MA - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program to provide a Christ-centered academic community that facilitates the professional and personal development of students to become competent providers of exceptional clinical mental health services to individuals and their related systems within relevant ecological contexts.
Upon completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Articulate a clear understanding of CMHC professional identity.
- Deliver mental health services with multicultural competence.
- Integrate understanding of normal developmental concepts and processes in case conceptualizations.
- Conceptualize the relationship between/among work, personal and relational well-being, and other life roles.
- Demonstrate essential counseling skills with competence.
- Facilitate a group session with competence.
- Demonstrate valid and reliable counseling appraisal skills.
- Apply research findings from professional literature to inform development of treatment plans/intervention strategies.
- Integrate faith-based or spirituality-based principles/strategies in case conceptualizations or interventions.
- Diagnose mental disorders using accepted diagnostic systems.
- Apply the CMHC paradigm in case conceptualizations.
- Adhere to ethical and legal standards in professional roles and relationships.
Admission Requirements
- A baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) verified on original transcripts sent by the institution directly to Indiana Wesleyan University.
- An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from the baccalaureate degree granting institution at which at least 30 hours was completed.
- The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for those applicants with undergraduate cumulative GPAs of less than 3.0. The test must have been taken within five years of application to the program. A verbal (V) score of at least 146 is required. Successful graduate coursework may be substituted for the GRE.
- A typewritten autobiography, philosophy of counseling, and supplemental application.
- A criminal background check.
- Three recommendations – at least one from a professional (supervisor, professor, etc.).
- Applicants whose application documents demonstrate potential for success in the Graduate Program in Counseling will be invited to participate in a personal interview.
Program Requirements
- All new students are required to take CNS-500 Orientation during their first term of enrollment. A grade of NC (No Credit) will require the student to take CNS-500 again the next term. Additionally, students who are inactive or withdrawn and seek readmission will be required to retake CNS-500 upon their return. CNS-500 includes a Bible Exam which must be satisfactorily passed to receive credit for the course.
- Students must complete the minimum clinical and supervision hours as required by Indiana state law or the state they are planning to license in - whichever is greater.
- Online students are expected to attend two (2) onsite intensives as part of the requirements of their program. There are no online options for the intensives.
- Students must complete any additional requirements set by the state in which they plan to license.
Graduation Requirements
- Successful completion of the required core courses, clinical experience, and major courses with a minimum grade of "C" in each course and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
- All degree requirements must be completed within six years of enrollment.
- Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.
MA - Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Program of Study
Core Courses
| CNS-501 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| CNS-502 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| CNS-503 | Theory and Techniques in the Helping Relationship | 3 |
| CNS-504 | Theory and Techniques in Group Counseling | 3 |
| CNS-505 | Theory and Techniques in Career Counseling | 3 |
| CNS-506 | Appraisal of Individuals and Families | 3 |
| CNS-507 | Research and Evaluation of Methods and Practice | 3 |
| CNS-508 | Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues | 3 |
| CNS-509 | Integration of Christian Faith in Professional Counseling | 3 |
Clinical Experiences
| CNS-550A | Supervised Practicum - Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| CNS-551A | Supervised Internship - Clinical Counseling | 3 |
| CNS-552A | Supervised Internship - Clinical Counseling | 3 |
Major Courses
| CNS-511 | Issues in Addiction Recovery | 3 |
| CNS-522 | Foundations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| CNS-523 | Assessment and Intervention in Clinical Mental Health | 3 |
| CNS-524 | Ecological Counseling and Prevention | 3 |
| CNS-533 | Psychopathology | 3 |
Elective Courses
Students are expected to take an additional 9 credit hours of any unduplicated CNS courses within the Division of Counseling.
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| Electives | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 60 |
