Program Requirements

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will:

  • Understand the importance of ethical standards of professional counseling organizations and demonstrate application of ethical and legal considerations in professional counseling.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the history, philosophy, roles, professional organizations, and functions associated with counselors and the counseling profession; specifically, to the students’ specialty program area.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of social and cultural diversity understanding through theories of multicultural counseling and the application of theories of multicultural counseling competencies in a clinical or school setting.
  • Apply culturally-competent counseling skills.
  • Apply knowledge of biological, environmental, cultural, and systemic factors influencing individual development through the lifespan and will apply this knowledge to appropriate counseling interventions.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of using career assessment data relevant to career planning and decision-making to contribute to client career development.
  • Use appropriate counseling characteristics and skills (e.g., interviewing, case conceptualization, and relevant treatment).
  • Demonstrate knowledge of different theories and models of counseling. Additionally, students will begin to articulate their personal approach to counseling.
  • Demonstrate a comprehension of group counseling theories, purpose, and development (including stages and members roles/behaviors), theories, methods, skills, and approaches.
  • Understand approaches to assessment and evaluation including basic concepts of testing, measures of central tendency and variability, different test scores, and psychometric properties (i.e., reliability and validity).
  • Demonstrate an understanding of research methods, statistics, needs assessment, and program evaluation, including social and cultural implications for interpreting and reporting results.
  • Show evidence of knowledge of ethical, professional dispositions and will be able to demonstrate these dispositions in practice.
  • Demonstrate the ability to initiate, maintain, and terminate counseling within a broad range of mental health issues.

Program plan

A: Required Courses (54 hours)
COUN 601 Career Development
COUN 602 Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling
COUN 604 Psychopathology and Diagnosis
COUN 605 Group Counseling and Group Work
COUN 606 Counseling Skills and Techniques
COUN 608 Addictions Counseling
COUN 609 Practicum
COUN 610 Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling I 
COUN 612 Counseling Theory
COUN 613 Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling
COUN 614 Human Growth and Development
COUN 617 Assessment and Testing
COUN 618 Ethics and Professional Issues
COUN 621 Research and Program Evaluation
COUN 630 Professional Seminar
COUN 635 Orientation to Professional Practice
COUN 636 Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling II
COUN 641 Theories of Family Counseling
COUN 645 Crisis, Trauma, and Grief Counseling

B: Electives (6 hours)
COUN 603 Directed Independent Study
COUN 611 Special Topics in Counseling (Topics vary by Instructor and Semester)
COUN 615 Advanced Counseling Skills
COUN 623 Play Therapy
COUN 624 Advanced Addictions Treatment
COUN 625 Case Management and Consultation

Total Degree Requirements: 60 hours

Learn more about our Clinical Mental Health Counseling program

Ready to take the next step?

Schedule your personalized admissions counseling appointment, or contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 678.547.6417 or copa.admissions@mercer.edu for more information.