Program Mission

The mission of the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is to prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills to become licensed mental health counselors. The Master of Arts Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program prepares students to provide culturally sensitive services that address the holistic, developmental, and mental health needs of diverse populations. A primary goal of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is to graduate highly ethical and professional counselors with a dedication to counselor wellness and to the communities that they will serve. Faculty mentoring and a challenging counseling curriculum will prepare program graduates to become leaders in the counseling field through professional involvement, research, service, and advocacy.

The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling provides graduates with the rigorous coursework and clinical experience required to become licensed mental health counselors. The MCMHC program curriculum aligns with CACREP standards, and the program is currently pursuing CACREP accreditation. The MCMHC program prepares graduates to provide mental health counseling services to help people prevent or remediate personal problems, conflicts, and provide treatment for mental health disorders. The program includes instruction in human development, psychopathology, individual and group counseling, personality theory, career assessment, patient screening and referral, observation and testing techniques, interviewing skills, professional standards and ethics, and applicable laws and regulations. 

Graduate Degrees

• Master of Arts

Program Information

Learning Goals

1. Provide a quality graduate level education in mental health counseling through the provision of a curriculum infused with critical thinking skills, multicultural competencies, ethics, and professionalism.
2. Prepare graduates to advocate for the needs of diverse persons and work to promote social justice for the communities and individuals they serve.
3. Provide a practice-oriented program which provides an educational experience that encourages applied, theoretical knowledge while supporting students in the development of professional and clinical practice.
4. Foster an environment that educates and empowers professional counselors to become leaders and advocates for the profession and the greater community.
5. Provide an educational environment that upholds a wellness perspective and encourages wellness based personal and professional practices.
6. Provide specialized instruction, training, and supervision in clinical mental health counseling skills to prepare students to work in a variety of mental health settings.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are admitted to the program every Fall. You can submit your application here.

To be admitted to the program, the following are required:

• Complete application by February 1^st for priority consideration. You will need to upload a resume and a personal statement.
• Three (3) Recommendation letters: It is recommended that at least two of the letters be from professors who have a good knowledge of the candidate’s academic performance and potential or other individuals who know of the applicant in a professional capacity such as a work supervisor. Please note that the application form provides you space to list those who will be writing letters of recommendation; an email will be sent requesting the letter of recommendation.
• Official Transcript(s): A bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a suggested minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the student’s undergraduate major, is expected. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 may still be considered if other admission criteria warrant their consideration. Admission also is considered for those who otherwise demonstrate the competency necessary to succeed in graduate work in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended are required. Please have the transcripts sent to School of Social Science, attn: Yolanda Zavala-Howe, IU Southeast, 4201 Grant Line Road, New Albany, IN 47150 or sent via email at yolazava@iu.edu.
• Personal Statement: The personal statement should clearly explain the candidate’s relevant educational background and the reasons the candidate wishes to pursue the degree. Applicants should also discuss any human services or volunteer or community involvement experiences they have and any experiences they have had with diverse populations.
• The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) may be used for consideration of admission to the program however it is not required. Candidates may submit recent (that is, no more than 3 years old) results of the GRE’s general exam and/or subject exam. Acceptance will not be based entirely on the score.