M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Make a Difference in Your Community with a Degree in Mental Health Counseling

Mental health issues are on the rise globally. If you’d like to be part of the solution, the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at West Chester University will help you on your way.

Each course in our 60-credit, in-person program has been meticulously designed by our expert faculty to prepare you to effectively navigate the therapeutic, providing intentional and evidence-based treatment to the clients whom you serve.

You will also develop the advanced skills needed to be effective in the roles associated with your concentration through specialty-specific courses. Our program places extra emphasis on bridging the gap between knowing and doing by incorporating guided application activities based on real-world scenarios across the curriculum, eventually leading to a 700-hour field experience working with real clients.

Our M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will prepare you to be an effective mental health practitioner in a broad range of career options including working in community settings, hospitals, educational institutions, VA treatment centers, and private practice settings.

The program meets the educational requirements for counselor licensure in Pennsylvania and many other states, as well as the Federal government requirements to work with veterans. Completion of this program also qualifies you to immediately sit for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) examination.

The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is 60-credits across:

core counseling courses,
clinical mental health specialty courses, and
700 hours of field work.

The comprehensive program results in a strong foundation for serving the mental health needs of the community. Through your self-awareness, knowledge, and honed therapeutic skills, you will be prepared to be a true catalyst of change in your communities.

Benefits of Earning Your Graduate Degree at West Chester University

Flexible Coursework

The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling was created with working professionals in mind. Courses are offered in-person in the evenings at our Graduate Center on the outskirts of West Chester. The evening timeframe allows our professional students to attend our courses and our off-campus location means plenty of free parking for students.

Accomplished Faculty and Small Classes

WCU has an outstanding faculty with decades of experience and connections to schools locally and regionally.

Our professors bring their own expertise and interests to the classroom and are frequent presenters at home and abroad and have published studies, chapters, and books based on their areas of interest.

At WCU, our small graduate classes mean you’ll receive personalized attention and an individualized program experience with faculty who are deeply committed to providing mentorship and support to each student. Our face-to-face format for this program ensures your connections with faculty, your classmates, and clients.

Field Experience

Throughout your master’s degree program, you will complete 700 hours of field placements to gain experience with a variety of mental health conditions. You will be supervised by experts in the field who will train you in best practices and help guide you through your work with clients. These hands-on experiences add depth and context to your classroom learning and are excellent resume builders.

National Accreditation

WCU’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is nationally accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Academic Programs (CACREP), the only nationally recognized accreditation body for counseling programs. The department is a former winner of the Counselor Education Program of the Year by the PA Counseling Association.

Personalized Career Advising

As a graduate student at WCU, you’ll have full access to the Twardowski Career Development Center (CDC). The experts at the CDC will help you explore career options, write your résumé, perfect your interviewing skills, and create a job search strategy. The CDC also hosts employment fairs on campus throughout the year.

What Can You Do with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Our students are difference makers. They come to our program to be a positive force in the lives of others and gain in-depth understanding of how best to treat mental health conditions with empathy, compassion, and effectiveness.

Upon successful completion of the program and passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE), students can earn national board certification. In PA, after completing the program and passing the NCE, students are eligible for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential after completing their residency requirements.

Graduates from the program have gone on to work at both inpatient and outpatient behavioral health settings, private practice, drug and alcohol treatment centers, eating disorder units, college and university counseling, and Veterans Affairs in a variety of roles.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the roles for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are growing exponentially with 17% growth expected through 2034.

Where are our graduates?

What Will You Study as a Student in the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program?

This program includes core courses, electives and specialty courses as well as field placements.