Program Overview - The University of Oklahoma

Prepare to change lives with a master's degree from OU Online.

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Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a fully online program conducted over 30 months. It features:

A curriculum that is rooted in the combat of systemic issues of inequity and in solutions that provide mental health access for all.
Built-in National Counselor Exam* preparation that empowers students to successfully become an LPC after graduation.
- 60 credit hours (online courses)
- 100-hour practicum (in person)
- 600-hour internship opportunity (in person)

Graduates of this program will benefit from multiple learning outcomes. They will have the opportunity to learn to:

Understand the outstanding problems facing social practitioners, including racism, sexism, poverty and human rights.
Explore and analyze a variety of counseling approaches.
Recognize a broad spectrum of psychopathological conditions.
Understand the effects of different medicines on mood and behavior.
Assess and evaluate the needs of people who are navigating mental health challenges and crises.
Investigate topics relevant to their own counseling experiences through research.

* This degree is approved by the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure and meets the educational requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oklahoma. Licensure requirements vary by state and students outside of Oklahoma should review their State Licensure board requirements.

Sample Course Sequence

Over the course of eight semesters, students will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to support those seeking mental health counseling. They will also earn a qualifying degree to sit for the National Counselor Exam.* During the program, students will complete a 100-hour practicum to get direct-service experience. At the end of the program, students will complete a 600-hour internship which provides the in-person and hours requirements for pursuing LPC licensure.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling \| Program of Study	Credit
Fall Semester
Core: Theoretical Foundations of Human Relations	3
Core: Ethical Issues in Human Relations Counseling	3
Core: Psychosocial Development	3
Spring Semester
Core: Diagnosis in Human Relations Counseling	3
Elective: Multicultural Counseling	3
Elective: Crisis Intervention	3
Summer Semester
Core: Practicum	3
Core: Professional Orientation to Counseling	3
Fall Semester
Core: Advanced Counseling Skills	3
Elective: Career Counseling	3
Elective: Group Counseling	3
Spring Semester
Core: Psychopathology	3
Elective: Psychopharmacology	3
Elective: Counseling Children, Adolescents and Families	3
Summer Semester
Core: Research in Human Relations	3
Elective: Chemical Dependency	3
Fall Semester
Core: Internship in Human Relations	3
Core: Assessment and Evaluation in Human Relations	3
Spring Semester
Core: Internship in Human Relations	3
Elective: Marriage and Family Therapy	3
Total Credits	60

Course Descriptions

Examples of courses students can take:

Theoretical Foundations of Human Relations

Credits: 3

Course Description: This course emphasizes skills training in counseling approaches utilized by human relations practitioners. The skills training is organized according to basic counseling and psychotherapy theories, including psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, existential-humanistic, multicultural, systemic, and integrative approaches. This course will examine several major theoretical approaches to counseling and psychotherapy with an emphasis on learning the theoretical frameworks and observing specific methods associated with each respective school.

Ethical Issues in Human Relations Counseling

Credits: 3

Course Description: This course introduces ethics, ethical reasoning, ethical decision-making, and standards of ethical practice in counseling and other professions. Students will take a deeper look at ethical dilemmas that Clinical Mental Health Counselors may face through readings, discussions, case studies, and videos. Topics include multiculturalism, diversity issues, confidentiality, ethical issues in specific counseling settings, boundaries, professional training and competence, as well as ethical supervision and social justice perspectives.

Psychosocial Development

Credits: 3

Course Description: In this course, students will explore development through the human life span from a psycho-social approach and will examine theoretical approaches from the mid-twentieth century to recent theoretical perspectives. This course is designed to provide a foundation in Psycho-Social Development from a theoretical and clinical perspective and to meet the learning objectives of students on the CMHC licensing track.

Diagnosis in Human Relations Counseling

Credits: 3

Course Description: This course examines the issue of diagnosis from the perspective of the counseling professional trained in Human Relations. Students will develop the skills needed to make an accurate diagnosis according to the standards of the American Psychiatric Association, but at the same time, to consider various diagnoses from a creative, humanistic, and critical perspective. In addition, we discuss many related issues, such as multiculturalism and social justice, which are of major concern when considering a diagnosis. 

Introduction to the Counseling Profession

Credits: 3

Course Description: This course examines the historical, contemporary, clinical, and training issues in the practice of mental health counseling in community agencies. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of family, social networks, and community systems in the treatment of mental and emotional disorders. Course topics include professional roles and responsibilities, functions of clinical mental health counselors, professional organizations, state and national credentialing, counselor advocacy and self-care. Additionally, students will be provided with an in-depth understanding of the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and the National Counselor Examination.

Crisis Intervention

Credits: 3

Course Description: This course is designed to provide an overview of crisis and disaster intervention strategies for the professional counselor that addresses areas including, but not limited to, crises of suicide, homicide, disability due to a mental illness, domestic violence, school violence, post-traumatic stress disorder, and disaster response. A secondary focus of the course is on secondary traumatic stress (STS), vicarious traumatization, and compassion fatigue with the critical nature of self-care for helping professionals that have been adversely impacted by the trauma experienced by themselves, their clients, and family members.

Psychopathology

Counseling Children, Adolescents and Family

Assessment and Evaluation in Human Relations

Credits: 3

Course Description: This course provides students an overview of clinical and social assessment procedures used in counseling settings including career and life planning, personality, and mental health assessments. Emphasis is placed on a thorough examination of diagnostic classifications for mental disorders. Additionally, students will also develop a working knowledge of assessment skills along with a bias-free multicultural perspective, and ethical issues applicable to assessment.

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The University of Oklahoma is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Course curricula is designed to meet 2016 CACREP standards. Application for CACREP certification pending.