Mental Health Counseling (campus and online options), M.A.
The mission of the mental health counseling program is to prepare counselors who will work in clinical capacities in a variety of mental health settings including agencies, private practice, hospitals, and prisons. The program provides students with comprehensive curricular and supervised experiences for professional licensure with the North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and for initial preparation in other mental health counseling specialty areas. This specialization track is 60 semester hours and 3 additional classes are required if the student also desires to become licensed as a clinical addictions specialist. The program may be completed either on campus or online. Both program options are CACREP accredited.
The mental health counseling program has the following program learning outcomes. The program develops mental health counselors who will:
- Counsel with cultural competence all individuals, groups, and families and advocate for equity and social justice in a diverse world.
- Apply ethical and legal considerations specifically related to the practice of clinical mental health counseling, including credentials, profession standards, and management of mental health programs.
- Use diagnoses, diagnostic criteria, and diagnostic tools to interview, evaluate, assess, and manage a caseload with assigned clients dealing with mental and emotional disorders.
- Evaluate the impact of crisis, disasters, and other trauma-causing events on people and identify how counselors can tie into emergency management response.
Phase 1:
CON 5201 - Ethical & Professional Orientation to Counseling
CON 5310 - Theories and Techniques of Counseling
CON 5321 - Introduction to Family Counseling
CON 5381 - Introduction to Mental Health
CON 5331 - Psychosocial Development and Behavioral Dynamics
CON 5320 - Vocational Theory and Career Development
CON 5360 - Multicultural and Gender Issues in Counseling
CON 5351 - Principles and Procedures of Group Counseling
CON 5306 - Introduction to Substance Abuse Counseling
CON 5307 - Crisis, Trauma & Grief Counseling
Phase II:
EDGR 5910 - Introduction to Statistical Methods in Education
CON 5371 - Pre-practicum Counseling Skills
CON 5361 - Assessment, Evaluation and Analysis in Counseling
CON 5373 - Consultative/Referral Processes in Counseling
CON 5362 - Advanced Assessment
Advisor Approved/Electives (3 hours)
Phase III:
CON 5372 - Supervised Practicum in Counseling
CON 5390 - Internship in Counseling
EDGR 5920 - Procedures in Education Research