FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Frequently asked questions have been divided into the following categories: clinical mental health counseling program, admission, program policies, financial concerns, & credentialing. |
CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PROGRAM
How is the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program accredited?
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited in community counseling by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which is a specialized accreditation agency in the United States. In addition to this specialized accreditation, Appalachian State University is accredited by Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a regional accreditation agency. (top)
What concentrations are offered to Clinical Mental Health Counseling majors?
Students may elect specialized concentrations or pursue a general clinical mental health counseling program of study. Specialized concentrations include: Addictions Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, Expressive Arts Therapy, and Body-Centered Therapy. In cases where motivated students have a unique interest of study, an individualized emphasis area may be developed under faculty support and guidance. You may inquire about this option by speaking to your faculty advisor upon admission to the program about the guidelines of creating an individualized emphasis. (top)
What is the theoretical orientation of the program?
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program does not subscribe to one overarching theoretical orientation. Our students are introduced to a variety of counseling theories and techniques throughout the course of their academic experience, giving them freedom to explore many different counseling theories and techniques. While in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, each student is expected to begin developing a personal approach to counseling that is consistent with the student’s personality, values, and beliefs. (top)
What are the professional and research interests of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling faculty?
Each faculty member in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program has both teaching and clinical experience. Current and prospective students can learn more about each faculty member by visiting the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Faculty page for the most up to date professional and research interests of each faculty member. (top)
What is the ratio of submitted applications to offers of admission made each year?
The program typically admits 25 new students each year. Historically, the number of applications received has ranged from 75 to 100. For the 2009-2010 incoming student community, approximately 1 of 4 applicants was initially offered a seat in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. (top)
What "major code" do I list on paperwork such as admissions applications and program of study forms?
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling 709*
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (concentration: Addictions Counseling) = 709B
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (concentration: Body Centered Therapy) = 709C
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (concentration: General) = 709D
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (concentration: Expressive Arts Therapy) = 709E
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (concentration: Marriage & Family Counseling) = 709F
Graduate Certificate in Addictions Counseling = 423A
Graduate Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy = 425A
Can I apply for spring admission?
No. Clinical Mental Health Counseling students are only accepted for Summer I, Summer II, or Fall entry. There are no exceptions to this policy. While there is not currently a strict course sequence progression, HPC 5120: Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling is only offered in the fall, and a spring entry would put students out of a logical course sequence. (top)
Do I have to have an undergraduate degree in psychology or counseling to apply?
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program values the diverse life experiences and academic backgrounds of our current and prospective students. It is not required that applicants have an academic background in psychology or counseling to apply to the program. While admission to a Master’s degree program requires the applicant hold a bachelor’s degree, the degree can be from many different fields.
Completing the special admissions questionnaire from the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling provides students with the opportunity to articulate their personal qualities, career goals and previous life experiences that have lead the applicant to decide upon pursuing a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the time of application. It is urged that students take time to articulate their thoughts when completing the admissions questionnaire, as it carries considerable weight in the admissions decisions. (top)
What is the minimum GRE score accepted by the program?
There is not a set minimum G.R.E. score required of applicants. Although an important measure of aptitude, the G.R.E. is looked at as only one indicator of a student’s academic ability and potential. When considering an application, the department looks at the student’s academic history and successes, special achievements or honors, letters of recommendation, responses on the HPC special admissions questionnaire, professional and volunteer experiences and any other relevant information provided during the application process. (top)
Can I apply to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program if I already have a master’s degree in another field?
Students who already hold a graduate degree in another field are welcome to apply to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. If you already hold a master’s degree in another field, you have two options while studying at Appalachian State University.
- Regular admission: The student completes the standard requirements of the 60-credit Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s degree program. Students wishing to move to a state that requires graduation from a 60-credit CACREP accredited program are strongly urged to consider this option. Students are responsible for checking with state licensure boards to determine if specific elective coursework must be pursued to meet the licensure requirements of the state he or she wishes to apply to upon graduation. The Appalachian State University Clinical Mental Health Counseling program has been designed to prepare students for licensure in the state of North Carolina.
- Second master’s student: According to the graduate school, a student accepted as a Second master’s student must complete a minimum of 39 credits, including all of the required core courses of the M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Second master’s students planning to remain in the state of North Carolina after completing the program may be eligible for licensure after successful completion of the National Counselor Exam (NCE) and required supervised work experience. However, if the student’s first master’s degree did NOT include counseling courses, the student may need to complete an additional 9 credit hours of coursework to meet N.C. state licensure and National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) requirements of 48 graduate credits in a counseling field. Second master’s students are encouraged to contact the N.C. licensure board to discuss how to develop a program of study that will meet the state requirements for licensure. Regardless of where the student intends to apply for licensure, it is the student’s responsibility to check with the appropriate licensure board to ensure eligibility for licensure. (top)
What strengths are you looking for in prospective applicants?
