Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

This 60-credit CACREP Accredited, three year full-time (or four year part-time) graduate program is offered primarily online and consists of common core courses related to professional orientation, human development, counseling, assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment planning, and research. Students may choose from specializations such as counseling military/veterans and their families, counseling children and adolescents, or a general clinical mental health counseling. Within the common core curriculum is a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship requirement that is conducted in the student's local area with face-to-face supervision in a site approved by the university faculty.

Cohort Model

The CMHC program uses a cohort model to help establish a learning community amongst the students. The CMHC program will accept a maximum of 25 students for each fall, spring, and summer semester. Students can choose to enter the full-time (three courses each semester including summers) or part-time cohort (two courses each semester including summers).

While students can change from part-time to full-time status or vice versa, classes are not offered every semester; therefore, changing the status may impact the student’s program of study. All students entering the program with a GPA below a 3.0 will automatically be placed in the part-time cohort. If there is any doubt that the full-time cohort may be too much given a student’s additional personal and professional responsibilities, it is highly recommended that the student enters the part-time cohort in order to be successful in the program, maintain other personal and professional responsibilities, and attend to one’s own self-care needs.

The program runs on semesters: fall and spring semesters are 16 weeks and summer semesters are broken into 6 weeks or 12 weeks.

Minimum Program Requirements

Students must successfully complete and earn a minimum overall 3.0 GPA in 60 credits of coursework to include: a 100 hour practicum and 600 hours of internship. Students must meet clinical skill and disposition competencies as evaluated by program faculty throughout the curriculum. Site supervisors must also provide positive feedback that students are meeting expectations in clinical skills and disposition competencies while in their practicum and internship. Finally, all students will be required to take a comprehensive final exam during their practicum.

Coursework

Shared Core

For full descriptions of the courses listed below, visit our course descriptions website.
If you are interested in reviewing a recent syllabus, please contact the program director directly.

• CMHC505: Clinical Mental Health Counseling as a Profession
• CMHC510: Counseling Theories
• CMHC515: Assessment in Mental Health Counseling
• CMHC520: Lifespan Development Implications for Counseling
• CMHC525: Skills and Techniques in Mental Health Counseling
• CMHC530: Research and Evaluation in Counseling
• CMHC535: Multicultural Counseling
• CMHC540: Career Development in Counseling
• CMHC545: Addiction Counseling
• CMHC550: Psychopathology & Differential Diagnosis
• CMHC555: Advanced Skills in Mental Health Counseling
• CMHC560: Family and Couples Therapy
• CMHC565: Group Skills in Mental Health Counseling
• CMHC570: Trauma and Crisis Counseling
• CMHC585: Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues in Counseling
• CMHC590: Practicum in Mental Health Counseling
• CMHC595: Internship I in Mental Health Counseling
• CMHC596: Internship II in Mental Health Counseling

Counseling Military Veterans and Their Families

Courses include:

• CMHC575: Counseling Military Veterans (offered every summer)
• CMHC580: Reintegration and Recovery for Veterans and their Families (offered every summer)
   

Counseling Children and Adolescents

Courses include:

• CMHC562: Child and Adolescent Counseling (offered every summer )
• CMHC564: Creative Therapies for Children and Adolescents (offered every summer)

Generalized Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Courses include:

• One course from Military/Veteran Specialization
• One course from Children/Adolescent Specialization

FOUNDATIONS OF TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE (6 Credits)

The purpose of the Foundations of Trauma-informed Care Certificate Program is to provide an introduction to traumainformed care for professionals in the field of human services to include all first responders, educators, physical and mental health care personnel, criminal justice personnel, etc. The program will include: a history on trauma-informed care, trauma and crisis counseling, and self-care for professionals working with trauma.

• CMHC571 Trauma & Crisis Counseling
• CMHC572 Foundations of Trauma-informed Care

MILITARY RESILIENCE AND TRAUMA COUNSELING CERTIFICATE (9 Credits)

The purpose of the Military Resilience and Trauma Certificate Program is to expand professionals’ knowledge and training to work with military clients and their families. This program will focus on both the resilience and trauma that military families experience.

• CMHC570: Trauma & Crisis Counseling
• CMHC575: Issues Facing Military Veterans
• CMHC580: Reintegration and Recovery for Veterans and their Families

TRAUMA-INFORMED COUNSELING (12 Credits)

The purpose of the Trauma-Informed Counseling Certificate Program is to expand mental health professionals’ knowledge and training with clients to include children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced a significant loss or trauma. The program will include: a history on trauma-informed care to include grief and loss issues, assessments, diagnoses, evidence-based treatment strategies for trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and self-care for mental health professionals working with trauma.

