The Master of Science in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (MSCRMHC) program offers a rigorous curriculum of coursework and fieldwork experiences designed to prepare graduates for state licensure eligibility and national certification. The program is fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for Rehabilitation Counseling. CACREP has established standards for the accreditation of graduate programs in the counseling fields. These standards are carried out in a number of ways: through continued curriculum development and implementation, by fostering relationships between students and faculty, and competitive staffing of the programs. Students benefit by participating in a program that is nationally recognized for its quality and high academic standards. This program is also NBCC certified, The National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC) administers a rigorous, examination-based, professional certification program titled as the NBCC National Certified Counselor (NCC) Program. Students can take the National Counselor Examination while still enrolled in the program.
The Mental Health Counseling option is designed to equip students to work with individuals experiencing developmental, situational, and existential mental health issues. Students will learn the foundations of counseling, individual and group counseling skills, tests and measurements, research methods and design, human growth and development, career development, counseling theory, diagnosis and treatment, multicultural counseling, and ethical issues in counseling; and how to effectively conduct individual and group counseling sessions; and apply American Counseling Association (ACA) ethics and professional standards.
All classes are available online except COU 523 and COU 590, which are offered live in summer and fall semesters. All students are required to attend the three-day live portion of COU 523 and COU 590 during summer or fall semester. Students are also required to attend a MSCRMHC New Student Orientation prior to or during their first enrolled semester.
Admission
Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling must submit all application materials to the Office of Graduate Studies by the current graduate catalog deadline dates. No applications will be considered until all required information arrives at the Office of Graduate Studies. Application materials include:
- Completed MSU Billings Graduate Application
- Application essay. The essay will be no more than four typed pages, double-spaced, and answer the following questions: Why have you chosen this career path? What strengths or assets do you bring to the program? How have your personal experiences influenced your decision to pursue a career in the counseling profession?
- Current Vita or resume.
- Complete official transcripts from all institutions attended. Preference is given to students with an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above. Students with cumulative GPAs of 2.75 to 3.00 may be considered for provisional admission.
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can provide an evaluation of the applicant’s potential as a graduate student, professional abilities, and potential for success in the field of counseling. Appropriate references include work and volunteer supervisors and college/university faculty within the counseling/human services profession. References may not include personal clergy, personal current or past counselor/therapist, colleagues, or friends/relatives.
Completed applications are reviewed by the program faculty screening committee and a personal interview, either in person or by telephone, may be scheduled. Consideration is given to the relevant qualifications of applicants across all required areas. No one criterion is used in selecting applicants for admission. Program faculty are dedicated to recruiting and accepting a diverse body of applicants who are sensitive to the needs of our increasingly pluralistic society.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Advocate for persons with disabilities, including those with mental health issues.
- Explain the philosophical, historical, and legislative aspects of the mental health counseling profession.
- Describe the approaches to being a counselor practitioner in the mental health counseling delivery systems.
- Integrate ethics and ethical guidelines into the processes of mental health counseling.
- Identify the basic counseling treatment modalities in mental health.
- Identify and contrast the different interventions for rehabilitation and mental health counseling.
- Students will be able to identify substance abuse addictions and co-occurring mental health conditions and identify needed resources and treatment options.
- Use current and relevant assessment practices and utilize current research to ensure clients receive positive outcomes.
- Use family systemic theories and interventions to employ effective clinical skills for individuals, couples, and families.
- Examine counseling in a changing mental health community.