The Admissions Committee of the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling carefully considers all of the documentation submitted as part of the student’s application package: G.R.E. scores, previous G.P.A. and academic history, letters of recommendation, and the information provided by the student in the special admissions questionnaire.
Because students are not required to interview as part of the admissions process, the special admissions questionnaire is a crucial component of the student’s application package. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program looks for students who have a demonstrated commitment to personal growth, professional development, community involvement, and respecting both diversity and multiculturism.
It is important that students have personal and career objectives attuned with the mission and objectives of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Prospective students are encouraged to become familiar with program information to determine whether this program feels like a good match before applying to the program. Such self-awareness is crucial in the development of a professional counselor. (top)
This all looks so exciting, but I have to support a family while I study. Do you accept part-time students?
Absolutely! Part-time students are welcomed into the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. (top)
How long does it take to complete the 60 credit M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling program?
Full-time students complete the program between 2 and 3 years. A graduate student is considered full-time at 9 credit hours and graduate students with an assistantship are generally allowed to take a maximum of 12 credit hours per semester. There is ample opportunity to take summer courses to help a student progress along a two year time line. (top)
What is the difference between a program concentration and a graduate certificate?
A program concentration is available to Clinical Mental Health Counseling students as part of their 60 credit degree program. A concentration is generally composed of 9 academic credits of coursework and an internship (6 credits) that supports the concentration focus. The concentrations available to Clinical Mental Health Counseling students include: Addictions Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, Expressive Arts Therapy, and Body-Centered Therapy. All Clinical Mental Health Counseling students are required to complete an internship as part of their program of study, regardless of their concentration. With planning, the internship experience can meet both the Clinical Mental Health Counseling curriculum requirements and the program concentration requirements simultaneously.
In addition to several concentrations, the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program also offers two graduate certificates for students to pursue: Expressive Arts Therapy and Addictions Counseling. Both of these graduate certificates are 18 credits hours with 15 credits coming from coursework and 3 credits from a practicum experience related to the area of study. Like the internship experience, all Clinical Mental Health Counseling students are required to complete a practicum as part of their program of study. With planning, the practicum can meet both the M.A. program requirements for practicum and the graduate certificate requirements for practicum. Students electing both graduate certificates may require two practicum experiences or tailor their practicum placement to be able to integrate by Addictions Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy into their work. The Expressive Arts Therapy graduate certificate is a post master’s experience, but students enrolled in HPC have the unique opportunity of simultaneously earning credit for both their master’s program and the post-master’s graduate certificate. (top)
Are comprehensive examinations required in the M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling program?
Yes, all students are required to take comprehensive exams as a graduation requirement. Students typically register for comprehensive exams during their last year of study. Some students prefer to take comprehensive exams during their 2nd to last anticipated semester and others elect to take comprehensive exams during their last semester or study. The exam is composed of multiple choice and essay sections. (top)
Do I have to write a thesis? Can I write a thesis?
Clinical Mental Health Counseling students are not required to write a thesis as part of their degree program, although it is an option supported by the department, especially intended for students who plan to pursue doctoral studies. A student planning to write a thesis will want to discuss this option early with his or her advisor to plan the program of study accordingly, to plan the research endeavor, and to put together a committee. Students with a strong desire to pursue a thesis are advised to locate a faculty member who has demonstrated interest in an area of practice similar to that of which the student hopes to examine during the research process. Students who write a thesis are still required to complete comprehensive examinations and a clinical internship as parts of their program of study. (top)
What is the tuition for the program?
Tuition is subject to change with each new academic year. Please check the student accounts website for most up to date information on the cost of tuition and fees. Appalachian State University has a competitive schedule of tuition and fees. (top)
Is financial aid available?
To find out whether you may qualify for student loans, scholarships, or grants, please visit the Appalachian State University’s Office for Student Financial Aid Website. Financial aid is available based on financial need as demonstrated by the information the student provides on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
In addition, some students applying for the M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling program with a concentration in Expressive Arts Therapy may qualify for an out-of-state tuition waiver, depending on whether stringent qualifications are met. Visit the Academic Common Market (ACM) website to see if your state of residency has a contract and whether you may qualify. Also, Cratis D. Williams Graduate School maintains up to date information about Academic Common Market programs and frequently asked questions about the ACM. (top)
Are graduate assistantships available?
