The Mental Health Counseling program prepares individuals through coursework and supervised experience to become eligible for licensure. Graduates are prepared to serve in a variety of clinical settings such as mental health centers, family counseling and community agencies, hospitals, correctional facilities, treatment centers, college counseling centers, career counseling settings, and private practice.
Program Requirements
Common Core
This introductory course provides a comprehensive overview of the counseling profession, emphasizing the development of professional identity and orientation. Students will explore ethical standards, legal mandates, and their application in various counseling settings. The course covers the philosophies, strategies, and current trends that shape counseling practice, as well as the roles and responsibilities of counselors. Additionally, students will examine the developmental needs and challenges of clients within a changing society, gaining insights into the nature of the counseling profession.
Prerequisites:
none
Focus on helping skills model, professional issues, and skill acquisition of basic listening responses.
Prerequisites:
none
This course introduces theories, models, and practices of crisis intervention with attention to trauma, suicide prevention, and disaster response. Students gain knowledge and skills in assessment and intervention while considering ethical, legal, and cultural factors. Emphasis is placed on applied, trauma-informed strategies for effective crisis counseling across the lifespan.
Prerequisites:
CSP 645
This course is specific to the counseling profession, focusing on both the cultural and sociopolitical forces influencing people in a multicultural society, as well as the microskills necessary for engaging in cross-cultural counselor-client interactions.
Prerequisites:
none
This course explores developmentally appropriate counseling strategies for children and adolescents, including play, creative, and expressive interventions. Emphasis is placed on applying theory to practice, collaborating with families and schools, and addressing the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of diverse youth.
Prerequisites:
CSP 618 and CSP 645
This course examines human development from conception through late adulthood, integrating physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and neurobiological perspectives. Topics include developmental theories, cultural and contextual influences, and the neurobiological etiology of addiction across the lifespan, with attention to implications for counseling practice
Prerequisites:
none
Overview of theories of career development, career guidance, career choice, and decision-making. Career counseling interviews and assessment techniques are also emphasized.
Prerequisites:
Admission into a program in the CSP department.
This course provides foundation knowledge and skills for conducting intake interviews and utilizing objective and projective personality assessments in counseling practice.
Prerequisites:
CSP 645, CSP 665, and CSP 666
A review and analysis of major counseling theories coupled with empirical support and specific counseling theory techniques and theoretical case analysis.
Prerequisites:
none
Overview of family theories and family functioning. Focus on techniques and skills to address issues of contemporary families.
Prerequisites:
none
This course provides a foundation for the use of diagnostic classification systems and designing evidence based treatment plans in counseling. The course also emphasizes the integration of personality assessment data, diagnostic intake interviews, and clinical documentation procedures in their role in assuring client care.
Prerequisites:
CSP 645, CSP 661, CSP 665 and CSP 666
Major theories of group development are presented along with analysis of group notes, group techniques, and groups for special populations. An experiential component is included for experience in group processes.
Prerequisites:
CSP 645
Research/Methods Course(s)
This course will prepare students to effectively understand and utilize the results of research and will provide an understanding of the processes involved in the conceptualization, design, implementation, and reporting of research, including program evaluation research.
Prerequisites:
none
Emphasis Common Core
Understanding the impact of chemical dependency on the family. Family counseling skills and relapse prevention strategies will also be included.
Prerequisites:
none
This course provides a comprehensive overview of evidence-based strategies and techniques designed for prevention and intervention in counseling. The course also reviews culturally sustaining competencies for developing collaborative client goals and applying ethical principles across diverse service delivery modalities while integrating theory with practice in varied counseling contexts.
Prerequisites:
CSP 645 and CSP 665
Explores counseling interventions for interpersonal and sexual relationships, with an emphasis on evidence-based and culturally responsive practices across diverse relational structures. Students will build skills in assessment, conceptualization, and intervention to support individuals, partners, and families in navigating intimacy, sexuality, and relational well-being.
Prerequisites:
CSP 645 and CSP 665
This course provides an initial supervised field experience to integrate academic content into clinical practice within a variety of mental health counseling settings.
