Mental health professionals are already committed to improving the mental and emotional health of others. This program allows students to gain the confidence, qualifications, and critical thinking skills needed to help clients cope with daily life and overcome their greatest challenges. Students can also strengthen their focus on helping clients develop their strengths and find their own solutions to issues.
Walden University’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) as a mental health counseling program under the 2016 standards. CACREP is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and a requirement for licensure in many states.
Walden University’s MS in School Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) as a mental health counseling program under the 2016 standards. CACREP is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and a requirement for licensure in many states.
The Walden University Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program is designed to prepare graduates to practice as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in many states. However, the requirements for licensure as a LPC or LMHC varies greatly from state to state. Each state board that is responsible for regulating the practice of professional or mental health counseling has its own academic requirements and issues its own license to practice as a LPC or LMHC in that state.
Walden CMHC graduates may apply for licensure as a professional counselor, such as the LPC or LMHC, in most states. However, each state issues its own credential for an individual to be permitted to practice as a licensed professional or mental health counselor in that state. While Walden enrollment specialists can provide general information relating to the state-by-state educational requirements for mental health or professional counseling licensure or certification, it remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to field education experiences, licensing or certification, authorization, or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of its coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure, certification, authorization, endorsement, or other state credential. Licensure eligibility determinations are ultimately determined by the appropriate state board that issues the credential to practice.
Prospective students enrolling in licensure-leading programs are advised that relocation to another state may impact the student’s ability to complete field experiences and/or to obtain professional licensure, certification, or other credential in another state. Prospective students are advised to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate.
The Walden University Master of Science (MS) in School Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to practice as a licensed school counselor in many states. However, the requirements for licensure as a school counselor vary greatly from state to state. Each state board that is responsible for regulating the practice of school counseling has its own academic requirements and issues its own license to practice as a school counselor in that state.
The Walden MS in School Counseling program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which may also be a requirement to become a licensed or certified school counselor in some states.
Walden MS in School Counseling graduates may apply for licensure as a school counselor in most states, as the MS in School Counseling program is approved in both Minnesota and Ohio. Graduates in some states will be eligible for licensure based on completion of a state-approved program, where they can apply directly to their state educator board (“direct apply”). Other states have a separate application and process for someone completing an out-of-state approved preparation program (“license-in-hand pathway”), where in order for a graduate to be eligible for licensure or certification, he or she must first obtain a license in an approved state (Minnesota or Ohio) prior to applying for licensure in his or her state of residence.
Prospective students must research their state licensure requirements to determine (1) if they are required to complete a state-approved licensure program to be eligible to apply directly to their state board, (2) if they need to obtain a license from the state where the program has been approved (Minnesota or Ohio) prior to applying in the state they reside, and (3) any additional requirements the student will need to complete prior to their state granting the license. Students residing in Minnesota and Ohio are eligible to apply directly to their state board, as Walden’s MS in School Counseling is approved by both state boards. Additionally, some states require school counselors to hold an existing teaching license or certificate, and/or obtain teaching experience, in order to be eligible for a school counseling certificate or license.
Each state issues its own credential for an individual to be permitted to practice as a licensed school counselor in that state. While Walden enrollment specialists can provide general information relating to the state-by-state educational requirements for school counseling licensure or certification, it remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to field education experiences, licensing or certification, authorization, or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of its coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure, certification, authorization, endorsement, or other state credential. Licensure eligibility determinations are ultimately determined by the appropriate state board that issues the credential to practice.
Prospective students enrolling in licensure-leading programs are advised that relocation to another state may impact the student’s ability to complete field experiences and/or to obtain professional licensure, certification, or other credential in another state. Prospective students are advised to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate.
The following Learning Outcomes are common to all MS in counseling programs. The competent and confident counseling professional will:
OR
These courses are dependent upon the particular specialization. Please see the course list on each specialization page.
Each pre-practicum includes online course content integrated with a 4-day, face-to-face residential requirement.
Students undertake courses in the following sequence.
Quarter | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
Quarter 1 |
COUN 6101 - Foundations of MS Counseling in Graduate Studies |
1 credits |
COUN 6100 - Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling |
5 credits | |
Quarter 2 |
COUN 6111 - Introduction to School Counseling |
5 credits |
COUN 6722 - Theories of Counseling |
5 credits | |
Quarter 3 |
COUN 6316 - Techniques in Counseling |
5 credits |
COUN 6306 - Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling |
5 credits | |
Eligible to take Pre-Practicum 1 – DDLB 611L (Must be completed before COUN 6250 or COUN 6320) | ||
Quarter 4 |
DDLB 611L- Clinical Mental Health PrePracticum 1 |
0 credits |
COUN 6723 - Multicultural Counseling | 5 credits | |
COUN 6360 - Assessment in Counseling and Education |
5 credits | |
Quarter 5 |
COUN 6215 - Lifespan Development |
5 credits |
COUN 6720 - Diagnosis and Assessment |
5 credits | |
Must complete Pre-Practicum 1 before moving forward | ||
Quarter 6 |
COUN 6250 - Group Process and Dynamics OR COUN 6320 - Group Counseling and Guidance in the Schools |
5 credits |
GRPL 6100 - Counseling Group Lab |
0 credits | |
COUN 6317 - Child and Adolescent Counseling | 5 credits | |
Eligible to take Pre-Practicum 2 – DDLB 621L (Must be completed before COUN 6626) | ||
Quarter 7 |
DDLB 621L - Clinical Mental Health PrePracticum 2 |
0 credits |
COUN 6726 - Couples and Family Counseling |
5 credits | |
COUN 6753 - Career Counseling | 5 credits | |
Quarter 8 | COUN 6311 – Leadership, Advocacy, and Consultation in the Schools | 5 credits |
COUN 6336 - Crisis, Trauma, and Disaster Response |
5 credits | |
Quarter 9 |
COUN 6730 - Counseling Addictive Disorders |
5 credits |
COUN 6743 - Psychopharmacology |
5 credits | |
Must complete Pre-Practicum 2 before moving forward | ||
Quarter 10 |
COUN 6626 – Research Methodology and Program Evaluation |
5 credits |
COUN 6785 – Social Change in Action: Prevention, Consultation, and Advocacy |
5 credits | |
Quarter 11 |
COUN 6671 - Counseling Practicum |
3–5 credits |
Quarter 12 |
COUN 6682A - Counseling Internship I |
3–5 credits |
Quarter 13 |
COUN 6682B - Counseling Internship II |
3–5 credits |
Quarter 14 | COUN 6500 - School Counseling Internship I | 3 credits |
Quarter 15 | COUN 6501 - School Counseling Internship II | 3 credits |
Optional specialization courses may be taken in quarters along with internships (Quarters 12, 13, 14, and 15 ). | 10 credits |
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