Mental Health Counseling is a career choice that is widely popular and has remained in high demand during challenging and prosperous economic times. The University of Cincinnati's Mental Health Counseling graduate degree is designed to train counselors for employment in community agencies and private practice settings. The overarching goal of the program is to train counselors to function appropriately as wellness-oriented mental health professionals, working within communities to improve the lives of individuals and families.

Graduates of this counseling degree program meet the training requirements established by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for licensure as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and will be prepared for the National Counselor Examination (NCE).

Careers and Success 

There are many career possibilities -- working with children, adolescents, and adults of all ages. Career counseling, working with the severely mentally ill or homeless, or providing counseling in a wide variety of mental health settings are just some of the many opportunities for careers in the field.

Being oriented toward working with people and a strong desire to gain experience in the mental health field are key qualities that may be shared by successful students. Creativity, dedication, and the ability to work independently (with supervision) are other important qualities for successful students.

Students with degrees received in China

Applicants who have received degrees in China will upload their unofficial transcripts during the application process. The university defines “unofficial” transcripts as transcripts that have been in the hands of students, are typically printed on plain paper, and do not have a college seal or registrar's signature. Unofficial transcripts do NOT need to be verified at this stage of the application process.

After being accepted to join a graduate program

Applicants who have earned a degree in China must submit an English-version verification report from the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC) of their final transcripts and degree certificates.  All verification reports must be sent to the University of Cincinnati directly by the CDGDC to be considered official. No other verification will be accepted. Applicants with Chinese transcripts must contact the CDGDC after their degree is completed and request that their degree verification report be submitted directly to the University of Cincinnati. Students who request a verification report prior to degree conferral will be required to submit a second report after conferral.

Verification reports can be ordered at the following websites:

• Chinese
• English

Verification reports are due to the Graduate School one week prior to the start of the student’s first semester. Failure to submit verification reports on time will result in a student being placed in non-matriculated status and loss of his/her student visa status. Verification reports should be sent to one of the following addresses:

Regular U.S. postal mail:  Delivery via parcel delivery service (FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.):

Graduate School University of Cincinnati 110 Van Wormer Hall P.O. Box 210627 Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0627Graduate School University of Cincinnati 2614 McMicken Circle 110 Van Wormer Hall Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0627

Admission Requirements

• Goal statement
• References (3 preferred, minimum of 1 required)
• Vita
• Undergraduate transcripts

Application Procedures

Prospective students will complete the online application for their requested program by the posted application deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials and support documents are successfully submitted. Incomplete applications will not be processed or reviewed.  

Transcripts:

Providing academic records during the application process. All applicants are required to upload their unofficial transcripts during the application process. The university defines “unofficial” transcripts as transcripts that have been in the hands of students, are typically printed on plain paper, and do not have a college seal or registrar's signature. Applicants should NOT send official transcripts as part of the application process.

Providing academic records after admission. The Graduate School accepts electronic transcripts sent directly by the school as official transcripts. These documents can be sent to the Graduate School. If you have any questions, email Andrew Wood.

Official Transcripts should be sent to one of the following addresses:

Regular U.S. postal mail:  Delivery via parcel delivery service (FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.):

Graduate School University of Cincinnati 110 Van Wormer Hall P.O. Box 210627 Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0627Graduate School University of Cincinnati 2614 McMicken Circle 110 Van Wormer Hall Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0627

Tuition fee-2 years$60,000

Total fee-2 years$92,000