The 60-credit Master of Arts (M.A.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree prepares professional counselors to clinically work in a variety of mental health settings including comprehensive care centers, regional mental health centers, hospitals, and other settings in which mental health treatment services are provided.
Program Coordinator – Dr. James McGinn
Admission Requirements
Based on the Graduate School’s admissions requirements, the program requires the following for initial admission review and consideration:
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 0 to 4.0.
If an applicant does not have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, then one of the following must be met:
- The individual’s undergraduate GPA in the final 60 credits of their degree must be a 3.25 or higher, or
- The individual must submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores.
If an applicant needs to submit GRE scores, then the program maintains the following minimum requirements of these scores and the applicant must meet at least one of them:
- A score of 146 or higher on the verbal section of the GRE.
- A score of 146 or higher on the quantitative section of the GRE.
Please note that the GPA or entrance exam requirement is waived if the individual already holds a graduate degree regardless of the discipline.
In addition to the above minimum admissions requirements regarding an accredited undergraduate degree and GPA or entrance exam scores, all applicants must submit the following supplemental materials as listed below with their online Graduate School application:
- A current resume.
- Official copies of transcripts.
- A writing sample.
- Three letters of recommendation.
Applicants must again attend and pass [based on decision by the admissions committee] a group admissions interview for final/formal admission to the program.
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Courses
Core Courses (51 hours)
These courses must be completed first and before any other COU course may be taken:
- COU 813 Professional Orientation and Ethics in Counseling
- COU 840 Counseling Theory and Practice
- COU 846 Process and Basic Techniques of Counseling
- COU 803 Principles and Practices of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- COU 804 Counseling Diverse Populations
- COU 820 Group Counseling
- COU 822 Lifestyle and Career Counseling
- COU 848 Child and Adolescent Counseling
- COU 849 Addiction Disorders Counseling
- COU 850 Family Counseling
- COU 855 Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling
- COU 863 Crisis and Grief Counseling
- COU 880 Counseling Practicum
- COU 881 Internship in Counseling
- EPY 816 Tests and Measurements
- EPY 839 Human Growth and Development
- EPY 869 Research and Program Development
Electives – Choose 9 hours from the following:
- COU 807 Specialty Topics in Counseling
- COU 814 Administration and Consultation in Counseling Services*
- COU 825 Developmental Counseling with School Age Children*
- COU 826 Assessment in Counseling
- COU 853 The Counseling Process in Clinical Sexuality
- COU 865 Mindfulness Practices for Counselors and Clients
- COU 870 Introduction to Play Therapy
- COU 871 Advanced Play Therapy
- COU 872 Practicum in Play Therapy
Notes About Electives:
- Electives may vary by semester and are subjective to change at any time.
- Second and third semesters of internship can serve as electives.
- * denotes school counseling courses that may be taken by clinical mental health counseling students should they so choose.
Exit Requirement:
- GRD 877J MA M/Health Counseling Written OR GRD 878S MA M/Health Counseling Oral Comp
Total Program Requirements: 60 Hours
A grade of B or higher is required in every course for degree completion.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling as a Second Degree
EKU graduates of the MAEd in School Counseling degree program may earn a second master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Contact Dr. James McGinn, Program Coordinator, for information regarding application and requirements for the second degree.