Online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Make an Impact in Mental Health Counseling
Provide impactful and culturally sensitive mental health services in your communities with the 100% online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSCMHC) degree program at Northcentral University. NCU’s comprehensive program will prepare you to work with clients and groups from diverse backgrounds and assist with their mental health needs.
NCU’s MSCMHC curriculum gives you an in-depth exploration of counseling theories, ethical and legal standards, and evidence-based approaches, diagnosis, and treatments. You’ll gain the theoretical and practical knowledge you need to work in a variety of professional counseling settings.
Throughout NCU’S MSCMHC program, you’ll study topics related to social justice, advocacy, and the equity of treatment. You’ll also discover the different ways you can advance your counseling profession.
Learning Outcomes
As a graduate of Northcentral University’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSCMHC) degree program, you’ll be able to:
- 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
Program at a Glance
Total Credit Hours: 60 Credit Hours
Courses: 20 Courses
Estimated Completion Time: 32 Months
The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSCMHC) degree program can be completed in 60 credits. Each course runs 8 weeks, and you’ll receive 3 semester credits per course.
The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program can be completed in 60 credits.
- COUN-6000 - Orientation and Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- COUN-6101 - Ethical and Legal Issues in Mental Health Counseling
- COUN-6107 - Human Growth and Development
- COUN-6104 - Social and Cultural Diversity in Counseling
- COUN-6100 - Theories and Models of Counseling
- COUN-6103 - Counseling and Psychotherapeutic Techniques
- COUN-6111 - Career Development and Counseling
- COUN-6112 - Research Methods and Program Evaluation in Counseling
- COUN-6115 - Group Counseling
- COUN-6105 - Assessment, Tests, and Measurements in Counseling
- COUN-6110 - Psychopathology
- COUN-6114 - Clinical Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment
- COUN-6109 - Abuse, Crisis, and Trauma Counseling
- COUN-6050 - Clinical Mental Health Counseling Clinical Practicum
- COUN-6108 - Marriage and Family Systems
- COUN-6051 - Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship I
- COUN-6102 - Substance Use Disorders and Addiction Counseling
- COUN-6113 - Psychopharmacology
- COUN-6052 - Clinical Mental Health Counseling Clinical Internship II
- COUN-6106 - Human Sexuality
Career Potential*
- Career Counselor
- Child and Adolescent Mental and Behavioral Health counselor
- Clinical Director
- Clinical Mental Health Counselor
- Community Mental Health Counselor
- Employee Assistance Program Counselor
- Geriatric Counselor
- Professional Counselor
- Substance Abuse Counselor
*Positions may require additional experience, training, and other factors beyond successfully completing this degree program. Depending on where you reside, many positions may also require state licensure, and it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all licensure requirements are met. We encourage you to also review program specific requirements with an NCU advisor. Any data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and does not guarantee that completion of any degree program will achieve the underlying occupation or commensurate salary.
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 MSCMHC program has the following graduation requirements:
- A minimum of 60 credit hours of graduate instructions must be completed through NCU.
- 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 and/or degree posted transcript.
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 NCU 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.
Admission to the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling 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
- Background check: All students in the MSCMHC program that currently live or who have ever lived in the United States are required to complete a background check through NCU’s designated provider. International students will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Some students will do this as part of the application process, all students will have this completed before starting work in their clinical placements.
Northcentral University’s dedicated admissions team is here to help you throughout the admissions process. We accept and review applications year-round and, once you’re admitted, you can begin your studies as soon as the next week.
To apply to the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program, you must have a conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution.
Questions? Call our admissions team at 866.776.0331 or request information and an advisor will be in touch soon. Ready to apply? Start your NCU application today.
CONTACT US
To speak with an Enrollment Advisor, call (866) 776-0331 or email admissions@ncu.edu.
Why Northcentral University’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling?
- Flexible 100% Online Programs: NCU offers online master’s and doctoral programs with weekly course starts. Plus, no GRE/GMAT or residency required!
- Non-clinical internship opportunities
- Career-Relevant Education: Learn independently in our 1:1 learning format, and gain career-relevant skills from 100% doctoral faculty.
- Online Community: To help students feel less isolated in a virtual learning environment, we created a community space called The Commons. The purpose was to create an interactive space for students to make real-time connections, meet, share ideas, and support each other through their academic journeys.
Program Disclosure
Successful completion and attainment of Northcentral University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate's application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.