Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The M.A. degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is CACREP accredited.

Students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program take coursework in the areas of human development, legal and ethical issues of the profession, career development, appraisal methods, counseling theories, group work, practicum and research, and program evaluation. Additional specialized courses focusing on mental health counseling in areas such as internship, human sexuality, addictions, organization, administration and supervision, and professional development. Students are engaged in field-based activities during almost every enrollment.

The FGCU MA program in clinical Mental Health Counseling fully prepares students to be eligible for registered intern status on the way to licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida. Students can complete their studies in two or three years. This program provides the professional and research based knowledge, professional counseling skills, and almost continuous field experiences totaling 1000 hours of practicum and Internship experiences that meet national standards and state licensure requirements. Typically students attend their courses in the early evenings and work with the Program's Clinical Coordinator to determine locations of their successive internship experiences. Graduates from this program work in community agencies, mental health settings, and private practices after graduation and most seek and achieve licensure.

As of Fall of 2016, students may elect to earn their MA degree in both specialty areas by applying for a dual major. These students will meet all requirements for both mental health counseling licensure and school counseling certification. Students take all common and specialty courses required for both programs and it will typically add a year or more to degree completion.

Those interested in appointments at the Community Counseling Center should call 239-745-4777 during their business hours.

VISIT COMMUNITY COUNSELING CENTER FOR DETAILS

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Concentrations

Couple and Family Counseling

Accreditation
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Admissions Information
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Getting Started
Applicants must submit an application online per the individual program’s instructions below. Please contact Graduate Admissions at 239-745-GRAD or graduate@fgcu.edu for additional information about the application process. Satisfaction of minimum University and program requirements does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. Applicants should check with the program for the most up to date admission requirements prior to commencing the application process.
- Submit an FGCU Graduate Admissions Application and satisfy all applicable university admissions requirements.
- Earned baccalaureate degree from an institution that maintains accreditation by a U.S. Department of Education sanctioned accrediting body (https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html) or equivalent foreign institution.
- Any one of the following:
  
  A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester hours toward undergraduate degree;
  
  A combined score of 1000 or higher on the quantitative and verbal sections of the GRE general exam if taken before August 1st, 2011; or a score of 151-153 on verbal and 143-144 on quantitative if taken on or after August 1st, 2011
- Submission of three recommendations from professionals in the field using the department's recommendation form. Note that letters of recommendation submitted in addition to the form are optional.
- Submission of a written statement of career goals will be reviewed for admission.
- Participation in a personal interview is required. Responses to the interview will be evaluated for admission.
- Performance in courses taken post baccalaureate will be taken into consideration for admission to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.
- International students must demonstrate English language proficiency in accordance with University regulation.
- Counseling Criminal Record Policy Statement: All applicants are advised that in order to complete the program, they must complete internships. Most internship facilities do background checks and will not permit the placement of counselor interns with criminal records. The Department reserves the right to deny program admission to any applicant if it appears that applicant is unlikely to be able to complete the internship requirement due to a criminal record, thus inhibiting their ability to complete the program.
Priority application review begins on February 1 of each year. Qualified applications submitted thereafter will be reviewed and may be admitted on a space available basis.

Admissions Related materials:
Counseling Programs Recommendation Form [.pdf - 209KB]
Current Program of Study

Transfer Notes and Acceptable Substitutes:
The Department limits the transfer of coursework into its graduate programs to a maximum of 12 credits or three courses. To be considered, courses must have been completed with a minimum grade of B and no more than seven years prior to the date of entry into the graduate program and no more than ten years prior to graduation from the graduate program.
Program Requirements
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Program Requirements for the 2024-2025 Catalog Year
Program Progression and Additional Graduation Requirements
- Students must satisfactorily complete the minimum number of credits specified by the graduate degree program.
- A grade of B or higher must be earned in all Department graduate courses used as prerequisites and each core course.
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in all work attempted.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 for all coursework in program.
- Students must complete and pass a culminating demonstration of learning and competence at the end of the program, currently a comprehensive examination.
- The Department limits the transfer of coursework into its graduate programs to a maximum of 12 credits or three courses. To be considered, courses must have been completed with a minimum grade of B and no more than seven years prior to the date of entry into the graduate program and no more than ten years prior to graduation from the graduate program.
- Submit an application for graduation by the semester deadline listed in the FGCU Academic Calendar.
- Students must register for a minimum of one credit hour during the semester in which they apply for graduation.
- Earn more than 50% of the credits toward the degree through FGCU.
Program Requirements
1. Required Courses in the Major (55 credits)
  MHS 6021 Intro to Clin Mental Hlth Coun (3)
  MHS 6070 Mental Disorders (3)
  MHS 6200 Appraisal Procedures (3)
  MHS 6340 Career Development (3)
  MHS 6401 Counseling Techniques (3)
  MHS 6404 Intro to Couns Theory and Tech (3)
  MHS 6428 Psychosoc/Cross-cultural Couns (3)
  MHS 6445 Intro Couple/Fam Counseling (3)
  MHS 6450 Issues in Addictions and Abuse (3)
  MHS 6466 Crisis/Trauma Counseling (3)
  MHS 6470 Human Sexual Issues Counselor (3)
  MHS 6482 Lifespan/Development (3)
  MHS 6500 Introduction to Group Dynamics (3)
  MHS 6600 Mntl Hlth Consult/Collab Prob (1)
  MHS 6700 Legal & Ethical Iss. in Coun. (3)
  MHS 6710 Research and Prog Evaluation (3)
  MHS 6800 Practicum Skills and Field Exp (3)
  MHS 6830 CMHC Counseling Internship (6*)
  
