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Mental Health Counselor Track (MHC)

The MHC track curriculum is based upon CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) guidelines and is designed to meet the requirements for graduate study specified by Indiana State Laws regulating licensing of Mental Health Counselors. Although the individual courses focus on different aspects of professional training in psychology, recurrent themes such as integration of theory and practice, the interrelationship of assessment and intervention, the recognition of individual and cultural diversity, scholarly inquiry, ethical practice, and professional problem solving cut across coursework in the curriculum in both tracks.

Completion of the MHC track requires a minimum of 60 credit hours. The following pattern is recommended for full-time students:

Part-time and Full-time Study
The course sequence outlined here is designed for full-time students.  Students enrolling for the credit hours specified in the pattern will typically work at most 20 hours per week.  Students who must work full time or who have other significant responsibilities may enroll for fewer credit hours.  Part-time students must plan their schedule carefully, since courses may only be offered during particular semesters.  Regardless of full-time or part-time status, students must complete all requirements within five years of matriculation.

Clinical Case Study
Every student in the MA program in clinical psychology must complete an approved Clinical Case Study project.  The Clinical Case Study is designed to emphasize students’ careers as practicing clinicians.  It serves as a work sample that allows the faculty to evaluate students’ abilities to critically evaluate and synthesize knowledge gained from theory, research, and clinical practice. Students focus on a client who exhibits difficulties in some clinical area, conduct a literature review over the disorder, complete an assessment of the client, provide appropriate interventions, evaluate outcomes, and produce a scholarly written product (case study) that is academically sound.  A primary goal of the Clinical Case Study is for the student to demonstrate in-depth mastery of a specific clinical area or issue.

Clinical Practicum/Internship for MA
Practicum experiences are an essential part of master’s-level clinical training.  A minimum of 225/1000 hours (CP/MHC track) of practicum is required of all students.  Normally, practicum training involves a minimum of six to eight hours per week at training sites, although other arrangements are possible depending on agency and student needs.

Options for MA Degree Completion
The Master’s program has been designed to allow for various options to meet the needs of students who are completing their MA degree. The 48-hour Clinical Psychology track and the 60-hour Mental Health Counseling track allow students to select the type of program that most closely matches their career goals. Students may wait until the end of their first year before deciding which track is most appropriate, thus allowing additional flexibility in degree choice. All master’s courses are available in an evening format, which allows students to maintain daytime responsibilities or employment while going to school.

To accommodate the needs of students who are working, part-time as well as full-time degree completion options are available. Part-time students will need to create a degree plan in consultation with their faculty advisor to ensure that all required and prerequisite courses are sequenced appropriately.

Master’s students may also be permitted to take advanced courses in some of the doctoral concentration areas as part of their elective coursework, allowing for further specialization. In addition, some MA students may eventually elect to apply to the PsyD program at the University of Indianapolis. If selected, students will qualify for advanced standing since the majority of their MA courses will count towards the requirements for the doctoral degree.

Licensure and Employment of Graduates
Students who graduate from the MHC track are eligible to apply for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in Indiana and many other states which adhere to the CACREP standards. Licensure typically requires students to obtain post-masters supervised experience and pass a national licensure exam. Surveys of our graduates indicate that they have found employment in their chosen area and have been well prepared for clinical practice and/or doctoral study. Graduates of the M.A. program report working in a wide variety of settings including private practice, managed care, psychiatric hospitals, mental health centers, social service agencies, correctional facilities, group homes, child guidance clinics, state agencies, consulting practices, rehabilitation agencies, health maintenance organizations, and other related mental health sites.

Graduation Requirements
To receive the MA degree in clinical psychology at the University of Indianapolis, students must complete the following requirements within five (5) years of being admitted to the program:

• Successful completion of a minimum of 48/60 (CP/MHC track) credit hours.  The total credit hours must include all required courses specified in the curriculum.
• Successful completion of a Clinical Case Study.
• Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 225/1000 (CP/MHC track) practicum/internship hours at an approved health service training program site.
• A final cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (B)
• Compliance with all university and school policies and procedures.