Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The application for the MCMHC Program can be found here

The Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a cohort program. Complete applications received by February 1st will be given top priority. Applications received after February 1st will be considered until the cohort is filled. The MCMHC program only admits up to 24 students each fall.

If you have any questions about your application or the admissions process, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Paige Williams, MCMHC Program Director at pnwillia@iu.edu.

For priority consideration for admission to the MCMHC Program, applications should be submitted by February 1^st. Applications will be considered after February 1^st until the cohort is filled.

Applicants for the MCMHC program possess strong interpersonal, communication and academic skills required to successfully complete a graduate program in clinical mental health counseling. Experience with people or volunteering is also important The Admissions Committee consider the applicant’s GPA—an overall GPA of 3.0 is desired though an applicant will be considered with a GPA below 3.0 but may be admitted conditionally—letters of recommendation, experience working with people or volunteering and your personal statement are all considered when evaluating an application. All applicants must complete an admissions interview which is before an offer of admission can be made.

Although no minimum GPA has been set at 3.0 for admission to this program, your GPA is only one important consideration. It provides information about your past success in completing college coursework. Ideally, a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher, both overall and in psychology courses, would be recommended for admission to the program. However, the Admissions Committee may recommend admission if your GPA is below 3.0, especially if your GPA for the last two years is at least 3.0 and your performance in psychology courses at least 3.25. If you believe you have evidence of extenuating circumstances that explains a weak overall GPA, you will want to provide information explaining the weak GPA and what your plan is to be successful academically in a graduate program.

Acceptance letters will be sent out after completion of the admission interview and a decision by the Admissions Committee has been made.

Applicants whose applications have met initial screening criteria, will be contacted to complete an interview with the MCMHC Program Admissions Committee. Applicants will participate in a 30 to 45 minute interview with members of the committee. This is a professional interview and will be used, in part, to determine if an offer of admission will be made.

Because the MCMHC Program is a cohort program, up to a total of 24 students will be admitted to the program beginning in the Fall each year. Each cohort will complete the program together. Once a cohort has been admitted, no other students will be admitted unless one of the admitted students chooses not to attend prior to the start of classes.

No. Admission to the program does not require having completed your undergraduate degree as a Psychology major. However, completion of basic psychology courses at the undergraduate level can be helpful. Applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree in nursing, education, sociology, international studies or similar areas of study may also have an interest in pursuing a graduate clinical mental health counseling degree.

Your application file will consist of the graduate application, official college transcripts (if you are an IUS alumnus or undergraduate an official transcript is not required. You may submit an unofficial transcript), three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.

The Admissions Committee will consider the match between your professional interests and our program offerings. We recommend that you give considerable thought to the content of your essay as it is an important part of the evaluation process. Success in the counseling program and in the field requires high levels of responsibility, integrity, and interpersonal skill, as well as mastery of theory and research methodology. We are seeking candidates who have thought deeply about their place within the field of counseling. We encourage you to reflect on this thought and to describe your preparation thoroughly in the essay you submit. Additionally, applicants should discuss their experiences working with people and volunteering. The personal statement is also a sample of your writing. Quality writing skills are extremely important as a mental health counselor. Your personal statement should be well written and thoughtful. Your personal statement should be approximately 600 words that answer each of the following questions:

1. Describe the academic preparation and skills that you have that you believe qualify you for the rigorous training involved in our master's program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Discuss experiential and field-based experiences that you believe prepare you for our counseling program.
2. Describe what you hope to accomplish academically during your graduate program and the career goals you have for yourself. Focusing on the actual job you would like to have five years after completing your graduate study will bring specificity to your essay.
3. Describe the qualities that you see as essential for an effective counselor and then assess yourself in terms of these characteristics.
4. Describe your experiences with any human services or volunteer experiences which involved working with people.

The Admissions Committee requires that you submit three strong positive recommendations from your professors or other professionals for whom you have worked.

If you have been out of school for several years and are unable to obtain an academic reference, your letters of reference should be from work supervisors or persons who have supervised you as a volunteer. It is important to choose individuals who know your academic ability, research skills, clinical work, and personal character well.

Classes are not offered on weekends. The 60 credit hour program is made up of a combination of face to face classes and online classes. Classes are offered on Tuesday and Thursday late afternoon and evenings.

Yes. This program is designed to include summer sessions.

No. Due to class size limits, the program does not allow students to enroll as a non-degree or non-matriculated student.

Face-to-face and online classes will be limited to 24 students.. Practicum and internship classes are limited to 12 students.