The 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.
Professional Identity
Students are encouraged to identify with the counseling profession through participation in professional organizations. The American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Illinois Counseling Association (ICA) are ideal sources for learning more about the profession in the national and statewide level.
Eligibility for Licensure
Graduates of the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program are eligible to pursue licensure in Illinois as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Upon completion of educational requirements, two years of post-master’s supervised practice is required for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). It is the student’s responsibility to determine the requirements for professional licensure in the state they wish to practice.
For more information and application materials please contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, 320 West Washington Street, Springfield, IL 62786, 217.785.0800, or http://www.dfpr.state.il.us/.
Eligibility for GSA-NCC
Students enrolled in the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program at Argosy University, Schaumburg are eligible to apply for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential, while they are still a student, through the Graduate Student Application for the National Certified Counseling (GSA-NCC) program. Under this program, students may take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) on campus (rather than traveling to another testing site) prior to graduation if they are in the final academic year of the master’s program, and upon approval by the department chair. Students who pass the NCE and submit all required documentation are considered Board Eligible National Certified Counselors after graduating. These candidates have up to three years to meet the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) experience and supervision requirements. When all requirements are met, Board Eligible candidates may upgrade to become National Certified Counselors (NCC). For more information, please go to http://www.nbcc.org/.
Course Delivery Formats
Weekend Courses
In order to offer a more flexible learning experience for our students with multiple life responsibilities, selected courses are offered in a weekend format.
All courses that have class meetings scheduled exclusively for weekend hours will include a Web-augmented component. The Web-augmented component is meant to supplement the content delivered in the face-to face campus meetings and provide weekly instructional contact with the faculty member teaching the course. Students can expect weekly discussion questions that offer an opportunity to interact with classmates and faculty for that course. In addition, faculty may use the Web-based learning to provide supplemental reading and resources on the internet.
Student-at-Large Status
Students are allowed to take up to three courses in the curriculum as a student-at-large (SAL). Students are expected to meet the Argosy University’s policy regarding SAL status. Some courses relating to the clinical skills of counseling may be restricted depending on the student’s prior education.
The following clinical training courses are excluded for SALs:
Recommended Course Sequence
Students upon admission to the program are provided a program sequence. The sequence outlines the courses the student is to take in the program and when these courses are to be taken by the student. The sequence generally shows a pattern of 9 hours of course work each semester. Students are expected to follow the sequence and if they must divert from the sequence pattern, are highly encouraged to speak with their advisor first. Admissions representatives will discuss sequencing with prospective students.
Graduation Requirements
To be eligible for graduation, students must meet the following requirements:
- Successful completion of 60 semester credit hours
- A GPA of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0)
- Successful completion of practicum and internship seminars
- Successful completion of the practicum and internship
- A completed Petition to Graduate form submitted to campus administration
Program Requirements
Students enrolled in the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program are required to successfully complete 60 semester credit hours distributed as follows: core counseling curriculum requirements, 54 credit hours; practicum and internship requirements, 6 credit hours.
