Counseling, M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Counseling program prepares students with a high level of evidence-based, ethical, and culturally responsive skill sets to serve clients. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration prepares you to conceptualize, assess, diagnose, and treat individuals, groups, and families in a variety of settings. These settings include, but are not limited to, inpatient, outpatient, in-home care, and private practice settings.

All of CED’s programs are CACREP accredited and are in person on the UNCG main campus. All programs are full-time with courses offered predominantly during the day between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Program Distinctions

• The CED Department has consistently been recognized as a top counseling program by the U.S. News & World Report, ranking in the Top 10 list for more than two decades.
• Within North Carolina, CED is the Top Graduate Program for Counseling.
• Within CED is the Nicholas Vacc Counseling and Consulting Clinic, an in-house training clinic where all students engage in the practical experiences working with clients.
• In our counseling program, master’s students are provided with intensive clinical supervision from the department as they develop their counseling skills in clinical practicum and internships.
• Our students in Clinical Mental Health Counseling can select from various evidence-based practice courses, gaining knowledge and skills in practices such as dialectical behavior therapy and motivational interviewing.

The Student Experience

• In the Clinical Mental Health Counseling track, you will have many opportunities to develop clinical counseling skills. Beginning in your first semester, you are engaging in hands-on practicum experiences with almost every content class you have. You will work with clients under close clinical supervision in the Nicholas A. Vacc Counseling and Consulting Clinic, and in a 600-hour internship in a local community agency, hospital, residential care facility, or private practice that matches your desired setting and specialty area.
• Sample courses include counseling diverse populations, trauma and crisis in counseling, and diagnosis and treatment planning as well as evidence based practice courses such as dialectical behavior therapy and motivational interviewing.
• Each year, approximately 32-38 master’s students are recommended for admission into the full-time/day-time counseling program by an Admissions Committee, which consists of program faculty.

After Graduation

Graduates of the program are well-prepared for success as a clinical mental health counselor in various settings, including but not limited to, community counseling agency, outpatient mental health agency, private practice, hospital or medical setting, or college counseling center. You are also well trained, depending on how you specialize, to work with children, adolescents, young adults, or adults with various mental health diagnoses and concerns.

The U.S. Department of Education requires that all higher education institutions advise students as to whether their curriculum provides them with the eligibility to apply for a professional license and/or certification in the state for which they plan to practice. The U.S. Department of Education requires that all higher education institutions advise students as to whether their curriculum provides them with the eligibility to apply for a professional license and/or certification in the state for which they plan to practice. As such, please review UNC Greensboro’s status by state for the initial teaching license. You should note whether the program either “meets”, “does not meet”, or if there “has not been a determination” of the program’s status in the state for which you plan to practice. Licensure Reciprocity Information

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The deadline to apply for the master’s program is November 15. Admission is for the fall semester only. Applications that are not completed by the respective deadlines are not reviewed. Please contact the Graduate School to confirm all required information has been received there.

Application criteria for application for master’s program includes: 

1. Complete online graduate school application.
2. Two professional letters of recommendation for master’s students (at least one of which should be an academic reference).  
3. Resume or curriculum vitae detailing work experience, volunteer experience, and research background. 
4. Three written statements are required for master’s applicants. These include: (1) Experience and background, (2) Ethical decision making, and (3) Personal statement. See below for a description of each of these statements. All statements should be in 12-point font and double spaced. 
5. Undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate transcripts.
6. If your undergraduate GPA was a 2.75 or below, please complete a statement that contextualizes your earlier academic performance and how you are now prepared to be successful in a graduate program.

*Please note: GRE scores are not required for application to the master’s program.

Experience and background (2 pages) 

Reflect on your developmental history, personal experiences, and background. Consider how these have shaped you into the person you are today. Please describe how your background will impact your effectiveness with clients, both in terms of your strengths and limitations.

Ethical Decision Making (2 pages) 

The American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics states “Counselors refrain from referring prospective and current clients based solely on the counselor’s personally held values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Counselors respect the diversity of clients and seek training in areas in which they are at risk of imposing their values onto clients, especially when the counselor’s values are inconsistent with the client’s goals or are discriminatory in nature.”  

This statement points to the idea that counselors are expected to provide services to individuals from all backgrounds regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. How are you prepared to meet this ethical standard by thinking through complex issues that may arise, particularly with individuals who represent backgrounds or perspectives that differ from your own?  

Personal Statement (2 pages) 

Please describe your interest in pursuing a master’s degree in counseling and your aspirations post-graduation. Discuss what you believe positions you to function successfully as a professional counselor, and how you have come to the decision to pursue graduate training in a helping profession, along with other information that helps to describe you.  

GPA (up to 2 pages) 

If your undergraduate GPA was below a 2.75 or below, please complete a statement that contextualizes your earlier academic performance and how you are now prepared to be successful in a graduate program.  

Reference Letters 

Submit two professional references from people whom you have worked with in a workplace or educational context (e.g., instructor, adviser). These individuals should be able to describe you as a worker or learner and know you well enough to discuss your potential for success in a graduate program in counseling.  

Transcripts
Applicants may either upload official transcripts that have been issued by their institution’s Registrar’s Office onto their online application or order official transcripts that should be mailed to the Graduate School at the following address:  

The Graduate School
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
241 Mossman Building
1202 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, NC 27412  

Online Application
We use a completely electronic application process.

All applicants should include the following supplemental documents as attachments to their online application: 

• Personal Statement 
• Experiences and Background
• Ethical Decision Making
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Timeline and Interviews
The admissions committee will begin reviewing applications after the application deadline. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview early in the spring semester. Participation in the interview process is mandatory for selected students. Applicants are notified of their admission status usually within two to four weeks after all interviews are completed; typically, students receive notification no later than April 15.