Procedure for Admission to the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
Admissions criteria for the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program are consistent with those required in other master's degree level programs at South University. As the admissions process also takes into consideration the characteristics deemed essential to becoming a clinical mental health counselor, material is also required which will enable a determination to be made of the applicant's personal integrity, maturity, interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate effectively. The criteria used in determining admission to the graduate program include:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- A grade point average of at least 2.7 (on an Admissions scale of 4.0) for the last 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours of coursework (including relevant graduate work), or, a bachelor's degree with an overall CGPA of 2.7, or, an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.
- A minimum score on a South University preapproved English language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose "first" language is not English as specified in the English Language Proficiency Policy.
- Interview with the Clinical Mental Health Counseling department chair/program director or designated faculty member.
- Approval of the campus program admissions committee.
- Completion of an application for admission.
- Submission of a personal/professional statement addressing the applicant's interest in counseling, professional goals, along with a self-appraisal of academic and professional qualifications.
- Submission (within 5 weeks of class start dates) of official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended (refer to Conditional Acceptance).
- Current résumé (or career summary).
- Background Check
All required admissions documentation and criteria will be reviewed and evaluated. Applicants will be notified regarding acceptance. Applicants should review the published general graduate requirements listed in the South University catalog. Students who are citizens of countries other than the United States should also refer to the section in the South University catalog entitled International Student Admissions Policy.
Provisional Admission
Applicants with an undergraduate degree CGPA of less than a 2.70, but not lower than 2.30, for the last 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours of coursework (including relevant graduate work), or, a bachelor's degree with an overall CGPA of 2.70, but not lower than 2.3, or, an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of less than 3.00, but not lower than a 2.70, will be considered for provisional admission. Students who do not attain a 3.00 GPA in the first quarter will be dismissed. Students cannot appeal the dismissal from the university as a result of failure to meet the conditions of provisional admission.
The applicant will need to provide evidence of academic and professional potential demonstrated by career and/or personal accomplishments indicated in a personal statement of academic and professional goals, a career resume or curriculum vita, and two letters of academic and/or professional recommendations. The Program Chair in consultation with the Campus Director & Dean of Academic Affairs and Operations and College Dean or designee must approve exceptions. The College Dean serves as the final decision maker. Students are required to complete the provisional admissions form for entry as a provisional admission student.
For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here.
Offered at Columbia, Richmond, Savannah, and Virginia Beach.
Program Overview
The Master of Arts program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at South University is intended to train professional counselors for evidence-based practice to meet the needs of a diverse population. This program highlights advanced theories, principles, and evidence-based practice within the counseling field. Students cultivate necessary skills for effective assessment and treatment, but also attain competence in navigating ethical, legal, and professional nuances.
The primary goals of the program are as follows:
- Equip graduates with the clinical skills and knowledge for contemporary clinical mental health counseling assessment and treatment in a multicultural society.
- Develop graduates to be critical thinkers who ground their counseling practice in theory and research related to a variety of clinical issues, populations, settings, and modalities.
- Prepare graduates for the integration of technology in contemporary counseling practice and critical/analytical thinking regarding concepts and applications in the field.
- Empower graduates to embody a strong professional counseling identity and commitment to ethical practice.
The program is designed to provide an opportunity for its graduates to achieve initial eligibility criteria to become licensed in their state and certified as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). The length of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program varies in accord with the licensing requirements of the states in which the program is offered. As a result, the program may not meet the licensing requirements of all states. The student should contact the licensing board in the state in which they anticipate seeking licensure to determine the appropriate program.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates will be able to:
- Professional Identity and Ethics: Apply aspects of professional functioning to include ethical standards, legal implications, advocacy and social justice, counselor roles, and professional credentialing.
- Social and Cultural Diversity: Demonstrate the ability to apply multicultural research and core theory to issues and relationships in the context of culturally competent counseling.
- Human Growth and Development Through the Lifespan: Apply research and core theory to the needs of diverse individuals across the lifespan, to include atypical personality and neurological development, addictive disorders, family and social relationships, and crisis response.
- Lifestyle and Career Development: Demonstrate implementation of research and core theory related to the processes of decision-making in career development and planning in the context of the psychology of work.
- Counseling and Helping Relationship: Apply the major theories of change, consultation practices, diagnostic impressions, and evidence-based interventions to a diverse clientele for the delivery of effective and ethical treatment.
- Group Dynamics and Group Work: Apply culturally appropriate group skills, techniques, and theory-based interventions in the context of group counseling dynamics while exploring effective facilitation styles.
- Assessment and Appraisal: Analyze historical and current testing and assessment methods for implementing ethical and accurate appraisal of diverse clients by individual or group methods.
- Research and Program Evaluation: Apply needs assessment, program evaluation, and research methods to ethical and effective practice and to add to the body of literature in the counseling profession.
- CMHC Specialization: Plan, implement, and evaluate evidence-based programs and counseling approaches that are designed to treat psychopathology and promote optimal mental health.
