Each candidate for the master’s degree in clinical and mental health counseling will be required to complete the 60 semester hours listed below. The Board of Examiners in Counseling accepts only grades of A or B in these courses.

Please click here to see the Clinical and Mental Health Counseling Admissions Criteria.

Counseling Core Courses (57 Hours)

• COUN 6083 – Research and Program Evaluation
• COUN 6133 – Technology Assisted Counseling and Current Trends
• COUN 6403 – Introduction to the Counseling Profession
• COUN 6413 – Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues in Counseling
• COUN 6423 – Counseling Theories
• COUN 6433 – Basic Counseling Skills
• COUN 6443 – Group Counseling
• COUN 6453 – Human Development for Helping Professionals
• COUN 6463 – Career Counseling: Theory and Practice
• COUN 6473 – Counseling in a Diverse Society
• COUN 6483 – Assessment Procedures for Counselors
• COUN 6493 – Practicum in Counseling
• COUN 6503 – Case Management and the DSM
• COUN 6513 – Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship I
• COUN 6523 – Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship II
• COUN 6533 – Advanced Counseling Skills
• COUN 6553 – Marriage and Family Counseling: Theory and Practice
• COUN 6573 – Psychopharmacology and the Counseling Profession
• COUN 6583 – Counseling Children and Adolescents
• COUN 6133 – Technology Assisted Counseling and Current Trends

Electives (select 3 hours from the following):

• COUN 6073 – Introduction to Play Therapy
• COUN 6543 – Substance Use Disorders
• COUN 6563 – Human Sexuality: Concepts, Theory and Practice
• COUN 6203 – Special Topics

Application and Program Admission Document Deadlines:

• Fall semester: August 1
• Spring semester: December 1
• 1st Summer session: May 1
• 2nd Summer session: June 1

CMHC Program Admission:

• Complete and upload the following documents into the admissions portal:
  • Statement of Purpose Writing Sample (prompt below)
  • Three reference letters from former or current supervisors or professors
  • Acknowledgment of Program Requirements (Informed Consent)

Applicants to the program should understand that a 100-hour Practicum and two 300-hour semesters of internship (for a total of 700 hours of professional practice and fieldwork) are required.

Statement of Purpose Writing Sample

In two to three pages (not including the title page and any references you cite), address all five of the following prompts. The style should be consistent with the seventh edition of the American Psychological Association Publication Manual.

1. Career Goals: Why do you want to pursue a master’s degree in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling at Southern Arkansas University? How does this program align with your career goals?
2. Strengths and Weaknesses: Discuss and area of strength you would bring to a counseling role and an area of weakness you struggle with. Include information about your personal qualities which will assist you in forming effective counseling relationships.
3. Time Management and Prioritizing: Keeping up with the pace of graduate school and online courses can be stressful and is often the equivalent of a part-time job. What is your plan for managing your time while in the program (include information about your family and/or social supports)?
4. Response to Feedback: Imagine a situation where you felt a supervisor or instructor treated you unfairly or provided feedback you disagreed with. How would you approach a situation like this?
5. Cultural Sensitivity and responsiveness are essential to counseling relationship. How have you formed relationships with people different from you and how do you plan to navigate cultural differences with future clients?

Transfer Credit Policy

The Master of Science in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling degree program requires completion of 60 credit hours of graduate-level coursework in counseling. This is also a requirement for licensure as a Professional Counselor in most states.

A maximum of twelve credit hour may be transferred form an institutionally-accredited college or university. These transfer credits must be in courses determined to be equivalent to courses required in the program. All transfer credits must be approved by the Program Director, College Dean, and the Registrar. Decisions about transfer credits will be made after a student had been admitted to the program.