The Clinical and Mental health Counseling program curriculum is modeled on national licensing standards and meets licensure requirements in the state of Arkansas.
Note: Students who complete all required courses and pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE) can apply for licensure in the state of Arkansas. For students seeking licensure in other states, please contact your state’s licensing board for guidance on licensure requirements. Although a background check is not an admissions requirement, students may be required to pass a background check before being eligible for clinical work during Practicum and Internship courses. Licensing boards require graduates to pass a background check before being eligible for professional licensure.
Admission to Clinical and Mental Health Counseling Graduate Program:
Admission to the School of Graduate Studies does not guarantee acceptance to the Clinical and Mental Health Counseling Program. Students who are seeking entrance into the program must also meet the requirements listed below prior to enrolling in graduate courses.
All required documents must be submitted by the graduate school admission deadlines. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Unofficial transcript(s) will be accepted for program admission review in the event the official necessary transcript(s) is not available by the deadline.
Application and Program Admission Document Deadlines:
- Fall semester: August 1
- Spring semester: December 1
- 1st Summer session: May 1
- 2nd Summer session: June 1
CMHC Program Admission:
- Complete and upload the following documents into the admissions portal:
- Statement of Purpose Writing Sample (prompt below)
- Three reference letters from former or current supervisors or professors
- Acknowledgment of Program Requirements (Informed Consent)
Applicants to the program should understand that a 100-hour Practicum and two 300-hour semesters of internship (for a total of 700 hours of professional practice and fieldwork) are required.
Statement of Purpose Writing Sample
In two to three pages (not including the title page and any references you cite), address all five of the following prompts. The style should be consistent with the seventh edition of the American Psychological Association Publication Manual.
- Career Goals: Why do you want to pursue a master’s degree in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling at Southern Arkansas University? How does this program align with your career goals?
- Strengths and Weaknesses: Discuss and area of strength you would bring to a counseling role and an area of weakness you struggle with. Include information about your personal qualities which will assist you in forming effective counseling relationships.
- Time Management and Prioritizing: Keeping up with the pace of graduate school and online courses can be stressful and is often the equivalent of a part-time job. What is your plan for managing your time while in the program (include information about your family and/or social supports)?
- Response to Feedback: Imagine a situation where you felt a supervisor or instructor treated you unfairly or provided feedback you disagreed with. How would you approach a situation like this?
- Cultural Sensitivity and responsiveness are essential to counseling relationship. How have you formed relationships with people different from you and how do you plan to navigate cultural differences with future clients?
Transfer Credit Policy
The Master of Science in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling degree program requires completion of 60 credit hours of graduate-level coursework in counseling. This is also a requirement for licensure as a Professional Counselor in most states.
A maximum of twelve credit hour may be transferred form an institutionally-accredited college or university. These transfer credits must be in courses determined to be equivalent to courses required in the program. All transfer credits must be approved by the Program Director, College Dean, and the Registrar. Decisions about transfer credits will be made after a student had been admitted to the program.
