Colleges and Schools
The program includes
- Online courses focused on practical skills
- Interactive simulations where you apply your learning to real-world situations
- Face-to-face residencies that offer personal collaboration with faculty, staff, and students
- Challenging fieldwork (practicum and internship)
- Opportunities to learn from some of the world’s leaders in mental health
- 95–102 total quarter credits
- Foundation course (6 cr.)
- Core courses (75 cr.)
- Capstone or Thesis (5–12 cr.)
- Field experience (9 cr.: Practicum: 100 hours; Internship: 900 hours)
- Professional Development Plan, Program of Study, Licensure Plan
- Full-time enrollment (with the exception of non-credit enrollment options)
- 12 days of residency (Two 6-day residencies)
For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call your enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.
Walden offers frequent start dates so that you can begin when it’s convenient for you. Next Start Date: December 1. Admission policies vary by program. Call 1-866-492-5336 or apply now.
CurriculumThe courses are delivered in a prescribed sequence. Each 12-week quarter, except for the first and last quarter, includes two concurrent 12-week courses.
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| Quarter 1 | ||
| COUN 6000 | Foundations for Graduate Study in Mental Health Counseling | 6 |
| Quarter 2 | ||
| COUN 6705 | Professional Identity and Ethics in Counseling | 5 |
| COUN 6100 | Introduction to Mental Health Counseling | 5 |
| Quarter 3 | ||
| COUN 8722 | Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories | 5 |
| COUN 6331 | Interviewing and Observational Strategies | 5 |
| 6-day residency required by end of third quarter | ||
| Quarter 4 | ||
| PSYC 6305 | Statistics 1 | 5 |
| COUN 8723 | Multicultural Counseling | 5 |
| Quarter 5 | ||
| PSYC 6315 | Tests and Measurement | 5 |
| COUN 6215 | Lifespan Development | 5 |
| Quarter 6 | ||
| COUN 8720 | Diagnosis and Assessment | 5 |
| COUN 8753 | Vocational Psychology and Counseling | 5 |
| Quarter 7 | ||
| COUN 8726 | Couples and Family Therapy | 5 |
| COUN 6250 | Group Process and Dynamics | 5 |
| Quarter 8 | ||
| COUN 8785 | Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation | 5 |
| COUN 8728 | Substance Abuse Therapies | 5 |
| Quarter 9 | ||
| COUN 6671 | Counseling Practicum | 3 |
| PSYC 6310 | Research Design | 5 |
| Quarter 10 | ||
| COUN 6682 | Counseling Internship | 3 |
| COUN 6800 | Capstone Project | 5 |
| Quarter 11 | ||
| COUN 6682 | Counseling Internship | 3 |
Thesis Option
This program does not require a thesis. However, upon consultation with an advisor, you may choose to take two 6-credit-hour thesis courses (COUN 6390) instead of COUN 6800 Capstone Project. The thesis option extends the program by at least one quarter.
Course Descriptions (pdf)
Note on Licensure
The M.S. in Mental Health Counseling is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for licensing exams. This program is designed to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. However, Walden University’s M.S. in Mental Health Counseling is not accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which is a requirement for licensure in some states. Because no graduate program can guarantee licensure upon graduation, we encourage students to consult the appropriate agency to determine specific requirements.
For more information about licensure, students should visit the National Board for Certified Counselors at www.nbcc.org/stateboardmap and contact the appropriate licensing body. International students are encouraged to identify and contact their appropriate licensing body.
Other Recommended Programs
- M.S. in Psychology
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
- Master of Healthcare Administration (M.H.A.)
- Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Programs (With M.A.T. Option)
For assistance deciding which program fits your goals, call an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.