There are a limited number of assistantships available to Clinical Mental Health Counseling students each year ranging from 10 to 20 hrs a week. Assistantships may be offered to a student through the HPC department or through a university wide department. For more information about graduate assistantships, visit the Graduate School website . To be considered for a graduate assistantship anywhere on campus, you must submit an application, to the graduate school, along with your most recent resume. You may also wish to submit a copy of your assistantship application to the HPC department as well. (top)
I want to apply to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and I’m especially interested in the Expressive Arts Therapy concentration. My state doesn’t have a program remotely similar to what you offer, but I cannot afford out of state tuition. What are my options?
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is pleased to announce its participation with the Academic Common Market (ACM) for some students pursuing the Expressive Arts Therapy concentration. The Southern Regional Board of Education has 16 member states. If you are not a North Carolina resident, check the Academic Common Market website to determine whether the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Expressive Arts Therapy) program is available to you through your state as an approved ACM program. If the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Expressive Arts Therapy) program is listed, the first step to take is to contact your state coordinator to find out the process of applying to your state to be considered. Each state has different eligibility requirements.
Students attending out-of-state universities through the ACM are NOT charged out-of-state tuition once their student status is reviewed each semester. While students completing the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program through the Academic Common Market must complete the Expressive Arts Therapy concentration requirements, they are free to utilize their degree program elective hours to pursue additional concentrations or graduate certificates as part of their program of study.
If you cannot find the program available through your state after viewing the ACM website, you may wish to contact your state coordinator to see if the state is willing to negotiate a contract with the state of North Carolina for students to attend the program the ACM. This is a lengthy process, but has been known to succeed. Finally, if none of these options works for you, you may still be eligible to receive financial aid and a graduate assistantship. (top)
Will I be a National Certified Counselor (NCC) upon graduation?
Students are not guaranteed credentialing as a NCC upon graduation. However, because our Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is CACREP accredited in community counseling, students are eligible to apply for the National Counselor Exam (NCE) while pursuing their program of study by applying through the Graduate Student Application (GSA) process outlined by their GSA-NCC campus coordinator. Students who pass the NCE while a student of a CACREP counseling program are granted the NCC credentials upon graduation. This is significant benefit of graduating from a CACREP accredited program such as ours. Typically, the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) requires 3000 hours of post-degree supervision spanning a 2 yr period before an individual is eligible to apply for certification. However, our students will have this requirement waived and will become an NCC immediately upon graduation if they apply for certification and successfully pass the exam before graduation. (top)
Am I eligible for state licensure upon graduation from ASU’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program?
The curriculum of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program has been designed to aid graduates in meeting the academic coursework requirements outlined by the North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Counselors (NCBLPC) . Our 60 credit hour Clinical Mental Health Counseling program exceeds the minimum state requirement of 48 hours of graduate study in a counseling degree program.
The state of North Carolina also requires applicants to pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE) and to have 2000 hours of supervised post-graduate counseling experience over a course of two years to apply for licensure. Graduates of our Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will be provided the opportunity to sit for the NCE prior to graduation. In addition, because the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is CACREP accredited in community counseling, the NCBLPC allows the 700 hours of practicum and internship supervised training of graduates to be applied toward the 2000 hours of supervised experience required for licensure by the NCBLPC. While the remaining 1300 hours must still span over a two year period, our graduates will have less of a financial commitment to obtaining he full 2000 hours of post-graduate supervised experience. (top)
How do I become a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina?
In addition the above discussed requirements of graduating from a counseling program with at least 48 hours of graduate level coursework, passing the NCE (CRC and NCMHCE are also accepted), and obtaining the 2000 hours of supervised experience by a supervisor as defined by the NCBLPC, there are additional requirements required as part of the application process to the NCBLPC.
The applicant must complete the application and submit the application processing fee, three letters of reference, official transcripts, and a professional disclosure statement. For more information, please visit the NCBLPC website. (top)
How do I become licensed if I want to move to another state after graduation?
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program does not guarantee eligibility for licensure. With careful planning, it is possible for a student to design his/her program of study to meet the licensure requirements of most states. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the state licensure board of the state the student wishes to move to upon graduation to determine these requirements.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is a 60 credit M.A. program and most states require between 48-60 credits in a graduate counseling degree program as part of the licensure requirements. Some states require courses that are not part of our core Clinical Mental Health Counseling curriculum (i.e. human sexuality, addictions, counseling families and couples). This varies widely state to state. Fortunately, these courses are available to our students as electives.
The supervision and exam requirements will also vary from state to state. NBCC maintains a list of examination requirements for each state and provides direct links to state licensure boards. Students planning to seek licensure from a state other than North Carolina are advised to determine the licensure requirements of the state they plan to practice in before submitting a program of study to the graduate school. This will help students design a program of study that will increase the likelihood of obtaining licensure in other states. (top)
