100% Online Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Curriculum

This course is an introduction to the profession of counseling. The course is designed to acquaint individuals who are preparing to enter the counseling profession with a broad overview of the profession’s historical and theoretical foundations, as well as to begin the development of a professional identity.
Prereq/Coreq: none

This course provides an examination of major theories of human development, including those from physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and moral perspectives. Development is viewed across the human life span in each of these areas. The course is designed to encourage an integrated concept of these theoretical perspectives, which serves as a developmental framework for the counseling process.
Pre/Co Requisite: none

Students will become familiar with the established and emerging theories and models of counseling including historical context and key names, terms and concepts. The course will also focus upon how theory translates into practice and will consider available outcome research. Each student will be expected to be able to articulate his or her own tentative personal theoretical orientation at the end of the course.
Pre/Co Requisite: none

This course will provide an overview of research and statistical analysis in counseling. It will combine reading of the required text, journal articles and other selected publications, lectures, discussion, small group activities, and student presentations to help you learn and assimilate the key statistics and research principles necessary. Enhancing your understanding of basic statistical concepts as well as methods for integrating research in counseling practice will be featured elements of this course. Pre/Co requisites: none

This course is designed to facilitate development of basic communication skills necessary to develop an effective helping relationship with clients. It includes the utilization of special skills to assist individuals, families, or groups in achieving objectives through exploration of a problem and its ramifications; examination of alternative solutions; and decision making.
Pre/Co requisites: none

This course is designed to develop a basic familiarity with theories, procedures, and techniques in counseling. It will provide the learner with an understanding of group processes and dynamics from both an experiential and a didactic perspective. Pre/Co requisites: MHC 5200

An introduction to the field of multicultural counseling. Issues and practical considerations in counseling five population groups; definition of terms and concepts.
Pre/Co requisites: MHC 5200

This course will examine the world of work, life career development, career decision- making theories, the process and techniques of career counseling and the interrelationship between career and life balance issues and mental health; these issues will be discussed using multicultural and social justice frameworks.
Pre/co requisites: MHC 5200

Ethical standards are discussed from a historical and practice perspective, and an ethical decision-making model is explored. Laws that affect the professional practice of mental health, school and rehabilitation counseling are presented and examined. Professional issues concerns and associations are discussed.
Pre/co requisites: none

This course provides an understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation in a multicultural society. It will examine basic concepts of standardized and non-standardized testing and other assessment methods for appraising individual differences and family dynamics.
Pre/co requisites: MHC 5080

This course covers counseling skills, process and strategies associated with major counseling theories. Provides intensive practice in both technical and conceptual skills with emphasis on self-awareness, case conceptualization, racial-cultural considerations, and supervised practice in a community setting.
Pre/Co requisites: MHC5100

This course is designed to facilitate development of basic communication skills necessary to develop an effective helping relationship with clients. It includes the utilization of special skills to assist individuals, families, or groups in achieving objectives through exploration of a problem and its ramifications; examination of alternative solutions; and decision making.
Pre/Co requisites: MHC 5200

This is a study of the history, professional roles, and responsibilities of the counseling profession; including ethical, and legal standards/principles for conduct. Professional organizations, preparation, credentialing, and the creation of a plan for lifelong professional and personal development will be examined.
Corequisite: 5450

This course provides counselors in training with an overview of the addictive process and the practice of addiction counseling. Students will develop conceptual knowledge, practical skills, and self-awareness concerning the etiology of addiction and its impact across the life-span. Models of addiction and professional issues in Addiction Counseling such as co-occurring disorders, process addictions and mental illnesses will be addressed. Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of addictions with diversity & advocacy issues will also being explored.
Prerequisites: MHC 5400/5450

Introduction to the structure and uses of the DSM-V TR for diagnosing mental and emotional disorders. Limits and weaknesses of these approaches—especially regarding cultural differences—and alternatives to them. How to use these systems effectively in the context of person-centered, psychosocial, and systemic interventions, and in culturally diverse environments will be addressed. Students will learn how the history of psychopathy and ways to integrate diagnostic criteria into case conceptualization and treatment planning, while utilizing appropriate treatment modalities.
Pre-requisites: MHC 5050, MHC 5100, MHC 5320

