Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSCMHC)

Program Location	Distance Education/Online or Hybrid
Program Credits	60 Credits
Program Length*	6 Trimesters, 120 Instructional Weeks
Time to Complete	29 Months

^* Program length may vary. WCU distance education programs may not be available to residents in all states.

Clinical Hour Requirement: this track requires a total of 135 hours of Supervised Clinical Practicum, 600 hours of Internship that does not count toward 3,000 hours of LPCI required hours. Coordinators will approve clinical site placements, assist with compliance training, and support students as they seek an appropriate site placement.

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes: 21-1012.00, 21-1014.00, 21-1015.00, 21-1011.00, 11-9151.00, 39-9041.00, 21-1013.00, 21-1019.00, 21-1093.00, 21-1094.00

Program Mission Statement: The mission of the Master of Science in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSCMHC) program is to prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to be culturally competent, trauma informed, and stalwart advocates for social justice ensuring equity, and access to effective and affirmative clinical mental health care for all individuals.

Program Vision Statement: The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program envisions cultivating the next generation of professional counselors through a compassionate and rigorous curriculum that focuses on strengths-based approaches. We aim to empower our students to become advocates for mental health, social justice, wellness, and emotional well-being for all.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Learning Outcomes 

1. Evaluate counseling models to gain a broad and comprehensive understanding of individual and group assessments, testing, interviewing, and diagnostic processes for client lifespan development.
2.  Develop evidence-based practice methods to evaluate individual counseling interventions and program designs and procedures while considering strategies that are culturally and developmentally responsive focused on continuously improving the effectiveness of clinical practice.
3. Deliver competent clinical counseling strategies to foster therapeutic relationships and work effectively and affirmatively with diverse individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities.
4. Facilitate effective counseling relationships to provide affirmative, comprehensive, and culturally competent mental health services to clients from diverse backgrounds across the lifespan and as members of specialized practice and interprofessional teams.
5. Practice a professional identity to prioritize ethical and effective practice as a critical pathway for the healing, empowerment, and the emotional and mental well-being of clients, and to build counseling relationships from a strength-based, intergenerational, trauma-informed perspective.
6. Act as a social justice advocate to serve communities in various capacities, contributing positively and effectively to well-being and positive development, and informing advocacy in counseling decision-making as part of career development.

Admission Requirements

A student applying for admission to the MSCMHC program at West Coast University must:

1. Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher
2. Submit a copy of official transcripts and/or International Transcript Evaluation, prior to the end of the add/drop period of the first term
3. Provide a Statement of Purpose
4. Provide two (2) professional letters of recommendation
5. Complete the Interview Process
6. Complete an enrollment agreement, consisting of program policies, costs, completion requirements, and other student obligations, if accepted into the program

Language Verification Requirements

Students with foreign degrees applying to the MSCMHC program must possess proficiency in English at a level to enable them to succeed in graduate-level studies. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test (DET) must be taken if the applicant’s native language is not English. Results must be sent directly from TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo to the West Coast University admissions department. Copies are not acceptable. Your application will not be considered until you have achieved at least the minimum score.

• TOEFL - minimum composite score of 100, with sub-scores of 21 or higher.
• IELTS - minimum overall band score of 7.0, with a speaking band score of 7.0 or higher and other band scores of 6.0 or higher.
• DET - minimum score of 125.

Probationary Admissions Requirements

Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 2.79-2.99 may be considered for probationary admission after meeting the following admissions requirements:

• The applicant must provide a letter of intent.
• The applicant must be approved for admission following an interview with the Program Director/Dean.
• The applicant must satisfy program prerequisites.

A student admitted under the probationary admissions pathway must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all coursework attempted over the first semester (two terms). Students who meet this standard will be converted to a full admit status and will be subject to the standard Satisfactory Academic Progress requirement for the duration of their program. Students failing to meet this requirement by the end of the first semester (two terms) will be withdrawn from the university.

Students accepted under the probationary admissions pathway will be considered regular students and eligible for Title IV, if the student otherwise qualifies for funding, for the first semester of their program of study while completing the requirements for full admission to their program.

MSCMHC Curriculum

 

CMHC 505	Foundations of Clinical Mental Health and Counseling	3
CMHC 510	Professional Orientation: Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling	3
CMHC 515	Counseling Theories and Practice	3
CMHC 520	Crisis/Trauma Response and Intervention	3
CMHC 525	Social and Cultural Foundations	3
CMHC 530	Individual Counseling Skills and Practice w/ Immersive I	3
CMHC 535	Human Growth and Development	3
CMHC 545	Career and Lifestyle Assessment	3
CMHC 550	Couples, Marriage, and Family Counseling	3
CMHC 560	Research Design and Program Evaluation	3
CMHC 645	Group Counseling and Practice	3
CMHC 650	Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling	3
CMHC 655	Human Sexuality	3
CMHC 665	Psychopathology	3
CMHC 670	Individual Evaluation and Assessment	3
CMHC 680	Psychopharmacology	3
CMHC 683	Contemporary Topics Advanced Skills, Theories and Ethics w/ Immersive II	3
CMHC 685	Fieldwork Practicum	3
CMHC 690A	Fieldwork: Internship I	2
CMHC 690B	Fieldwork: Internship II	2
CMHC 690C	Fieldwork: Internship III	2
Total Credit Hours:		60

Master of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Costs

For program costs, please see the Graduate Tuition and Fees section.