Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is a 60 hour credit master's degree. Graduates are eligible for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential. In addition, graduates meet educational requirements for licensure in a majority of states.

A mental health counselor (CMHC) is a professional who is qualified to provide professional counseling services, involving the application of psychotherapy, human development, learning theory, group dynamics, and the etiology of mental illness and dysfunction behavior to individuals, couples, families, and groups for the purpose of treating a broad range of mental health issues and promoting optimal health.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling master's program at UNC prepares students with knowledge, clinical practice expertise, cultural humility, knowledge, dispositions, and skills to work with diverse individuals with a broad range of mental health issues. Graduates are prepared to be successful in careers in mental health treatment, human services, education, research, private practice, government, military, and business and industry. The curriculum provides extensive training in principles of mental health counseling, the nature and etiology of mental health and behavioral disorders, culturally responsive counseling approaches, and evidence-based practices. Graduates achieve mastery in clinical mental health counseling and are competent in clinical practice, individual, professional, and systemic advocacy, leadership, consultation, and collaboration to assess client's mental health needs, goals, resources, and barriers. Graduates of the UNC program will be proficient in developing and implementing mental health treatment and prevention programs and in providing consultation, leadership, and advocacy to individuals across the age spectrum and to groups, organizations, and communities. Counselors trained at UNC will successfully fulfill their professional counselor roles in practice, research, leadership, and community advocacy in the clinical mental health counseling specialty area.

Our division offers two unique and challenging master's degrees:
The Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling degree requires 68 credits within the major
The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree requires 65 credit hours within the major
The programs offer exceptional training in two entry-level specialty areas of counseling: Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Graduates are highly qualified to provide counseling services to individuals with mental and emotional disorders, co-occurring conditions, and a variety of chronic illnesses and disabilities. Graduates of the program will be prepared to effectively use a variety of counseling interventions to improve the lives of individuals with a broad range of mental health issues or other needs resulting from a disability or chronic health conditions.

A bachelor's degree (based on a four-year curriculum) completed before graduate study begins or its international equivalent with an accredited institution an average grade of B (cumulative GPA 3.0) or better. One unofficial transcript from each university attended must be uploaded within the application. All unofficial transcripts must be uploaded to your application in order for your application to be reviewed. Please do not mail transcripts as part of your admission application; we only accept unofficial uploads for application evaluation. If you are offered admission, one official transcript for each university attended will be required prior to the first day of the term. IELTS -7.0 , TOEFL IBT- 90