Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master of Arts (M.A.)

The 60-Credit Master of Arts in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Through a holistic, justice-centered, and developmental perspective, this 60-credit Master of Arts program prepares students to sit for the licensure exam for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. The program trains students to work in various settings utilizing traditional counseling techniques, whole person perspectives, and systems thinking with awareness of neuroscience and evidence-supported integrative practices. Students are required to engage in all learning activities in ways consistent with the current American Counseling Association (ACA) ethical standards and other related professional certification bodies as applicable. Inconsistencies with these standards, as determined by the program director and program faculty, serve as a basis for dismissal from the program. Students who successfully complete the approved 60 credit program including one-semester (100-clinical field hours) of clinical practicum and seminar in the summer, one-semester of clinical internship and seminar (300- clinical field hours) in the Fall and a final semester clinical internship (300- clinical field hours) in the Spring are eligible to earn the Master of Arts in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Many courses in the holistic clinical mental health counseling program require the completion of prerequisites. Academic advising is required and provided for all students to ensure that courses are taken in the correct sequence. In addition, students must meet the University's standards for admission to graduate studies upon application to the program as described in this catalog. The counseling program is designed to fulfill the required elements related to the eight (8) core areas of CACREP accreditation and is in-process for applying for CACREP accreditation.

Upon successful completion of the 60-credit program students must complete an additional 2,000 supervised clinical hours post-master’s degree and pass the exam required by the State of Rhode Island Licensing Board. Since requirements for licensure vary from state to state, students are encouraged to research the individual state licensure laws for the most current requirements for the states in which they want to practice. There are states where additional elements are required.

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Electives strengthen counselors' abilities to serve specific client populations by fostering growth and adding skill development.

Additional Information:

See the description of all courses offered in the program. Required courses are offered at least once per academic year. Elective courses may be substituted with appropriate courses from other graduate programs (i.e., Rehabilitation Counseling, Applied Behavioral Analysis) as applicable to a student's learning goals and with approval from the program director. Electives are offered at the program’s discretion. Please discuss elective options with your academic advisor.

Degree Plan for 60-Credit M.A in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling