Feb 11, 2026

2013-2014 Argosy University Academic Catalog—Graduate Programs | Volume 4, Issue 1

2013-2014 Argosy University Academic Catalog—Graduate Programs | Volume 4, Issue 1 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Program—Argosy University, Nashville

Program Overview

The Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program at Argosy University, Nashville is a 60 credit-hour program designed to provide students with a solid foundation for the practice of mental health counseling. The program’s curriculum is designed to integrate the theoretical and conceptual foundations of mental health counseling with training in appropriate client intervention and therapy skills. The program is designed to emphasize the development of attitudes, knowledge, and skills that are essential for mental health counselors who are committed to the ethical provision of quality services. Students completing this program meet the academic requirements toward licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Services Provider (LPC-MHSP) in Tennessee.

The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program is committed to preparing students to enter a professional career as master’s-level counseling practitioners who can function ethically and effectively with demonstrated knowledge of social and cultural diversity. This goal is achieved through a curriculum designed to integrate counseling skills, theoretical foundations of mental health counseling, and practicum ﬁeld experience into a set of professional competencies that students can utilize with diverse client populations in a wide variety of settings.

Licensure Information

Courses and curricula are designed to parallel prevailing licensure and certiﬁcation requirements as closely as possible. However, because of variations among states and laws that often change, each student should check with state authorities to conﬁrm licensing requirements in the state they wish to practice. The American Counseling Association (ACA) and the National Board for Certiﬁed Counselors (NBCC) frequently publish information on professional issues of importance to professional counselors, including licensure, online at: www.counseling.org and www.nbcc.org.

Program Formats

Classes for new students conveniently begin several times a year, allowing students to enter the program throughout the year. New classes start each fall, spring, and summer semester. Contact the Admissions Department for details concerning entrance times.

Argosy University, Nashville offers a variety of ﬂexible formats designed for the convenience of adult students. Regular in-residence, blended/in-residence, and online formats are offered in 7.5 week and 15 week terms. The current course schedule outlines available courses for each semester.

Additional Enrollment Requirements

Students in the program should be enrolled in two 3-credit hour classes per semester. While on internship or practicum, students may be enrolled in the practicum or internship alone. Students should conﬁrm minimum enrollment requirements for ﬁnancial aid and international student status with the appropriate Student Services representative.

Additional Requirements for Academic Progress

Students enrolled in the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program at Argosy University, Nashville must complete all program requirements within five years after matriculation. Listed below is the minimum amount of work that a student must complete by the end of each year following matriculation to successfully complete the program (except for students taking an approved temporary withdrawal). Argosy University, Nashville students are required to complete 60 credit hours. A suggested incremental time frame is listed below.

Suggested Incremental Time Frame Completion Rates

End of Year One	12 credit hours
End of Year Two	24 credit hours
End of Year Three	36 credit hours
End of Year Four	48 credit hours
End of Year Five	60 credit hours

Additional Graduation Requirements

In addition to the graduation requirements listed previously, students enrolled in the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program at Argosy University, Nashville must meet the following requirements:

Completion of 60 semester credit hours by the end of the sixth year of matriculation. The total credit hours must include:
- 51 credit hours of required courses
- 9 credit hours (completed over 10 months) of required internship or practicum and internship or practicum seminar groups
Successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination
Successful completion of the Clinical Evaluation Conference (CEC)
Completion of all requirements within five years of matriculation into the program

Initial Four Courses Requirement

The ﬁrst four courses of the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program must be completed satisfactorily before a student may take additional courses in the program.

After successful completion of these courses, a formal evaluation process is used to review each student’s academic performance and professional conduct. Students who earn a GPA of 3.0 or above (on a scale of 4.0) and have satisfactory faculty evaluations will be considered for continuation in the program. Students who receive a grade below “B-” in any course must retake the course and improve the grade. Any of the four courses in which a grade below “B-” is received must be repeated. Any student who receives two grades below “B-” in the ﬁrst four courses (including grades received on courses retaken) will be dismissed from the program. To graduate, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a scale of 4.0).

Within the ﬁrst six courses, students may take only one course at a time. Following successful completion of the ﬁrst six courses, a student may choose to seek approval from his/her advisor to take more than one course at a time.

For Argosy University, Nashville students, the initial four courses are as follows:

Initial Four Courses Requirement — Students Must Complete the Following Courses before Taking Additional Courses in the Program

Initial Four Courses Requirement — 12 Credit Hours

Program Requirements

Students enrolled in the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program are required to satisfactorily complete 60 semester credit hours, distributed as follows: required courses, 51 credit hours; practicum and internship requirements, 9 credit hours.

Required Courses — Students Are Required to Take the Following

Required Courses — 51 Credit Hours

Practicum and Internship Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following

Practicum and Internship Requirements — 9 Credit Hours

Note: Course calendars may be obtained through the program. Students will receive details of the required course sequence upon admission to the program.

Additional Practicum Information

Practicum may be taken after completion of all required coursework. To begin a practicum in Fall 2009 or later a student will need to have completed forty-two (42) semester hours.

Comprehensive Examination Requirements

Students enrolled in the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program must successfully complete a Comprehensive Examination. Argosy University, Nashville students must do so no later than the end of the sixth year after entering the program.

Course/Credit Transfer

A maximum of four courses—12 credit hours — may be transferred into the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program. Required courses that may not be transferred into the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program at Argosy University, Nashville are listed below: