Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSCMHC)

^* Program length may vary. WCU distance education programs may not be available to residents in all states.

Clinical Hour Requirement: this track requires a total of 135 hours of Supervised Clinical Practicum, 600 hours of Internship that does not count toward 3,000 hours of LPCI required hours. Coordinators will approve clinical site placements, assist with compliance training, and support students as they seek an appropriate site placement.

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes: 21-1012.00, 21-1014.00, 21-1015.00, 21-1011.00, 11-9151.00, 39-9041.00, 21-1013.00, 21-1019.00, 21-1093.00, 21-1094.00

Program Mission: The mission of the Master of Science in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSCMHC) program is to prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to be culturally competent, trauma informed, and stalwart advocates for social justice ensuring equity, and access to effective and affirmative clinical mental health care for all individuals.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Learning Outcomes 

1. Cultivate a Professional Identity:  The program helps students establish a strong professional identity as clinical mental health counselors who prioritize the value of the therapeutic relationship as a critical pathway to facilitate healing, empowerment, and the emotional and mental well-being of their clients. Moreover, students will learn to build counseling relationships from a strength-based, intergenerational trauma-informed perspective rather than a deficit or pathological approach.
2. Develop Comprehensive Knowledge and Competence:  The program helps prepare students to gain a broad and comprehensive understanding of essential areas in the counseling field, including ethical and legal behaviors, developmental theories, clinical interventions, psychopharmacology, substance use disorders, addictive behaviors, human sexuality, crisis and trauma, career counseling, psychopathology, and culturally competent assessment and evaluation methods.
3. Apply Evidence-Based Interventions:  The program helps prepare students to solely rely on evidence-based interventions for substance use disorders, addictive behaviors, co-occurring disorders, trauma, and various mental health conditions, while always considering cultural competencies and diversity to enhance the effectiveness of their clinical practice.
4. Cultivate a Culturally Competent Identity:  The program helps students to establish a professional identity as culturally competent clinical mental health counselors, emphasizing the use of the therapeutic relationship to promote healing, empowerment, and emotional and mental well-being while working effectively and affirmatively with diverse individuals, couples, families, and communities.
5. Demonstrate Proficiency in Clinical Skills:  The program teaches students how to use effective and affirmative clinical skills when working with individuals, couples, families, and groups and communities across the lifespan. Students are taught how to develop expertise in providing comprehensive and culturally competent mental health services to clients from diverse backgrounds.
6. Foster a Commitment to Social Justice and Advocacy:  The program compels students to become social justice advocates and clinical mental health professionals who serve their communities in various capacities, including clinical practice, administrative roles, and other leadership positions. Students will be taught how to use their counseling knowledge, attitudes, and skills to contribute positively and effectively to the well-being and positive development of the broader community.

Master of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Costs

For program costs, please see the Graduate Tuition and Fees section.