Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling MS degree requires a minimum of 60 semester hours, including completion of all MS requirements and a passing score on the comprehensive examination (written, oral or both) administered during student enrollment in Internship (COUN 5720 or COUN 5721).

Students will select an area of emphasis when they begin the program, there are four tracks:

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Child
• College  

All degree programs must be planned in consultation with the student’s advisor, and students must earn grades of A or B on all degree plan course work. Students must file a degree plan during their first semester of graduate study. The master’s degree program requires two semesters of internship, COUN 5720 & COUN 5721, in lieu of a thesis. The internship should be the last enrollment in the master’s program. Placement for the internship is selected in cooperation with the internship coordinator and must be approved by the program. 

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program meets all the educational requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas.   

All program areas are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

Thank you for your interest in the UNT Counseling Program.  Our CACREP accredited Program has consistently ranked #1 in Texas and has frequently ranked among the top 20 Counseling programs in the nation.  Based on that standing, the program has highly competitive entrance requirements. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average (overall OR for the last sixty hours) of a 3.0 on a four-point scale.  Counseling courses at both the Master’s and Doctoral level require in-person attendance. 

Program Application Deadlines: 

March 15- for admission to the following Fall Semester 

October 15- for admission to the following Spring Semester 

 

For more information on the application process, please visit the Graduate Admissions Page.  For any enrollment-related questions, please reach out via Scrappy Says for assistance. 

All application materials must be complete and processed by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the deadline or your application will not be considered for admission. 

Application Materials: 

• Official Transcripts. You must submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities you have attended.  These can be ordered through the GradCAS application.
• Three Letters of Reference.  At this time, GradCAS requires three letters of reference.  This is different from the three reference evaluation forms.  Your evaluators will receive a link from GradCAS to complete this portion of the application.
• Three Reference Evaluations. These should be completed by current or recent professor(s), employer(s), colleagues, or other individuals who are professionally acquainted with your work.   Once we receive your application, we will email you the form (below) to send to your evaluators.  The evaluators must submit the completed form to us at COE-Counseling@unt.edu

Reference Evaluation Form

• A one-page typewritten writing sample addressing the following:

1. Your aspirations related to the field of counseling; 
2. One or more significant life events that contributed to the development of these aspirations; 
3. The single greatest personal asset that will serve you in realizing your aspirations; 
4. The one personal characteristic or quality that you most need to modify, improve, or change in order to realize these aspirations; 
5. Activities demonstrating your commitment to the field of counseling; 
6. Evidence if you have fluency in both English and another language; and 
7. (optional) Any other information that you think would be helpful in evaluating your potential for success in the program and as a counselor. 

• You may change the line spacing, margins, and font but do not exceed one page. 

• Writing samples that exceed one page will not be considered. 

You are responsible for ensuring that all application materials are submitted by 5:00 PM (CST) of the application deadline. 

 

INTERVIEW 

Applicants invited to the interview are required to attend a group interview typically held on a Friday soon after the application deadline. You must contact the Counseling Program Main Office upon receiving the invitation and confirm your intention to attend. Persons needing ADA assistance should so indicate at that time. 

Following the interview, you will receive notification granting or denying provisional admission to the Graduate Program in Counseling. Students granted provisional admission will receive additional guidance for completing a background check and first semester registration.

CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECK 

Individuals granted provisional admission must complete a Criminal History Background Check.  Information on background checks will be provided in your provisional admissions notification.  Provisional admission is pending until receipt of a satisfactory background check.

Examples of Clinical Mental Health Counseling Courses You Will Take

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Career Development and Information Resources

• Survey of career development and counseling with emphasis on the occupational, career and educational information service.

 

Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Counseling

• Principles of culturally sensitive biopsychosocial assessment and case conceptualization leading to appropriate counseling treatment plans or referral within a managed care framework.  Diagnosis according to the most recent edition of the DSM and evidence-based treatment planning are studied.

 

Addiction Counseling

• Etiology and principles of addiction as well as counseling practices relevant to substance abuse and addiction counseling.

 

Practicum in Counseling

• Provides actual counseling experience with a variety of clients and problems.  Requires a minimum of 100 total hours in counseling-related activities including a minimum of 40 direct client hours.

 

Group Counseling Theories and Procedures

• Group dynamics and major approaches to group counseling with emphasis on how to start a group counseling program, how to counsel effectively with groups and how to evaluate results.  Development of skills of group membership, leadership and working with groups are stressed.

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Estimate tuition and fees by using the Tuition Calculators. For more information about tuition plan options, fees, and tuition, see Student Financial Services.

Financial Aid

UNT offers a variety of options to help finance your education. Visit financialaid.unt.edu to find out more about the application and award process.

UNT has been named one of America's 100 Best College Buys© for 25 consecutive years and offers the quality of a private university at an affordable cost.

Applying for financial aid

1. Apply for financial aid online at fafsa.gov. The application is required for all types of financial aid, including Pell and other federal grants, state grants and loans. The FAFSA and Renewal FAFSA are available annually.
2. You must enroll in 6 hours (over one or two online sessions) in order to be eligible for financial aid.
3. Financial aid awards will be disbursed 10 days prior to the first day of class. Awards will not disburse if you are enrolled in only 3 credit hours.
4. Contact Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at 940-565-2302 or by visiting online at financialaid.unt.edu