Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S.

When applying to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S. program, you will need to submit several documents for review.

• Online application
• Application fee of $50
• Goals statement (upload with the application). In this statement, we want to begin to get to know you as a program. Please share the story behind your decision to pursue a career in counseling. In your story, please address the following components:
  1. What are the personal, academic, and professional experiences that have brought you to this point and explain why this moment feels right to begin graduate training.
  2. What unique perspectives, skills, or life experiences will you bring to the classroom and the field? What are your professional aspirations and what you hope to learn and how you hope to grow personally and professionally.
  3. What aspects of our program resonate most with your goals and values?
• Resume (upload with the application)
• Three letters of recommendation (identify your recommenders on the application)
• Official Transcript: minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA required for admission
  • submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended either electronically to [email protected] or by mailing directly to Georgia State University | Office of Graduate Admissions | P.O. Box 4018 Atlanta, GA 30302

Please Note:
Interviews will be conducted by department faculty — you will be notified if you are selected for an interview.

Program of Study

Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling

Professional Studies (9)
Required (9):

• CPS 7340 Social/Cultural Issues in Counseling and Psychological Services (3)
• CPS 7500 Individual and Family Over the Life Span (3)
• EPRS 7900 Methods of Research in Education (3)

Major (33)
Required (33):

• CPS 6010 Professional Identity and Ethics in Mental Health Counseling (3)
• CPS 6410 Basic Counseling Skills (3)
• CPS 6450 Group Counseling Systems (3)
• CPS 7260 Counseling Systems and Interventions (3)
• CPS 7300 Career Theory, Assessment, and Intervention (3)
• CPS 7450 Educational and Psychological Appraisal (3)
• CPS 8100 Psychobehavioral Diagnosis (3)
• CPS 8380 Family Systems and Interventions (3)
• CPS 8430 Advanced Counseling Skills (3) or another appropriate course may be substituted with the approval of the student’s advisor/program coordinator
• CPS 8460 Biopsychosocial Aspects of Addiction (3)
• CPS 8470 Crisis Intervention (3)

Applied Practice Sequence (12)
Required (12):

• CPS 7660 Applied Practice I: Mental Health Counseling (3)
• CPS 7680 Internship: Mental Health Counseling (9)

Elective (6)
A list of approved electives for Mental Health Counseling Master’s Degree students is available in each student’s handbook.

Program total: minimum of 60 semester hours

Funding Your Graduate Education

Cost of attendance and funding opportunities are integral to your decision to attend graduate school. Georgia State University is proud to offer a variety of funding opportunities, from assistantships to fellowships.

Awards and Assistantships

Various awards, assistantships and fellowships are available to new and current graduate students. We encourage you to contact your department, college, school or institute of interest to get more information about the assistantships and fellowships that they offer their students.

The Scholarship Resource Center offers guidance and support to students seeking financial assistance through scholarship opportunities, including this scholarship library.

Fellowships

The Office of Graduate Programs’ Fellowship Advisor works with students interested in applying for nationally prestigious and competitive fellowships. The Office of Graduate Programs also coordinates the application process for students applying to the Second Century Initiative, the Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship and the Dissertation Library Travel Awards.

Cost Calculator

Our calculator can help you get an idea of the costs associated with attending the university.

This program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for Clinical Mental Health Counseling and fully meets the educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) in Georgia.

When you finish the program, you will be able to work with clients in individual, group, family and couples settings. You will have knowledge and skills to counsel clients across the lifespan (toddler through late adulthood) and address a wide range of challenges, including:

• interpersonal difficulties
• career and vocational transitions
• crisis and trauma
• emotional concerns
• identity development
• grief and loss
• addictions
• psychosocial issues
• and many more

You will develop a strong sense of professional identity that aligns with the American Counseling Association’s definition of counseling: Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals

You will facilitate counseling sessions and participate in consultation and supervision with professionals and administrators about addressing clients’ developmental needs.

You will have opportunities to contribute to mental health scholarship through research, writing and presentations. This may also lead to furthering your education in a doctoral program.

You will build connections to a group of peers who will enter the profession with you and provide support as your professional network for many years into the future.

CMH Student Handbook

Current Model Program

Faculty

Jonathan Orr, Program Coordinator
Catherine Chang
Don Davis
Brian Dew
Kan Guvensel
Leslie Wofford