The Master of Education in counseling, with specialization in clinical mental health counseling, requires a minimum of 60 semester hours and participation in a non-credit group experience of not less than ten hours facilitated by the program. Requirements include 30 hours from nine core areas (human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, helping relationships, group work, career and lifestyle development, appraisal, research and program evaluation, professional orientation, and abnormal), nine hours of clinical instruction, and an additional 21-22 hours of specialty requirements in clinical mental health counseling.
- Personal Growth & Development Group (COUN 5000) -- non-credit
- Lifecycle Development in Individuals & Families (COUN 5003) -- 3 hours
- Multicultural Counseling (COUN 5013) -- 3 hours
- Counseling Theories & Techniques: Affective/Humanistic (COUN 5023) -- 3 hours
- Counseling Theories & Techniques: Cognitive/Behavioral (COUN 5033) -- 3 hours
- Group Counseling Techniques (COUN 5043) -- 3 hours
- Career Education Counseling (COUN 5053) -- 3 hours
- Research Methods (COUN 5083) -- 3 hours
- Ethics in Professional Counseling (COUN 5093) -- 3 hours
- Assessment & Evaluation (COUN 5303) -- 3 hours
- Psychopathology & Clinical Diagnosis (COUN 5313) -- 3 hours
- Practicum: 150 hours (COUN 6003) -- 3 hours
- Internship I: 300 hours (COUN 6013) -- 3 hours
- Internship II: 300 hours (COUN 6043) -- 3 hours
- Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (COUN 5323) -- 3 hours
- Theories of Addiction & Pharmacology (COUN 6173) -- 3 hours
- Clinical Documentation of Mental & Emotional Disorders (COUN 6203) -- 3 hours
- Mental Health Administration, Supervision & Consultation (COUN 6513) -- 3 hours
- Systemic Family Therapy (COUN 6613) -- 3 hours
- Advanced Clinical Diagnosis & Treatment (COUN 6053) -- 3 hours
- Advanced Clinical Assessment (COUN 6063) -- 3 hours
- Counseling Procedures & Strategies, Legal Issues & Prevention Strategies with Addicted Populations (COUN 6174) -- 4 hours
- Assessment, Diagnosis, & Treatment of Addiction (COUN 6183) -- 3 hours
- Relationship Counseling, Group Process, & Techniques with Addicted Populations (COUN 6193) -- 3 hours
- Gerontology (COUN 6213) -- 3 hours
- Counseling Latino Clients (COUN 6223) -- 3 hours
- Crisis Intervention (COUN 6233) -- 3 hours
- Human Sexuality (COUN 6243) -- 3 hours
- Introduction to Play Therapy (COUN 6253) -- 3 hours
- Trauma-Informed Counseling (COUN 6263) -- 3 hours
- Introduction to Adlerian Play Therapy (COUN 6273) -- 3 hours
- Adolescent Intervention (COUN 6283) -- 3 hours
- Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Professionals (COUN 6293) -- 3 hours
The COUN graduate assistant (GA) placement is designed as a learning milieu for the master’s student while assisting faculty. Each assistantship requires 25 hours per week. Contact the counseling program director or the community campus coordinator for more information. The duties of the COUN GA will vary. COUN GAs at community campus locations work closely with campus coordinators, faculty supervisors, and the counseling program director.
The graduate certificate in substance abuse counseling provides students the opportunity for additional knowledge and skills in substance abuse counseling. The certificate program admits students and practitioners who are either currently enrolled in a graduate degree program or who already have an appropriate master’s degree. The certificate may contribute toward the educational requirements as required by state boards for credentialing as a substance abuse counselor.
Curriculum: 13 hours- Theories of Addiction & Pharmacology (COUN 6173) -- 3 hours
- Counseling Procedures & Strategies, Legal Issues & Prevention Strategies with Addicted Populations (COUN 6174) -- 4 hours
- Assessment, Diagnosis & Treatment of Addiction (COUN 6183) -- 3 hours
- Relationship Counseling, Group Process & Techniques with Addicted Populations (COUN 6193) -- 3 hours
Students who seek the certificate in substance abuse counseling concurrently with their master’s degree in professional counseling should seek one internship placement where substance abuse counseling can be practiced. Supervision must be provided by a person who satisfies all the requirements for an onsite supervisor of a clinical mental health graduate student in addition to at least two years of post-master’s degree experience in the field of substance abuse counseling.
This program has been designed to contribute toward the educational requirements for certification and/or licensure in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Students are responsible for understanding all requirements in the states through which they are seeking certification and/or licensure and for verifying the current requirements in addition to remaining up-to-date on any changes taking place at the state level. Students are responsible for working with their state board toward identifying all requirements and applying for the appropriate credential.
- A completed application to the substance abuse counseling certificate program; and
- At least three evaluations from persons familiar with the applicant’s personal and professional qualifications.
The award of the certificate in substance abuse counseling requires:
- A cumulative quality point average of 3.00 or higher for the certificate courses; and Filing of an Application for the Certification Completion form with the Registrar’s Office following the specific guidelines set forth in this catalog (see Residency and Graduation Requirements).