Prerequisites:
CSP 618 Introduction to Mental Health Counseling. CSP 645 Counseling Procedures and Skills I, CSP 665 Counseling Theories, CSP 666, Counseling Procedures and Skills II, CSP 673 Group Counseling
This course prepares students in the ethical use and application of technology within the field of counseling. Students will become familiar with and knowledgeable about current trends and technology use in the delivery of counseling services. Emphasis is placed on understanding and applying ethical standards, particularly those established by the American Counseling Association (ACA), to ensure responsible and informed decision-making when using technology in professional practice.
Prerequisites:
none
Capstone Course
Choose 6 Credit(s). * Students may need more than 6 credits and completion of an additional course to meet supervised practice requirements. Consult with your advisor on credits needed for your program.
This course provides an intermediate supervised field experience that builds on Practicum, providing expanded opportunities to apply counseling skills, integrate theory into clinical practice, and strengthen professional identity in mental health counseling settings.
This course provides an advanced supervised field experience building on Internship I, providing opportunities to refine counseling skills, address complex cases, demonstrate competence in ethical and legal practice, and prepare for entry-level professional counseling.
The Degree Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual degree plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan. * Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.
First Year
Fall - 12 Credits
Understanding the impact of chemical dependency on the family. Family counseling skills and relapse prevention strategies will also be included.
Prerequisites:
none
This introductory course provides a comprehensive overview of the counseling profession, emphasizing the development of professional identity and orientation. Students will explore ethical standards, legal mandates, and their application in various counseling settings. The course covers the philosophies, strategies, and current trends that shape counseling practice, as well as the roles and responsibilities of counselors. Additionally, students will examine the developmental needs and challenges of clients within a changing society, gaining insights into the nature of the counseling profession.
Prerequisites:
none
Focus on helping skills model, professional issues, and skill acquisition of basic listening responses.
Prerequisites:
none
This course is specific to the counseling profession, focusing on both the cultural and sociopolitical forces influencing people in a multicultural society, as well as the microskills necessary for engaging in cross-cultural counselor-client interactions.
Prerequisites:
none
Spring - 12 Credits
This course introduces theories, models, and practices of crisis intervention with attention to trauma, suicide prevention, and disaster response. Students gain knowledge and skills in assessment and intervention while considering ethical, legal, and cultural factors. Emphasis is placed on applied, trauma-informed strategies for effective crisis counseling across the lifespan.
Prerequisites:
CSP 645
Overview of theories of career development, career guidance, career choice, and decision-making. Career counseling interviews and assessment techniques are also emphasized.
Prerequisites:
Admission into a program in the CSP department.
This course provides a comprehensive overview of evidence-based strategies and techniques designed for prevention and intervention in counseling. The course also reviews culturally sustaining competencies for developing collaborative client goals and applying ethical principles across diverse service delivery modalities while integrating theory with practice in varied counseling contexts.
Prerequisites:
CSP 645 and CSP 665
Major theories of group development are presented along with analysis of group notes, group techniques, and groups for special populations. An experiential component is included for experience in group processes.
Prerequisites:
CSP 645
Summer - 12 Credits
This course examines human development from conception through late adulthood, integrating physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and neurobiological perspectives. Topics include developmental theories, cultural and contextual influences, and the neurobiological etiology of addiction across the lifespan, with attention to implications for counseling practice
Prerequisites:
none
This course provides foundation knowledge and skills for conducting intake interviews and utilizing objective and projective personality assessments in counseling practice.
Prerequisites:
CSP 645, CSP 665, and CSP 666
A review and analysis of major counseling theories coupled with empirical support and specific counseling theory techniques and theoretical case analysis.
Prerequisites:
none
This course provides an initial supervised field experience to integrate academic content into clinical practice within a variety of mental health counseling settings.