• CMHC570 Trauma and Crisis Counseling
• CMHC571 Foundations in Trauma- informed Care
• CMHC572 Grief & Loss Counseling
• CMHC573 Advanced Interventions in Trauma-informed Counseling

TELEMENTAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE (3 Credits)

he purpose of the TeleMental Health Certificate program is to provide mental health practitioners the knowledge to competently and ethically provide services using technology.

• CMHC552 TeleMental Health

Online Digital Synchronous Learning Delivery

Program delivery will consist of asynchronous and synchronous learning.

Asynchronous learning will require students to complete activities and assignments on their own time within pre-determined deadlines. Asynchronous learning may include, but is not limited to, any of the following activities: reading, pre-recorded mini-lectures and/or videos, threaded discussions, research papers, reflection papers, group activities outside of the classroom, quizzes, and/or exams. Asynchronous delivery utilizes the Desire2Learn Brightspace learning management system and the SonicFoundry Mediasite media delivery platform.

Synchronous learning will require students to meet simultaneously in real-time with the instructor and their peers. Synchronous learning may include, but is not limited to, any of the following activities: class discussions, skills practice, engagement in a processing group, group supervision, and guest presentations. Content courses meet every other week and skills courses meet weekly. Synchronous classes are held between 5:00-6:30pm EST or 7:00-8:30pm EST on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. Synchronous delivery utilizes the Zoom platform and may utilize either or both the Zoom desktop or mobile applications or purpose-built Zoom classrooms.

This delivery model enables working adults the flexibility to progress through the program at a reasonable pace, without interrupting their career or other commitments. The delivery methods are designed to maintain a personal, one-to-one mentoring and supervision relationship with degree candidates and make it possible to create active and engaged learning communities.

No campus visits or on-campus residencies are required.

Some requirements to participate effectively in our online program through Desire2Learn include:

• Integrated Webcam and Audio System
• Updated version of Java Script
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Test Drive Online Course Delivery

A interactive tutorial program has been built to allow interested students to Test Drive our Online platform with an interactive guide through a variety of features of our course software.

Once you get to the server you will login using the information below:

Login: lhuguest
Password: lhuguest
(Login and Password are case sensitive)

Click on the Link that says: LHU000 – Example LHU Desire2Learn Course

All the tabs at the top of the course are active and and you can view them to get a feel for the online environment.

Please log out after you are finished with the test drive.

To access the tutorial follow this link to our course web server: Test Drive Online Delivery

Incoming Cohorts: The Spring 2025 cohort has reached capacity. The Summer 2025 application is available now online, with an application deadline of 12/15. The Fall 2025 application is available now online, with an application deadline of 3/15.

To complete the application process, students must submit:

1. Online application
2. Official college transcripts with a confirmed degree awarded (3.0+ GPA)
   * The CMHC program welcomes students with any undergraduate degree.
3. Current Resume or CV
4. Three letters of recommendation that include the following:
   (a) Letters must be professional and diverse (please include letters from individuals who can attest to your professional and educational experience).
   (b) Letters need to be personal to the candidate and our program.
   (c) Letters must discuss the applicant's inter and intra personal skills.
   (d) Letter must discuss the applicant's aptitude for success in an online graduate program.
5. Statement of professional goals
   (a) Describe your preparation for online graduate school work (education, work and/or volunteer experience in the mental health field, skills that will be influential to your success in an online program).
   (b) Your professional career goals.
   (c) How this graduate program will help you meet your goals.
6. Successful completion of a faculty and group interview

Transfer Students

The CMHC program welcomes students interested in transferring. Students can transfer up to 12 credits (4 courses) into the program. Transfer courses must have: 1. earned a B or higher; 2. core courses must be from a CACREP accredited program; and 3. taken within the past three years from beginning the program. Eligible courses for transfer will be formally reviewed by faculty prior to approval.

Matriculation Requirements

Students who successfully meet all of the application requirements with a GPA of 3.0 or higher will be fully matriculated into the program. All students accepted with an undergraduate GPA less than 3.0 will begin the program on probational acceptance. This means that students will start part-time and must earn a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their first 6 credits before they can be matriculated into the program.

If admitted to the program, students have two (2) weeks from the date of the offer to accept their seat.

