Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Master’s in Counseling Degree Requirements
Program Prerequisites
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or recognized international institution
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (will consider lower GPAs for highly qualified applicants)
- Nine credits in undergraduate psychology coursework with a grade of B or higher
- Three of the nine credits may be in an area closely related to psychology
- Applicants are recommended to have three undergraduate credits in either abnormal psychology or psychopathology
- Minimum of 6-9 months of field experience working in social service agencies, mental health professions or substance use intervention sites
Required Materials
- Application
- Official transcript for the last degree earned.
International transcripts must include an official course-by-course evaluation of all academic work from an accredited academic evaluating service - Résumé
For Clinical Mental Health Counseling applicants, significant experience in the field of Counseling must be demonstrated - Two letters of recommendation
Letters may come from employers, professors or professional associates - Personal statement
In 250-500 words, detail your interest in the counseling program, your relevant academic and personal experience, and how this degree will impact your career goals - Interview
Once all required materials are received, you will be contacted to meet with the review
International Applicants
Please consult the International admission requirements page, or for specific queries, contact your admissions officer.
Deadlines
Completed application and all supporting documents must be received by:
- March 1 for priority consideration
- July 15 for the fall semester
Master's in Counseling Courses
The concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed to prepare students for work as mental health counselors and requires advanced coursework in clinical skills, psychopathology, appraisal procedures, addiction, and psychotherapeutic techniques.
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COUN 505 | Helping Relationships | 4 |
| COUN 512 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 515 | Clinical Skills for Counselors | 3 |
| COUN 535 | Research Methods | 3 |
| COUN 540 | Group Process Application & Theory | 4 |
| COUN 545 | Social & Cultural Foundations | 3 |
| COUN 552 | Human Growth & Development | 3 |
| COUN 568 | Counselor as Professional | 3 |
| COUN 570 | Strategies & Techniques of Counseling | 4 |
| COUN 572 | Supporting Self-Regulation and Competency | 3 |
| COUN 575 | Practicum | 4 |
| COUN 582 | Appraisal Processes for Counselors | 3 |
| COUN 585 | Trauma & Crisis Intervention | 3 |
| COUN 587 | Topics in Behavioral Medicine | 3 |
| COUN 592 | CPCE Exam class | 0 |
| COUN 595 | Addiction & Treatment | 3 |
| COUN 600 | Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship 1 | 4-6 |
| COUN 605 | Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship 2 | 4-6 |
| COUN 610 | Career & Lifestyle Development | 3 |
| Total | 60 |
Internships
Supervised internship experience is critical to counselor development and job placement. Clinical mental health counseling students complete a full year of field experience, Summer (practicum), Fall (Internship 1) and Spring (Internship 2). Our students intern in mental health and substance abuse clinical settings including hospitals, intensive outpatient programs, outpatient programs and residential treatment facilities. Practicum and Internship courses meet weekly for didactic training and student reflective practice under the supervision of University of Bridgeport faculty.
HRSA-BHWET Stipend Program
The Health and Human Services Administration (HRSA) awarded the University of Bridgeport’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program $1,524,990.00 for Radically Prepared! (RP!) A Project to Develop a Skillful Resilient Professional Counselor Workforce for Southern Connecticut. The funding will enable the clinical mental health counseling program to supply Southern Connecticut with counselors trained to deliver trauma informed evidence-based therapy. First of its kind, this innovative educational program, clinical mental health counseling students will learn Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills, and Circle of Security Parenting, while also focusing on their own health and wellness. Armed with these cutting-edge mental health therapies, graduates will be able to confront the post pandemic mental health crisis. Furthermore, the funding will enable the University of Bridgeport to become a Center for the dissemination of these evidence supported therapies to the community. UB CMH Counseling students will receive a stipend during their internship experience and therapy experts will train community clinical supervisors in the evidence-supported therapies.
Funded By
The nature of the grant is to:
- Provide $10,000 field placement stipends to Practicum and Internship students who are placed at agencies serving populations across the lifespan, including in urban and medically underserved areas.
- Provide students with evidenced based behavioral health training in how to work with populations across the lifespan, including in urban and medically underserved areas.
- Position stipend recipients to succeed in addressing the mental and behavioral health needs of vulnerable populations in integrated health care settings.
- Build a network of professionals and agencies, which collaborate in providing mental health services to vulnerable, at-risk, medically underserved, and/or urban populations and their families.
Eligibility
- Signed Student Commitment Letter
- Successfully complete the required 700 hour practicum/internship within 12 months
- Abide by the ACA Code of Ethics and the program requirements stated in the UB CMHC Practicum and Internship Guide
