TRACK DESCRIPTION
The CACREP Accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling track in the Counselor Education MA program prepares students for licensure in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and to practice in agencies, private practice, and other settings.
As part of the program's pragmatic approach to preparing counselors, in addition to classroom studies, all students complete clinical experiences in the UCF Community Counseling and Research Center and field-based experiences in the community. The UCF Community Counseling and Research Center serves as a hub for training and research in the program, with graduate students providing annual services to over 1,400 individuals, couples, and families in the central Florida community.
CURRICULUM
| The CACREP accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling track in the Counselor Education MA program prepares students for Florida licensure in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. As such, students must be formally admitted to the program in order to take program area courses. The program requires a minimum of 63 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, including 6 credit hours of core courses, 39 credit hours of specialization (including a 3 credit hour elective), 12 credit hours of professional clinical experiences, and 6 credit hours of electives in either the nonthesis or thesis option. |
| Total Credit Hours Required: |
| 63
Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree |
Required Courses—45 Credit Hours
Core—6 Credit Hours
- EDF 6155 Lifespan Human
Development and Learning (3 credit hours)
- EDF 6481 Fundamentals of
Graduate Research in Education (3 credit hours)
Specialization—39 Credit Hours
- MHS 5005 Introduction to the Counseling Profession (3 credit hours)
- MHS 6020 Mental Health Care Systems (3 credit hours)
- MHS 6070 Diagnosis and
Treatment in Counseling (3 credit hours)
- MHS 6220 Individual
Psychoeducational Testing I (3 credit hours)
- MHS 6400 Theories of
Counseling and Personality (3 credit hours)
- MHS 6401 Techniques of
Counseling (3 credit hours)
- MHS 6420 Foundations of Multicultural
Counseling (3 credit hours)
- MHS 6450 Addictions Counseling (3 credit
hours)
- MHS 6470 Human Sexuality and Relationships (3 credit
hours)
- MHS 6500 Group Procedures and Theories in Counseling (3 credit
hours)
- MHS 6702 Ethical and Legal Issues (3 credit hours)
- SDS 6347 Career Development (3 credit hours)
- Elective approved by adviser
(3 credit hours)
Thesis Option—6 Credit Hours
- EGC 6971 Thesis (6 credit hours)
Nonthesis Option—6 Credit Hours
- Two approved electives (6 credit hours)
Professional
Clinical Experience—12 Credit Hours
The clinical experiences are
comprised of two sections, Practicum and Internship. Both are experiential in
nature and are independent learning activities that take place in authentic
settings in which students must apply, reflect on, and refine knowledge and
skills acquired in the program to their work with actual clients. The
practicum is conducted on campus in the UCF Community Counseling and Research
Center and the Internship is conducted at various clinical sites around
central Florida.
- MHS 6803 Practicum in Counselor
Education (3 credit hours)*
- MHS 6803 Practicum in Counselor Education
(3 credit hours)*
- MHS 6830 Counseling Internship (3 credit
hours)**
- MHS 6830 Counseling Internship (3 credit hours)**
* Prerequisites for MHS 6803 Practicum in Counselor Education are
the following: MHS 5005, MHS 6070, MHS 6400, MHS 6401, MHS 6500, and MHS 6702. A minimum of 27 credit hours are required prior to beginning the
Practicum.
** The prerequisite for MHS 6830 Counseling
Internship is a "B" or better in all sections of MHS 6803 as well as MHS 6420.
Additional Program Requirements
- Achieve
at least a GPA of 3.0 in counseling specialization courses.
- Achieve a
“B” or better in MHS 5005, MHS 6401, MHS 6803, and MHS 6830.
- Complete
a total of 800 hours of clinical experiences, 200 of which will be in the UCF
Community Counseling and Research Center and 600 of which are field-based
experiences in the community.
- Complete a portfolio and receive
approval by Counselor Education faculty.
- Complete a professional exit
examination.
- Given the experiential, competency, and
performance-based nature of the courses taken by Counselor Education students,
students are limited to taking a maximum of three (3) courses per semester.
However, if students believe that they can verify a need to take more than
three courses, they should consult with their academic adviser for additional
guidelines. Students who have not received prior approval and who register for
more than three courses per semester will be administratively dropped from any
courses over the maximum allowed.
Independent Learning
Practica and internships are independent learning activities that take place in authentic settings in which students must apply, reflect on, and refine knowledge and skills acquired in the program. The internship experience provides students with the practical experience of providing hands-on services for a variety of clients and presenting concerns. Such services may include, but are not limited to, individual, couple, family, and group counseling with children, adolescents, and adults. Client concerns range from developmental and relational concerns to more severe pathology.
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general
UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must
provide:
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope)
from each college/university attended.
- Official, competitive GRE score
taken in the last five years.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Résumé.
- Goal statement.
The Master of Arts in
Counselor Education--Clinical Mental Health Counseling track can accommodate only a
limited number of students; therefore, there is a possibility of being denied
admission even when all criteria are met.
The College of Education and
Human Performance reserves the right to refuse student entrance or terminate a
student after admission to the Counselor Education Program, if in the judgment
of the faculty the student demonstrates unacceptable personal fitness to work
in the counseling field with children, youth, and/or adults.
A formal
interview is required and will be scheduled after the College of Education and
Human Performance admission requirements are met. The interview dates for March
and October will be posted on our Counselor Education website. Attendance at
the program orientation session at 4:30 p.m. on the Thursday before classes
begin, in the semester to which the student applied, is mandatory.
Application Deadlines
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling |
*Fall Priority
|
Fall
|
Spring
|
Summer
|
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|
Domestic Applicants
| Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Sep 15 | - |
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|
International Applicants
| Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | - |
|---|
|
International Transfer Applicants
| Jan 15 | Feb 15 | Sep 1 | - |
|---|
|
*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date.
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FINANCIALS
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies
Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The
Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowships
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student’s graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.