Make a lasting difference in the lives of others!
Now more than ever, there is a growing demand for licensed counseling professionals. Everyone needs someone they can trust to help them through the mental and emotional issues disrupting their lives. As more Americans become aware of the benefits of mental health counseling – whether the underlying issues are mental, emotional, relational, or a mix of all three – this swiftly growing field will only continue to flourish. And with it, more people’s lives will flourish too.
By the numbers
Programs & Requirements
Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
University of the Cumberlands’ master’s in clinical mental health counseling program covers the skills you’ll need as a licensed counseling professional to assess patients, diagnose mental disorders, and effectively deliver treatment. You’ll learn both the theory and practice of working closely with patients in individual, group, and family settings, and explore counseling strategies for diverse populations, from children to the elderly. There’s no limit to the number of lives you’ll have the chance to influence for the better!
Coursework will cover the foundational knowledge you need, and you will undergo the practicums and internships needed to pursue relevant licensures. In short, you will gain invaluable experience and skills to help prepare you to give others the care they need. Our master’s in mental health counseling program is designed to serve both recent baccalaureate graduates and other professionals desiring to broaden their expertise as mental health counselors.
The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree, considered one of the top mental health counseling graduate programs, requires completion of 60 hours of graduate-level work. A maximum of 18 semester hours of credit may be transferred from a regionally-accredited institution of higher learning. These transfer credits must be in courses determined to be equivalent to courses required in the counseling psychology online program. All transfer credits must be approved by the program director and the registrar.
Course Requirements
- COUN 530 Introduction to the Counseling Profession
- COUN 533 Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
- COUN 534 Lifestyle and Career Development
- COUN 535 Psychological Assessment Clinic Practice
- COUN 536 Human Growth and Development
- COUN 537 Etiology and Diagnosis of Mental Disorders
- COUN 539 Theories in Counseling
- COUN 632 Advanced Clinical Assessment
- COUN 633 Counseling during Grief and Crisis
- COUN 636 Theory and Practice of Multicultural Counseling
- COUN 637 Group Counseling
- COUN 638 Research Methods and Program Evaluation
- COUN 639 Theories & Techniques for Treatment of Process Addictions & Substance Abuse
- COUN 645 Counseling Practicum (100 hours)
- COUN 646 Counseling Internship I (300 hours)
- COUN 647 Counseling Internship II (300 hours)
- COUN 630 Process and Techniques in Counseling
- COUN 631 Private Practice and Clinical Supervision
- COUN 634 Marriage and Family Counseling
- COUN 635 Child and Adolescent Counseling
This course introduces new Clinical Mental Health Counseling students to graduate level study at the University of the Cumberlands and to the Counseling Profession. Students will learn basics to support the early formation of counselor identity as well as the academic resources that support their success across the Clinical Mental Health Program at the University of the Cumberlands.
Course Objectives:
- Students will be able to identify key academic resources that support their success across the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program (CACREP 2016 1.M) (Assessment: Student Handbook Quiz)
- Students will be able to articulate ethical and professional obligations associated with becoming a Professional Counselor (CACREP 2016 1.M) (Assessment: Ethics Case Quiz)
- Students will be able to describe personal growth expectations for counselors-in-training in the CMHC program (CACREP 2016 1.M) (Assessment: CARE Quiz)
- Students will be able to locate information related to eligibility for licensure/certification in their state of residence (CACREP 2016 1.M) (Assessment: Licensure Eligibility Quiz)
- Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in navigating digital delivery platforms used by the CMHC program at the University of the Cumberlands (Assessment: Technology Module Quiz)
This course provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the content learned across the Clinical Mental Health Program curriculum. Each student is required to pass the Department of Counseling comprehensive examination, which is called the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), in order to graduate. Students will take the exam while concurrently registered for COUN 646 or COUN 647. This exam will take place online and is proctored via the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). Students must achieve a passing score as set by the program and the CCE to pass this course and complete their program of study. Students who do not pass this exam after three attempts will be dismissed from the program.
