The master of science in rehabilitation counseling, clinical mental health counseling track is designed to enhance the career advancement of experienced people already
working in the human services field, as well as prepare people to enter the field. Our
program emphasizes approaches based on cognitive behavioral counseling, focusing on
helping clients to understand harmful thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and replace them
with positive, life-enhancing ones, as well as teaching clients to eliminate unwanted
behaviors and replace them with more productive ones. The program also focuses on
the use of evidence-based and promising practices for counseling and service delivery, in
particular, those designed to provide counseling and other services for individuals with
severe mental illness.
Completion of the degree requires 60 credits. Students complete a common core of
13 counseling courses (39 credits). This coursework provides students with a solid
foundation in content areas such as theories of counseling, techniques and methods for
counseling individuals and groups, human growth and development and the impact of
disabilities, and ethical and legal standards of the profession. Additionally, all students
complete a practicum of at least 100 hours including 40 hours of direct service and an
internship of at least 600 hours including 240 hours of direct service. These clinical
experiences total 9 credits. Students also take four courses (12 credits) in the area of clinical mental health counseling.
