Specialization Requirements

Program Specialization Courses

Students in all counseling program areas complete courses designed to meet program requirements recommended by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). All students complete core and specialization courses specific to their areas of professional practice. The program requires the student to complete three terms of practicum or fieldwork in an approved setting related to the student’s career goal.

CMHC Program Plan - Year 1

Fall I
COUN 502	Professional Orientation, Law and Ethics in Counseling	3
COUN 520	Counseling Theories and Practice	3
COUN 530	Assessment Techniques in Counseling	3
COUN 564	Counseling Skills	3
Intersession I
COUN 505	Human Development	3
Spring I
COUN 526	Group Counseling	3
COUN 541	Advanced Counseling: Diagnosis And Treatment Planning	3
COUN 547	Risk Assessment and Trauma Intervention in Clinical Mental Health Counseling	3
COUN 555	Evidence-Based Counseling Theory and Techniques	3
Summer I
COUN 510	Career Development Across the Lifespan	3
COUN 515	Multicultural Counseling	3
COUN 587P	Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum	3

CMHC Program Plan - Year 2

Fall II
COUN 508	Research Methods in Clinical Mental Health Counseling	3
COUN 542	Addictions Counseling	3
COUN 544	Intro Family Counseling	3
COUN 598P	Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship	3
Intersession II
COUN 562	Positive Psychology: Theory and Applications	3
or COUN 575	Advanced Counseling Skills: Motivational Interviewing
Spring II
COUN 549	Psychopharmacology	3
COUN 550	Couples and Sexuality	3
COUN 598P	Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship	3
Total Units		60

Clinical Contact Hours

Students must successfully complete a minimum of 700 clock hours of supervised practicum over three semesters. At least 240 clock hours of direct service during the three semesters of practicum, during the first semester, a minimum of 100 hours/40 direct service hours with a minimum of 120 direct hours per practicum II/III, including experience in leading groups.

Clinical Instruction Benchmark Assessment (CIBA)

A Clinical Instruction Benchmark Assessment (CIBA) is utilized to assess readiness for practicum training and to provide candidates with personal and professional development feedback.

Capstone Research Project Defense

The Counseling Program utilizes a capstone research project defense as part of the assessment of student readiness to complete the program. The Research project defense requires that students complete a research project in consultation with their advisor. The defense is a public presentation of the student’s research project and its findings. In addition to the presentation, each student is required to turn in a formal written ‘Research Brief’ project report. The Research defense is generally taken during the final semester of courses.

Comprehensive Examination

Successful completion of a comprehensive examination is required for graduation. The exam is administered during the final semester and includes multiple-choice questions and case vignette components.

International Requirement

At SOLES, all master's and doctoral students participate in an international experience designed to support the growth of cultural competency. Our goal is to inform best practices in working with culturally diverse populations locally, nationally, and globally. International experiences are approved by each student's faculty advisor and can be credit-based or non-credit-based activities.

MA in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

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Program Overview

Program Requirements

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