During the application process, applicants will enter the name and email of their references. References will receive an email from Commonwealth University to upload a recommendation letter via a secure link.

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PROGRAM OBJECTIVES 

• Outcome 1: Professional identity and ethical practice. Graduates will identify with the mental health counseling profession by understanding the roles and responsibilities of mental health counselors’ professional functioning as well as demonstrating ethical and legal practice and dispositions related to effective practice to include self-care, flexibility, insight, empathy, and integrity (CACREP, 2016, 2.F.1.b., 2.F.1.i., 2.F.1.l.). This will be measured with a success rate of 80% over a minimum of two different points in time. 
• Outcome 2: Diversity and advocacy. Graduates will identify and apply cultural considerations relevant to counseling clients (CACREP, 2016, 2.F.2.a, 2.F.2.c.). This will be measured with a success rate of 80% over a minimum of two different points in time. 
• Outcome 3: Human growth and development. Graduates will identify and apply considerations for human development to promote resilience and wellness across the lifespan (CACREP, 2016, 2.F.3.a., 2.F.3.i.). This will be measured with a success rate of 80% over a minimum of two different points in time. 
• Outcome 4: Career Development. Graduates will demonstrate the ability to assess the implications of a client’s work environment on their life experiences as well as use theories, models, and strategies to support a client’s career development (CACREP, 2016, 2.F.4.a., 2.F.b., 2.F.4.d.). This will be measured with a success rate of 80% over a minimum of two different points in time. 
• Outcome 5: Counseling and clinical practice. Graduates will apply theories and models of counseling through interviewing, counseling, and case conceptualization skills to develop effective treatment plans (CACREP, 2016, 2.F.a., 2.F.5.g., 2.F.5.h.). This will be measured with a success rate of 80% over a minimum of two different points in time. 
• Outcome 6: Group counseling and effective leadership. Graduates will incorporate theoretical frameworks and factors to become effective group leaders and facilitate group counseling (CACREP, 2016, 2.F.6.a., 2.F.6.c., 2.F.6.d.). This will be measured with a success rate of 80% over a minimum of two different points in time. 
• Outcome 7: Assessment and testing. Graduates will demonstrate the ability to assess client issues for diagnosis and treatment planning (CACREP, 2016, 2.F.7.b., 2.F.7.e.). This will be measured with a success rate of 80% over a minimum of two different points in time. 
• Outcome 8: Research and program evaluation. Graduates will demonstrate the ability to evaluate research in order to inform practice (CACREP, 2016, 2.F.8.a., 2.F.8.b.). This will be measured with a success rate of 80% over a minimum of two different points in time. 
• Outcome 9: Clinical mental health counseling. Graduates will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to effectively conceptualize, assess, diagnose, and treat clients in various settings. (CACREP, 2016, 5.C.1.c., 5.C.1.e., 5.C.2.d., 5.C.3.b.). This will be measured with a success rate of 80% over a minimum of two different points in time.

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Program is consistent with the mission and strategic plans of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Through the use of synchronous and asynchronous modalities, the CMHC Program follows the ACA Code of Ethics (2014) and promotes students’ educational, professional, and personal development by supporting their overall wellness and encouraging a lifelong journey of professional learning and self-reflection.

The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP). In addition, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Vital statistics are gathered each year and reported to CACREP in December. Outcomes reports are posted on the CMHC website. An overview of these statistics can be found below.

View the full 2023-2024 Annual Report

The CMHC program welcomes individuals interested in taking additional courses to apply for their state license or for continuing education. Individuals interested in doing this need to have successfully completed a Master's degree in counseling with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Those interested in the licensure track option are encouraged to apply to their state's licensing board and identify exactly what courses/requirements need to be met prior to taking additional courses. The program cannot assess transcripts and guarantee any license requirements. Practicum and internship cannot be taken within the CMHC program without students taking various courses that allow faculty to assess their clinical skills and preparation.

• Q: When can I start?
  A. Applications are accepted for the Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters.
• Q: How is the program delivered?
  A. Taught 100% online.
• Q: Do I need to take the GRE in order to apply?
  A. No - the GRE is not required for admission 
• Q: How many transfer credits do you accept?
  A. 12 from a CACREP accredited program, taken within 3 years of starting the program.
• Q: Are there any on-campus visits required?
  A. No, there are not any required on-campus visits for the CMHC program.
• Q: Can I take classes as a non-degree seeking student? If so, how many credits can I take? 
  A. Yes you can take courses as a non-degree seeking student. You can take up to 4 classes (12 credits).