Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Learners in the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program who are seeking a professional counselor license in North Carolina must complete at least one 5-quarter-credit practicum course in order to satisfy that state’s requirements. Capella University has designed COUN6301 to fulfill the program requirements for these learners or learners from other states who may need a 5-quarter-credit practicum course.
Learners in the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program who need to enhance their knowledge in the area of psychopharmacology for licensure purposes may register for COUN5268. This course is in addition to the program requirements.
The CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program is designed to prepare learners to serve as clinical mental health counselors for a diverse population of clients in various therapeutic settings. The program seeks to deliver its curriculum through a dynamic, interactive, and collaborative learning environment and provides learners with a strong theoretical foundation in the field of mental health counseling and knowledge and skills in associated areas of wellness theory and research, relationship building, assessment and treatment, cultural competence, and ethical practice.
Personal Suitability and Fitness for the Profession
Capella embraces the principles and guidelines set forth by the American Counseling Association (ACA) related to professional counseling programs in that the faculty, training staff, supervisors, and administrators within the Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program have a professional, ethical, and potentially legal obligation to ensure, insofar as possible, that all learners have the competence to manage professional relationships in an effective and appropriate manner and that they possess the emotional maturity, interpersonal stability, and intellectual judgment required to work with vulnerable populations. Personal suitability and fitness for the profession includes but is not limited to demonstration of sufficient interpersonal and professional competence; self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-evaluation; openness to processes of supervision; and resolution of issues or problems that interfere with professional development or functioning in a satisfactory manner. Throughout the graduate training of each learner, faculty and staff are responsible for educating and assessing learners with regard to their personal suitability and fitness for the profession.
Residency Requirement(s)
Two four-and-a-half-day residencies. See university policy 3.04.05 Attendance at Residencies, the Residencies page on Campus, and the Residency section, below, for more information. Also see each graduate school’s residency courses.
Practicum/Internship Requirement(s)
Minimum of 100 practicum hours and 600 internship hours. See the Practicum/Internship Experience section, below, for more information.
Additional Program Requirements
Core courses
| COUN5004 | Survey of Research in Human Development for Professional Counselors | 4 |
| COUN5007 | Research Methods for the Counseling Professions | 4 |
| COUN5106 | Assessment, Tests, and Measures | 4 |
| COUN5107 | Principles of Psychopathology and Diagnosis | 4 |
| COUN5108 | Foundations of Addiction and Addictive Behavior | 4 |
| COUN5217 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Professional Counseling | 4 |
| COUN5223 | Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 4 |
| COUN5225 | Human Sexuality | 4 |
| COUN5238 | Crisis Assessment and Intervention | 4 |
| COUN5239 | Theories of Psychotherapy | 4 |
| COUN5254 | Child and Adolescent Counseling | 4 |
| COUN5271 | Marriage and Family Systems | 4 |
| COUN5279 | Life Planning and Career Development | 4 |
| COUN5336 | Counseling and Advocacy with Diverse Populations | 4 |
| COUN5830 | Mental Health Counseling Approaches and Interventions | 4 |
| COUN5832 | Group Counseling and Applications in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 4 |
| COUN6965 | Applied Research and Program Evaluation in Mental Health Counseling | 4 |
All academic courses listed below include specific residency or clinical experiences.
Learners must complete prerequisites and residency and clinical experience requirements to be eligible to complete each course in the sequence.
| COUN-R5861 | The Counseling Relationship: Concepts and Skills | 4 |
| COUN-R5863 | The Advanced Counseling Relationship: Concepts, Skills, and Approaches | 4 |
| COUN6302 | Mental Health Counseling Clinical Practicum | 4 |
| COUN6321 | Mental Health Counseling Clinical Internship 1 | 5 |
| COUN6322 | Mental Health Counseling Clinical Internship 2 | 5 |
Total
At least 90 quarter credits
One or more courses in this program may require a prerequisite(s). Refer to the course descriptions for details.
Learners who do not complete all program requirements within quarter credit/program point minimums will be required to accrue such additional quarter credits/program points as are associated with any additional or repeat coursework necessary for successful completion of program requirements.
Capella University cannot guarantee eligibility for licensure, endorsement, other professional credential, or salary advancement. State licensing regulations and professional standards vary; learners are responsible for understanding and complying with the requirements of the state in which they intend to work. State licensing boards review each applicant's completed education, exam scores, supervised experience, criminal history, and application materials at the time of license application to determine eligibility. For more information, see the professional licensure disclosures for this program on Capella’s website.
Residency
The residency requirement for the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program is satisfied by the completion of two online courses, each consisting of a four-and-a-half-day residency (COUN-R5861 and COUN-R5863).
Learners must have completed the residency requirement prior to starting their practicum (COUN6302) or final integrative project (COUN6965). Each residency experience for the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program requires learners to receive a minimum of 40 total hours of training and practice in the areas of counseling theory and intervention, assessment, multicultural issues, legal and ethical issues, group counseling, and advanced counseling/therapy. Through the counseling residencies, learners gain a stronger sense of academic community by networking and discussing concepts and issues in the field of professional counseling. This experience provides a learning environment that fosters the application of critical thinking and integrated knowledge to professional issues.
Practicum/Internship Experience
Learners enrolled in the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program complete supervised onsite counseling experiences as a requirement of their program. The practicum and internship experiences consist of the following online courses and supervised site-based learning:
The practicum (COUN6302) is an online course that requires completion of 100 hours of supervised counseling experience performed at an approved site. Learners apply the skills developed throughout the course of their program while working in a school, clinic, agency, or other setting that provides counseling services.
The internships (COUN6321 and COUN6322) are two online courses that require 600 total hours of experience completed under supervision at an approved site. Learners may register for a third or fourth internship course (COUN6333 and COUN6334) should they need additional time or need to meet additional requirements for state licensure. The internships include a more intensive experience at the approved site where learners continue to demonstrate the counseling competencies and proficiencies required in their program.
Learners should consult the Counselor Education MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling Learner Handbook for a full description of the site-based learning experience and all practicum and internship requirements.