2024-2025 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MS
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Return to: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program strives to be a world class educational program, delivering a personalized educational experience for future professional counselors. We prepare our students to address the complex challenges faced by clients of diverse backgrounds, including individuals across cultures, across the lifespan, and those with disabilities and mental and behavioral health challenges. Our program emphasizes experiential training in evidence-based practices while advancing the field through clinical research. We are committed to community engagement, advocacy, and promoting diversity, inclusion, and cultural humility.
This program prepares students to practice the profession of clinical mental health counseling and is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) through March 2032.
This in-person program utilizes various instructional methods, including hands-on skills practice and role-plays that complement didactic learning and experiential learning activities. The curriculum includes courses on theories of counseling, foundations of professional counseling, ethics, multicultural counseling, individual and group counseling services, case conceptualization and treatment planning, case management, vocational and career development, assessment and diagnosis, evidence-based practice and research methods. Elective courses focus on trauma and grief counseling, child and adolescent counseling, and disability and assistive technology considerations. See curriculum for more information.
Graduates meet eligibility criteria for national certification as a national certified counselor (NCC) or as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) and the educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania.
Graduates of the clinical mental health counseling program may be eligible for the CRC under Category 3. Earning the CRC requires the completion of several requirements, including the CRC examination. Students wishing to seek the CRC credential must take COUN 2714 Medical, Psychosocial, and Technology Considerations in Disability and complete their Practicum and Internship under the supervision of a CRC.
For more information on the CRC credential, see the CRCC website: https://crccertification.com/get-certified/.
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Program Contact:
Michelle L. Schein, PhD, LPC, CRC
Associate Professor | Program Director
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
412-383-6879 | michelle.schein@pitt.edu
Pronouns: she/her/hers
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Requirements:
Admission Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree is required, preferably in psychology, rehabilitation sciences, human services, social sciences or a related field of study.
- A minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (based on 4.0) is suggested. If your GPA falls below 3.0, your application may still be considered. In such cases, please describe factors that may have negatively impacted your GPA as one element of your professional statement. A minimum GPA of 2.8 is required.
- Applicants should possess strong interpersonal and professional skills, must be committed to developing clinical skills through clinical practice and supervision, and be open to feedback, self-assessment, and self-reflection. Applicants must communicate in a clear, organized, and logical fashion both verbally and in writing.
- Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion is a major emphasis in our program and in the counseling profession. Those with knowledge, experience, skills, interest, and dedication to advancing these values are strongly encouraged to apply and to convey this through their application materials.
- Verification of English Language Proficiency. Verification is required unless the following apply:
- the applicant is a citizen of a country whose official language is English
- A group interview conducted via video conference will be required. We will reach out to you with additional instructions if you are invited to an interview.
- Admission is available for fall semester start only.
Application Requirements
- Complete the GradCAS application.
- Submit the application fee of $50 (U.S.).
- Three professional letters of recommendation. These letters should be from individuals who can describe your potential for graduate level work and may include individuals such as professors, supervisors, or employers.
- Upload a personal statement that demonstrates evidence of graduate level writing skills and discusses career goals, strengths, skills, and experiences that will contribute to success in the program and in the counseling profession. The essay should also include a brief statement discussing professional interest in the field of counseling and reasons for applying to the University of Pittsburgh Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. (2,500 character limit).
- Answer two short essay prompts (2,000 character limit).
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume.
- A course-by-course evaluation with GPA conversion for all higher institutions attended outside the U.S. The evaluation may be from World Education Services (WES), Inc. or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), Inc.
- All admitted students will be required to provide official transcripts and/or credential evaluations to the SHRS Admissions Office prior to enrolling in classes.
If applicable:
- Request official English Language Proficiency test scores from one of the following options. Minimum scores accepted follow:
- Duolingo: 130. Scores should be made available electronically to “University of Pittsburgh - Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.”
- IELTS: 7.0. Scores should be made available electronically to “University of Pittsburgh Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.”
- TOEFL: 100. TOEFL sub-scores of 26 for speaking and 24 for listening are required. Submit electronically to institution code “2927.”
- Unofficial scores may be provided via GradCAS (in addition to the official scores required).
Curriculum and Course Descriptions
Clinical Capstone Examination
All Counseling students are required to pass a clinical competency examination. The Clinical Counseling Capstone Exam requires student demonstration of knowledge and skills that reflect entry-level competencies of a professional counselor. Students are assessed on knowledge and skills accumulated through coursework and clinical experiences. The Capstone requires students to synthesize and apply advanced concepts into clinical practice.
The Capstone employs a clinical case study approach. Students are charged with researching and completing a written review on a client issue or population with the expectation of demonstrating expertise. Students are provided a case study in their area of expertise to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. Students are expected to analyze and synthesize case materials for case conceptualization and then develop appropriate, realistic, and evidence-based intervention plans. Students are expected to apply appropriate counseling techniques included in their intervention plan via role-play simulations. Successful completion of the Capstone is needed for the student to demonstrate mastery of graduate study.
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