Achieve your calling to make a difference with the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Freed-Hardeman University. With an impressive 96% average pass rate on the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE), our program equips you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel in the field of counseling. Dive into a transformative journey that combines foundational principles with hands-on learning experiences, preparing you to thrive in real-world clinical settings. Your future as a compassionate, competent counselor starts here!
Graduate Studies:
Counseling and Behavioral Health
Department chair name:
Lisa Beene
B.S., M.S.S.W., A.C.S.W
Program Coordinator:
Dr. James H. Dalton
Ph.D
The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at FHU: 1.) is nationally-accredited; 2.) meets the educational requirements for licensing in almost every state; 3.) involves a rigorous blend of theory and practice; 4.) prepares graduates for the practice of counseling in a variety of settings; and 5.) is taught by counseling professionals who are active in the profession.
All current and new students applying for a Master’s or Doctorate program will use the online application process.
For those pursuing an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, the future holds vast opportunities. This program integrates core elements of the health profession with principles of the Christian faith to produce graduates ready for the clinical practice of professional mental health counseling. At FHU, graduate students gain access to faculty that are experts in their field that help them develop a framework for what it means to be a leader in the counseling world.
At Freed-Hardeman University, students enrolled in our MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will gain important knowledge and skills to become an impactful and empathetic leader in the counseling field. Anticipate a comprehensive journey encompassing counseling and counseling-related activities, including a practicum and internship, in a setting of well-trained counseling supervisors.
| COU 000 | Orientation to Graduate Studies in Counseling | 1 hour |
| COU 501 | Clinical Intervention I | 3 |
| COU 505 | Life-Cycle Development | 3 |
| COU 510 | Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy | 3 |
| COU 520 | Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| COU 530 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| COU 535 | Ethical Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| COU 540 | Research Methods in Counseling | 3 |
| COU 550 | Career Counseling | 3 |
| COU 560 | Counseling Diverse Populations | 3 |
| If Warranted: | ||
| COU 503 | Professional/Scientific Writing | 3 |
| COU 500A | Clinical Mental Health Counseling Foundations | 3 |
| COU 502 | Clinical Intervention II | 3 |
| COU 514 | Psychopathology I | 3 |
| COU 515 | Psychopathology II | 3 |
| COU 525 | Marriage and Family Counseling | 3 |
| COU 565 | Addictions Counseling | 3 |
| COU 599B | Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| COU 545A | Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum | 3 |
| COU 605A | Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship | 6 |
| If Warranted | ||
| COU 699A | Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship Continuance A | 0 |
| COU 699B | Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship Continuance B | 2 |
| COU 536 | Pastoral Counseling | 3 |
| COU 555 | Theories of Personality | 3 |
| COU 570 | Crisis Counseling | 3 |
| COU 575 | Agency Counseling | 3 |
| COU 585 | Psychopharmacology for Counselors | 3 |
| COU 590 | Counseling and the Law | 3 |
| COU 599A | Counseling Children & Adolescents | 3 |
| COU 599D | Premarital Counseling | 3 |
| COU 599E | Grief Counseling | 3 |
A copy of a syllabus for one of the courses in this program can be requested from our office at grad-counseling@fhu.bramblettgrp.com
As one of Tennessee’s oldest universities, Freed-Hardeman University has maintained a tradition of offering quality education in ways that fit into the lives of students. The integrated residential and web-conferencing graduate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed to make learning accessible, applicable, and relevant to the classroom today and practice tomorrow. The program is designed to meet the needs of college graduates who desire training in clinical mental health counseling/psychotherapy and wish to provide such services to individuals, couples, groups, professionals with principles of the Christian faith.
The program consists of a minimum of 61 hours of coursework.
| Next Start Dates: | January 21
(Apply by January 7) |
To be considered for admission into the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at FHU, please submit the following:
The Behavioral Sciences Bridge program is designed to prepare undergraduate students for pursuit of a graduate degree in behavioral sciences, and especially relevant to students who desire to pursue a clinical mental health counseling degree. Students who complete the Behavioral Sciences Bridge program will complete 13 hours of graduate-level coursework in place of elective requirements within their B.S. or B.S.W. degree in behavioral sciences. Students who complete the Behavioral Sciences Bridge program within their degree at FHU who are subsequently accepted into the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at FHU will be allowed to count these same graduate courses towards the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program. (The courses will be subject to the time limits and all other policies of the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree.)
The Clinical Mental Heath Counseling program faculty conduct ongoing assessment of the program to ensure it is effective and relevant. The most recent annual assessment report is accessible below:
Our M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares students to practice in a clinical setting or to operate their own practice. Students completing the M.S. in School Counseling program will primarily work in a K-12 school system.
There are countless career paths you can pursue after receiving your master’s in counseling. Our program provides a foundational understanding of clinical mental health counseling, prepares students for employment in the counseling field, and to pursue state licensure. Upon completion of the program and receiving your license, you can choose to specialize in certain areas such as Christian counseling, marriage and family counseling, addictions counseling, and much more!
The program is very accessible to students who are working and balancing many responsibilities. Therefore, the majority of students enroll on a part-time basis. Our students typically complete the entire program, including internship, in about 3.5 years. However, about 1/3 complete the program on a full-time basis in 2 to 2.5 years. Students are advised on an individual basis and have the flexibility to choose a pace of study that fits them.
Our program is highly successful!
