based approaches of diagnosis and treatment. Throughout the program students will examine issues related to social justice and advocacy for accessibility and equity for clients. Students will also explore avenues for advancing the counseling profession.

Click here for potential career opportunities using the MSCMHC.

**Note: Program availability may vary by state - please contact the Enrollment Office for more information**

Learning Outcomes

Interpret ethical and legal standards within professional counselors’ roles and functions
Examine advocacy and social justice theories of social, cultural diversity in counseling
Apply models of human growth and development in the practice of counseling
Apply theories and models of career development
Demonstrate essential foundational counseling skills
Employ group work principles in practice of group counseling
Select appropriate assessment and testing rolls for use in counseling practice
Implement program evaluation and evidence-based practice using relevant scholarly work and research methods
Demonstrate the practice dimensions of clinical mental health counseling

Basis for Admissions

Admission requires a conferred bachelor’s level or higher degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution.

In addition to evidence of a conferred bachelor’s and/or a conferred master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution, applications for admission to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program require prior to the first date of attendance:

Current resume or CV
Statement of Intent
Licensure plan
Statement of professional ethics and conduct
List of clinical site possibilities in the area of residence
Technology Checklist
Interview with a MSCMHC faculty member

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSCMHC) degree requires a minimum of 60 credits hours at the graduate level beyond the bachelor’s degree.

The University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer toward the MSCMHC for graduate course work completed at an external accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or better. See the

Transfer Credit Policy

for additional information.

The MSCMHC program has the following graduation requirements:

A minimum of 48 credit hours of graduate instructions must be completed through the University.
Successful completion of all required degree program courses with a Grade Point Average of 3.0 (letter grade of B) or higher.
Official documents on file for basis of admission: a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited academic institution.
Official transcripts on file for all transfer credit hours accepted by the University.
All financial obligations must be met before the student will be issued their complimentary diploma.

Beyond these standard graduation requirements, the MSCMHC has the following degree requirements:

Online Video Conferencing - In order to complete some of the course requirements and to participate in the online supervision process that is used during the practicum course and the internship courses, students are required to participate in several online video conferencing meetings throughout their time in the program. To participate in these video conference sessions, students are required to own or otherwise have access to a computer, a web cam, a headset, a video recording device, and a high-speed internet connection.
Client Contact
- Practicum - MSCMHC students will be required to complete 40 hours of direct client contact. Please read the practicum course description or the Clinical Training Handbook.
- Internship - MSCMHC students will be required to complete 240 hours of direct client contact. Please read the internship course description or the Clinical Training Handbook.
Supervision - In conjunction with client contact, practicum and internship students have weekly interaction with supervisors that averages one hour per week of individual and/or triadic supervision throughout the internship.
Liability Insurance - Prior to beginning any clinical experience, students are required to submit proof of professional liability insurance.
Clinical Hours Tracking - The MSCMHC program uses a web-based system to document completion of clinical hours. Students, local approved clinical supervisor and University faculty supervisors all have access to the system to support the successful completion of the clinical training requirements for the program. Students will be provided with an authorization code.

Time to Completion

The University allows 6 years to complete all Master’s programs of 36 credits or more.

The median time to completion for this program is 40 months.

Time to completion varies depending upon the pace at which a student completes courses and the number of transfer credits accepted. As most students are working adults, balancing educational, professional, and personal commitments, our academic and finance advisors will work with you to develop a program schedule that works best for your needs.

Students following the preferred schedule designed by the Dean for this program, and applying no transfer credits, can expect to finish in as little as 32 months.

Course Sequence

The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program can be completed in 60 credits.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MS

Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling