Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Arts

Faculty

Program Chair: Kimberly Schellin-Rog

Elliott Anderson, Kevin Bab, Chad Briggs, Jamie Janssen, Rani Mathai, Jennifer Mattingly, Stoyka Meyer, Gregory Pennington, Emily Phillips, Denise Purvis, Marian Schwebemeyer, Charles Sprague, Terrecia Stein

Statement of Purpose

The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program prepares students to become licensed clinical professional counselors who address the needs of individuals and groups from a Christian perspective. The program promotes excellence in academics and acquired counseling skills through rigorous coursework and practical experience with community and private agencies. Graduates are prepared to assume a professional identity that contributes to the overall well-being of humanity.

Program Distinctives

The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program combines several attractive features to enhance the process of graduate study. Those features include:

• Professors who are experts in their field
• Applied experience with practitioners during the Practicum and Internship courses
• Classes meet one night per week for 4 hours
• Focus on practical application of theory
• Clear plan of the course sequence
• Completion of the program with a group of about 15
• Degree completion in under 3 years

Objectives and Graduate Outcomes

The MACMHC Program Equips Students to...

• Summarize historical aspects of counseling theory and practice and associate them with current practice
• Demonstrate knowledge and application of appropriate counseling techniques with both individuals and groups, including crisis intervention skills and both short and long term plans
• Exhibit cultural competence in client advocacy and counseling
• Illustrate how theories, models, and principles of human development apply to service delivery systems in various settings impacting individuals, groups, and communities
• Analyze career/occupational development theories and trends, and create plans that encourage self-help
• Explain principles of assessment central to appropriate treatment plans, including biopsychosocial, human development theories, family dynamics, and normal or abnormal pathology
• Exhibit appropriate use of diagnostic tools such as the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, and appropriately diagnose clinical mental health and substance use disorders
• Recognize characteristics of individuals, families, and communities served by clinical mental health counseling services, and develop effective strategies for providing access to appropriate resources
• Acquire an understanding of ethical and legal counseling principles, integrated with Biblical truths and Christian values for effective application in professional practice
• Articulate personal values, interpersonal style, strengths, and limitations in relation to professional counselor requirements, and be familiar with clinical mental health counseling professional standards

Practicum and Internship

The Practicum and Internship allows students to demonstrate competence in clinical mental health counseling and related tasks through supervised direct service with clients. In the Practicum, students will log 100 clinical hours and in the Internship, students will log 600 hours. In all courses, students will incorporate all of the program goals while interacting with clients and professional staff and will demonstrate competence in the following areas:

• Counseling techniques
• Counseling assessment
• Use of diagnostic tools
• Developing treatment plans
• Evaluating client progress
• Clinical writing skills and documentation
• Agency Administration (internship only)

Important Notes

• Minimum grade requirements vary - see footnotes.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required.
• A maximum of 6 credit hours may transfer into the program. All transfer courses must be approved by the program director.
• In addition to successful completion of all courses, students must complete an Applied Research Project and be approved by the Program Chair, the Chair of the Division of Professional Studies, and the faculty.

Major Requirements  

¹

​C or higher required 

²

B- or higher required 

³

​B or higher required

MACC Student Retention, Remediation, and Dismissal Policy

Faculty have a responsibility to all MACC students to monitor and assess progress.  The primary purpose of such assessment is to enhance personal and professional growth, as well as to provide feedback to students when issues arise that may impede student success in the program.  All students in the M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program are reviewed annually to determine adequate progress and retention.  Program faculty members hold a program review meeting each spring for the purpose of such an analysis.  At this meeting, faculty members assess students on areas of competency (assessed through review of grades) and dispositions, outlined in the “Student Disposition Assessment” document (Appendix A).  Each student’s performance will be reviewed and students having difficulty will be identified.  The faculty may document the nature of difficulty (e.g. poor academic performance, inappropriate behavior at an internship site).  Additionally, academic and dispositional assessment will occur in the following “gateway” courses of the MACC program:  MHC 517 Professional, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Counseling, MHC 516 Counseling Techniques, MHC 542 Group Counseling, MHC 525 Practicum, and MHC 625 Internship.  Each student’s performance in these courses will be reviewed and students having difficulty will be identified.  

MACC Remediation Process

1. Student difficulty noted and documented by faculty member.
2. Student/Faculty Conference
   • The faculty member involved will initiate this meeting.  The meeting will include a discussion of faculty concerns, as well as a discussion of steps for remediation.  If resolution and agreement regarding the difficulty is reached, documentation is placed in the student’s file and the Program Chair is notified.  If the remediation plan is unsuccessful or additional issues arise, the process continues to Step 3.
3. Student/Faculty/Program Chair Conference
   • The Program Chair will meet with the student.  The involved faculty member may be present at this meeting.  The original steps for remediation will be revisited and changes will be made if necessary. All parties will sign off on the updated remediation plan.  Documentation of this meeting will be placed in the student’s file.  If the new remediation plan is unsuccessful or additional issues arise, the process continues to Step 4. 
4. Human Sciences Department Review
   • The Human Sciences Department faculty will review the case and recommend a course of action.  The student will receive a letter from the Chair of the Human Sciences Department detailing the recommended course of action.  The student will have an opportunity to respond in writing.  On the recommendation of the Human Sciences Department, if there is continued disagreement between the parties regarding the recommended course of action, or if additional issues arise, the process will then continue to Step 5.
5. Graduate Academic Policies Committee (GAPC) Review
   • The GAPC is comprised of faculty and staff from multiple units across campus, including Judson University leadership.  This committee will review the case and recommend continuation of the remediation plan or dismissal from program. The student will be notified in writing of the outcome of this review and will have an opportunity to respond in writing.  
6. Dismissal from Program 
   • The student will be notified in writing if dismissal occurs.  Students will be able to re-apply to the MACC program after one calendar year if dismissed.