Program Details
Program Format
- Six fifteen-week semesters plus two three-credit summer courses of online courses for traditional and non-traditional students
- Three face-to-face clinical skill development courses in blocks of four days during each of the first four semesters
- Sixty (60) credit hours of courses specific to clinical mental health counseling, including required practicum and internship experiences
- Cohort model – students gain a sense of community and individual attention as they progress through the program with the same group of students
- Face-to-face/Online program orientation prior to the start of the program
- New cohorts begin in August each year
Accreditation
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), granted accreditation to the Department of Counseling at University of Providence: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.S.) effective July 31, 2017.
The graduate program is also accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.
Counseling program have successfully completed the review from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. Graduate students in the Counseling program (Clinical Rehabilitation concentration) at the University of Providence qualify for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs) exam under Category 3.
MSC Curriculum– Addiction Counseling Concentration
Year 1
Fall:
| MSC 500 Professional Orientation and Ethics | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 512 Theories of Counseling | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 517 Techniques of Counseling | 3 credits | HYB (4 days) |
After successfully completing this semester, student applies for full candidacy in the program.
Spring:
| MSC 516 Graduate Research Methods and Statistics | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 553 Counseling the Addicted Client | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 617 Advanced Techniques of Counseling | 3 credits | HYB (4 days) |
Summer:
| MSC 511 Alcohol and Drug Studies | 3 credits | ASY |
Year 2
Fall:
| MSC 529 Development across the Lifespan | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 508 Psychopathology | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 606 Multicultural Competence | 3 credits | ASY |
Spring:
| MSC 604 Career Counseling | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 695 Practicum (240 hours) | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 607 Group Counseling | 3 credits | HYB (4 days) |
During spring semester, student applies for advanced candidacy.
Summer:
| MSC 515 Standardized Testing & Individual Assessment | 3 credits | ASY |
Year 3
Fall:
| MSC 527 Evidence Based Practice & Program Eval. | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 696 Internship I (300 hours) | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 620 Gambling & Gambling Disorders | 3 credits | ASY |
Spring:
| MSC 520 Crisis Planning and Intervention | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 697 Internship II | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 630 Medical Info for Counselors | 3 credits | ASY |
Total credits: 60
MSC Curriculum– Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration
Year 1
Fall
| MSC 500 Professional Orientation and Ethics | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 512 Theories of Counseling | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 517 Techniques of Counseling | 3 credits | HYB (4 days) |
After successfully completing this semester, student applies for full candidacy in the program.
Spring
| MSC 516 Graduate Research Methods and Statistics | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 553 Counseling the Addicted Client | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 617 Advanced Techniques of Counseling | 3 credits | HYB (4 days) |
Summer
| MSC 507 Intro to Rehab Counseling | 2 credits | ASY |
| MSC 518 Rehabilitation Services Delivery Setting | 1 credit | ASY |
Year 2
Fall
| MSC 529 Development across the Lifespan | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 508 Psychopathology | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 606 Multicultural Competence | 3 credits | ASY |
Spring
| MSC 604 Career Counseling | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 695 Practicum (240 hours) | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 607 Group Counseling | 3 credits | HYB (4 days) |
During spring semester, student applies for advanced candidacy.
Summer
| MSC 515 Standardized Testing & Individual Assessment | 3 credits | ASY |
Year 3
Fall
| MSC 527 Evidence Based Practice & Program Evaluation | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 696 Internship I (300 hours) | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 621 Psych Aspects of Disability | 2 credits | ASY |
| MSC 635 Job development and placement in Rehabilitation Counseling | 1 credit | ASY |
Spring
| MSC 520 Crisis Planning and Intervention | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 697 Internship II | 3 credits | ASY |
| MSC 698 Integrative Project II or MSC 699 Thesis II | 3 credits | ASY |
Total credits: 60
Additional Program Information
Retention Rate: 90%
Average Time to Complete the Program: 3 years
Employment Settings: Community mental health settings, schools, inpatient units, intensive outpatient units, crisis counseling, and private practice.
Licensure Eligibility: License for Professional Counselors (LPC/LCPC). Requirements vary by state
NCE Passing Rates: All students who took the NCE exam immediately upon graduating during the 2017-2018 academic year passed the exam. Recent changes in the rules governing eligibility to take the licensure exam at the state level in Montana have also made it possible for students to take the exam at the end of their final year in the MSC program.
Accreditation Status: Accredited by CACREP through 2025.
Annual Fall Enrollment: 24 (new and continuing)
Predicted Job Outlook: (2014-2024) Nineteen percent (19%) increase, compared to 7% expected increase in total US jobs. The field of counseling will see over 30% growth in the next ten years. (Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long will it take to complete the clinical mental health degree?
While you can complete the program at your own pace, the average time to complete our online clinical mental health counseling program is three years.
What kind of jobs can you get with a clinical mental health degree?
Typical jobs in clinical mental health vary, but some common jobs are:
- Community mental health settings
- School counselor
- Inpatients units
- Intensives outpatient units
- Crisis counseling
- Private practice
Is this an accredited program?
This program is accredited by CACREP through 2025.
What’s the program retention rate?
Our Clinical Mental Health Counseling program has a retention rate of 90%.
What is the NCE passing rate for this program?
All students who took the NCE exam immediately upon graduating during the 2017-2018 academic year passed the exam. Recent changes in the rules governing eligibility to take the licensure exam at the state level in Montana have also made it possible for students to take the exam at the end of their final year in the MSC program.
