M.Ed. in Counseling & Personnel Services (Mental Health Counseling)
Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services (Mental Health Counseling)
The Master of Education (M.Ed) in Counseling and Personnel Services with a specialization in Mental Health Counseling is designed for those who wish to engage in the practice of professional counseling in a community-based setting.
The program provides students with the knowledge base and clinical skills to provide mental health services through counseling and consultation in a variety of work settings. The program does not prepare students to counsel in a public school setting (see the School Counseling specialization) or to do psychological assessments (see the Counseling Psychology specialization).
Licensure and Certification
The coursework for the program fulfills the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) educational requirements to sit for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) for National Counselor Certification. The coursework and clinical practice experiences allow graduates to be licensed in most states. A graduate of the program can apply to the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors to have his/her credentials evaluated to become a licensed professional counselor associate (LPCA). LPCAs can engage in the practice of professional counseling in Kentucky under an approved clinical supervisor. LPCAs with appropriate supervised experience can apply to the Board to become a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC). An LPCC can engage in the independent practice of professional counseling in Kentucky. Prospective students are encouraged to become acquainted with the licensure requirements in the state in which they plan to practice.
For details about program curriculum, visit the Graduate Catalog.
Note: Meeting GRE score and GPA minimums do not guarantee a student will be accepted to the program.
Students admitted to the Mental Health Counseling Program who have not completed a course in abnormal psychology are required to take PSYC 485: Abnormal Psychology as a prerequisite to the program. Students who have successfully completed a graduate-level course in abnormal psychology at another institution can transfer it into the program as an elective course.
Admission Requirements
Prospective students must submit an online application for admission to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
- The minimum requirement for admission is the baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution. Minimum overall GPA of 2.75, or 2.75 on the last 60 undergraduate hours, is required. Applicants are required to submit all official transcripts from all colleges attended as verification of coursework and degree(s).
- Each applicant is required to submit at least two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant's academic and/or professional capabilities and potential. Please download the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies recommendation form [PDF].
- For GRE scores prior to August 1, 2011, a minimum combined (verbal and quantitative) score of an 800 is required for unconditional admission. For GRE scores taken August 1, 2011 and after, please refer to the concordance table from ETS (Educational Testing Services) [PDF] for revised score equivalencies. Need help preparing for the GRE? Sign up for a GRE Information Session.
- Prospective students must submit a professional goal statement [PDF] appropriate to their stated area of concentration for admission to the degree program.
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all foreign students from countries in which English is not the native language. Students holding a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States are exempt from this requirement.
Faculty may require interviews in addition to written credentials as part of the admission process.
Application Deadlines
Spring Term Admission: October 1
Fall and Summer Term Admission: March 1
Note: If positions are available in the program after the March admission, applications submitted by June 15 will be considered for fall admission. Please check with the Educational Advising Center or the Program Coordinator before applying to see if additional students will be admitted in June.
Contact
Learn more about our program faculty.
Nancy Cunningham
Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology
College of Education & Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
502-852-0626
Program Faculty
Opportunities for Graduates
Graduates of the program find employment in various human service and counseling agencies including mental health agencies, residential treatment centers, drug/alcohol treatment facilities, family resource and youth service centers, hospitals, employee assistance programs, and career placement centers. Graduates perform a variety of job tasks including individual and group counseling, intake assessments, program development, and consultation. Graduates work with a variety of client populations across all age groups.
Financial Aid
In addition to the financial aid opportunities offered by the University, the College of Education & Human Development also has information about financial aid.
Other financial aid opportunities available include graduate assistantships and other employment opportunities.
I have some credit hours from another program/university. Can the credit be transferred?
Once you are admitted to the program, you may request to transfer up to 6 credit hours if your UofL advisor approves the request. Transfer requests are then submitted to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
What is the difference between Counseling Psychology and Mental Health Counseling?
The masters program in Counseling Psychology prepares a student to engage in the practice of psychology at the master's level. Students who complete the masters program in Counseling Psychology can apply to the Kentucky State Board of Psychology for the psychological associate license (Licensed Psychological Associate-LPA), which allows those credentialed as such to practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. The masters program in Counseling Psychology includes coursework and a practicum in psychological assessment that is not included in the masters program in Mental Health Counseling.
The masters program in Mental Health Counseling prepares a student to engage in the practice of professional counseling. Professional counselors typically seek membership in the American Counseling Associaton (ACA) and its state affiliates such as the Kentucky Counselors Association (KCA) and the American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA) and its state affiliates such as the Kentucky Mental Health Counselors Association (KMHCA).
What types of jobs can I get with a degree in Counseling and Personnel Services with a specialization in Mental Health Counseling?
