Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Graduates of the UT Permian Basin counseling program will acquire knowledge in the areas of ethical, legal and professional issues in counseling, as well as social and cultural foundations, human growth and development, career development, helping relationships and skills, group work, appraisal (tests and measurements), research and program evaluation. Graduates will also obtain a strong understanding of diversity issues and be able to address the needs of a progressively growing diverse population.   

Students completing the program with a specialization is clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) will demonstrate knowledge of: 

• The roles, functions, credentialing and professional identity of professional counselors, including: professional standards and behaviors as described by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and the American Counseling Association.
• Policies, laws, legislation and other issues relevant to professional counselors in a culturally diverse society.
• Roles of the counselor in various community settings, organizational and legal dimensions of those settings and evidence-based interventions, consultation, education and outreach.
• Principles for assessment, diagnosis and the use of current diagnostic tools and case conceptualization in a culturally diverse society.
• Competencies necessary to conduct research and use assessment in order to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive counseling program.
• Program development and delivery to diverse populations, including prevention, support groups, psychoeducation, career/occupational counseling, and self-help.
• Effective strategies for promoting client understanding of and access to community resources, and modalities for initiating, maintaining, and terminating counseling services with diverse populations.

Graduate Counseling Program Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university
• GPA of 3.0 or better in the last 60 credit hours of coursework leading to the baccalaureate degree
• Personal Statement: Submit a statement of approximately 600 words describing your reason for pursuing graduate study at UTPB, your personal and academic background, relevant experience, and your professional goals.
• Three letters of recommendation in support of student. (Evidence of honorable discharge following military service may be used in place of one letter of recommendation.)

Conditional Admission

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university
• GPA below 3.0 - 2.5 in the last 60 credit hours of coursework leading to the baccalaureate degree.
• Personal Statement: Submit a statement of approximately 600 words describing your reason for pursuing graduate study at UTPB, your personal and academic background, relevant experience, and your professional goals.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation in support of student. (Evidence of honorable discharge following military service may be used in place of one letter of recommendation.)
• OTHER EVIDENCE: At least one of the following:
  • Written explanation describing the circumstances that contributed to their low GPA, and steps to be taken and resources in place that will contribute to the applicant's academic success in graduate school and the counseling program.
  • The University of Texas of the Permian Basin takes a holistic approach in the admission of applicants to graduate programs as authorized by section 51.842 of the Texas Education Code. This section authorizes graduate programs to consider certain academic, socioeconomic, family, geographic, and other factors relating to an applicant's background in making an admission decision for admission into the graduate program.

• ADDITIONAL: Personal Interview (telephone or face-to-face)

New students will be able to begin their program of study in the Fall and Spring semesters only and must complete a new students orientation before or at the beginning of the first term of enrollment.

M.A. in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Requirements

Candidates for the Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling must earn a minimum of 60 semester credit hours. Students will need to complete the following requirements to earn a degree from the Counseling Programs:

• Students must complete 51 semester credit hours of core coursework.
• Students must complete 9 semester credit hours of clinical coursework.
• Must earn a passing score on the Comprehensive Examination.

In addition to successful completion of the degree requirements, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and present grades of C in no more than two courses that are to be counted toward the degree, demonstrate fitness in their interactions with others as measured on the Fitness to Practice Standards, and conform to the codes of ethics of professional associations in counseling and all related national and state licensure and certification boards.

Master of Arts in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Plan

Learn More about Clinical Coursework

The required clinical coursework includes a practicum and internship experience that will provide students with the opportunities to practice counseling skills under the supervision of a qualified professional counselor. The practice component will give students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in class in a real-life setting.

Practicum
Students will complete 100 hours under the direction of a qualified supervisor, 40 of which are direct service hours. Of those 40, students are expected to accrue at least 5 hours of individual counseling and group counseling each. The student will meet with the supervisor on a weekly basis to review work and professional development. Students will be evaluated throughout the semester by their supervisor(s) and instructor.

Internship 
Students must complete their practicum before they can participate in an internship. Each student will complete 300 hours per semester under the direction of a qualified supervisor, 120 of which are direct service hours. Of those 120, students are expected to accrue at least 10 hours of individual counseling and group counseling each. The student will meet with the supervisor on a weekly basis to review work and professional development. Students will be evaluated throughout the semester by their supervisor(s) and instructor.

What are Candidate Examinations?

Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE)

The Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) is a national exam that is designed as a summative evaluation that measures the professional knowledge students have obtained during their counselor preparation at UT Permian Basin.