The 60-hour clinical mental health counseling master’s degree prepares you for the National Counselor Examination and careers in community, clinical and mental health settings. Once you pass the NCE, you may apply for licensure in Illinois and many other states.

The Master of Arts in Counseling with academic concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling requires completion of 60 semester hours of graduate work. This graduate program is designed to meet the certification requirements in Clinical Mental Health Counseling toward licensure in the state of Illinois, as well as the competency Standards for this professional track as determined by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. In 2015, the Higher Learning Commission authorized the online delivery of this accredited counseling curriculum.

Bradley University's counseling program courses are offered via campus-based and online pedagogies. The online delivery offers the equivalent academic curriculum offered to campus-based students. Bradley University is a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the U.S.

You learn how to counsel diverse groups of clients to promote positive growth and development. Courses in the program enable you to practice while you learn, as each one includes hands-on experiences. During practicums and internships, you spend 750 hours in supervised settings tailored to your career interests.

By the time you graduate, your experiences include:

• The same academic core as the professional school counseling degree
• Flexibility to take courses in a specialty area of your choice
• Internships and practicums at places such as OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, UnityPoint Health-Methodist, Children’s Hospital of Illinois, Children’s Home in Peoria and Bradley’s Counseling Research and Training Clinic
• Networking and professional mentoring through Chi Sigma Iota honor society
• Scholarship opportunities for professional educators

Graduate Program Requirements

Graduate Core - 6 hrs.

• ENC 604: Research Methodology and Applications -  3 hrs.
• ENC 606: Interpersonal Behavior and Organizational Leadership - 3 hrs.

Program Core - 45 hrs.

• ENC 530: Loss and Grief Counseling - 1 hr.
• ENC 540: Human Growth and Development - 3 hrs.
• ENC 551: Substance Abuse Counseling - 2 hrs.
• ENC 586: Counseling Diverse Populations - 3 hrs.
• ENC 620: Introduction to Counseling: Professional Orientation - 2 hrs.
• ENC 621: Career and Life Planning Across the Lifespan - 3 hrs.
• ENC 622: Counseling: Ethics and the Law - 1 hr.
• ENC 623: Pre-Practicum in Counseling - 3 hrs.
• ENC 624: Theories and Techniques of Counseling - 3 hrs.
• ENC 625: Principles of Group Counseling - 3 hrs.
• ENC 630: Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders - 3 hrs.
• ENC 631: Crisis Intervention Counseling - 1 hr.
• ENC 632: Psychopharmacology in Counseling - 1 hr.
• ENC 640: Clinical Supervision - 2 hrs.
• ENC 641: Assessment in Counseling - 3 hrs.
• ENC 654: Consultation in Helping Professions - 2 hrs.
• ENC 661: Couples and Family Counseling - 3 hrs.
• ENC 690: Practicum - 2 hrs.
• ENC 691: Internship I - 1 hr.
• ENC 692: Internship II - 3 hrs.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialty Area Course Work - 9 hrs.

• Required - 4 hrs.
  • ENC 651: Clinical Mental Health Counseling - 3 hrs.
  • ENC 663: Counseling and Dynamics of Aging - 1 hr.
• Electives - 5 hrs.
  • Tailored to your needs

To be eligible for this program, you must meet the following qualifications: Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university • Students may be admitted unconditionally if they have achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework. Students may be admitted conditionally if the last 60 semester hours grade point average is below a 3.0 and above a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with previous graduate coursework must have achieved a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework and have completed a minimum of 12 graduate credit hours for the graduate grade point average to be considered for admission. You also must submit the following: • Completed online application • Non-refundable $40 application fee ($50 for international students) • Official transcripts of academic credentials • Two short admission essays: 4 Topic 1: Work experience and capacity for graduate study 4 Topic 2: Career goals and means to achieve them through graduate education • Three letters of recommendation • Virtual Interview (The virtual interview can be scheduled after applicant has submitted the application and paid application fee.) • For Illinois residents pursuing Professional School Counseling: 4 Complete Basic Skills Course (096 and 300) or Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP 400). Proof of this test is required after admission and before graduation but is not required to process application for admission. • Applicants for Professional School Counseling who reside outside of Illinois must confirm the requirements from their local licensing boards. In addition, international applicants also must submit: • Official transcripts certified by an officer of the institution or by a U.S. or local government official • Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (if required)

$36,000 TUITION FEE

Graduate assistantships provide an opportunity for students to work with faculty or staff, generally in their chosen field. Assistantships are very competitive, but for students who excel in their field of study, they can be an excellent way to gain experience while financing an education. Assistants are paid a stipend and receive a tuition scholarship. A full-time assistant receives a 100% tuition reduction on qualifying courses. A half-time assistant receives a 50% tuition reduction on qualifying courses. Graduate assistants are also paid a stipend. The amount of the stipend varies by department and program.

Tuition aid from a graduate assistantship cannot be used in conjunction with any other university-supported financial assistance award.

A graduate assistant must be admitted to a degree program and must intend to study full-time. To apply for a graduate assistantship, return the Graduate Assistantship Application with a current resume to Graduate Education. The recommended deadline for applying for a Graduate Assistantship for the fall semester is April 1.