Degree Offered
- Master of Science
Nature of the Program
The clinical mental health counseling program offers a curriculum at the master’s degree level. The program prepares students in individual and group counseling with a diverse population across a wide scope of developmental stages and backgrounds in various community settings such as correctional facilities, treatment centers, mental health agencies, etc. The program meets all requirements for professional counseling licensure as outlined by the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling.
The program is available for both full and part-time students in a low residency format that uses online asynchronous courses coupled with two immersion weeks on campus for counseling skill development. The program is fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for the specialization of Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Faculty
Professor
- Margaret K. Glenn - Ed.D., CRC (The George Washington University)
Addictions, vocational rehabilitation, complementary and alternative healthcare practices, service dogs
Associate professor
- George Mamboleo - Ph.D. (University of Arizona)
Rehabilitation counseling, employment and health outcomes, accessibility and accommodations issues, international rehabilitation
Teaching Assistant Professor
- Elisabeth Simpson - Ph.D., CRC, NCC Counselor Education and Suupervision (Duquesne University)
Employment legislation, assistive technology, social justice, and ethics.
Teaching Instructor
- Regina Burgess - M.S., CRC, LPC (West Virginia University)
Admissions for 2025-2026
Application
Applications for admission to the counseling program should be made to WVU Graduate Admissions. In addition to the admission requirements of the university and the College of Applied Human Sciences, the School of Counseling and Well-being has the following admission requirements:
- A baccalaureate degree with coursework in appropriate areas
- A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75, based on a 4.0 system
- Resume
- Personal statement
- Three letters of reference
- Completed WVU Graduate Admissions application
Admission
The West Virginia University counseling program’s admission process is two-step:
Step 1 is a review of paper credentials including references, department application (relevant major, general quality of application), personal references, and GPA. In addition to your interest, aptitude, and career goals related to counseling, the personal statement and recommendation letters should include your perspectives, respect for, and/or skills for working with individuals from different backgrounds. The initial screening decision is based upon this information. Successful applicants are then invited to participate in department interviews.
Step 2 is the department interview, which considers interpersonal style relevant to working as a counselor, communication skills, capacity for empathic understanding and communication, ability to articulate professional goals, goals congruent with department focus, knowledge, understanding of counseling, and assessment of applicant’s capacity to complete the counseling curriculum successfully.
The program admits students two times each year. The application deadline for fall admission is February 15 with review of completed applications beginning February 1. The application deadline for spring admission is October 1.
Applications that are incomplete or are submitted after the deadline may be reviewed if openings remain.
Major Code: 5547
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required in all graduate coursework and for the major. | ||
| A minimum grade of C- is required in all major coursework. * | ||
| COUN 501 | Counseling Theory and Techniques 1 | 3 |
| COUN 505 | Theory and Practice of Human Appraisal | 3 |
| COUN 606 | Counseling Theory and Techniques 2 | 3 |
| COUN 609 | Group Counseling Theory and Techniques | 3 |
| COUN 634 | Cultural Issues | 3 |
| COUN 640 | Addictions Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 645 | Couples and Family Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 664 | Ethical Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 665 | Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| COUN 668 | Crisis Trauma Grief Counseling | 3 |
| REHB 600 | Introduction to Rehabilitation Services | 3 |
| REHB 610 | Medical Aspects of Rehabilitation | 3 |
| REHB 612 | Disability Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| REHB 620 | Career Development and Job Placement | 3 |
| REHB 624 | Rehabilitation Client Services | 3 |
| REHB 672 | Counseling Practicum | 3 |
| REHB 675 | Clinical Practice | 12 |
| REHB 680 | Seminar | 3 |
| Total Hours | 63 | |
- *
Language from syllabus regarding remediation for C- grades
Major Learning Outcomes
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The objectives of our program are linked to our mission statement. They are to provide:
- Educational experiences for every student that facilitates the development of knowledge, skills and beliefs necessary to practice as qualified clinical rehabilitation and mental health counselors in a wide variety of circumstances.
- Learning opportunities to support students’ ability to implement culturally responsive and ethically sound clinical rehabilitation and mental health counseling practices.
- Clinical training environments that are focused on real world expectations and standards of clinical practice.