Program Availability
The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a traditional, on-campus program offered on the Indiana State University campus in Terre Haute, Indiana. The program is open to U.S. and international applicants who satisfy admission requirements.
Why Earn a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Indiana State?
Our Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed to prepare you to meet state educational licensure requirements as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor upon graduation.
Prepare for Success
Indiana State’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling offers you a student-centered, comprehensive education in the field of mental health counseling. In addition to your coursework, you will gain valuable experience through fieldwork experiences under the supervision of Licensed Mental Health Counselors.
This blending of academics and fieldwork ensures you will gain the theory, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills needed for success as a professional counselor. Graduation rates have been more than 95% over the last ten years.
Important Licensure Information
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master’s program prepares individuals for licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Indiana. For additional information, visit Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.
Please note that additional requirements may need to be fulfilled to apply for a license in other states. Out-of-state students must check with the licensing agency for the state in which they plan to become licensed for further information.
Clinical Experiences
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program includes a minimum of 700 clock hours of supervised practicum and internship experience. Clinical experiences vary from site to site but typically include assessment, individual counseling, group counseling, relationship counseling, career counseling, crisis intervention, consultation, advocacy, substance abuse treatment, case management, mental health education, and community intervention.
Students have the opportunity to receive training in diverse and varied settings, including public and special needs schools, community mental health centers, family service centers, alcohol and substance use treatment facilities, college and university counseling centers, psychiatric hospitals, state correctional facilities, and specialized juvenile treatment centers.
Learn from Our Excellent Faculty
As a graduate student in the Department of Applied Clinical and Educational Sciences, you will benefit from classes taught by teacher-scholars who are recognized experts in their field. All of our faculty engage in research and have continuous experience in the classroom as teachers and in clinical settings as counselors and supervisors.
Our program faculty are committed to promoting interpersonal values that support and inform our professional relations with others. These values include compassion, self-awareness, genuineness, a commitment to justice, and an authentic appreciation for diversity.
Assistantships and Financial Aid
Graduate Assistantships (GAs) are offered on a competitive basis. GAs allow graduate students the opportunity to work on campus for up to 20 hours a week. GAs come with a stipend and partial tuition waiver. In addition, graduate students may be eligible for loans and grants. For information, visit the University’s Office of Student Financial Aid.
What You’ll Learn in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master’s is a 60-credit-hour program that includes 700 clock hours of supervised clinical experience. Coursework includes study in eight core areas of counseling, including professional identity, social and cultural foundations, human growth and development, career development, helping relationships, group work, appraisal, and research and evaluation.
This program can be completed in 24 months of full-time study if the student follows a department advisor’s recommended sequence of courses. Students have the option of extending the program should they need a less aggressive schedule. However, the program must be completed within 7 years.
Career Possibilities for Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduates
Indiana State’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling will equip you with a range of skills and opportunities within the field of mental health counseling. Our graduates are qualified to work as licensed counselors in various settings including community mental health centers, private practice, hospitals, schools, or substance abuse treatment facilities. Our program is also preparation for doctoral programs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook is strong, with employment of mental health counselors projected to grow by 18% from 2022-2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Counseling Clinic
As a student in our Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, you may benefit from opportunities to work with clients in our on-campus Counseling Clinic.
Learn more about the Counseling Clinic
Admission Requirements and Application Instructions
The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a traditional, on-campus program offered on the Indiana State University campus in Terre Haute, Indiana. The program is open to U.S. and international applicants who satisfy admission requirements.
A new cohort of students begins each year in the first summer term (June). All application materials are due December 1 to be guaranteed full consideration for admittance the following summer. Applications received earlier will receive earlier consideration, and applications received after January 15 will be considered if openings are available.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
A baccalaureate degree (any major) granted by a regionally accredited institution (for international students, a degree granted by a recognized institution).
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the applicant's major field of study or a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all courses taken at the graduate level.
- A current resume or curriculum vitae
- A typed statement of purpose that answers the following questions:
- Why do you want to be a mental health counseling professional?
- What critical incidents in your life have influenced your wanting to pursue your career goal?
- What prior professional, academic, or volunteer experiences apply to your chosen career?
- What qualities do you believe will enable you to be successful in your career, and what strengths do you believe will help you achieve your academic and professional goals?
- Any other information that will help the admissions committee.
Applicants will interview, either in person or via technology, with department faculty (by invitation).
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is not required for admission.
International applicants must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or provide equivalent evidence of language proficiency. Submit scores to: Indiana State University, Graduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809. For other important information about international admission, see Instructions for International Students.
Application Instructions
Listed below are application instructions and deadlines for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling MS program. Returning ISU students must apply for re-admission if they have not attended Indiana State University for more than two calendar years.
How to Apply
Complete the online application for graduate admission at apply.indstate.edu/apply/.
Submit official transcripts from all colleges previously attended. To be official, transcripts must be sent directly from the college attended to: Graduate Admissions, Indiana State University, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809. E-transcripts should be sent to admissions@indstate.edu.
Submit a nonrefundable application fee of $45.00 (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) or $65.00 (international students) payable by Visa, MasterCard, or check or money order payable to Indiana State University. Submit payment to: Indiana State University, Graduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809.
Submit the following as part of the online application process.
- A current resume or curriculum vitae
- A typed statement of purpose that answers the following questions:
- Why do you want to be a mental health counseling professional?
- What critical incidents in your life have influenced your wanting to pursue your career goal?
- What prior professional, academic, or volunteer experiences apply to your chosen career?
- What qualities do you believe will enable you to be successful in your career, and what strengths do you believe will help you achieve your academic and professional goals?
- Any other information that will help the admissions committee.
International applicants submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or provide equivalent evidence of language proficiency. Submit scores to: Indiana State University, Graduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47809. For important information, see Instructions for International Students.
A new cohort of students starts each year in the first summer term (June). All application materials are due December 1 to be guaranteed full consideration for admittance the following summer. Applications received earlier will receive earlier consideration, and applications received after January 15 will be considered if openings are available.
Next Steps
Once admitted, students will receive notification from the University as well as their University ID number needed to activate their University Username on the MyISU Portal. The Portal offers access to online registration, University records, and other important University services, including e-mail and University announcements.
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