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program: 91 Credits, 10 quarter program
Curriculum for Columbia; Richmond; Savannah and Virginia Beach campuses only
Quarter 1: 8.5 Credits
Credits : 4.5
Credits : 4
Quarter 2: 8.5 Credits
This course involves an introduction to the study of abnormal behaviors in children, adolescents, and adults. The etiology, definition, prevalence rate, and morbidity of disorders in the DSM-5 are reviewed. The course will focus on an introduction to the science and art of clinical assessment as the foundation of practice in mental health settings and the use of assessment techniques in a professional and ethical manner. In part, adjustment disorders, V codes, and the ICD system will be studied. Students will primarily concentrate on serious mental disorders in the context of normal lifecycle transitions and review various methods of treatment related to the disorders covered. The course will make a concerted effort to apply the above to the "real world" of mental health professionals by examining treatment and assessment considerations.
Credits : 4.5
Credits : 4
Quarter 3: 9 Credits
Credits : 4.5
This course provides advanced training in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of serious psychopathology as depicted in the standard nomenclature of the DSM-IV-TR and subsequent revisions/editions. Students will focus on the descriptions, etiology, and major diagnostic categories in order to effectively utilize Axis I through Axis V diagnostic dimensions to develop appropriate treatment options. In addition, students will learn how to utilize the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Clinical Modification System according to the latest version. Upon completing the course, students will have an understanding of the technique's practitioners use in the diagnosis and treatment of psychopathology.
Credits : 4.5
Quarter 4: 9 Credits
Credits : 4.5
Credits : 4.5
Quarter 5: 5.5 Credits
Credits : 4.5
In this pre-practicum experience, the student is required to receive 15 hours of faculty instruction that will focus on writing a resume and cover letter, identifying possible clinical placement sites, interviewing at potential clinical sites, securing a site and signing a field agreement, purchasing liability insurance, clinical skills practice, and reviewing necessary paperwork for practicum and internship.
Credits : 1
Quarter 6: 9 Credits
Credits : 4.5
A broad understanding of group and individual educational and psychometric theories, ethical, and legal approaches to appraisal is the goal of this course; also examined are data and information gathering methods; validity and reliability; psychometric statistics; factors influencing appraisals; and use of appraisal results in helping processes. Also, the specific ability to select, administer and interpret tests and inventories to assess abilities, interests, and identify career options is considered.
Credits : 4.5
Quarter 7: 9.5 Credits
Credits : 4.5
Credits : 4
Credits : 1
Quarter 8: 8 Credits
Credits : 4
Credits : 4
Quarter 9: 12 Credits
Credits : 4
Credits : 4
Credits : 4
Quarter 10: 12 Credits
Credits : 4
Credits : 4
Credits : 4
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program: 91 Credits, 8 quarter program
Curriculum for Columbia; Richmond; Savannah and Virginia Beach campuses only
Quarter 1: 13 Credits
Credits : 4.5
Credits : 4.5
Credits : 4
Quarter 2: 13 Credits
This course involves an introduction to the study of abnormal behaviors in children, adolescents, and adults. The etiology, definition, prevalence rate, and morbidity of disorders in the DSM-5 are reviewed. The course will focus on an introduction to the science and art of clinical assessment as the foundation of practice in mental health settings and the use of assessment techniques in a professional and ethical manner. In part, adjustment disorders, V codes, and the ICD system will be studied. Students will primarily concentrate on serious mental disorders in the context of normal lifecycle transitions and review various methods of treatment related to the disorders covered. The course will make a concerted effort to apply the above to the "real world" of mental health professionals by examining treatment and assessment considerations.
Credits : 4.5
Credits : 4
Credits : 4.5
Quarter 3: 10 Credits
This course provides advanced training in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of serious psychopathology as depicted in the standard nomenclature of the DSM-IV-TR and subsequent revisions/editions. Students will focus on the descriptions, etiology, and major diagnostic categories in order to effectively utilize Axis I through Axis V diagnostic dimensions to develop appropriate treatment options. In addition, students will learn how to utilize the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Clinical Modification System according to the latest version. Upon completing the course, students will have an understanding of the technique's practitioners use in the diagnosis and treatment of psychopathology.
Credits : 4.5
Credits : 4.5
In this pre-practicum experience, the student is required to receive 15 hours of faculty instruction that will focus on writing a resume and cover letter, identifying possible clinical placement sites, interviewing at potential clinical sites, securing a site and signing a field agreement, purchasing liability insurance, clinical skills practice, and reviewing necessary paperwork for practicum and internship.
Credits : 1
Quarter 4: 13.5 Credits
Credits : 4.5
Credits : 4.5
A broad understanding of group and individual educational and psychometric theories, ethical, and legal approaches to appraisal is the goal of this course; also examined are data and information gathering methods; validity and reliability; psychometric statistics; factors influencing appraisals; and use of appraisal results in helping processes. Also, the specific ability to select, administer and interpret tests and inventories to assess abilities, interests, and identify career options is considered.
Credits : 4.5
Quarter 5: 9.5 Credits
Credits : 4.5
Credits : 4
Credits : 1
Quarter 6: 8 Credits
Credits : 4
Credits : 4
Quarter 7: 12 Credits
Credits : 4
Credits : 4
Credits : 4
Quarter 8: 12 Credits
Credits : 4
Credits : 4
Credits : 4