Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Master of Science)

Help people maintain the emotional, psychological, and intellectual well-being that creates the capacity to function in society.

Fort Valley State University

develop effective counseling skills and broad-based expertise

Clinical mental health counseling is the practice of helping people maintain the emotional, psychological, and intellectual well-being that creates the capacity to function in society.

Counselor speak at group counseling therapy session

Clinical mental health counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish wellness, education, and career goals. This program prepares graduates to work with a diverse population of clients in various settings, such as mental health agencies, private practice, juvenile justice settings, and programs that address drug and alcohol abuse. The program helps prepare students to meet the counseling needs in Georgia and society.

Clinical mental health counselors possess the knowledge, skills, abilities, and training to provide a wide array of clinical mental health services. These persons, with integrity, support the dignity and value of each person in society. They make every reasonable effort to protect human welfare, abiding by and supporting the highest professional standards in the profession of counseling. Graduates from the FVSU Master of Science degree program in Clinical Mental Health counseling have acquired the advanced knowledge, skills, experiences, dispositions, and technical competencies to function effectively as clinical mental health counselors in the 21st century.

The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Program at Fort Valley State University requires sixty (60) credit hours.

The program is administered through the College of Education.

 

Students in this graduate program take courses in counseling theories and process, career and lifestyle development, statistics and measurement, group theory, behavior assessment and modification, human growth and development, research, multicultural counseling, substance abuse and addictions counseling, clinical diagnosis and treatment, family counseling and guidance, crisis counseling, psychological tests and evaluation, and psychopathology, among other courses. Students complete three field experiences, including a practicum and two internships. The graduates are eligible for licensure in the State of Georgia. The program is administered through the College of Education and Professional Studies.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Fort Valley State University is a sixty (60) credit hour master’s level program. The program is administered by the College of Education and Professional Studies Department of Counseling. The program’s coursework is offered on a semester basis. When enrolled in courses representing approximately nine (9) to twelve (12) hours a semester, a student can expect to complete the program in five (5) to seven (7) semesters. This equates to approximately two and a half years (when taking four classes a semester) or three and a half years (when taking three courses a semester).

The program is fully aligned with the standards established by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and the requirements of the State of Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists. This program prepares graduates to work with a diverse population of clients in various settings, such as mental health agencies, private practice, juvenile justice settings, and programs that address drug and alcohol abuse. The program helps students develop effective counseling skills and gain broad-based expertise to meet the counseling needs in Georgia and society.

Program Mission

The mission of the Fort Valley State University’s Counselor Education Program is to educate graduates to work with a diverse population of clients in various settings, such as mental health agencies, private practice, juvenile justice settings, and programs that address drug and alcohol abuse. The program helps students develop effective counseling skills and gain broad-based expertise to meet the counseling needs in Georgia and society.

The Department of Counseling holds the following objectives as part of the training of future professional counselors.

  1. Demonstrate clinical effectiveness through synthesis of a theoretical approach and application of counseling skills.
  2. Demonstrate cultural competence in knowledge of self and others and the skills to develop additional competencies through self-exploration.
  3. Demonstrate the ability to develop, implement, and evaluate a professional development plan in order to further meet one’s professional interests and professional needs.
  4. Demonstrate advocacy skills in order to promote social justice on behalf of clients and the counseling profession to meet the needs of an ever-developing multicultural and pluralistic society.
  5. Demonstrate the integration of career counseling and personal counseling considerations to meet the physical, psychological and behavioral health needs of clients.

Program Accreditation

The CMHC program is pursuing accreditation through the Council on the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP is a nationally recognized organization and is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. The State of Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists also recognizes this organization and the Licensed Professional Counselor Association of Georgia (LPCAGA). Fort Valley State University is regionally accredited through the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). Graduates of the program will be eligible for Georgia licensure.

Program Delivery Format

Most courses are delivered in a face-to-face or hybrid format. Content delivery methods include lectures, internet activities, handouts, videos, community learning, guest speakers, and presentations. The CMHC program is not an online program; however, with permission, students may be able to take an online course under exceptional circumstances. For additional information regarding program delivery format guidelines, please review the CMHC Program Handbook.

Course Requirements for MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 Hours)

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< headers="header3"td>Practicum

Course Requirements for MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 Hours)
Subject Course No. Course Name Credit Hours
FVSU 0500 Orientation for Graduate Studies 0
MLHC 5413 Clinical Mental Health Counseling 3
COUN 5433 Substance Abuse and Addictions Counseling 3
COUN 5443 Career and Lifestyle Development 3
COUN 5453 Psychopathology 3
COUN 5463 Human Growth and Development 3
COUN 5533 Fundamentals of Statistics and Measurement 3
COUN 5543 Fundamentals of Research 3
COUN 5553 Multicultural Counseling 3
COUN 5623 Counseling Theories and Process 3
COUN 5633 Group Theory and Process 3
COUN 5643 Family Counseling and Guidance 3
COUN 5653 Behavior Assessment / Modification 3
COUN 5733 Psychological Tests and Evaluation 3
COUN 5734 Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Planning 3
COUN 5743 Crisis Counseling 3
MLHC 5762 Case Management 3
MLHC 5770 Practicum 3
MLHC 5772 Internship 3

Graduation Requirements

Prospective graduates must take and pass all required coursework with a letter grade of “B” or better, obtain and maintain a 3.0 grade point average, pass the Comprehensive Professional Counselor Exam (CPCE), and demonstrate competency regarding counselor disposition and clinical skills. The CMHC program also adheres to the graduation requirements of the Graduate Studies Office. Please refer to the program graduation handbook and the Graduate Student Handbook.

Admission Application Requirements

  1. A Completed Graduate Application
  2. Application Processing Fee (non-refundable)
    • $20 – Domestic Applicants
    • $75 – International Applicants
  3. A Professional Resume
  4. A Statement of Purpose
    • The statement must be between 550-600 words. The Statement of Purpose should be in essay format and include personal characteristics/disposition, professional goals, academic background, research, work/volunteer experience and why you wish to pursue a graduate degree in the respective area.
  5. Three Professional Recommendations
    • Letters of recommendation must be submitted using the FVSU Recommendation form for Graduate Admission.
  6. Official Transcripts from each postsecondary institution (College/University) attended. The transcript should show all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades earned.
  7. Immunization records
    • International Transcript Evaluation: Transcripts from educational institutions outside the United States must be evaluated by any current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) (https://www.naces.org/members.html) with a course-by-course evaluation and grade point average (GPA) included. The transcript must be received directly from the evaluation service/agency.

All materials must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies before the CMHC admissions team will review your application. Partial applications will not be reviewed. Once a complete application is received, the admissions team will score the application components prescribed by the Office of Graduate Studies. The applicant will be notified of their acceptance status by the Office of Graduate Studies. Applications must be received by the admission deadline for review. Applications received after the admission deadline will be considered for the next admission date.

headshot of doctor anissa howard

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Coordinator

Dr. Anissa Howard MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Coordinator Tel: (478) 825-6665 Email: Anissa.Howard@fvsu.edu

Meet the Faculty

The Counseling Department faculty at Fort Valley State University understand what it takes to succeed.

Faculty

Clinical mental health counseling

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