The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program offers a Master of Arts in Education. This degree program requires the successful completion of 60 credit hours of graduate education. Completion of the MAE in Clinical Mental Health Counseling provides graduates with the academic requirements toward mental health licensure in Nebraska. Along with the MAE degree, graduates who successfully pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) will be prepared to apply for the provisional Licensed Mental Health Practioner (PLMHP) license in Nebraska.
Graduate Counselor Education Program Mission
Our mission is to prepare highly effective counselors equipped with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to serve a diverse, multicultural, and global society with marginalized populations. The faculty, current and former students, and community partners provide input to achieve our mission through the following objectives.
Graduate Counselor Education Program Student Learning Outcomes
Department Master's Program Objectives
- Foster the development of a strong professional counselor identity following the ethical guidelines outlined in the ACA and ASCA Codes of Ethics.
- Prepare culturally competent counselors to serve a diverse, multicultural, and global society with marginalized populations.
- Prepare counselors to apply human developmental theory to inform interventions across the lifespan.
- Produce counselors with a nuanced understanding of career development to conceptualize the intricate interplay between work, mental well-being, and other life roles.
- Prepare counselors who employ theoretically grounded counseling interventions to establish theory-based client outcomes.
- Prepare counselors who employ group dynamics and application of group theory in group counseling practice.
- Prepare counselors who employ ethical and culturally responsive assessment practices, strategies, and interventions in counseling practice.
- Prepare counselors who critically evaluate and utilize research methods in professional counseling.
- Produce Clinical Mental Health Counselors adept at diagnosis, mental health case conceptualization, and treatment planning.
- Prepare School Counselors to design and deliver school counseling programs utilizing the ASCA National Model.
Program of Study
The Clinical Mental Health Counselor Education degree prepares students to work professionally in various public and private counseling agencies. In Nebraska, counselors must seek licensure from the state to engage in counseling. Our Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program (CMHC) provides the academic background to support individuals pursuing licensure as mental health practitioners. The Department of Health & Human Services/Division of Public Health/Licensure Unit generally approves CSC counselor education courses for professional counselor continuing education (CE) credit. Please refer to the Counselor Education Student Handbook for more detailed information.
Courses:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| EDCI 631 | RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS 1 | 3 |
| COUN 520 | PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY, SOCIAL AND MEDICAL ISSUES IN ADDICTIONS | 3 |
| COUN 523 | DIAGNOSES AND THE DSM 2 | 3 |
| COUN 531 | COUNSELING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS 2 | 3 |
| COUN 532 | TREATMENT ISSUES IN ADDICTIONS | 3 |
| COUN 533 | COUNSELING ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY 2 | 3 |
| COUN 534 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ASSESSMENT | 3 |
| COUN 535 | MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 541 | COUNSELING THEORIES 2 | 3 |
| COUN 545 | ESSENTIALS OF ADDICTION COUNSELING AND CASE MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| COUN 601 | PRACTICUM-CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING 2, 3 | 3 |
| COUN 629 | CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 630 | CRISIS COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 631 | PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING 2 | 3 |
| COUN 632 | CAREER AND LIFESTYLE DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| COUN 634 | GROUP COUNSELING 2 | 3 |
| COUN 636 | COUPLE AND FAMILY COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 637 | ADVANCED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| COUN 640 | INTERNSHIP IN COUNSELING 2, 3 | 6 |
| Total Credits | 60 |
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Field Experience
COUN 601 PRACTICUM-CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING and COUN 640 INTERNSHIP IN COUNSELING are required courses in the CMHC program curriculum. These courses provide practical, applied experience in a mental health setting. Please refer to the Counselor Education Student Handbook for more detailed information.
Provisional Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (PLADC)
CMHC students seeking licensure as a Provisional Nebraska Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (PLADC) will have completed the academic coursework toward the Provisional Alcohol & Drug Counselor license (PLADC). They can also seek a field experience under the supervision of a LADC. Don't hesitate to contact the Counselor Education Program for more information.
Nebraska Professional School Counselor Endorsement
CMHC students who also seek endorsement as a Nebraska Professional School Counselor can complete the academic coursework toward this endorsement, including an internship for each endorsement level under the supervision of an endorsed school counselor. Don't hesitate to contact the Counselor Education Program for more information.
