Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, M.A.


College of Behavioral and Community Sciences  
Department: Child and Family Studies 

Concentrations:

  • Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling
  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
  • Marriage and Family Therapy

 

This major shares a core with the Rehabilitation Counseling and Disability Sciences, M.A.   Program


The Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (CRMHC) major trains counselors to work with persons with physical, mental, emotional, and chemical disabilities. Training emphasizes psychological, social, medical, and vocational aspects of disability, and the development and refinement of personal adjustment counseling skills. Graduates with this M.A. are prepared for careers as rehabilitation specialists and/or mental health counselors.

Students admitted into the Program are required to select a concentration: Clinical Mental Health Counseling or Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling. The Major also offers two optional concentrations that may also lead to a certificate. The CRMHC with a concentration in Addictions and Substance Abuse counseling is approved by the Certification Board for Addictions Professionals of Florida (CBAPF Approved Provider #179A).

Upon completion of at least 75% of the major, CRMHC-Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration students are eligible to sit for the national examination to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC). Upon graduation, students in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration will meet eligibility criteria under Florida Statue 491 to register as a mental health counselor intern with the State. Once you fulfill the State’s requirements you will be eligible to become a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC).  

Accreditation:
The Major is dually accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling.

Admission Information

Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.

  • Baccalaureate degree in one of the behavioral, social, health-related, or educational disciplines preferred
  • Online department application 
  • GRE 
  • Personal Interview 
  • Undergraduate statistics or research methods course
  • Three Letters of recommendation from academic, professional, and/or volunteer supervisors, preferably at least one letter from an academic faculty member
  • One-page statement of goals/career objectives. This should include why you are applying to this particular program, how you believe the program can help you achieve your goals, and any relevant experience in the field.
  • A Resume/CV outlining academic, professional, and/or volunteer work/experience
  • Complete a background check prior to Field Experience placements (if necessary)

Curriculum Requirements


Total Minimum Credit Hours - 60 Credit Hours

  • Shared Core Requirements – 30 Credit Hours
  • Additional Required Courses - 6 Credit Hours
  • Required Concentration Courses - 6 Credit Hours
  • Internship/Practicum - 12 Credit Hours
  • Optional Concentration*
  • Thesis or Non-Thesis Electives - 6 Credit Hours Minimum

*Students who complete the optional concentrations will have a total of 63-69 hours for the Program, depending on if they do a thesis or non-thesis.

The following 60-hour core curriculum is consistent with national certification standards for rehabilitation counselors and must be taken by all students (post-baccalaureate, thesis, and non-thesis).  Students must receive a B (3.00) or better in all core curriculum and elective classes.

Concentrations


Students are required to complete either the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration or the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration.  In addition, students may opt to complete one or both of the other concentrations offered.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (6 Credit Hours)


Students must complete the following:

Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (6 Credit Hours)


Students must complete the following:

Optional Concentration Requirements


Students may opt to complete one or both of the following in addition to the required Concentration above.

  • Thesis students may opt to complete an additional nine (9) credit hours in the optional concentration courses which would result in a total of 69 credit hours at the completion of the degree  
  • Non-Thesis students will select six (6) credit hours from the optional concentration courses; Students may opt to complete all nine (9) credit hours in the optional concentration courses which would result in a total of 63 credit hours at the completion of the degree 
     

Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling (9 Credit Hours)


Marriage and Family Therapy (9 Credit Hours)


Select nine (9) credit hours from the following and if interested in Marriage and Family Certificate, please reference the requirements in the Graduate Catalog.

Comprehensive Examination


The Comprehensive Examination assesses the student’s understanding of the significant content and process areas of the entire major curriculum. In order to graduate from the Program students must pass the Comprehensive Exam. After three (3) failed attempts, students will be recommended to the Office of Graduate Studies for dismissal from the Program. 

Non-Thesis Electives (6 Credit Hours)


Students in the non-thesis option complete six (6) credit hours of electives.

Thesis (6 Credit Hours)


All students are initially admited to the non-thesis program.  Admitted students may subsequently apply to the faculty for a thesis program.  Students in a thesis program must complete a minimum of 60 hours in the Post-Baccalaureate Program (54-hr) core curriculum including a minimum of six (6) hours of RCS 6971  .  An oral defense of the thesis is required.

Practicum and Internship (12 Credit Hours)