Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Admission Requirements

Procedure for Admission to the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

Admissions criteria for the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program are consistent with those required in other master's degree level programs at South University. As the admissions process also takes into consideration the characteristics deemed essential to becoming a clinical mental health counselor, material is also required which will enable a determination to be made of the applicant's personal integrity, maturity, interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate effectively. The criteria used in determining admission to the graduate program include:

1. Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
2. A grade point average of at least 2.7 (on an Admissions scale of 4.0) for the last 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours of coursework (including relevant graduate work), or, a bachelor's degree with an overall CGPA of 2.7, or, an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.
3. A minimum score on a South University preapproved English language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose "first" language is not English as specified in the English Language Proficiency Policy.
4. Interview with the Clinical Mental Health Counseling department chair/program director or designated faculty member.
5. Approval of the campus program admissions committee.
6. Completion of an application for admission.
7. Submission of a personal/professional statement addressing the applicant's interest in counseling, professional goals, along with a self-appraisal of academic and professional qualifications.
8. Submission (within 5*/10 weeks of class start dates) of official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended. *Effective March 22, 2022 - Students beginning classes at the Montgomery campus or High Point Off Campus Instructional Site will have five weeks to submit acceptable documentation. ​*Effective April 1, 2022 - Students beginning classes at the Richmond and West Palm Beach campuses will have five weeks to submit acceptable documentation.  *Effective May 31, 2022 - Students beginning classes at the Tampa and Orlando campuses will have five weeks to submit acceptable documentation. *Effective July 12, 2022 - Students beginning classes at the Austin and Columbia campuses will have five weeks to submit acceptable documentation. *Effective August 16, 2022 - Students beginning classes at the Savannah and Virginia Beach campuses will have five weeks to submit acceptable documentation.
9. Current résumé (or career summary).
10. Background Check

All required admissions documentation and criteria will be reviewed and evaluated. Applicants will be notified regarding acceptance. Applicants should review the published general graduate requirements listed in the South University catalog. Students who are citizens of countries other than the United States should also refer to the section in the South University catalog entitled International Student Admissions Policy.

Provisional Admission

Applicants with an undergraduate degree CGPA of less than a 2.70, but not lower than 2.30, for the last 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours of coursework (including relevant graduate work), or, a bachelor's degree with an overall CGPA of 2.70, but not lower than 2.3, or, an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of less than 3.00, but not lower than a 2.70, will be considered for provisional admission.  Students who do not attain a 3.00 GPA in the first quarter will be dismissed. Students cannot appeal the dismissal from the university as a result of failure to meet the conditions of provisional admission.

The applicant will need to provide evidence of academic and professional potential demonstrated by career and/or personal accomplishments indicated in a personal statement of academic and professional goals, a career resume or curriculum vita, and two letters of academic and/or professional recommendations.  The Program Chair in consultation with the Campus Dean of Academic Affairs and Operations and College Dean or designee must approve exceptions. The College Dean serves as the final decision maker. Students are required to complete the provisional admissions form for entry as a provisional admission student.

Program Course Requirements

Clinical Mental Health Counseling, 10 Quarter Program (MA)

Curriculum for Columbia, Richmond, Savannah, and Virginia Beach campuses only. 

Quarter 1:8.5 Credits
• CNS6002 Counseling Theory 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6425 Clinical Mental Health Counseling 4 credit hours

Quarter 2: 8.5 Credits
• CNS6018 Psychopathology 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6161 Counseling Techniques 4 credit hours

Quarter 3: 9 Credits
• CNS6050 Lifespan Development 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6051 Diagnostics of Psychopathology and Treatment 4.5 credit hours

Quarter 4: 9 Credits
• CNS6313 Professional Orientation and Ethics 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6565 Multicultural Foundations 4.5 credit hours

Quarter 5: 9 Credits
• CNS6509 Group Dynamics 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6535 Clinical Mental Health Appraisal I 4.5 credit hours

Quarter 6: 5.5 Credits
• CNS6529 Research and Statistical Evaluation 4.5 credit hours
• CNS7010 Pre-Practicum IA (100 clinical hours) 1 credit hour

