Master's in School Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization
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Some students need more than a quick check-in between classes. They're carrying anxiety, depression, trauma, or struggles at home that follow them through the school day. When you add clinical mental health training to your school counseling skills, you'll be ready to help those students in deeper ways.
With IWU's online MA in School Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) specialization, you'll prepare to support students in Pre-K–12 schools and build the clinical skills to serve people outside the school building, too. Faith and servant leadership are part of everything you'll learn, so you'll care for every person with real skill and real compassion.
Instead of electives, you'll take 15 credit hours of CMHC courses. Your practicum and internships cover both school counseling and CMHC, so when you graduate, you'll be ready to pursue licensure as a school counselor and as a clinical mental health counselor.
Is This a Dual Degree?
No. You'll earn one degree, an MA in School Counseling, with a specialization in CMHC. You won't get a separate CMHC degree, but you'll finish with the coursework and field experience you need to pursue CMHC licensure after graduation.
Every student earns an MA in School Counseling. You just get to choose how you finish it:
Swap your electives for CMHC courses and complete field experiences that cover both school counseling and CMHC.
Pick 15 credit hours of counseling electives that build on your school counseling skills.
You don't have to choose between working in schools and working in mental health. A CMHC specialization lays the groundwork for both. You'll graduate ready to pursue school counseling licensure and to begin the post-graduate supervised hours and exams required to become a licensed clinical mental health counselor. Once you're fully licensed, you can expand into community mental health, private practice, or other clinical settings.
Online classes let you keep working and take care of life while you earn your degree. Our Christian faculty have spent years in schools, clinics, and counseling offices, and they'll bring that real-world experience to every class.
IWU's 60-credit master's in school counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), so you know you're getting a program that meets national standards. Every state has its own licensure rules, so be sure to check your state's requirements before you start.
You'll learn how to show up for students in school and for clients in clinical settings. Your courses cover counseling techniques, child development, career planning, and group work, plus clinical topics like psychopathology, addiction recovery, and mental health assessment. You'll learn how to recognize and diagnose mental health disorders and how to look at each person's story through a clinical lens. You'll also get comfortable using data and research to figure out what people need and how to help. And throughout it all, you'll see how your faith can guide the way you care for others while respecting the boundaries of public school and clinical settings.
You'll start with a supervised Clinical Mental Health Counseling practicum. Then you'll complete two supervised internships that combine school counseling and clinical mental health counseling. You'll get hands-on training for both fields, all within the same 60 credit hours.
Your Master of Arts in Graduate Counseling may be closer than you think! Learn more about the Graduate Counseling programs at Indiana Wesleyan, and the incredible faculty team dedicated to making helping you take the next steps in your counseling career!
IWU has provided education for more than 100 years.
Faith-integrated curriculum and a commitment to changing the world.
Center for Student Success for counseling, tutoring, and more!
Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, veterans’ benefits, and employer reimbursement.
In IWU's online master's in school counseling with a CMHC specialization, you'll learn to:
*Includes 15 credit hours of Clinical Mental Health Counseling coursework in place of electives.
These courses contain the program-specific knowledge. Upon completion, you should have the tools to conquer your new career with confidence. For a full list of courses and prerequisites required to complete your degree, please visit the course catalog. Click on a course below to view the description.
CNS-501,CNS-502,CNS-503,CNS-504,CNS-505,CNS-506,CNS-507,CNS-508,CNS-509,CNS-519,CNS-527,CNS-529,CNS-511,CNS-522,CNS-523,CNS-524,CNS-533,CNS-550-A,CNS-551-SA,CNS-552-SA
Dr. Amanda Davis brings more than 20 years of experience in public education as a classroom teacher and school counselor. She serves as program director and full-time faculty at IWU and owns a private counseling practice that partners with local schools. Her expertise includes school counselor leadership, principal and counselor collaboration, counselor wellness, and grief support. She enjoys reading, crafting, traveling with her family, and spending time with her two Labrador retrievers.
Dr. Judy Justice approaches counseling and teaching as a calling to serve others, modeling Christ-centered care in her work. She serves as a counselor with the American Red Cross Disaster Team, responding to local and national crises. With decades of experience in school counseling and higher education, she prepares graduate students to become compassionate, effective counselors. She has also served as a program director and contributed to many university and professional committees.
Dr. Missy Buquo brings 17 years of experience as an educator in public, private, and virtual schools. She began her career as a special education teacher before building relationships with students led her to school counseling. Her passion for supporting children in foster care and other at-risk students drives her work preparing future counselors. A U.S. Army veteran, she is a member of the American Legion and volunteers in her church's nursery and with A Women's Resource Center.
NOTE: The graduate admissions committee retains the right to waive an admission requirement for special circumstances.
Up to 35% of a program's required credit hours may be transferred from an accredited institution into a graduate-level counseling program at Indiana Wesleyan University.
NOTE:
IWU's master's in school counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP accreditation shows the program meets national standards for counselor preparation and supports your path to licensure or certification.
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.
IWU's master's in school counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP accreditation shows the program meets national standards for counselor preparation and supports your path to licensure.
Ready to serve students in school and beyond? Earn your master's in school counseling with a CMHC specialization at IWU. Apply now!
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