Program Overview and Mission Statement for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program are consistent across the Argosy University system. Please refer to the introductory pages of this program section for detailed descriptions of both the program overview and the mission statement.
Programmatic Accreditation
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) has granted accreditation to the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Argosy University, Denver under the 2009 Standards.
Eligibility for Licensure
Graduates of the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program are eligible to pursue licensure in Colorado as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), upon completion of educational requirements and 2,000 hours over a minimum of two years of post-masters supervised practice. For more information and application materials please contact the State of Colorado Mental Health Licensing Section at: www.dora.state.co.us/mental-health/ or 303.894.7800.
Since licensing may change and often varies from state to state, students should verify the current requirements of the state in which they plan to become licensed.
Admissions Notification
Students are notified in writing of the decision made by the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee decisions are final and not subject to appeal. Applicants who have been denied admission may reapply after the passage of one year from the date of denial by submitting all documents required of a new applicant. Individuals who intend to reapply for admission are required to contact the Admissions Department prior to reapplying.
Graduation Requirements
Students admitted into the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program are responsible for completing the program requirements in effect at the time of admission. The school retains the right to modify these requirements in accordance with the demands of the counseling profession. Coursework and degree requirements should be completed in the order recommended by the department administration. Academic advisors must approve any changes. To be eligible for graduation, students must meet the following requirements:
- Completion of 60 semester credit hours which include
- 48 credit hours of core counseling courses
- 9 credit hours of practicum and internship
- 3 credit hours of elective courses
- GPA of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0)
- Successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination
- Successful completion of all practicum and internship requirements and assessments
- Completion of all requirements within five years of matriculation into the program*
- A completed Petition to Graduate form submitted to campus administration
Note
*Students who have temporarily withdrawn from Argosy University will have the maximum amount of years, plus the length of the approved leave (not to exceed one year) to complete the program.
Course Delivery Format
Weekend Class Format
In order to offer a flexible and effective learning experience for our students with multiple life responsibilities, most courses are offered in a weekend format. All courses with class meetings scheduled exclusively during weekend hours will be Web-augmented with an online component. This online component supplements the content delivered in the face-to-face campus meetings and provides weekly instructional contact. Students can expect weekly discussion questions that offer opportunities to interact with fellow students and course faculty, as well as the opportunity to engage with faculty and other students around activities meant to deepen and enhance the learning experience. In addition, faculty may use the Web-based learning environment to provide supplemental resources and reading material.
Program Starting Times
Classes for new students conveniently begin three times a year. New classes start each fall semester session I (September), spring semester session I (January), and summer semester session I (May).
Applications are accepted at any time. Contact the Admissions Department for details concerning entrance times.
Practicum/Internship and Seminar Requirements
The practicum/internship is an essential part of the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program. These are supervised field training experiences within a mental health services system. A required, essential component of the degree program, students are supervised by experienced clinicians who teach relevant skills, provide supervision of on-going work, and serve as role models of professional identity and behavior.
Training may not be done in a student’s place of employment, nor is any student exempt from the practicum/internship requirements. Students with extensive clinical backgrounds are encouraged to consider training sites in areas where they have an interest and do not have previous experience. Detailed guidelines and application materials are available from the program.
All students who enter the practicum/ internship application process must be in good academic standing, have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, and have completed all the practicum prerequisite courses prior to the beginning of training with a “B-” or better.
All students enrolled in a practicum/internship are concurrently enrolled in a seminar. The seminar meets throughout the placement and allows the student to reflect on various training experiences while acquiring additional skills and attitudes. Specific seminar content and emphasis varies according to the training setting, focus of the enrolled students, and the professional expertise of the faculty member.
The goals of the training seminar are:
- Development of counseling and case formulation skills
- Provision of information and consultation to supplement the experiences provided at the practicum/internship site
- Assistance developing a professional style for case presentations
- Improved ability to provide and receive feedback in an effective manner
- Discussion of ethical issues as they pertain to specific counseling cases
- Preparation for the campus-specific capstone assessments
Practicum/Internship Evaluation
The goal of the experience is to train competent counselors capable of effective counseling and therapeutic intervention. Student evaluation during field training includes: theoretical knowledge, counseling skills, and professional attitude. A thorough review of site and seminar evaluations is conducted by the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. An overall grade of “Credit” (CR) or “No Credit” (NC) is included in the student’s academic record along with a comprehensive overview of the student’s practicum/internship experience.
Writing Program
Students are expected to be proficient in written and oral communication and to produce written work consistent with accepted standards in the field. Those who are identified by faculty as needing further development of writing skills will be required to address identified deficits.
Student Advisement
The department assigns advisors to students enrolled in the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program. The advisor is available for consultation on student professional development, academic/ training progress, and professional issues.
Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor as often as necessary to review progress through the program and to discuss performance in classes, seminars, and practicum/internship.
Comprehensive Examination Requirements
All MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program students are required to successfully complete a Comprehensive Examination. The information tested by the exam covers the end-of-program learning outcomes required of students in the program. Students must have successfully completed all required coursework, with the exception of practicum and internship, to be eligible to take the Comprehensive Exam. Additional information regarding registration, qualification, format, and dates of the exam can be obtained from the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program.
A student who fails the Comprehensive Exam is required to contact his/her academic advisor who will assist in developing a remediation plan. Any student who fails the Comprehensive Examination a third time is automatically dismissed from the program.
Student-At-Large Status
Students may take up to three courses in the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program curriculum as a student-at-large (SAL). Some courses relating to the clinical skills of counseling may be restricted depending on the student’s prior education. The following seminars and clinical training courses are excluded for SALs:
Program Requirements
The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program requires the satisfactory completion of 60 semester credit hours distributed as follows: core counseling requirements, 48 credit hours; practicum and internship requirements, 9 credit hours; elective requirements, 3 credit hours.
