Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

This is a two-year program. Applications to the program are accepted every spring. We begin reviewing applications in February and continue until the cohort is filled.

We are seeking candidates who possess strong interpersonal skills, strong academic credentials with experience working with people or with volunteering. Experiences with diverse or multicultural communities and people is also desired. The Admissions Committee will consider several factors when evaluating your application. Grade point average (GPA), strength of psychology preparation, letters of recommendation, human service experience/volunteering, experience with diversity, and your personal statement are important.

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 application 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 should be considered as similar to a job interview.

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 will be considered by the Admissions Committee. See the list of courses below that provide a strong foundation for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.

Along with your GPA, the Admissions Committee will review the undergraduate psychology courses in your program of study. You must complete basic undergraduate courses in Psychology. Preference will be given to applicants who have taken the following undergraduate courses:

• General (or Introductory) Psychology
• Psychology of Personality
• Abnormal Psychology

In addition to these courses, preference will be given to applicants who have completed at least two courses that emphasize the research foundations of psychology. Examples of these courses are:

• Social Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychology of Learning
• Cognitive Psychology
• Sensation and Perception
• Physiological Psychology
• Research Methods in Psychology
• Statistics

Because the program requires students to have a broad knowledge of psychology when they enter the program, we can teach our foundation-level courses at an advanced level. That allows our faculty to bring students to a sophisticated level of understanding of how these concepts are implemented in counseling activities or settings.

Your application file will consist of the graduate application, application fee, all official college transcripts, 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, volunteering, and experiences with diversity and multicultural communities. 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 diversity and multicultural populations and 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. Only letters that are academic or professional in nature will be considered. At least one recommendation must be from a professor you had for at least one course. We recommend, though, that two of your letters be from professors. The Admissions Committee considers recommendations from Psychology professors to be especially important in evaluating your application.

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.

To begin the application process, complete the online application. Please note that the online application requires that you upload several items, including:

• Three names of those you wish to write letters of recommendation: Once you submit the names, an electronic request will be sent.
• Personal statement
• Official transcripts

Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended are required. Please have the transcripts sent to:

School of Social Science
Attn: Records Specialist
IU Southeast
4201 Grant Line Road
New Albany, IN 47150

A $40 graduate application fee is assessed when applying to the program. Your application is considered complete once all materials have been received and the application fee is paid.

The Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a cohort program. Complete applications received by March 15th will be given top priority. Applications received after March 15^th will be considered on a rolling basis, given available space.

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@ius.edu.

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.