Overview
The master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed to prepare students for employment and practice in public and private mental-health settings. The curriculum offers course work and applied experiences for students’ specialty interests to include areas such couple/family counseling, addictions counseling, play therapy, and similar specialty practice with unique populations or using unique methods of counseling. The clinical mental health counseling program is 60 credit hours and meets accreditation criteria put forward by Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Admission Requirements
Admission to pursue a master’s degree in any track within the program in Counselor Education is based upon success in admission for graduate study with the Graduate School. Statement of purpose and letters of recommendation consistent with goals of the program, entrance exam scores (300 or above on the GRE or at least the 50th percentile on the MAT), and a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale are needed for regular admission.
Application Process
- Complete the Application Form.
- Pay the application fee. The application fee is $65 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and $80 for international students. Please note that application fees are non-refundable. The application fee is waived for the following groups:
- Veterans and current members of the US military (please email your DD 214 or current assignment orders to gradschool@ua.edu).
- Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program students (please email gradschool@ua.edu for more details).
- University of Alabama undergraduates applying to a graduate program in the same subject area. To qualify for this application fee waiver a student must have no time break between the undergraduate and graduate program and have an overall GPA of 3.0 or greater.
- Applicants who have previously enrolled in Graduate School at The University of Alabama.
- Within 48 hours of completing steps 1 and 2 you will receive an email with your Campus Wide Identification (CWID) number. It is VERY important that you keep this number somewhere safe.
- Submit supporting documents and check application status by selecting Manage Documents.
Program Requirements
All Counselor Education Master’s degree programs have a planned program of study. The plan follows the appropriate requirements for accreditation in that area. Once an academic advisor has been assigned for your program of study, you should make an appointment to discuss your preferences and career aspirations. The program of study that you accept when you enter the program will be the one you will follow until you graduate. If there are any changes, they need to be approved by your advisor.