Program Overview
The Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling at Columbus State University will prepare you to work in a variety of community settings including, but not limited to, mental health centers, community agencies, hospitals, residential treatment centers, corrections, or other helping or human service-oriented programs. As a mental health professional, your diverse experience and training will empower others to transform their future. The program’s creative design offers a combination of hybrid, online, and face-to-face courses to facilitate multiple learning environments.
The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at CSU is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The 60-semester hour degree program with flex your creative muscles in the eight areas of:
- Human Growth and Development
- Social and Cultural Foundations
- The Helping Relationship
- Group Dynamics and Processes
- Lifestyle/Career Development
- Appraisal of Individual
- Research and Evaluation
- Professional Orientation
Counselors inspire collaboration across fields by working with health professionals in a broad range of areas to provide therapeutic care at hospitals, nursing homes, community agencies, and even corporations. Many successful graduates also gain the knowledge and skills needed to pursue private practice. Align your degree with your career goals, while making a difference.
Program Mission Statement
The Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling program’s mission is to prepare professional counselors who are committed to providing culturally competent counseling services that enhance the mental health and well-being of families, groups, couples, and individuals, including school students across the lifespan, and to advocate on behalf of our clients and our profession. The program is committed to academic and clinical excellence through educating counselors to be leaders and practitioners.
The counseling program at Columbus State University is designed to prepare professional counselors to demonstrate the knowledge and experience necessary to be productive contributors to the counseling profession. Faculty members, with many years of practice, research and training, are contributing members of professional counseling organizations and provide direct training and supervision to students. The faculty’s primary objective is to serve the students in the program by providing a variety of learning opportunities (i.e. coursework, lectures, experiential activities and direct counseling experiences) that will prepare them to work as professional counselors in a variety of settings. The counseling program serves a diverse student population and the counseling faculty is committed to assisting students in the development of a strong counselor identity.
Program Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate foundational knowledge of the role and functions of the professional mental health counselor regarding the provision of mental health treatment services.
- Develop and demonstrate proficiency in mental health counseling, interpersonal relationships, development, prevention and intervention including proficiency in issues of diversity and advocacy and counseling theories and change strategies.
- Develop and demonstrate skills in assessment, group therapy, program and clinical evaluation and clinical diagnosis.
- Develop and demonstrate skills in research and evaluation of counseling services and outcomes.
- Apply knowledge of the role and functions of the professional mental health counselor regarding the provision of mental health treatment services.
- Apply knowledge in mental health counseling, interpersonal relationships, development, prevention and intervention including proficiency in issues of diversity and advocacy and counseling theories and change strategies.
- Apply knowledge in assessment, group therapy, program and clinical evaluation and clinical diagnosis.
- Apply knowledge in research and evaluation of counseling services and outcomes.
Career Opportunities
When you earn your Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree, you’ll be prepared for a broad range of careers including:
- Licensed professional counselor
- Licensed mental health counselor
- Behavioral specialist
- Client advocate
- Counseling program manager
- Rehabilitation counselor
- Substance abuse counselor
Admission Requirements
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An earned undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university
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Minimum grade point average (GPA) of A 2.75 (regular admission) or 2.50 (provisional admission) cumulative undergraduate GPA
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Resume
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Statement of Purpose
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Successful completion of an interview with departmental faculty
Deadlines: Priority deadline-December 1st; All applications and related materials are due no later than March 1st for consideration for Fall admission
Additional Program Requirements
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Interviews will be conducted only after potential candidates have applied for admission and are qualified, based on an assessment of a completed application file. Applicants who reach the minimum scores designated above are not guaranteed admission or may be provisionally admitted since multiple factors are considered in these decisions.
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Evaluation of the student's performance is continuous and involves consideration of the student's academic progress as well as professional dispositions.
- In order to graduate, students must complete the required exit assessment/ comprehensive exam.
