Clinical Counseling Track
(60 Credit Hours)

The Masters of Science in Counseling with an emphasis in Clinical Counseling requires the graduate to successfully complete the 21 credit-hour core and an additional 39 credit hours of coursework (60 total credit hours of coursework).  The M.S.C. with an emphasis in clinical counseling is the most arduous of the three tracks offered in the Counseling area. In order to attain a master degree in this area of study the student must successfully complete the following curriculum:

M.S.C. Counseling Core 21

COU500 Counseling Theories and Practice I 3
COU520 Human Development 3
COU530 Research Methods 3
COU550 Counseling Theories and Practice II 3
COU560 Psychopathology 3
COU570 Cultural Competencies 3
COU581 Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues 3

Clinical Counseling Cognate Core 24

Rural Counseling 3
Group Counseling 3
Career Counseling and Lifestyle Development 3
Assessment I 3
COU 624 Child and Adolescent Counseling 3
Crisis and Abuse Counseling 3
Assessment II 3
Advanced Psychopathology & Psychopharmacology 3

Practicum (400 clock hours + seminar 9
Electives 6

The student interested in mental health and clinical counseling is encouraged to pursue the Clinical Counseling track. This advanced curriculum requires an additional 39 credit hours of coursework beyond the generalist core. The Clinical Counseling area provides coursework identified by the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors (335.327 -- Licensing reciprocity requirements). The title of “Counselor” connotes a standard of professionalism that is regulated by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and various states throughout America. States that implement title protection do so in an attempt to protect consumers. Just as graduates with a Masters in Psychology cannot refer to themselves as Psychologists until a doctorate is attained, graduates with a counseling degree cannot be referred to as Counselors until post-master level licensure is attained. Students desiring a degree that prepares them to seek a license as a Counselor in the state of Kentucky must successfully complete the generalist core, successfully complete the coursework in the clinical counseling track, successfully pass the comprehensive examination and practicum, and successfully fulfill the requirements of the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors outlined in KRS 335.500 to 335.599 (which includes two year post-graduate supervision).