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Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S.

In our Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S. program you will collaborate and consult with other mental health professionals to take the next steps in your career as a mental health counselor.

This Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited master’s degree meets the educational requirements for professional licensure as a counselor and prepares you to work with people across the lifespan in individual, couples and group settings.

You will gain a comprehensive understanding of:

psychological and emotional wellness
professional and ethical practices
social and cultural diversity
social justice and advocacy
human growth and development
counseling theories, interventions and best practices
career development
assessment, research and program evaluation
and more

Your program culminates in a three-semester practicum-internship. In that experience, you will work with clients in community settings to resolve their challenges.

There is also a non-degree version of this program. To view admissions requirements and deadlines visit the Admissions Requirements tab below.

Education programs leading to professional licensure or certification (nursing, education, social work, counseling, accounting, allied health professions, etc.) may require additional approval from separate licensing boards, depending on the state. Students who live or plan to live outside Georgia and are considering a professional program should contact the appropriate board in their state of residency prior to beginning a course of study. To help students find the best-known contact information for the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.

Category: Health Professions

When applying to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S. program, you will need to submit several documents for review.

Online application
Application fee of $50
Goals statement (upload with the application)
Resume (upload with the application)
Three letters of recommendation (identify your recommenders on the application)
Official Transcript: minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA required for admission
- submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended either electronically to gradapplytranscripts@gsu.edu or by mailing directly to Georgia State University | Office of Graduate Admissions | P.O. Box 4018 Atlanta, GA 30302
GRE scores:
- institution code 5251; scores may not be more than five years old at time of application submission

Please Note:
Interviews will be conducted by department faculty — you will be notified if you are selected for an interview.

Program of Study

Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling

Professional Studies (9)
Required (9):

CPS 7340 Social/Cultural Issues in Counseling and Psychological Services (3)
CPS 7500 Individual and Family Over the Life Span (3)
EPRS 7900 Methods of Research in Education (3)

Major (33)
Required (33):

CPS 6010 Professional Identity and Ethics in Mental Health Counseling (3)
CPS 6410 Basic Counseling Skills (3)
CPS 6450 Group Counseling Systems (3)
CPS 7260 Counseling Systems and Interventions (3)
CPS 7300 Career Theory, Assessment, and Intervention (3)
CPS 7450 Educational and Psychological Appraisal (3)
CPS 8100 Psychobehavioral Diagnosis (3)
CPS 8380 Family Systems and Interventions (3)
CPS 8430 Advanced Counseling Skills (3) or another appropriate course may be substituted with the approval of the student’s advisor/program coordinator
CPS 8460 Biopsychosocial Aspects of Addiction (3)
CPS 8470 Crisis Intervention (3)

Applied Practice Sequence (12)
Required (12):

CPS 7660 Applied Practice I: Mental Health Counseling (3)
CPS 7680 Internship: Mental Health Counseling (9)

Elective (6)
A list of approved electives for Mental Health Counseling Master’s Degree students is available in each student’s handbook.

Program total: minimum of 60 semester hours

Funding Your Graduate Education

Cost of attendance and funding opportunities are integral to your decision to attend graduate school. Georgia State University is proud to offer a variety of funding opportunities, from assistantships to fellowships.

Awards and Assistantships

Various awards, assistantships and fellowships are available to new and current graduate students. We encourage you to contact your department, college, school or institute of interest to get more information about the assistantships and fellowships that they offer their students.

The Scholarship Resource Center offers guidance and support to students seeking financial assistance through scholarship opportunities, including this scholarship library.

Fellowships

The Office of Graduate Programs’ Fellowship Advisor works with students interested in applying for nationally prestigious and competitive fellowships. The Office of Graduate Programs also coordinates the application process for students applying to the Second Century Initiative, the Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship and the Dissertation Library Travel Awards.

Cost Calculator

Our calculator can help you get an idea of the costs associated with attending the university.

This program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for Clinical Mental Health Counseling and fully meets the educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) in Georgia.

When you finish the program, you will be able to work with clients in individual, group, family and couples settings. You will have knowledge and skills to counsel clients across the lifespan (toddler through late adulthood) and address a wide range of challenges, including:

interpersonal difficulties
career and vocational transitions
crisis and trauma
emotional concerns
identity development
grief and loss
addictions
psychosocial issues
and many more

You will develop a strong sense of professional identity that aligns with the American Counseling Association’s definition of counseling: Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals

You will facilitate counseling sessions and participate in consultation and supervision with professionals and administrators about addressing clients’ developmental needs.

You will have opportunities to contribute to mental health scholarship through research, writing and presentations. This may also lead to furthering your education in a doctoral program.

You will build connections to a group of peers who will enter the profession with you and provide support as your professional network for many years into the future.

CMH Student Handbook

Current Model Program