Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Mission Statement
The mission of the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSCMHC) program is to prepare students to become clinical mental health counselors through accessible educational experiences aligned with competency-based knowledge and skills, professional standards, and a dedication to life-long learning. Students’ personal and professional growth will evince ethical and critical thinking in the areas of counselor identity, compassionate practice grounded in counseling theory, self-reflection and self-care, and advocacy skills. Students will be prepared to provide counseling services to diverse client populations, with the overarching goal of improving the availability, accessibility, and relevance of mental health services in their communities.

Program Outcomes

The program curriculum and activities are designed to facilitate the growth of graduates who:

1. Demonstrate professional counseling skills and techniques grounded in counseling theory.
2. Demonstrate mastery of core content and foundational areas of knowledge in the counseling profession.
3. Demonstrate multicultural competency-based knowledge and skills working with a diverse client population.
4. Demonstrate ethical knowledge and practices in personal and professional roles.
5. Demonstrate a professional counselor identity in helping, advocacy, and self-care roles.

Candidates for this master’s degree program must have completed a prerequisite requirement of 6 credit hours in the behavioral sciences.

*Education requirements for licensure vary from state to state. It is the responsibility of the student to evaluate whether the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling meets the licensure requirements particular to the state in which they plan to practice. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm with the Department of Human Services (or similar agency) in his/her respective state to guarantee necessary coursework meets the state’s current licensure requirements.

Major Requirements: Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credit hours)

MCC 500 Helping Relationships (3 Credits)
This course assists the student in obtaining and demonstrating proficiency in basic helping skills associated with the practice of professional counseling and helping relationships to facilitate client change processes. In addition, the course will address counselor characteristics, behaviors, and strategies that facilitate effective counseling relationships.

MCC 502 Introduction to Counseling Theories (3 Credits)

This course surveys major conceptual and theoretical perspectives and practices commonly associated with the field of professional counseling. Students explore psychoanalytic, Adlerian, existential, person-centered, Gestalt, behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, reality, feminist, post-modern, and general family systems theories. This course addresses the historical and philosophical development of counseling theories, and how they impact current practice. Students are provided opportunities to reflect upon how to best match counseling theories based on specific client issues, concerns, and characteristics for case conceptualization. Students identify how their own personal experiences, biases, and preferences impact theory selection, while developing their own personal style of counseling.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

MCC 507 Research Methods and Program Evaluation in Counseling (3 credits)

This course provides students with knowledge and skills for using evidence-based research strategies and program evaluation relevant to the field of professional counseling. This course covers quantitative, qualitative, single case, and mixed research methods and designs. Students learn to evaluate research designs (internal validity and external validity of studies), and to apply statistical concepts, data analysis, and program evaluation procedures. Students learn about standardized measurements and their properties (validity and reliability), central tendency, and variability. Students explore the role of research in evidence-based practices that inform the clinical work of professional counselors. Students understand the ethical and legal parameters for the practice of research in counseling related investigations.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

MCC 508 Orientation to Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 credits)

This course provides an orientation to the field of Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The couse will address the history and philosophy of the counseling profession, and the roles and functions of counselors individually and as part of teams. Additionally, the course will focus on legislation and public policy as well as ethical standards, licensure, and access to services. The course will also address strategies for advocacy for people with mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental conditions as well as interfacing with the legal system regarding court-referred clients and working collaboratively with integrated behavioral healthcare professionals. Third-party reimbursement and other practice and management issues in clinical mental health counseling will also be addressed.

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

MCC 520 Human Development Throughout the Lifespan (3 Credits)

This course surveys theories, scholarship, and research on human development throughout the lifespan. Students examine biological, neurological, cognitive, emotional, and social-cultural factors influencing individual development within a multicultural framework. The reciprocal influences of crises; transitions; normal and abnormal development; psychopathology; and familial and community relationships are addressed. Particular attention on the application of these concepts to the work of professional counselors is explored.

Prerequisite: MCC 500 or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

MCC 530 Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues in the Practice of Counseling (3 Credits)

This course addresses ethical, legal, and professional issues commonly associated with the practice of professional counseling consistent with Council on Accreditation for Counselor and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards and the American Counseling Association’s (ACA) Code of Ethics. National, regional, state licensure and credentialing issues are addressed. This course identifies the systematic processes of identifying, implementing, and resolving ethical dilemmas mindful of various stakeholder concerns, including acting in the best interests of the client. The course explores personal and professional value systems, standards of practice, and legal issues in terms of how they impact decision-making processes and professional behavior.

Prerequisite: MCC 500 and 508, or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

MCC 540 Assessment (3 Credits)

This course explores the history, development, and effective use of various types of assessment tools for evaluation and diagnosis purposes within a variety of professional counseling settings and applications. Students explore the ethical use and interpretation of standardized and non-standardized assessment tools including conducting behavioral observations, clinical interviewing, mental status examinations, symptom inventories, suicidal assessments, and personality assessments. Students further examine various factors influencing the use of assessment tools with multicultural and diverse populations.

