Master of Arts
Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.A.
Our CMHC master’s degree prepares you to help individuals meet life’s challenges, become self-aware, growth-oriented, and effective in mastering the challenges of life.
Clinical mental health counseling (or CMHC) requires insight, attentiveness, and a personal touch. Those characteristics define Oakland University’s master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Whether you’re a recent university graduate or a working adult seeking new career opportunities, our CMHC master’s degree equips you to help people and families lead happier, more rewarding lives. You’ll get face-to-face instruction and close guidance from faculty, along with supervised mental health counseling experience both on campus and in the community. Our CMHC degree qualifies you for the licensed professional counselor (LPC) exam, and convenient evening classes make it possible to complete the CMHC master’s degree while you’re working full time.
Clinical mental health counseling (or CMHC) requires insight, attentiveness, and a personal touch. Those characteristics define Oakland University’s master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Whether you’re a recent university graduate or a working adult seeking new career opportunities, our CMHC master’s degree equips you to help people and families lead happier, more rewarding lives. You’ll get face-to-face instruction and close guidance from faculty, along with supervised mental health counseling experience both on campus and in the community. Our CMHC degree qualifies you for the licensed professional counselor (LPC) exam, and convenient evening classes make it possible to complete the CMHC master’s degree while you’re working full time.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling: The Oakland University Advantage
CMHC professionals use both scientific knowledge and subjective insight to help their patients. You’ll master both halves of that skill set in Oakland University’s CMHC degree. We offer a flexible, customizable clinical mental health counseling degree that amplifies your strengths, broadens your range of proficiency, and prepares you to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
Our CMHC master’s degree provides you with:
- Extensive clinical experience. Oakland University operates the School of Education and Health Sciences Counseling Center and has a close connection to the School of Engineering and Computer Science mental health counseling clinics that offer CMHC services to the campus community and the general public. Both facilities enable CMHC master’s students to work directly with patients under close faculty guidance and supervision, putting classroom concepts into practice. In addition, the clinical mental health counseling degree includes one semester-long internship in off-campus professional setting.
- Attention from expert faculty. Although our CMHC professors stand out for their academic credentials and professional achievements, what really sets them apart is their unwavering support for CMHC students. Our CMHC professors offer personal mentorship and career guidance in addition to classroom instruction.
- Rigorous academic training. Our CMHC degree is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). You’ll acquire a broad theoretical foundation that draws on psychology, philosophy, education, and related fields. The program covers the most current research and evidence-based practice in clinical mental health counseling, and it prepares you for doctoral programs if you choose to continue your studies.
- Flexibility and convenience. We offer a CMHC master’s degree that’s accessible to all kinds of students, from recent college graduates to adults who’ve spent years in the workforce. Evening classes enable you to complete the clinical mental health counseling program while you’re working full time. You can also earn income as a teaching assistant, and apply for scholarships that cover partial expenses for tuition, research, or international study.
What can you do with a CMHC master’s degree?
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Careers
Clinical mental health counselors care about people, are superior listeners, and feel rewarded by helping individuals navigate crises and challenges. If you fit this description, our CMHC master’s degree might be ideal for you.
Professional opportunities for clinical mental health counselors are growing rapidly. You may find work in areas such as:
- Marriage counseling
- Family therapy
- Suicide prevention
- Addiction recovery
- Group therapy
- Post-traumatic stress
- Child or adolescent mental health
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Curriculum
Our CMHC master’s degree totals 60 credits. The program includes courses that enhance your knowledge of academic counseling topics and clinical courses that teach you the skills you need to help clients. You’ll also complete one off-campus clinical internships to finish the CMHC degree.
Courses address a wide range of subjects that include:
- Individual and family development
- Counseling and psychotherapy
- Testing and assessment
- Ethics
- Social justice and diversity
- Group counseling
- Testing, assessment, and diagnosis
- Addiction
- Career developing and Counseling