Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.

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The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students wishing to pursue counseling careers in public and private mental health agencies, the criminal justice system, substance abuse programs, religious settings, or colleges. The coursework satisfies the academic requirements of the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. Candidates are prepared to sit for the state licensure examination qualifying individuals to be a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master’s degree, students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program are expected to be able to:

Distinguish between counseling theories
Integrate theory and practice for individual and group counseling settings
Examine practices surrounding multiculturalism, diversity, inclusion, and equity
Develop a professional counselor identity with a foundation in the integration of evidenced based practice and applicable ethical codes
Evaluate their self-awareness and self-development through reflective practice of counseling skills

Admission Requirements

The Fall priority deadline is March 1, 2022. Applications will be accepted until April 15th.

All applications will be reviewed for the following criteria:

your aptitude for graduate study
your potential success in forming effective counseling relationships
your aptitude for working with diverse populations
the relevance of your career goals to the counseling profession

Three Letters of Recommendation: Your letters of recommendation should be from persons familiar with your work and/or academic habits (e.g., supervisors, professors, employers) and address the above criteria.

Writing Sample: Respond to the following questions. The combined length of all answers should not exceed five (5) typed, double-spaced, APA style pages.

Why are you seeking a graduate degree in clinical mental health or school counseling?
What experiences have you had that you believe will prepare you for a career in counseling?
Besides a graduate degree and a job, what do you hope to gain from your experience as a graduate student?
What factors do you believe constitute a culturally competent and sensitive counseling professional and how does that pertain to you? Also, comment on any experience you may have had working with diverse populations.
What type of population do you believe you would feel most comfortable counseling?
Who, if anyone, influenced your decision to pursue graduate work in counseling?

Application Requirements

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements

Curriculum Requirements

Required Courses (51 credits)

Electives (3-9 credits)

Plan I students complete 3-6 credits of electives dependent upon number of COUN 6990 credits completed. Plan II students complete 9 credits of electives.

Culminating Experience (0-6 credits)

Plan I:
COUN 6990 - Thesis Research
Plan II:

Portfolio

Other Requirements

Minimum course grade of “B-” or above for any Practicum or Internship pre-requisites.
Overall evaluation of “acceptable” ratings on Professional Disposition Forms (conducted at various points throughout the program)
Field experience through Practicum (1 semester, 100 site clock hours) and Internship (minimum 2 semesters, 600 site clock hours)
Adhere to State of Ohio laws governing licensed school counselors.
Adhere to American Counseling Association and the American School Counseling Association ethical standards for professional counselors.

Minimum Total Credits (60 credits)

Additional Requirements

Minimum of 3 credits of 6990 required for Plan I master’s students. Maximum of 6 credits may be applied toward degree requirements.
Minimum 3.0 graduate cumulative grade point average
Minimum of 18 credits must be at the 6000-level or higher
Minimum of 24 credits must be earned at BGSU
All requirements must be completed within six years from the end of the earliest course used to fulfill degree requirements.