Prerequisites: MCC 500, MCC 502, MCC 507, and MCC 508

Advanced Courses - 27 credit hours

MCC 600 Diagnosis of Mental and Behavioral Disorders (3 Credits)

The taxonomy and nosology of psychopathology are reviewed using the structure and guidelines of the current editions of both the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Manual. This course examines the disorders of infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Emphasis is placed upon differential diagnosis for the purposes of case formulation and treatment planning.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of all foundation courses with an earned grade of C or higher or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

MCC 605 Counseling Practicum (3 Credits)

This course assists the student in obtaining and demonstrating proficiency in basic helping skills associated with the practice of professional counseling and helping relationships. In addition, the course addresses the history, philosophy, and trends associated with the field of professional counseling. Personal characteristics influencing the helping process, as well as self-care strategies of the professional counselor are also explored in this course. Finally, in this course, students complete 100 hours of supervised practice, 45 hours of which must be direct service with clients/patients/consumers. A minimum of 10 hours of leading or co-leading group work is required prior to Internship III.

Prerequisites: Completion of all Foundational Coursework in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, Permission of the Clinical Coordinator or designee, and proof of professional liability insurance. Students must be in good academic standing (3.0 cumulative GPA) to register for course.

MCC 610 Group Processes and Facilitation (3 Credits)
This course provides students with grounding in the principles of group dynamics, group facilitation styles and approaches, and theories and methods of group counseling essential for a professional counselor in a multicultural society. In a workshop environment, students develop the ability to assess how their own methods and the dynamics of group interaction facilitate cognitive, emotional and behavioral change. Students are provided with a minimum of ten hours of group experience, with at least one hour of group facilitation experience.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all foundation courses with an earned grade of C or higher or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

MCC 638 Social and Cultural Diversity (3 Credits)

This course explores how cultural factors, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, and disability status, shape, inform, and impact minority populations, marginalized populations, diverse groups, and dominant culture. Experiential methods of learning are emphasized, including the development of self-awareness in the counselor, along with an appreciation for the experiences of others from different backgrounds and experiences. Traditional counseling theories, as well as more recent approaches to counseling diverse groups, are analyzed for ethical and practical implications including their integration into assessment, diagnosis, and treatment issues. The counselor’s role in addressing advocacy and justice is explored including issues of power and privilege.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of all foundation courses with an earned grade of C or higher, or concurrent enrollment with MCC 540, or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

MCC 642 Foundations of Addictions Counseling (3 Credits)

This course provides counselors in training with an overview of the addictive process and the practice of addiction counseling. Students develop conceptual knowledge, practical skills, and self-awareness concerning the etiology of addiction and its impact across the life-span. Models of addiction and professional issues in Addiction Counseling such as co-occurring disorders, process addictions, and mental illnesses are addressed. Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of addictions with diversity and advocacy issues are also explored.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of all foundation courses with an earned grade of C or higher or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

MCC 645 Career Development (3 Credits)

This course introduces students to the theories of career development as well as the assessment tools and counselor practices associated with helping clients achieve congruence in their career development pattern. Students explore interrelationships between factors such as age, gender, family, life roles, and multicultural issues as they relate to career and educational planning.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of all foundation courses with an earned grade of C or higher or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

MCC 650 Couples and Family Counseling (3 Credits)

This course introduces students to a broad range of theoretical approaches and interventions in the field of couples and family counseling with an emphasis on the systemic and relational components commonly associated in working with couples and families. The impact of societal changes, trauma, and mental health disorders on the family system are studied. Theories and models of couple and family resilience as well as the promotion of wellness over the family life span are introduced. Knowledge of how to effectively counsel couples and families, including problem identification, treatment planning, intervention, family wellness education, and relapse prevention are emphasized.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of all foundation courses with an earned grade of C or higher or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

MCC 664 Trauma, Crisis, and Traumatic Stress Counseling (3 credits)

This course is designed to help students understand the theory and practice of counseling individuals, groups, and/or families in response to a crisis or traumatic event. Students will be able to understand the principles of intervention as well as the impact of crisis, traumatic stress, natural disasters, and other trauma-causing events on people. Students will also be able to demonstrate the ability for assessing and managing suicide risk.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of all foundation courses with an earned grade of C or higher or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

MCC 670 Advanced Counseling Skills, Techniques, and Practices (3 Credits)

This course builds upon foundational and advanced coursework reinforcing the applied aspect of counseling skills, techniques, and evidenced-based intervention. Topics include case conceptualization, assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, termination, and documentation. Students examine and discern how personal counselor characteristics, belief systems, bias, and attitudes influence the overall therapeutic process; and, students discuss effective strategies for monitoring and managing these issues. Students demonstrate the successful use of counseling skills and techniques appropriate for varying client issues, needs, and situations.