Graduates of the program find employment in various human service and counseling agencies including mental health agencies, residential treatment centers, drug/alcohol treatment facilities, family resource and youth service centers, hospitals, employee assistance programs, and career placement centers. Graduates perform a variety of job tasks including individual and group counseling, intake assessments, program development, and consultation. They work with a variety of client populations across all age levels.
What type of credentialing is available to someone with a degree in Counseling and Personnel Services with a specialization in Mental Health Counseling?
The coursework for this program fulfills the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) educational requirements to sit for the exam (National Counselor Exam NCE) for National Counselor Certification, a national exam that is used in many states (including Kentucky) as the exam required for counselor licensure. A graduate of the UofL program can apply to the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors to have his/her credentials evaluated to become a licensed professional counselor associate (LPCA). LPCAs can engage in the practice of professional counseling in Kentucky under an approved clinical supervisor. LPCAs with 4000 hours of supervised experience can apply to the Board to become a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC). An LPCC can engage in the independent practice of professional counseling in Kentucky. To become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Indiana, an individual must have 1000 hours of supervised clinical experience within the academic program and 3000 hours of post-degree supervised clinical experience. (The coursework requirement for the LMHC is equivalent to the coursework requirement in Kentucky for the LPCC.) An individual who is planning to practice mental health counseling in a state other than Kentucky or Indiana should check with that state about requirements for mental health counseling licensure.
How long does it take to complete the 60-credit hour program in Mental Health Counseling?
Students enroll in the Mental Health Counseling program both full and part time. Students enrolled fulltime (12 credit hours per semester) can complete the program in five semesters. For part time students, completion of the program depends upon the number of credit hours taken per semester. Because certain courses need to be taken in sequence (culminating in two practicums and an internship), a student should meet with his/her faculty advisor early in the program to plan his/her course of study in order to graduate by a designated semester.
What is the difference between the masters program in Mental Health Counseling and the masters program in Counseling Psychology?
The masters program in Mental Health Counseling prepares a student to engage in the practice of professional counseling. The practice of professional counseling in Kentucky is governed by the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors. Professional counseling services are defined by the Board as those "that involve the application of procedures including assessment, evaluation, treatment, planning, amelioration, and remediation of adjustment problems and emotional disorders, to assist individuals or groups to achieve more effective personal, social, education, or career development." Professional counselors typically seek membership in the American Counseling Association (ACA) and its state affiliates (e.g. the Kentucky Counselors Association - KCA) and the American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA) and its state affiliates (e.g. the Kentucky Mental Health Counselors Association - KMHCA).
The masters program in Counseling Psychology prepares a student to engage in the practice of psychology at the master's level. The practice of psychology in Kentucky is governed by the Kentucky State Board of Psychology. Students who complete the masters program in Counseling Psychology can apply to the Kentucky State Board of Psychology for the psychological associate license (Licensed Psychological Associate – LPA), which allows those credentialed as such to practice under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. In addition to those services provided by a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC), the licensed psychological associate is able to perform psychological assessments under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. The masters program in Counseling Psychology includes coursework and a practicum in psychological assessment that is not included in the masters program in Mental Health Counseling. The Kentucky Board of Psychology restricts the practice of psychological assessment to those who are credentialed to practice psychology and those who are exempt from such by the Board. Psychologists typically seek membership in the American Psychological Association (APA) and its state affiliates (e.g. the Kentucky Psychological Association – KPA). Kentucky is one of few states that license psychologists at the master’s level, whereas all states license mental health counselors. Not all states will allow an individual with a master’s degree in counseling psychology to be licensed as a mental health counselor. It is important to check licensing laws in the state that you intend to practice.
Can I engage in the practice of professional counseling while I'm a student in the program?
Students are not allowed to practice professional counseling while enrolled in the Mental Health Counseling program unless they are enrolled in a supervised field experience. The law governing the licensure of clinical counselors in Kentucky states, "No person shall engage in the practice of professional counseling or present in a way as to imply or would reasonably be deemed to imply licensure to practice professional counseling unless the person has first been issued a valid license by the board." Students in the Mental Health Counseling program may engage in the practice of professional counseling when "pursuing a program of studies in counseling at an accredited institution of higher education, if these activities are performed under the supervision or direction of an approved supervisor and the activities are a part of the supervised program of study as reflected in an official transcript, and if the person is designated a professional counselor intern or student in training." This does not apply to any person who is licensed, certified, or registered under any other provisions of the Kentucky Revised Statutes or to those who are employed in other forms of counseling as designated by the licensure law (e.g. employment counselors, job placement counselors, vocational rehabilitation counselors). Please see the law governing the licensure of Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC) for more information.
