Prospective students should address inquiries to the Mental Health Counseling (MHC) graduate office coordinator.

The Master in Mental Health Counseling (MHC) prepares professional counselors to provide extensive mental health services within public and private agencies, as well as in private practice. The curriculum is designed to meet national counseling standards, so graduates will gain mobility in responding to changing employment needs throughout the U.S. The MHC program has attained Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation, and the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists has indicated that the curriculum meets the educational requirements for application for licensure as a licensed professional counselor.

The MHC program has also been designed to meet the majority of the educational requirements for application for licensure as a licensed counselor or a marriage and family therapist in California and other states.

The MHC curriculum emphasizes practical application of theoretical foundations incorporating practicum and internship experiences throughout the program. Focus is on developing counseling competencies in eight core areas: Professional Identity/Ethics, Social and Cultural Diversity, Human Growth and Development, Career Development, Helping Relationships, Group Work, Assessment, and Research and Program Development.

Admission Process

The deadline for applications for the next academic year is February 15. Students are required to submit two separate applications:

1. an SOU application for admission using the policies described in the Graduate Studies section, along with a $50 application fee; and
2. a Master in Mental Health Counseling application, which may be acquired online at the program web site www.sou.edu/psychology/mhc or by contacting the MHC Graduate Office Coordinator Lori Courtney at 541-552-6947 or mhc@sou.edu.