Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling (MA in MHC)
MA in MHC Purpose
The Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling (MA in MHC) is designed to enable the student to understand the nature and needs of human beings, to appreciate the differences between people, to become familiar with the methods and conclusions of psychology, to develop skills in counseling, and to integrate faith into counseling theory and practice. The program is a professional licensure track program with the intent to train students to become licensed mental health professionals.
Program Outcomes
Students graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Mental Health Counseling will be able to:
- formulate Gospel convictions, a working Christian theology, and a contextualized faith within the counseling profession and academy
- articulate how counseling process, prevention, and clinical service delivery are an outgrowth of one’s Christian ministry and vocation
- manifest empathy and respect for how social and cultural influences as well as individual differences impact development, functioning, and flourishing in diverse human persons created in the image of God
- synthesize a routine and professional development plan to pursue an identity as a helping professional that blends self-awareness with an understanding of role expectations (Professional Counseling Orientation)
- commit to provide all counseling services within the ethical guidelines of a professional organization (e.g., American Association of Christian Counselors, American Counseling Association, Christian Association of Psychological Studies) (Ethical Practice)
- display to faculty and supervisors the knowledge of theories and models of counseling, counselor characteristics, and interpersonal skills to function as a helping professional (i.e., establishing a therapeutic alliance, crisis intervention, conceptualizing cases, and applying relevant, evidence-based treatment approaches) (Counseling and Helping Relationships)
- exhibit mastery of curricular domains within the comprehensive counseling curriculum (Human Growth and Development, Career Counseling, Group Counseling, and Assessment and Evaluation) (Clinical Mental Health Foundations)
- read, interpret, evaluate, and critically apply scholarly research and evaluation models in the practice of mental health counseling (Research/ Program Evaluation)
- address in self, others, and human systems the brokenness of human relations by identifying patterns of oppression, discrimination, and bias, whether deliberate or unintentional (Social and Cultural Diversity)
- apply the knowledge and skills required for a specialty in mental health counseling (i.e., etiology, assessment, case conceptualization, diagnostic classification procedures, application of evidence based treatments) (Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practice and Contextual Dimensions)
- generate evidence of professional behavior, oral and written communication, treatment planning, clinical documentation, and reporting (Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practice and Contextual Dimensions)
MA in MHC Admission Requirements and Prerequisites
The admission requirements for the MA in MHC are those described in the Admissions section of the catalog and those specific to the MA in MHC program described below:
- An undergraduate major which includes 9 hours of undergraduate psychology courses, including introduction to psychology, statistics, and either abnormal psychology or a developmental psychology course.
- An undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) are required.
- An interview with the TEDS Counseling Department faculty may be required.
Dual Degree Program for Trinity College Undergraduate Students
Trinity College students may apply to the dual degree track that combines a BA in Psychology (Counseling Psychology Emphasis) with a TEDS MA in Mental Health Counseling upon completion of 70 hours of undergraduate work. The following are also required for admission:
- A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- A recommendation from the undergraduate academic advisor or the Psychology Department Chairperson
- A completed TEDS application
- A personal interview with the TEDS Counseling Department Chair or an MA/MHC faculty member
When admission criteria are met, the TEDS Counseling Department notifies the TEDS Admissions Office of admission to the program.
Further details regarding the BA in Psychology program requirements may be ascertained by consulting the Trinity College catalog.
MA in MHC Concurrent Degree Options
Students may desire to complete a second TEDS degree program with their MA in MHC degree, such as a Master of Arts (Theological Studies), Master of Arts (Intercultural Studies), or Master of Divinity. In such cases, an overlap of program requirements up to 50 percent of the shorter degree is permissible. For example, a student combining the MHC and MA (TS) degree could overlap up to 21 semester hours (50 percent of the 42 semester hours required for the MHC) with the MA (TS). Such coursework would need to be carefully planned to ensure that the specific program requirements of each program are met. Consult the “Degree Combinations” section of the Catalog and the Counseling Department Chair for details.
MA in MHC Statute of Limitation
All requirements in the Master of Arts programs must be completed within five years of matriculation into the program. Petition to extend the statute of limitation may be made by a student to the Academic Exceptions Committee.
MA in MHC Candidacy Requirements
Admission to the Master of Arts programs must be followed by achievement of candidacy for the degree. Program candidacy occurs when:
A minimum of 12 hours in the program is completed with a minimum GPA of 2.5 for program course work after admission to the program.
All entrance deficiencies and conditions are removed.
After a review of student files for continued progress toward meeting graduation requirements, formal action is taken by the faculty to grant candidacy for the degree.
MA in MHC Graduation Requirements
In addition to the General Graduation Requirements for all master’s programs, the following are required for the MA in MHC:
- Completion of all coursework in the program, including ID 5080, with a minimum cumulative grade point average for program course work of 2.5, with no coursework graded below a “C-” applicable to the degree.
- Successfully write the major comprehensive exam.
- Completion of the Biblical and Theological Studies course sequences below meet the general comprehensive requirements in Old Testament, New Testament, and Systematic Theology.
- A minimum of 60 hours of coursework, at least 48 hours in mental health counseling.
- Complete a Master of Arts capstone project for the MA in MHC, which is completion of an internship or an acceptable thesis on an approved topic, exhibiting the ability to do competent research, to think critically, and to communicate effectively in the area of emphasis. The thesis may be for 0-3 hours credit, applicable to the student’s program.
- Students should consult with the department faculty to ensure that requisite course work is met for state licensure.
Program Prerequisites If Needed
9 hours of course work including Introduction to Psychology, Statistics, Abnormal or Developmental Psychology
Program Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biblical and Theological Foundations | 12 | |
| CO 6710 | Counseling and Theological Worldview: Faith and Practice | 3 |
| ID 5000 | Biblical Theology and Interpretation | 3 |
| ST 5201 | Theology I: The God of the Gospel | 3 |
| ST 5202 | Theology II: The Gospel of God | 3 |
| Mental Health Counseling Core | 33 | |
| CO 5210 | Counseling Skills Training | 3 |
| CO 5310 | Counseling Strategies: Theory, Treatment, and Technique | 3 |
| CO 5400 | Foundations of Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| CO 6110 | Career Counseling | 3 |
| CO 6130 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| CO 6510 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| CO 6650 | Multicultural Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| CO 6720 | Ethics & Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| CO 7210 | Assessment and Evaluation | 3 |
| CO 7450 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| CO 7900 | Research Methods | 3 |
| Mental Health Counseling Electives | 11-13 | |
| Select 11-13 hours of mental health counseling electives | 11-13 | |
| Formation Group | 0 | |
| ID 5080 | Formation Group (two semesters, need not be consecutive) | 0 |
| Capstone in MHC | 6-8 | |
| CO 6950 | Counseling Practicum | 2-3 |
| Select one option from the following: | 4-6 | |
Internship Option: | ||
| Mental Health Counseling Internship I | ||
| Mental Health Counseling Internship II | ||
International Counseling Internship: | ||
| International Counseling Experience | ||
| Total Hours | 64 | |