This course provides students with foundational knowledge of the impact of crises, disasters, and other trauma-causing events on people as well as the principles of crisis intervention for people during crises, disasters, and other trauma-causing events. The appropriate use of diagnosis during crisis, disaster, or other trauma causing events and the differentiation between diagnosis and developmentally appropriate reactions during crises, disasters, and other trauma-causing events will be examined. Students will learn specific crisis intervention practices, including procedures for assessing and managing suicide risk, suicide prevention models, and the use of psychological first aid strategies. The counselors’ roles and responsibilities as members of an interdisciplinary emergency management response team during a crisis, disaster or other trauma-causing event and the operation of emergency management systems will be studied.
Prerequisites: MHC 5000, MHC 5040, MHC 5050, MHC 5100, MHC 5230, MHC 5320, and MHC 5530

The Integrative Learning Capstone provides an opportunity for students to pull together things they have been working on for the past 3 years. It will also help them prepare for the next steps after graduation. Unlike past courses, which often have been content heavy, this course is about the student. Student’s will have an opportunity to do several things to enhance their professional development such as creating an electronic portfolio that provides evidence of growth as a counselor, creating a presentation that reflects that growth, and interviewing a mental health professional who has expertise in a particular field that interests them.
My hope is that by the end of this course, each student will be prepared to enter the world of professional counseling. Students are already prepared academically and clinically. The Integrative Learning Capstone will give them an opportunity to create a sense of personal ownership over their accomplishments.

Prerequisites MHC 5700

Specific Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to prepare professional documents needed for practice in the profession.
2. Select artifacts that will serve as examples of ways each student has met the five program objectives.
3. Select artifacts that exemplify items that are pertinent to professional practice.
4. Identify an article that is significant to learning and growth.
5. Demonstrate mastery of the counseling program’s material by successfully completing a departmental exam.
6. Interview a counseling professional who specializes in an area of interest.
7. Design a presentation that reflects personal and professional growth throughout the program.
8. Create an e-portfolio.

This course offers a comprehensive, interactive experience designed to develop and evaluate students’ counseling skills and professional dispositions through two mandatory in-person, synchronous sessions. Regardless of the program’s delivery method, students will engage in live observations and assessments at least twice throughout their studies, with one assessment occurring prior to the practicum. These sessions will provide essential feedback on key competencies and dispositions, ensuring students meet professional standards and are well-prepared for fieldwork and beyond. This structured approach fosters personal growth, skill mastery, and readiness for real-world counseling environments.

Internship is a highly individualized learning experience that provides opportunities for growth in skills, knowledge, and personal development. In Internship, you will be provided the opportunity to increase understanding of yourself and your impact on others as well as augment your understanding of your clinical setting. Internship meetings will be composed of various experiences to be determined by the needs, abilities, and concerns of the group members and supervisor. Activities will be designed to facilitate growth in specific counseling skills, case conceptualization skills, self-awareness, and professional identity development.
Prerequisites 5450

Internship is a highly individualized learning experience that provides opportunities for growth in skills, knowledge, and personal development. In Internship, you will be provided the opportunity to increase understanding of yourself and your impact on others as well as augment your understanding of your clinical setting. Internship meetings will be composed of various experiences to be determined by the needs, abilities, and concerns of the group members and supervisor. Activities will be designed to facilitate growth in specific counseling skills, case conceptualization skills, self-awareness, and professional identity development.
Prerequisites 5600

Internship is a highly individualized learning experience that provides opportunities for growth in skills, knowledge, and personal development. In Internship, you will be provided the opportunity to increase understanding of yourself and your impact on others as well as augment your understanding of your clinical setting. Internship meetings will be composed of various experiences to be determined by the needs, abilities, and concerns of the group members and supervisor. Activities will be designed to facilitate growth in specific counseling skills, case conceptualization skills, self-awareness, and professional identity development.