Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is there a specific area of focus in this program?
How many credits is the Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree?
How long is the program?
How many credits would I take per semester?
When are classes offered?
Can I work and go to school?
Are classes available online?
What are the class sizes?
What are my options for internship training?
Is the University of Utah program accredited?
Is the degree portable to other states?
Can I do a research thesis?
What are the tuition costs?
Is funding available for graduate students at the master's
level to offset tuition costs?
What do I need to know about applying to the program?
Are GRE scores required to apply for the CMHC program?
What kind of jobs do graduates of this program find?
Who do I contact for information?
Is there a specific area of focus in this program?
The Master's Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling has a specific content focus that teaches you general counseling skills. It is assumed that you will receive training to facilitate your development as a professional helper. This program is part of a larger infrastructure that also encompasses master's training in school counseling and doctoral training in counseling psychology. It espouses a "strength-based" approach to counseling that teaches you strategies that capitalize on a person's inherent capability to adapt and find meaning in living.
How many credits is the Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree?
Sixty (60) semester hour credits are required to complete the degree program. This is because the educational requirement for state licensure mandates 60 semester hours of graduate study in designated content areas germane to professional counselors.
How long is the program?
The Program Handbook indicates that the M.Ed. degree is completed in three years and students typically finish in this three year time frame. The third or final year involves an eight credit-hour internship in a mental health agency. Some students elect to take fewer credits per semester and this spreads their total time to degree completion over a four year period.
How many credits would I take per semester?
In order to finish the degree in three years, most semesters you would register for 12 credit hours (See the Program Handbook or Course Sequencing for details on curriculum/credits by semester).
When are classes offered?
Most courses are offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. There are a few required course offerings in the summer of year 2. These summer courses can be found in the course sequence. With respect to the times that courses are offered, the majority of classes meet once per week, Monday through Thursday from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. For more information about course sequencing please refer to our handbook.
Can I work and go to school?
The vast majority of our students work during the first year of the program. It is possible to work during the second and third years of the program but as the program builds so does the time needed to attend to coursework.
Are classes available online?
Yes, there are a number of online course options that are available to fulfill some of the course requirements. The reason for this is that part of our commitment to high quality education is to engage as many different modes of instruction as possible. Therefore we are incorporating a number of innovative instructional strategies including online coursework.
What are the class sizes?
The majority of our face-to-face courses enroll between 10 and 20 students. It is our goal to keep class size small in the counseling focused coursework so that you can become personally familiar (and interact closely) with your instructors and peers.
What are my options for internship training?
The program retains an extensive list of potential internship training sites. These sites are in settings that are highly regarded including the Children's Center, the Rape Recovery Center, and the University of Utah Women's Resource Center to name a few. The program has an outstanding record for placing student interns in literally dozens of different sites. The internship experience (EDPS 6910) is individually coordinated by a departmental faculty member and placements are based on maximizing your unique strengths and interests.
Is the University of Utah CMHC program accredited?
Yes, as of 2018 we were accredited through the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC). You can find more information on MPCAC here.
Is the degree portable to other states?
The program exceeds most CACREP and State standards for mental health licensure and our graduates generally have no trouble obtaining licensure in other States and/or Jurisdictions in the United States. However, if you plan to practice in other states, you should check their standards/requirements.
Can I do a research thesis?
The M.Ed. is predominantly a practice-based degree with the goal of helping you to become a licensed professional counselor. Our past experience has been that the requirements of CMHC licensure are not compatible with the master's thesis. Given that the master's thesis is not required to become a licensed professional counselor, this option does not currently exist in this degree track.
What are the tuition costs?
Tuition and fees (per semester) are approximately $4,218 for residents of the State of Utah and $12,103 for non-residents (based on 12-credits per semester at current tuition rates). Exact, up-to-date tuition rates can be found by consulting the appropriate link below:
Resident Tuition and Fee Schedule
Non-Resident Tuition and Fee Schedule
In addition, as is typical for many professional graduate programs, students are charged differential tuition of $53.90 per credit hour.
Is funding available for graduate students at the master's level to offset tuition costs?
There are opportunities to work on campus or in an assistantships that may become
available that can be filled by master's level students. There are some general scholarships
provided through the College of Education for which students may apply. University of Utah Scholarship information is here.The vast majority of students
elect to work off campus.
What do I need to know about applying to the program?
Most of what you need to know about the process of applying to a Master's Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is contained within the standard application process for the Department of Educational Psychology. You can also download the Information for Professional Counseling Applicants page for details. When completing your application be sure to check the box to indicate your interest in being considered for the Master's Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Are GRE scores required to apply for the CMHC program?
No, we no longer require GRE scores for applicants. Some applicants, particularly applicants with lower GPAs that may not reflect their academic potential, may opt to include their scores as an alternative indicator of academic potential, but these scores are not required for submission.
What kind of jobs do graduates of this program find?
Most of the graduates from this program pursue professional practice in an agency. This may be in the agency where you complete your internship. Other agencies such as community mental health centers, hospitals, and social service agencies hire our graduates.
Who do I contact for information?
Amy Edwards, CMHC and Zac Imel, PhD are both able to answer your questions. You can email using this address: ed-clinicalcounseling@lists.utah.edu for more information or questions.
Each year we hold numerous information sessions at our Salt Lake City and St. George locations. If you’re interested in learning more about our program, please join us at one of these sessions. Session dates can be found on our website or by emailing .
You may also contact our Academic Programs Specialist, by phone at 801.581.7148.
Need More Info?
Attend an information session to learn more about our M.Ed. Programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) and School Counseling (Salt Lake City or St. George Programs).
- Program Mission/Objectives
- Coursework/Training
- Costs/Tuition
- Financial Aid
- How to Apply
Monthly Virtual Clinical Mental Health Counseling Information Sessions are scheduled for the following dates:
Topic: CMHC Q&A Admission Session
Time: Aug 27, 2024 07:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://utah.zoom.us/j/92983253770
Meeting ID: 929 8325 3770
Time: Sep 4, 2024 07:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://utah.zoom.us/j/97129603463
Meeting ID: 971 2960 3463
Time: Oct 1, 2024 07:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://utah.zoom.us/j/91296182333
Meeting ID: 912 9618 2333
Time: Nov 7, 2024 07:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://utah.zoom.us/j/98188060358
Meeting ID: 981 8806 0358
Please contact ed-clinicalcounseling@lists.utah.edu for more information or questions.
For questions, call: 801-581-7148