Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S.

Visit the Clinical Mental Health Counseling page for more information on the program and access to advising.

Program Description

The Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) prepares individuals to provide counseling services, mental health evaluations, and referrals to ameliorate and prevent cognitive and emotional crises as well as personal and interpersonal problems. Instruction will include coursework on individual and group counseling, psychotherapy theory and practice, human development, psychological assessment, psychopathology and diagnostics, professional standards and ethics as well as the governing laws and regulations of the field. Successful graduates will be eligible for employment and licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor in the state of Utah.

Matriculation Requirements

1. Application for admission to graduate program with application fee by the established deadline.

2. Submit official transcripts from all universities attended.

3. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, a nationally accredited program, or an international college or university recognized by a ministry of education.

4. A minimum 3.4 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.

5. The bachelor’s degree can be in any discipline, provided the student meets the prerequisite coursework which includes:

General or Introductory Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Introduction to Counseling (or equivalent)
Research Methods
Statistics

6. The university uses a selective admissions process for admitting students to graduate programs. Meeting minimum admissions criteria does not guarantee admission to the graduate program or to the University as a graduate student.

7. For international students whose native language is not English, submit official TOEFL or IELTS band scores.  A TOEFL score of 79 iBT (550 pBT) or higher, or an IELTS band score of 6.0 or higher within the past two years is required.

8. International students must also meet all US government requirements for international students.

Complete the UVU Graduate School Application.

Personal Interview

All candidates will be screened and those deemed to meet or exceed basic application requirements may be invited for an interview. This interview does not guarantee acceptance into the program as students will compete with all other applicants for matriculation into a cohort.

Three total letters of recommendation from academic and professional sources.

Program Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Total Credit Hours		60
CMHC 6000	ACA Ethics and Professional Orientation	3
CMHC 6010	Theories of Counseling	3
CMHC 6020	Techniques of Counseling	3
CMHC 6160	Human Development	3
CMHC 6130	Multicultural Counseling	3
CMHC 6100	Crisis Management	3
CMHC 6060	Psychological Assessment	3
CMHC 6070	Group Counseling	3
CMHC 6030	DSM Diagnostics	3
CMHC 6710R	Practicum (May need to be repeated until clinical hours are fulfilled.)	3
CMHC 6050	Career Counseling	3
CMHC 6110	Research Methods	3
CMHC 6120	Addiction Counseling	3
CMHC 6090	Psychopharmacology	3
CMHC 6163	Couples and Family Counseling	3
CMHC 6162	Counseling Children and Adolescents	3
CMHC 6150	Cognitive Therapies	3
CMHC 6081	Current Trends in Clinical Counseling	3
CMHC 6890R	Internship (May need to be repeated until clinical hours are fulfilled.)	6

Graduation Requirements

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be maintained within the program.
A grade of ‘B-’ or higher is required in all courses.
Completion of a minimum of 60 semester credits.
Complete program clinical and supervision hour requirements.
700 clinical hours are required for completion.
Residency hours: Minimum of 42 graduate credit hours completed at UVU in the CMHC program.
Graduate credits accepted from another regionally accredited institution or equivalent shall have been completed within four years of the graduate student’s matriculation into the graduate program and cannot be older than six years at the time of graduation with a master’s degree from the University.

8. Graduate coursework shall be completed within a six-year period.

Graduation Plan

This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Semester 1		Credit Hours
CMHC 6000	ACA Ethics and Professional Orientation	3
CMHC 6020	Techniques of Counseling	3
CMHC 6010	Theories of Counseling	3
CMHC 6130	Multicultural Counseling	3
CMHC 6160	Human Development	3
	Credit Hours	15
Semester 2
CMHC 6100	Crisis Management	3
CMHC 6060	Psychological Assessment	3
CMHC 6030	DSM Diagnostics	3
CMHC 6070	Group Counseling	3
	Credit Hours	12
Semester 3
CMHC 6710R	Practicum	3
CMHC 6150	Cognitive Therapies	3
	Credit Hours	6
Second Year
Semester 1
CMHC 6890R	Internship	3
CMHC 6090	Psychopharmacology	3
CMHC 6120	Addiction Counseling	3
CMHC 6110	Research Methods	3
CMHC 6050	Career Counseling	3
	Credit Hours	15
Semester 2
CMHC 6890R	Internship	3
CMHC 6081	Current Trends in Clinical Counseling	3
CMHC 6162	Counseling Children and Adolescents	3
CMHC 6163	Couples and Family Counseling	3
	Credit Hours	12
	Total Credit Hours	60

Program Learning Outcomes

Individual Therapy; Students will engage in critical thinking and demonstrate a heightened self-awareness in the counseling role. Students will also demonstrate skills necessary to be an effective counselor while applying a theoretical approach.
Ethical Practice; Students will understand counselor professional identity and demonstrate skill in applying ethical and legal considerations in professional counseling.
Clinical Assessment; Treatment Planning- Students will demonstrate the knowledge and ability to diagnose and design treatment plans for a broad range of mental health issues. Students will also be able to select and interpret assessment measures (i.e., academic/educational, career, personality, diagnostic, and developmental)
Professional Development; Students will understand counselor professional identity and demonstrate skill in applying ethical and legal considerations in professional counseling.
Research and Theory; Students will be able to critically evaluate research in a manner that informs counseling practice.
Group Therapy; Students will demonstrate knowledge and skills to facilitate psychoeducational and process groups.
Diversity in Counseling; Students will be able to demonstrate the awareness, knowledge, and skills to counsel clients from diverse backgrounds.
Career Counseling; Students will have knowledge of career assessment and planning principles and theories.
Prevention; Students will demonstrate knowledge of how to design and deliver mental illness prevention programs.
Program Evaluation; Students will apply program evaluation techniques to individual, group, and couple’s counseling settings.

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Field Growth5.7%
Median Salary$133,560
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Average Openings4.1