Course Objectives:
- Students will be able to identify theories and models of multicultural counseling, cultural identity development, and social justice and advocacy (CACREP 2016 2.F.2.b)
- Students will be able to identify theories of individual and family development across the lifespan (CACREP 2016 2.F.3.a)
- Students will be able to identify theories and models of career development, counseling, and decision-making (CACREP 2016 2.F.4.a)
- Students will be able to identify theories and models of counseling (CACREP 2016 2.F.5.a)
- Students will be able to identify theoretical foundations of group counseling and group work (CACREP 2016 2.F.6.a)
- Students will be able to identify the use of assessments for diagnostic and intervention planning purposes (CACREP 2016 2.F.7.e)
- Students will be able to identify evidence-based counseling practices (CACREP 2016 2.F.8.b)
Department of Counseling Sample Syllabi
*The syllabi in this folder are samples and may not reflect the most current syllabus content
Take the Next Step
Mission and Goals
Our mission is to develop counselors with a strong professional identity who demonstrate specialized knowledge, skills, and dispositions focused on serving diverse populations. See the Academic Catalog for full details.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Careers & Outcomes
All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mental Health Counselor: $48,520
Mental Health Counselor: $48,520
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors advise people on a range of issues, such as those relating to alcoholism, addictions, or depression.
Substance Abuse Counselor: $48,520
Substance Abuse Counselor: $48,520
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors advise people on a range of issues, such as those relating to alcoholism, addictions, or depression.
Behavioral Disorder Counselor: $48,520
Behavioral Disorder Counselor: $48,520
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors advise people on a range of issues, such as those relating to alcoholism, addictions, or depression.
School Counselor: $60,510
School Counselor: $60,510
School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment.
Rehabilitation Counselor: $38,560
Rehabilitation Counselor: $38,560
Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities live independently.
Postsecondary Teacher: $79,640
Postsecondary Teacher: $79,640
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.
Common Questions
With a master’s in clinical mental health counseling, you can pursue a counseling career in a number of settings, such as private practice, clinical mental health centers, community agencies, university counseling centers, hospitals, and correctional facilities. This degree would also prepare you for a variety of other career paths in the human services field, like community health, social administration, or rehabilitation.
Online learning offers a flexible way to pursue your graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling on your own schedule. To get started, you’ll first need to choose a mental health counseling program that fulfills your state’s licensure requirements. Then look for a program that includes practicum and internship experiences in your community. It is also important that you check the program’s accreditation status by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. (For the record, University of the Cumberlands’ clinical mental health counseling master’s degree program is accredited by CACREP.) Finally, you’ll be set to pursue your master’s in clinical mental health counseling!
For many students, earning a master’s in clinical mental health counseling is an investment in a rewarding career helping others live their best lives. There are several reasons to pursue this degree – some of which may differ per person. Counseling is a job that is in very high demand, with high anticipated job growth rate of 22 percent – much faster than the national average. In addition, counseling is a career you can build your life around, and it is sure to bring you immense job satisfaction at the end of the day.
As a master’s student in Cumberlands’ clinical mental health counseling program, you will be taking 60 credit hours of graduate level coursework to help prepare you for a variety of careers in the counseling profession. In all, 48 of these hours will consist of your core counseling courses, including practicum and internship requirements, and the other 12 hours will be focused on mental health counseling for children, adults, couples, and families.
The aim of our master’s in clinical mental health program is to provide students like you with the academic background and requirements that will enable them to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in their chosen counseling fields. Whether you plan on pursuing a career as a mental health counselor, substance abuse counselor, rehabilitation counselor, school counselor, psychologist, or postsecondary teacher, your degree in clinical mental health counseling at Cumberlands will prove to be a vital part of your future career.
Each course lasts eight weeks, called a bi-term. There are two bi-terms per semester, and three semesters per year (fall, spring, and summer). Cumberlands provides free rental textbooks to online students as part of its One Price Promise.
Faculty Experts
Get to know about your future counseling professors.
Dr. James Norris
Dr. James Norris
Contact Information
Dr. Sarah Johansson
Dr. Michael S. Jones
CACREP Assessment
The CACREP Council accredits the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, Addiction Counseling program, PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision, and the related Doctorate of Educational Leadership Online (EdD) Program. CACREP is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) that accredits counselor-preparation graduate degree programs. For more information, visit https://www.cacrep.org.
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