Master of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program (CMHC) is a 60 credit hour program that meets the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Florida as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). This program is practitioner-oriented in the sense that students are required to complete 1,000 hours of field-based experience before graduation. The counseling curriculum offers a unique blend of courses to provide the skills and knowledge necessary for becoming a competent counseling professional. Solid academic performance and experiential mastery are required.

Mission

The mission of the UNF Master's Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is to provide comprehensive training for individuals who wish to counsel diverse populations in a variety of mental health settings. This program provides students with an intellectually stimulating and supportive environment which encompasses academic rigor and promotes excellence, ethical and professional integrity, and effective interpersonal communication and therapeutic skills. Curricular experiences include opportunities to explore the life-span, social, and cultural foundations of behavior; practice psychotherapeutic and diagnostic skills; and complete extensive field experiences in order to apply knowledge and skills in professional settings.

Highlights

• Fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• Campus-based (some non-clinical courses have online options)
• Cohort model (courses are sequenced and offered once a year)
• Two year, full time program (no part time option)
• ***NEW - Now accepting express applications for UNF undergraduates in Psychology, Sociology, and Public Health (see details below)
• *** NEW - Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling (AAT-C) Graduate Certificate
• *** NEW - Certificate in Animal Assisted Interventions (no counseling focus)

Admissions Requirements

University Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or its equivalent from a foreign institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all work attempted in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study. No specific degree or other pre-requisites are required.

Additional Program Requirements

• Official transcripts from all attended institutions
• Competitive GRE General test scores (300 and above on the combined verbal and quantitative scales, taken within the past 5 years - Institutional Code: 5490).
  • If you have completed a masters or higher degree from an accredited institution, the GRE may not be required. Please email the program director (r.zeglin@unf.edu) to request a GRE waiver.
   
• Letter of intent describing:
  • Reasons for seeking admission to the CMHC program
  • Short and long-term educational, research, and professional goals
   
• Three recommendations, preferably with at least one from a current or former faculty member. Recommenders are required to complete a rating form that is provided through the online application system and they may also submit a letter if they choose.
• Resume
• A personal interview will be required for the top competitive candidates. Applicants will be contacted by the CMHC program if selected to participate in the interview process.

Express Application Requirements

UNF undergraduates in Psychology, Sociology, and Public Health can apply through the Express Application portal on the Graduate School Website. Applicants are required to submit the below documents directly to the graduate program director via e-mail before the application deadline. Questions should be directed to the graduate program director (r.zeglin@unf.edu).

• Resume
• Letter of intent
• Two recommendation letters

The program prepares mental health counselors to fulfill the following roles:

• Provide direct counseling services to individuals, groups, and families
• Assist clients in making responsible decisions and in developing skills of self determination
• Provide resources, referrals, and information to assist clients in coping with societal, economic, and other barriers
• Serve as models and mentors to clients as they pursue optimum levels of mental health
• Advocate for clients' rights through participation in community, state, and national organizational efforts
• Become leaders in community agencies in efforts to facilitate delivery of optimum mental health services.

The CMHC curriculum is focused on preparing counseling professionals for employment in various settings including:

• Community mental health centers
• Psychiatric hospitals
• Residential treatment facilities
• Outpatient mental health clinics
• Rehabilitation agencies
• Social service agencies
• Employee assistance programs
• Treatment centers
• Correctional institutions
• Crisis centers
• College counseling centers
• Private practice