Prerequisite: MCC 600 and Successful completion of all foundation courses with an earned grade of C or higher or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

Advanced Elective Course (3 credit hours)

MCC 665 Orthodox Judaic Theoretical Perspectives (3 Credits)

This course focuses on the Orthodox Jewish theoretical perspectives on mental health services. It includes the Jewish ethical and religious view of the community and its leadership in relation to mental health services. It serves to increase the awareness and understanding of the unique mental health issues and needs of the community. It studies the community’s prevalent mental health disorders and social ills. It discusses the community barriers toward the acceptance and accessibility of services. It highlights the essential role of the Orthodox Jewish counselor in prevention, assessment and treatment.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of all foundation courses with an earned grade of C or higher or written permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director.

Residency Courses - Non-credit courses

MCC 698 Residency I (5 days)

Required at the first available term after enrollment. Residency I provides an orientation to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. This orientation reviews information about the requirements and expectations of the program, including adherence to: the student handbook, the ACA Code of Ethics, personal and professional dispositions; and eligibility & requirements for professional counseling licensure. Students will have instruction on: advocacy, professional organization membership, and self-care, self-awareness, and self-evaluation strategies to be used throughout the program. Students will be introduced to university support services, including the library, writing center, student coaching, and use of technology.

MCC 699 Residency II (5 days)

Successful completion is required prior to registration for Internship I. Residency II focuses on advanced counseling skill development in relation to serving clients in the clinical sequence. This residency includes training on: Counseling roles and service delivery modalities, ethical and legal issues in counseling. Students will have additional instruction on: suicide prevention and intervention, risk assessment, procedures for identifying and reporting abuse and neglect, and understanding the role of psychopharmacological interventions. Finally, practicum and internship requirements and expectations will be addressed.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of all foundational courses.

Internship Courses (9 credit hours)

MCC 691 Clinical Internship I (3 Credits)

The Internship is an advanced clinical, experiential course designed to strengthen students’ skills and understanding of the practice of clinical mental health counseling through supervised practice. In this course, students complete 200 hours of supervised practice, 85 hours of which must be direct service with clients/patients/consumers. A minimum of 10 hours of leading or co-leading group work is required prior to Internship III. Additionally, students attend weekly class led by Program Faculty designed to deepen their learning and growth at the Internship site.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of MCC 600, 605, 610, and 670, Permission of the Clinical Coordinator or designee, proof of professional liability insurance, and completion of Residency II. Students must be in good academic standing (3.0 cumulative GPA) to register for course.

MCC 692 Clinical Internship II (3 Credits)

The Internship is an advanced clinical, experiential course designed to strengthen students’ skills and understanding of the practice of clinical mental health counseling through supervised practice. In this course, students complete 200 hours of supervised practice, 85 hours of which must be direct service with clients/patients/consumers. A minimum of 10 hours of leading or co-leading group work is required prior to Internship III. Additionally, students attend weekly class led by Program Faculty designed to deepen their learning and growth at the Internship site.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of MCC 691, Permission of the Clinical Coordinator or designee, and proof of professional liability insurance. Students must be in good academic standing (3.0 cumulative GPA) to register for course.

MCC 693 Clinical Internship III (3 Credits)

The Internship is an advanced clinical, experiential course designed to strengthen students’ skills and understanding of the practice of clinical mental health counseling through supervised practice. In this course, students complete 200 hours of supervised practice, 85 hours of which must be direct service with clients/patients/consumers. A minimum of 10 hours of leading or co-leading group work is required prior to Internship III. Additionally, students attend weekly class led by Program Faculty designed to deepen their learning and growth at the Internship site.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of MCC 692, Permission of the Clinical Coordinator or designee, and proof of professional liability insurance. Students must be in good academic standing (3.0 cumulative GPA) to register for courses.

*MCC 694 Clinical Internship IV (3 credits)

The Internship is an advanced clinical, experiential course designed to strengthen students’ skills and understanding of the practice of clinical mental health counseling through supervised practice. In this course, students complete a minimum of 200 hours of supervised practice, forty-percent of the hours must be direct service with clients/patients/consumers. Additionally, students attend weekly class led by Program Faculty designed to deepen their learning and growth at the Internship site.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of MCC 693, Permission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director and Clinical Coordinator or designee, and proof of professional liability insurance. Students must be in good academic standing (3.0 cumulative GPA) to register for course.

* Additional student internship hours if required

Students applying for professional license or certification should verify the University’s offerings meet the requirements with the professional organization.

Note: Students returning to earn a second graduate degree: All prior coursework will be evaluated for possible credit by the MSCMHC Program Director.

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