Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization

Program Coordinator/Contact
Mark Britzman, LP, CCMHC, NCC
Department of Counseling and Human Development
mark.britzman@sdstate.edu

Program Description
Students who successfully complete this 60-credit hour specialization will earn a Master of Science in Counseling and Human Resource Development specializing in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Upon successful completion of the core requirements, and those of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization and with the successful completion of the comprehensive written and oral examinations, graduates are endorsed as having constructed appropriate entry level knowledge and as having met appropriate skill acquisition to be recognized as professional clinical mental health counselors. Students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization are also responsible for having taken supporting area courses which supplement or enhance their chosen specialty.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure 

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course requirements for a MS in CHRD specializing in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, students will:

• understand and advocate for positive attention to developmental needs of individuals, families, schools, and communities;
• promote mental health through well-developed and consistent theoretical study and application;
• appreciate cultural, ethnic, and gender differences as they relate to perceptions and expectations of counseling;
• apply ethical, legal, moral, and professional standards to all aspects of professional counseling services;
• respond to the mental health needs of a variety of individuals and families, through a wide spectrum of services including support, education, assessment, and treatment;
• understand and be able to appropriately select and apply a variety of service or treatment modalities;
• understand assessment strategies and the criteria for mental illnesses as well as effective treatments;
• understand and model healthy community and work relationships; and
• be prepared to pursue licensure as a professional counselor.

Requirements for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization

• CHRD 601 - Introduction to Professional Issues and Ethics
    Credits: 1
• CHRD 602 - Research and Evaluation in Counseling and Human Development
    Credits: 3
• CHRD 610 - Developmental Issues in Counseling
    Credits: 3
• CHRD 661 - Theories of Counseling
    Credits: 3
• CHRD 701 - Professional Issues and Ethics II
    Credits: 1
• CHRD 731 - Multicultural Counseling and Human Relations
    Credits: 3
• CHRD 736 - Appraisal of the Individual
    Credits: 3
• CHRD 742 - Career Counseling and Planning
    Credits: 3
• CHRD 766 - Group Counseling
    Credits: 3
• CHRD 785 - Pre-Practicum
    Credits: 3
• CHRD 786 - Counseling Practicum
    Credits: 3-5
• CHRD 713 - Administration and Management of Mental Health Organizations
    Credits: 3
• CHRD 723 - Counseling the Family
    Credits: 3
• CHRD 755 - Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
    Credits: 3
• PHA 647 - Pharmacological Issues in Mental Health Counseling
    Credits: 3
• CHRD 794 - Internship
    Credits: 9
• Elective Credits: 9
  • CHRD 798 - Thesis
      (Option A)
  • CHRD 788 - Research Problems in Counseling and Guidance
      (Option B)
  • Additional Coursework (Option C)

Total Required Credits: 60