Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling - ONLINE

John Carroll University’s Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program empowers and inspires the next generation of counselors. The program is renowned for its community-focused training model, evidence-based live and asynchronous teaching, commitment to diversity and multicultural excellence, and faculty who are practicing counselors. Students in the program experience an accelerated online curriculum designed to meet the needs of their clients and communities.

The 60-credit hour online program is an accelerated, intensive full-time program that follows a structured schedule, enabling students to graduate in two years. Courses involve a combination of live, synchronous, experiential teaching and asynchronous learning that students complete on their own time. The program requires a commitment of two evenings per week for synchronous class time. This program is fully CACREP accredited along with our hybrid (face-to-face and online) Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.

The program also includes two immersive weekend residencies in the first and third semesters, where students gather on John Carroll’s beautiful campus to meet their cohort and engage in community-based learning and meaningful, reflective activities with program faculty. An optional third residency in Vietnam enables students to put into practice the multicultural competencies that are infused throughout the program. In the second year of the program, students begin a supervised internship, which they complete in their home state.

Successful completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
This program is a fall start only with limited space in the cohort. There is no set submission deadline. Applications are considered on a rolling basis upon completion. Admission decisions will be made based on space in the program.
No GRE Required

Free Application
Official Transcript(s)
2 Letters of Recommendation
Statement of Purpose
Interview
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Photograph
No GRE Required

Tuition is charged at the College of Arts and Sciences rate
Degree-seeking students eligible for federal student loans. For information about the loan process, contact Student Enrollment and Financial Services at (216) 397-4248.
A limited number of graduate assistantships provide a tuition waiver for up to 15 credit hours per year plus a stipend. Students are expected to spend 20 hours per week working for the department.

Through successful completion of the Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree, graduating students complete the academic requirements for an initial license as a Licensed Professional Counselor or Mental Health Counselor. Typically after a period of supervised work post-graduation, you’ll be independently licensed and able to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders without supervision. Depending on the state where you will practice as a counselor, there may be additional post graduation requirements you need to fulfill. John Carroll staff are available to support students from enrollment to graduation to licensure.

Prepare for a Career in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Curriculum

This Degree requires 60 credit hours. The online program follows the curriculum below:

Semester 1
Counseling Theories (full-term) CG 561
Orientation to Counseling (1st half of term) CG 500
Human Growth and Development (2nd half of term) CG 505
Semester 2
Counseling Techniques & Practice (full-term) CG 562
Addiction Knowledge (1st half of term) CG 514
Research Methods (2nd half of term) CG 509
ELECTIVE (asynchronous, full-term)
Semester 3
Group Procedures (full-term) CG 535
Tests & Measurements (1st half of term) CG 530
Clinical Diagnosis & Psychopathology (2nd half of term) CG 572
ELECTIVE (asynchronous, full-term)
Semester 4
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum (full-term) CG 592
Clinical Evaluation (1st half of term) CG 571
Clinical Treatment Methods (2nd half of term) CG 574
Semester 5
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship (full-term) CG 596
Clinical Intervention, Prevention, & Ethics (1st half of term) CG 573
ELECTIVE (asynchronous, full-term)
Semester 6
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship (full-term) CG 596
Diversity Issues in Counseling (1st half of term) CG 563
Career Development & Vocational Appraisal (2nd half of term) CG 531

Optional Areas of Specialization

Substance Use Disorders (SUD) Concentration

Students within the CMHC program and Online CMHC program can complete the SUD concentration via three electives. Once complete, graduates are eligible for a second license—Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counseling (LICDC)—which is highly desired by employers. JCU is the only program in the state of Ohio that has worked with the state licensing board in designing the curriculum so that students can skip the exam for the LICDC license.

Career Outlook

JCU graduate students begin working as counselors immediately upon graduation and it’s typical to be hired by their internship sites prior to graduation. In fact, in 2018-2019, 97% of graduates were employed as counselors within six months of graduation.

Given the rise of the U.S. Opioid Epidemic, Substance Use Disorders Counseling (SUDC) is a growing field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 19% growth in employment for Ohio substance use and behavioral disorder counselors from 2014-2024. This makes the LCDC and LICDC credentials highly valued by employers.

Finally, PCCs will have the ability to maintain a private practice or supervise other counselors.

Experience Opportunities

Fieldwork starts in the second year (4th semester) with a unique practicum lab opportunity at Moore Counseling and Mediation Services (MCMS), one of the preeminent behavioral health treatment centers in northeast Ohio. Students who are out of state or not located in Northeast Ohio are not required to complete their practicum at MCMS and will be responsible for finding their own site.

At MCMS, students will gain experience in the following areas:

Group Counseling
Individual Counseling
Assessments/Screenings
Dual Diagnosing Services (Mental Health and AOD)
Clinic/Medical Care
Medicated Assisted Treatment
Women-Specific Care (Women’s Center)
Men-Specific Care (HEAT Program)
Employee Assistant Programming
Case Management Services
Specialized Dockets/Court-Ordered Clients (Vets, Human Trafficking, Mental Health, Drug Court)
Educational Services (Domestic Violence, Parenting, Anger Management)

Plus, John Carroll’s reputation and established connections with more than 80 top employers within the community means students will be connected to coveted internships and jobs.

Your Inspired Future with the JCU Graduate School