Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Called to Facilitate Growth & Healing

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) exposes students to in-depth training, featuring three semesters of fieldwork experience and evidence-based teaching to prepare students for today’s mental health challenges and to become leaders in the field. Prepare for the profound rewards of counseling.

Picture of Counseling graduate students with Professor Burton

Connected & Hands On

Our core faculty and deep bench of more than 80 employers and mental health counseling agencies across the state opens doors to coveted internship placements and jobs.

Men in group counseling session with counselor at center

Prepared & In Demand

JCU graduate students enjoy faculty support on the pathway to licensure.

97% of 2024 graduates passed the state licensure examination
100% of 2024 graduates secured a job in the field upon graduation

Accredited & Flexible

The 60-credit-hour CACREP Accredited program can be completed in as little as 2.5 years through flexible modes of instruction including:

face-to-face courses
hybrid courses
online course

- Successful completion of an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
- This program has no set submission deadline. Applications are considered on a rolling basis upon completion. Admission decisions will be made based on space in the program.
- No GRE Required

- Free Application
- Official Transcript(s)
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Interview
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- Photograph
- No GRE Required

- Tuition is charged at the College of Arts and Sciences rate
- Degree-seeking students eligible for federal student loans. For information about the loan process, contact Student Enrollment and Financial Services at (216) 397-4248.
- A limited number of graduate assistantships provide a tuition waiver for up to 15 credit hours per year plus a stipend. Students are expected to spend 20 hours per week working for the department.

Program Overview and Certification Options

John Carroll University's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program offers practical clinical experiences and flexible learning options, shaping students into highly sought-after professional counselors who exemplify the Jesuit values of being persons for others and leaders in service.

Learning in the Field

Fieldwork starts as early as the 3rd semester with a unique practicum lab at Moore Counseling and Mediation Services (MCMS), one of the preeminent behavioral health treatment centers in northeast Ohio. At MCMS, students will gain experience in the various specialties of the field.

Our Practicum Instructor & Internship Coordinator ensures all students find meaningful internship and practicum experiences needed for licensure.

Graduate students work together out in the field

Two Concentration Options

Students within the CMHC program can use the 3 elective course requirements to concentrate on specific areas impacting the field.

Substance Use Disorder Concentration

Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration

Pathway to Licensure

Upon completion of this CACREP-accredited master’s program, you’ll have completed the academic requirements for an initial license as a Licensed Professional Counselor or Mental Health Counselor. Typically after a period of supervised work post-graduation, you’ll be independently licensed and able to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders without supervision.

Depending on the state where you will practice as a counselor, there may be additional post-graduation requirements you need to fulfill. John Carroll staff are available to support students from enrollment to graduation to licensure.

Student Testimonials

Picture of counseling male student at graduation_Andre R.

"Whether it's professors, whether it's my peers, I could at any point reach out to them, have the differences of perspective and continue my learning journey because I have them around me. It's something I will forever be grateful for, the connections I made while I was here. Plus, he place that I'm interning at now is where I'll be working at in the future. So, I know that I have a job coming right out of grad school. That's a connection that John Carroll helped me make."

Andre Ross, '23G

Picture of Counseling graduate student Yub K. in front of St. Ignatius Hall

"I was able to learn more about myself than I have over the past 35 years. JCU provided space for me to expand how I understand the world and challenge my beliefs and values. I felt safe whenever I was challenged during the program.”

Yub Kim, '24G

Career Outlook

JCU graduate students begin working as counselors immediately upon graduation and it’s typical to be hired by their internship sites prior to graduation. 100% of 2024 graduates were employed as counselors within six months of graduation.

Given the rise of the U.S. Opioid Epidemic, Substance Use Disorders Counseling (SUDC) is a growing field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 19% growth in employment for substance use and behavioral disorder counselors from 2023-2033. This makes the LCDC and LICDC credentials highly valued by employers.

picture of female counselor with father and son

Post-Master's Option

The Department of Counseling offers a post-master's option to allow individuals to seek their clinical mental health counseling license. Individuals who are eligible for this licensure-seeking program must already hold a degree in counseling (e.g., school counseling). The number of credits required to complete this post-master's option varies depending on the courses completed by an applicant in their previous graduate program.

Learn More

Be the change in mental health care – Learn More Today!

Loading...