Prerequisites:
CSP 618 Introduction to Mental Health Counseling. CSP 645 Counseling Procedures and Skills I, CSP 665 Counseling Theories, CSP 666, Counseling Procedures and Skills II, CSP 673 Group Counseling
Second Year
Fall - 12 Credits
Explores counseling interventions for interpersonal and sexual relationships, with an emphasis on evidence-based and culturally responsive practices across diverse relational structures. Students will build skills in assessment, conceptualization, and intervention to support individuals, partners, and families in navigating intimacy, sexuality, and relational well-being.
Prerequisites:
CSP 645 and CSP 665
This course provides a foundation for the use of diagnostic classification systems and designing evidence based treatment plans in counseling. The course also emphasizes the integration of personality assessment data, diagnostic intake interviews, and clinical documentation procedures in their role in assuring client care.
Prerequisites:
CSP 645, CSP 661, CSP 665 and CSP 666
This course will prepare students to effectively understand and utilize the results of research and will provide an understanding of the processes involved in the conceptualization, design, implementation, and reporting of research, including program evaluation research.
Prerequisites:
none
This course provides an intermediate supervised field experience that builds on Practicum, providing expanded opportunities to apply counseling skills, integrate theory into clinical practice, and strengthen professional identity in mental health counseling settings.
This course explores developmentally appropriate counseling strategies for children and adolescents, including play, creative, and expressive interventions. Emphasis is placed on applying theory to practice, collaborating with families and schools, and addressing the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of diverse youth.
Prerequisites:
CSP 618 and CSP 645
Overview of family theories and family functioning. Focus on techniques and skills to address issues of contemporary families.
Prerequisites:
none
This course provides an advanced supervised field experience building on Internship I, providing opportunities to refine counseling skills, address complex cases, demonstrate competence in ethical and legal practice, and prepare for entry-level professional counseling.
This course prepares students in the ethical use and application of technology within the field of counseling. Students will become familiar with and knowledgeable about current trends and technology use in the delivery of counseling services. Emphasis is placed on understanding and applying ethical standards, particularly those established by the American Counseling Association (ACA), to ensure responsible and informed decision-making when using technology in professional practice.
Prerequisites:
none
Policies
Admissions Standards
Applications for summer and fall are accepted on a rolling basis. Applications received by January 15 will receive priority consideration. Applications will be reviewed until the program is full.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited university. Students with an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above will be most competitive for admission to the program.
Three letters of recommendation focusing on your academic potential and your promise to become an effective counselor/helping professional. One of the recommendations must be from an instructor, an academic advisor, or a professional reference.
Personal statement submitted by answering prompt questions.
Abnormal Psychology or its equivalent. This prerequisite course must be completed prior to or during the first year of admission to the program and is not considered part of the student's regular graduate program.
Progression Standards
Students must make adequate yearly progress toward degree completion and must know the MSU, Mankato, Graduate College Policy and Course Requirements and adhere to time limits for program completion. Students are strongly encouraged to complete in two to three years and inform their advisor if they are unable to enroll in classes during a given academic year.
Current students must possess skills and abilities to successfully complete the course of study for their emphasis or program. Students must meet the Professional Dispositions and Competencies established by the Department of Counseling and Student Personnel.
Completion/ Graduation Standards
To complete the 60-credit program emphases in two years, all students need to complete 12 credits in the fall and spring semesters and 3-9 credits in the summer.
Students attending part time are encouraged to complete at least two courses per semester during the academic year and 3-6 credits each summer. Students completing their program on a part-time basis should discuss their plans with their advisor. To complete Practicum and Internship requirements, all students must commit to at least nine months of extensive practice and supervision.
Students in the Mental Health Counseling and Professional School Counseling emphasis areas must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE) as a summative evaluation to demonstrate what students have learned during their graduate program. The exam is computer-based, multiple-choice and covers concepts related to the eight core areas identified by CACREP.
All students seeking degrees must take CSP 675 Research and Program Evaluation in Counseling and Student Personnel.
All Mental Health Counseling and Professional School Counseling students must complete a 100-hour practicum in addition to completing a 600-hour internship that serves as their capstone experience.
