Marquette University's online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program prepares highly skilled professional counselors who are license-eligible to practice in a variety of settings. With the flexibility and convenience of an online program, students can pursue a general counseling track or a specialization in child and adolescent counseling. Our online program is built on Marquette's tradition of academic excellence and our commitment to working in diverse settings.

Clinical mental health counselors work in various settings, including community health centers, hospitals, outpatient and residential mental health centers, prisons and private practice. The scope of their work is broad and depends in part on the specific work setting. Areas of practice might include behavioral or substance abuse interventions, and supporting clients with parenting, interpersonal, coping and collaborative skills.

Specific licensing requirements vary from state to state, but mental health counselors typically require a degree in higher education, including a master's degree, plus an internship to sit for licensing exams.

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Why clinical mental health counseling through Marquette?

• Support clients in their growth and wellness through course work focused on human development, psychopathology, assessment, theories of counseling, consultation, crisis and disaster response, ethical and legal issues, multicultural issues and counseling research, as well as individual, group, family and counseling interventions.
• Our online program is based on the same rigorous curriculum found in our on-campus program and allows students to take our synchronous and asynchronous classes from wherever they are.
• In addition to course work, we require practicum/internship experience. We assist students in securing a clinical placement in their geographical location that is meaningful and meets their professional goals.
• Each student will be assigned a dedicated student success coordinator to help them understand and meet important deadlines, resolve any technical challenges that arise, strategize course selections and more.
• We provide an orientation program to assist students in applying for practicum/internship experiences and a dedicated clinical training coordinator to support them in identifying an appropriate site.
• Our nationally renowned, diverse faculty are active researchers and dedicated to serving and mentoring students.
• Because we are an institution founded on social justice principles, our program encourages students to stand up for the dignity of all and build communities in which everyone can thrive and belong.
• We challenge students to think critically about the cultural context of their approach and to seek opportunities to serve underrepresented populations.
• Our reputation for thoroughly preparing our students has our graduates standing out, and we equip them to truly serve the greater good, no matter where their career takes them.
• Our programs have high retention rates and low student-to-faculty ratios.

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Recommended course work and program requirements

View the recommended course work for our master's degree programs. For specific program requirements, please visit the academic bulletin. 

Practica and internships

Learn more about the practica and internships our master's degree students take on.

Assessment

Program assessment information.

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Program learning objectives

1. Apply knowledge of bio-psycho-social-cultural foundations of behavior and evidence-based counseling approaches to diverse individuals and groups.
2. Apply professional, ethical and legal standards in their counseling practices.
3. Assume advocacy roles for the mental health care of underserved individuals and groups in urban settings.
4. Integrate self-awareness, counseling roles and reflective practices into a professional counseling identity.
5. Provide clinical mental health counseling prevention and treatment services for diverse individuals and groups in community settings.

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Who should apply to our program?

Students with a bachelor's degree who wish to pursue a license-eligible degree in the field of counseling, or who anticipate pursuing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology should apply to this program. Compare our on campus and online master's degree programs to decide which is best for you.

Students with a variety of backgrounds are admitted to our programs. Some enter with a bachelor's degree, others have completed some graduate courses, others have a master's degree in a mental health field, and a few have even had doctoral degrees in another field but wish to retrain as counselors and counseling psychologists. All applicants must have at least attained a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

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Our commitment to diversity and social justice

Our program faculty, staff and students believe it is our responsibility to actively engage in creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive world. We value and embrace diversity across all forms of identity. We acknowledge the complexity of diversity as it relates to privilege and the disparities of racial and social power impacting our society. It is our duty to dismantle discriminatory systems, and we are committed to doing so through our research, practice and service. As members of an academic community, we believe that diversity enriches our educational and professional growth, as well as our communities. We dedicate ourselves to increasing self-awareness, growth, collaboration, relationship-building and ongoing education. In our quest for racial and social justice, we advocate with, and for, those in our communities whose voices deserve to be heard. We are committed to taking personal and group responsibility for racial and social justice, and to hold one another accountable.