2017-2018

Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Arts

Department of Educational Psychology

College of Education

This program prepares you, through classroom instruction, fieldwork experience, practice, and internships, to become an applied general practitioner with a unique educational-developmental orientation to work within social, mental health, and human service agencies. We offer this program at Northern Arizona University-Flagstaff and through some of our statewide offices.

This plan meets the coursework requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) of the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners and for the national counselor certification of the National Board for Certified Counselors.

This program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

  • To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.

    You must additionally complete:

    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
    • All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
    • All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

    Read the full policy here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 60
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Required
Progression Plan Link View Program of Study

Purpose Statement

As a student in the MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, you’ll take courses, do fieldwork, and participate in practica and internships that will prepare you to be a general practitioner in social, mental health, or human resource agency settings.

Upon obtaining your degree, you’ll be prepared to provide counseling services in the following areas:

  • human growth and development
  • social and cultural foundations
  • helping relationships
  • career and lifestyle development
  • research and program evaluation
Our department stresses two important areas of focus:
  • training of professionals to have specialized expertise in rural and ethnocultural areas
  • development of skills in structuring interagency partnership that connect at-risk children, youth, and families with comprehensive human services to support success in schools

This program meets the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) coursework requirements of Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners and for national counselor certification of the National Board for Certified Counselors.


Student Learning Outcomes

Outcomes align with Standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

  • Professional orientation and ethical practice - studies that provide an understanding of all of the following aspects of professional functioning.
  • Social and cultural diversity - studies that provide an understanding of the cultural context of relationships, issues, and trends in a multicultural society.
  • Human growth and development - studies that provide an understanding of the nature and needs of persons at all developmental levels and in multicultural contexts. 
  • Career development  - studies that provide an understanding of career development and related life factors.
  • Helping relationships - studies that provide an understanding of the counseling process in a multicultural society.
  • Group work - studies that provide both theoretical and experiential understandings of group purpose, development, dynamics, theories, methods, skills, and other group approaches in a multicultural society.
  • Assessment - studies that provide an understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation in a multicultural society. 
  • Research and program evaluation - studies that provide an understanding of research methods, statistical analysis, needs assessment, and program evaluation.
  • Foundations, contextual dimensions and practice in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

See the full list of Student Learning Outcomes

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

    • GRE® Revised General Test
    • Three Letters of Recommendation
    • Responses to Specific Essay Questions
Master's Requirements

  • This 60-unit program prepares you, through classroom instruction, fieldwork experience, practice, and internships, to become an applied general practitioner with a unique educational-developmental orientation to work within social, mental health, and human service agencies. We offer this program at Northern Arizona University-Flagstaff and through some of our statewide offices.

    This plan meets the coursework requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) of the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners and for the national counselor certification of the National Board for Certified Counselors.

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.