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
We prepare ethical, culturally competent, and professionally skilled counselors to serve diverse and marginalized populations, with particular emphasis on the needs of rural, frontier, and High Plains communities, in collaboration with faculty, students, alumni, and community partners.
Graduate Counselor Education Program Student Learning Outcomes
Counselor Education Program Learning Outcomes
- Professional Identity, Ethics, & Cultural Competence-Students will demonstrate a professional counselor identity, apply ethical principles in accordance with ACA and ASCA codes, and provide culturally responsive counseling.
- Human Development & Career Counseling-Students will apply developmental theory and career strategies to guide practice.
- Counseling Theory, Group Practice, & Assessment-Students will develop a theoretical orientation for individual and group counseling while identifying applicable assessments to guide practice.
- Specialization Competence-Students will demonstrate competency in their area of specialization, utilizing content-specific research to guide practice.
Program of Study
The CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) master’s program prepares students for professional practice in diverse counseling settings and lays the foundation for Nebraska licensure. Coursework is primarily online, with some classes requiring scheduled live sessions. Students advance in a supportive cohort that fosters collaboration, peer connections, and a strong professional network. Refer to the Counselor Education Website for more detailed information.
Courses:
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| COUN 500 | COUNSELING ORIENTATION 1 | 0 |
| COUN 502 | INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING 1, 2, 3 | 3 |
| COUN 520 | PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY, SOCIAL AND MEDICAL ISSUES IN ADDICTIONS 5, 6 | 3 |
| COUN 523 | DIAGNOSES AND THE DSM 3, 4 | 3 |
| COUN 532 | TREATMENT ISSUES IN ADDICTIONS 5 | 3 |
| COUN 533 | ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES IN COUNSELING 3, 4 | 3 |
| COUN 534 | COUNSELING ASSESSMENT 4 | 3 |
| COUN 535 | MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING 1 | 3 |
| COUN 537 | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| COUN 541 | COUNSELING THEORIES 1, 3 | 3 |
| COUN 545 | ESSENTIALS OF ADDICTION COUNSELING AND CASE MANAGEMENT 6 | 3 |
| COUN 629 | CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 630 | CRISIS COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 632 | CAREER DEVELOPMENT | 3 |
| COUN 634 | GROUP COUNSELING 3, 4 | 3 |
| COUN 636 | COUPLE AND FAMILY COUNSELING | 3 |
| COUN 638 | COUNSELING SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES 1, 4 | 3 |
| COUN 641 | COUNSELING RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION 2, 4 | 3 |
| COUN 645 | CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PRACTICUM 3, 4, 7 | 3 |
| COUN 680 | CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING INTERNSHIP I 3, 7 | 3 |
| COUN 681 | CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING INTERNSHIP II 3, 7 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 60 |
Practicum & Internship
Clinical Mental Health Counseling students must complete Practicum and Internship in clinical mental health settings, gaining essential hands-on experience that bridges classroom learning with professional practice.
Provisional Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (PLADC)
CMHC students pursuing the Nebraska Provisional Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (PLADC) credential will complete the required academic coursework within their CMHC program curriculum. To receive a PLADC, students must also gain supervised field experience under a Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor.
Nebraska Professional School Counselor Endorsement
CMHC students may also pursue the Nebraska Professional School Counselor endorsement through a non-degree credential pathway. This option includes required coursework and internships under the supervision of an endorsed school counselor. For details, please contact the CSC Education Department Certification Officer.