  *Six (6) total credits of MHS 6830 are required for graduation; these are typically accrued over multiple semesters, while taking one (1) credit for each 100 hours of internship to be completed in the semester.
2. Restricted Electives in the Major/Concentration (6 credits minimum)
  
  Select one of the following groupings:
  
  Couple and Family Counseling Concentration
  
  Complete the following:
  MHS 6435 Family Counseling (3)
  MHS 6438 Advanced Family Systems (3)
  MHS 6446 Couple/Relationship Counseling (3)
  MHS 6807 Couple/Fam Counseling Intern (1)
  
  No concentration noted on transcript
  
  Complete 6 credits from the following:
  MHS 6405 Advanced Counseling Theory (2)
  MHS 6422 Play Therapy (3)
  MHS 6423 Counseling Children & Adol (3)
  MHS 6435 Family Counseling (3)
  MHS 6446 Couple/Relationship Counseling (3)
  MHS 6620 Org. Admin and Supv (2)
  MHS 6807 Couple/Fam Counseling Internsh (1-3)
  MHS 6886 Internship: Clinical Superv (1) (Taken with MHS 6620)
Total Credits Required: 61 HRS
Course Descriptions
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Official Course Descriptions

Search for official course descriptions by using the Course Description Search utility.

Go to the Course Descriptions Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select a course prefix from one of the SUBJECT dropdowns (required)
3. Enter search words in the TEXT field (optional, but will narrow the search results)
4. Press Search
Course Schedule
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Getting started with the Course Schedule Search

Search for program courses by using the Course Schedule Search utility.

Go to the Course Schedule Search Web page, then follow these steps:
1. Select an Academic Year from the TERM dropdown (required)
2. Select one or more of the search options to narrow your results (for example, CAMPUS, COLLEGE, DEPARTMENT, LEVEL, PREFIX*, COURSE ATTRIBUTE**). For virtual or web courses, select VIRTUAL in the CAMPUS field.
3. Press Search.
*A course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline (for example, ACG for Accounting , BSC for Biological Science, ENC for English Composition). See the Degree Requirements page for a list of courses (with prefix and number) that can be used to fulfill degree requirements.

**A course attribute identifies specific characteristics of courses that can be used in a Degree Evaluation to satisfy a degree requirement. (Course attribute examples are Humanities courses - GEHM and Social Science courses - GESO.)
Learning Outcomes
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The programs meets all CACREP standards as defined as the eight Core competencies and for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialty area. Accomplishment of these standards is noted in the syllabus of each course and is tracked using Livetext.

The program also adheres to learning outcomes for graduate students at FGCU.
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Assistance
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Supplemental Tuition Waiver Policies
- Students are eligible to apply for graduate tuition fee waivers in one of FGCU's graduate Counseling programs after being admitted to the program with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Application Form and policies: Students are advised to file a FAFSA when they apply to the program.
There are other scholarships and aid available, some especially for school counselors and educators. See below:

Foundation Education Based Scholarships
- FGCU Foundation
- Bartley Scholarship (see story here).
External Education Based Scholarships

Quick links to external based scholarships.

Cape Coral Community Foundation

The Cape Coral Community Foundation has several Scholarship Funds available. In our 2006/2007 Scholarship cycle we awarded 33 recipients over $60,000 dollars to assist them in continuing their education. Scholarship eligibility varies according to the specific criteria of the Scholarship Fund that was established by the fund's donor. Please review the information regarding eligibility and criteria as each Scholarship Fund is unique.

Scholarships
1. The Bird Scholarship Fund was created to assist students that attend Faith Presbyterian Church or have family members that attend the church. Applications can be obtained at the Faith Presbyterian Church office.
2. The Brighten the Corner Scholarship Fund was created to assist young people who may have thought education opportunities beyond high school would not be available to them. An 85% attendance in a Christian Service of their choice is required.
3. The Helen & Edward Brancati Teacher Development Scholarship was created to assist teachers employed by an accredited school in the United States who are seeking to continue their education.
To apply to any of the CCCF scholarships please visit the foundations website.

FAFSA

Get help paying for college. Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

FastWeb

FastWeb is an online resource in finding scholarships to help you pay for school.

Florida Fund for Minority Students

Florida Fund for Minority Students.

Hispanic College Fund

More than $2 million will be awarded in scholarships to more than 500 deserving Hispanic students from the United States and Puerto Rico. To qualify for the scholarships, undergraduate and graduate students must maintain a 3.0 out of 4.0 GPA; be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident residing in the United States or Puerto Rico; be enrolled full-time at an accredited university for the upcoming school year; and must demonstrate financial needs. Learn more about Hispanic College Funds

State Farm Hispanic Scholarship Fund
- State Farm Companies Foundation has assisted Hispanic college students through its relationship with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund since 1990. Each year, we provide scholarships in the amount of $2,500 to twenty (20) Hispanic college students who are pursuing a teaching career.
- The Hispanic Scholarship Fund administers the program for State Farm Companies Foundation. Applications become available August 1st, the deadline to submit an application is October 16th (application must be postmarked by October 16th)
- To obtain an application and selection criteria, please contact Hispanic Scholarship Fund:
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
55 Second Street, Suite 1500
San Francisco, CA 94105
1-877-HSF-INFO 1-877-HSF-INFO

(1-877-473-4636 1-877-473-4636 FREE

Other Scholarship Information

View more recent posts about scholarships from the Scholarship section of our News You Can Use updates.
CMHC Programs of Study
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Please note: Due to curricular and programmatic changes, the program of study is specific to the year in which students are admitted. Programs of study for the most recent three cohorts are provided below.
*Admission to the Accelerated program requires an additional interview.

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