Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

This degree does not qualify a student for any teaching certificate or licensure in the State of Alabama. Out-of-state students should check carefully the certification and licensure requirements of their respective states.

Program Admission Requirements

Phase I: Graduate School Admission.

Meet the requirements to be admitted to the School of Graduate Studies.
Provide verification of background clearance/fingerprints.

Phase II: Counseling Program Admissions Portfolio

Candidates must submit a portfolio to the Counselor Education Program for review. The portfolio affords a candidate to provide valuable information regarding:

Relevance of Career Goals
Aptitude for Graduate-level study
Potential success in forming effective counseling relationships
Respect for Cultural differences.

Resume including educational background, a record of employment, and volunteer activities.
Professional Goals Essay
Three completed Recommendation for Admission Forms.
Video interview

I. Professional Courses: 9 hours

CO 506. Life-Span Development and Learning Credits: 3
ED 504. Techniques of Educational Research Credits: 3
CO 503. Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling Credits: 3

II. Concentration Courses: 45 hours

CO 500. Professional Orientation Credits: 3
CO 501. Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling Credits: 3
CO 509. Pre-Practicum in Counseling with Residency Credits: 3
CO 520. Psychopathology Credits: 3
CO 530. Theory and Techniques in Distance Counseling Credits: 3
CO 541. Theories and Techniques of Counseling Credits: 3
CO 542. Career Development and Counseling Credits: 3
CO 543. Counseling Children and Adolescents Credits: 3
CO 544. Strategies for Crisis Intervention Credits: 3
CO 545. Diagnostic Techniques in Counseling Credits: 3
CO 546. Group Counseling Credits: 3
CO 547. Counseling Multicultural Populations Credits: 3
CO 549. Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling I Credits: 3
CO 558. Practicum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Credits: 3
CO 590. Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling II Credits: 3

Six (6) hours of approved electives from the following:

CO 510. Theories and Treatment of Addiction Credits: 3
CO 511. Issues in Addiction Recovery Credits: 3
CO 512. Family Issues in Counseling Addicted Clients Credits: 3
CO 513. Techniques of Addictions Counseling Credits: 3
CO 531. Law and Ethics in Distance Counseling Credits: 3
CO 532. Administration and Practice of Distance Counseling Credits: 3
CO 533. Distance Counseling with Special Populations Credits: 3
CO 550. Theory and Treatment of Trauma Credits: 3
CO 551. Counseling with Special Populations: Grief, Trauma, or Crisis Credits: 3
CO 554. Technology and the Counseling Profession Credits: 3
CO 556. Human Sexuality Credits: 3
CO 560. Theory and Treatment of Grief Credits: 3
CO 571. Introduction to Play Therapy Credits: 3
CO 572. Advanced Play Therapy Credits: 3
CO 573. Adult/Child Relationship Credits: 3
CO 598. Selected Topics in Counseling Credits: 1-3
PY 525. Personality Assessment Credits: 3
PY 526. Marriage and Family Therapy Credits: 3
PY 528. Health Psychology Credits: 3
PY 529. Psychopharmacology Credits: 3
PY 535. Advanced Techniques in Family Counseling Credits: 3
PY 560. Psychological Tests and Measurements Credits: 3
PY 563. Assessment Techniques in Family Counseling Credits: 3

Total Required: 60 hours

Note(s):

This program is offered online with a residency requirement.

Program Completion Requirements

A grade-point average of not less than 3.25 on a four-point scale on all work attempted with no grade less than "C."
A satisfactory score on a comprehensive examination covering all the content of the program.
Satisfactory performance in one practicum for 100 clock hours and 600 clock hours of internship supervised jointly by a site supervisor and a UWA counseling program faculty member.