Quarter 7: 9.5 Credits
• CNS6602 Lifestyle and Career Development 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6850 Psychopharmacology 4 credit hours
• CNS7011 Practicum IB (100 clinical hours) 1 credit hour

Quarter 8: 8 Credits
• CNS7510 Internship IA (200 clinical hours) 4 credit hours
• CNS7907 Clinical and Professional Development Seminar 0 credit hours
• CNS7950 Child/Adolescent Psychopathology and Treatment 4 credit hours
• CNS8202 Comprehensive Examination 0 credit hours

Quarter 9: 12 Credits
• CNS6901 Diagnosis and Treatment of Addictive Disorders 4 credit hours
• CNS7610 Internship IIA (200 clinical hours) 4 credit hours
• CNS7970 Crisis and Trauma 4 credit hours

Quarter 10: 12 Credits
• CNS6709 Couples, Marital, and Family Dynamics 4 credit hours
• CNS6775 Counseling Administration, Advocacy, Supervision and Policy 4 credit hours
• CNS7611 Internship IIB (200 clinical hours) 4 credit hours

Notes:
________________________________________
*Students wishing to move to North Carolina will be able take additional .5 seminar courses to fulfill the State of North Carolina requirements. Students taking these additional courses must follow the Coursework Taken Outside a Student’s Degree Program policy found in the Academic Affairs Section of the Academic Catalog.

• CNS6006 Counseling Theory Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6056 Lifespan Development Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6317 Professional and Ethical Issues Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6504 Group Dynamics Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6532 Research and Evaluation Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6538 Clinical Mental Health Appraisal Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6568 Multicultural Foundations Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6605 Lifestyle and Career Development Seminar 0.5 credit hour


Clinical Mental Health Counseling, 8 Quarter Program (MA)

Curriculum for Columbia, Richmond, Savannah, and Virginia Beach campuses only. 

Quarter 1: 13 Credits
• CNS6002 Counseling Theory 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6050 Lifespan Development 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6425 Clinical Mental Health Counseling 4 credit hours

Quarter 2: 13 Credits
• CNS6018 Psychopathology 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6161 Counseling Techniques 4 credit hours
• CNS6565 Multicultural Foundations 4.5 credit hours

Quarter 3: 13.5 Credits
• CNS6051 Diagnostics of Psychopathology and Treatment 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6313 Professional Orientation and Ethics 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6535 Clinical Mental Health Appraisal I 4.5 credit hours

Quarter 4: 10 Credits
• CNS6509 Group Dynamics 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6529 Research and Statistical Evaluation 4.5 credit hours
• CNS7010 Pre-Practicum IA (100 clinical hours) 1 credit hour

Quarter 5: 9.5 Credits
• CNS6602 Lifestyle and Career Development 4.5 credit hours
• CNS6901 Diagnosis and Treatment of Addictive Disorders 4 credit hours
• CNS7011 Practicum IB (100 clinical hours) 1 credit hour

Quarter 6: 8 Credits
• CNS7510 Internship IA (200 clinical hours) 4 credit hours
• CNS7950 Child/Adolescent Psychopathology and Treatment 4 credit hours
• CNS8202 Comprehensive Examination 0 credit hours

Quarter 7: 12 Credits
• CNS6850 Psychopharmacology 4 credit hours
• CNS7610 Internship IIA (200 clinical hours) 4 credit hours
• CNS7970 Crisis and Trauma 4 credit hours

Quarter 8: 12 Credits
• CNS6709 Couples, Marital, and Family Dynamics 4 credit hours
• CNS6775 Counseling Administration, Advocacy, Supervision and Policy 4 credit hours
• CNS7611 Internship IIB (200 clinical hours) 4 credit hours

Note(s):

*Students wishing to move to North Carolina will be able take additional .5 seminar courses to fulfill the State of North Carolina requirements. Students taking these additional courses must follow the Coursework Taken Outside a Student’s Degree Program policy found in the Academic Affairs Section of the Academic Catalog.

