Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master of Science (M.S.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC)

The field of mental health is growing rapidly. This program is designed for persons who wish to practice individual, group or family counseling. You will learn such topics as theories of counseling and psychopathology, trauma-informed care and how to develop a professional identity as a counselor. This program will be completed online, with the requirement of two brief on-campus residencies during the program as well as on-site counseling training in the student’s geographic area.

Students participate in hands-on, side-by-side, real-life learning with licensed counselors during their residencies and clinical internship requirements. This program is designed to be completed in two years or three to five years as a part-time student. It includes 60 credit hours plus 100 hours of practicum, 300 hours of internships and 300 hours of advanced internship.

There are no GRE requirements.

MS-CMHC Curriculum – College Catalog

Admission Requirements

B.A. or B.S. (or higher) in related field
GPA 2.75
At least 9 credit hours in psychology courses with at least a C
Official transcripts
Two professional letters of recommendation

Other specific requirements:

- Application
- CV
- Personal statement
- Interview

FAQs

What is clinical mental health counseling?
Clinical mental health counseling is a service provided by trained counseling professionals to clients dealing with issues that affect their mental health. This can include conducting psychiatric diagnostic assessments and using psychotherapy techniques to treat individuals, groups and/or families.

Why get a degree in clinical mental health counseling?
Post Covid, there became an increased demand for counselors. So, by earning your master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, you can make mental healthcare more accessible to a rapidly expanding population in need. Successful completion of this program will prepare you for a mental health counseling career and leads to license eligibility (LMHC-A); post-degree experience is required for the LMHC license.

What can you do with a degree in clinical mental health counseling?
According to 2021 Burning Glass data, there were 10,598 job postings in a counseling-related field over the last 12 months across the five-state region of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. They reported expecting this to grow over the next 10 years, with the Market Relative Growth listed as high. Having a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling allows you to practice counseling in a variety of settings. These include outpatient clinics, hospitals, schools, community centers, private practices, and more. This degree, the license in mental health counseling, and field experience will also open the door for a variety of leadership roles (e.g. team lead, program manager, clinical director, operations director, executive director, chief clinical officer, chief operations officer, chief executive officer, etc.) in community mental health centers, nonprofits, not-for-profits, and the private sector.

What is the average annual salary of someone with a clinical mental health counseling master’s degree?
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a licensed mental health counselor in Indiana is $65,983. This salary potential increases with experience and for those interested in leadership roles further into their career.

What support and resources are provided at SMWC?
The Learning Resource Center (LRC) provides exceptional, personalized learning resource services to encourage student success. The LRC offers help with a range of academic support services, including a writing center, tutoring, college success courses and more.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is routinely ranked by US News and World Report among the Best Regional Universities in the Midwest and the Best Value Schools. Our departments are also routinely ranked for their individual degree programs.
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