• CNS6006 Counseling Theory Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6056 Lifespan Development Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6317 Professional and Ethical Issues Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6504 Group Dynamics Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6532 Research and Evaluation Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6538 Clinical Mental Health Appraisal Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6568 Multicultural Foundations Seminar 0.5 credit hour
• CNS6605 Lifestyle and Career Development Seminar 0.5 credit hour

Mission, Goals & Outcomes

Mission & Goals

The mission of the South University Master of Arts degree program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is to prepare students to meet the local and regional need for qualified counselors. The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counselling is designed to provide advanced and broad training for South University graduate students regarding theories, principles, and dynamic applications in the field. Students develop the skills necessary to engage in effective assessment and treatment practices, achieve competence for ethical, legal, and professional issues, and understand the significance and utility of research to the field. Faculty members are dedicated to maintaining high teaching standards, developing intellectual curiosity, advancing critical thinking, and engaging in service to the University, community, and profession.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to -

1. Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice:  Demonstrate knowledge and application of all aspects of professional functioning, to include ethical standards, legal implications, advocacy and social justice, counselor roles, and professional credentialing.

2. Social and Cultural Diversity: Demonstrate the ability to apply multicultural research and core theory to issues and relationships in the context of culturally competent counseling.

3. Human Growth and Development Through the Lifespan: Apply research and core theory to the needs of diverse individuals across the lifespan, to include atypical personality and neurological development, addictive disorders, family and social relationships, and crisis response.

4. Lifestyle and Career Development: Demonstrate implementation of research and  core theory related to the processes of decision-making in career development and planning in the context of the psychology of work.

5. Counseling and the Helping Relationship: Demonstrate knowledge and skill application of the major theories of change, consultation practices, diagnostic impressions, and evidence-based interventions to a diverse clientele for the delivery of effective and ethical treatment.

6. Group Dynamics and Group Work: Apply culturally appropriate group skills, techniques, and theory-based interventions in the context of group counseling dynamics while exploring effective facilitation styles.

7. Assessment and Appraisal: Analyze historical and current testing and assessment methods for implementing ethical and accurate appraisal of diverse clients by individual or group methods.

8. Research and Program Evaluation: Apply needs assessment, program evaluation, and research methods to ethical and effective practice and to add to the body of literature in the counseling profession.

Courses are taught according to the matriculation sequences provided by each campus and at the discretion of the school. Courses must be attempted in the curriculum sequence as defined by each campus. Curriculum content and sequence are subject to change with notification.

Core Faculty

Richmond Campus Core Faculty

Aimee Brickner, Ph.D., LPC, Program Director

Dr. Brickner is the Program Director for Clinical Mental Health Counseling at South University-Richmond. She has a M.A. in Interpersonal Communication from Miami University (OH), an Ed.S in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from James Madison University, and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from James Madison University. Dr. Brickner is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and provides outpatient counseling services at the Charlottesville Counseling Collective in Charlottesville, VA. Her clinical population is diverse and includes many trauma survivors and children in the foster care system. Dr. Brickner’s research interests are in the areas of the intersectionality of trauma and supervision; the distribution of unseen work and emotional workloads in couple’s relationships; and how trauma manifests in different facets of the counseling relationship. 

Faye Barner, Ph.D., LPC, CSOTP, LSATP , Clinical Coordinator

Faye Barner is a licensed professional counselor, licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner, and certified sex offender treatment provider. Dr. Barner has worked in the mental health field for over 20 years in both private and community-based settings. Her passions include working with and securing funding for disadvantage population programming as well as developing and implementing adolescent mentoring programs. She is also a professor in Counselor Education and Supervision. She serves as a mentor and clinical supervisor to a host of students and residents in counseling. Her specialty areas are working with adolescence substance use, sex offenders, and domestic violence survivors. Dr. Barner also provides workshops on mental health and substance use.  Dr. Barner received her Doctor of Philosophy from Regent University in Counselor Education and Supervision.

Carlton J. Henderson completed his undergraduate and doctoral studies at the prestigious Hampton University. Prior to beginning the doctoral program, he engaged in graduate study at the Virginia State University. His primary research interests include Black male identity development and mentoring.  
 
Dr. Henderson’s professional experience is in community agency counseling, particularly working with underserved and minoritized youth and families. Dr. Henderson also has experience in state government through his work in human rights advocacy for those with mental and behavioral health needs.   
 
Having realized the lack of Black male clinical representation in the counseling profession, Dr. Henderson began licensure supervision as a Resident in Counseling. He currently provides outpatient counseling services to adults and couples.