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The Master of Science in Clinical Counseling program at Charleston Southern prepares individuals to serve in a wide range of clinical roles including both secular and sacred settings. The Clinical Counseling Program is pursuing accreditation from CACREP as a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program speciality area. Students who complete this program will be qualified to take the licensing exam and obtain their credential of a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of South Carolina (LPC).
Program Distinctive
The proposed Charleston Southern University graduate program is designed as a terminal or professional master’s degree with a focus on clinical training. The Master of Science in Clinical Counseling program offers graduate education for those interested in becoming professional counselors in community agencies, including college counseling centers, churches, hospitals, mental health, social services agencies, and private practice. The program requires completion of 60 credit hours of coursework. The curriculum has been developed in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Council for Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) as a clinical mental health counseling speciality area. The program is currently in process of applying for CACREP accreditation. Coursework is consistent with requirements for licensure as a Professional Counselor in the state of South Carolina as well as with many other states. Therefore, students completing this program will be qualified to take the national counseling exam in order to become Licensed Professional Counselors in South Carolina.
The mission of the Charleston Southern University Master of Science in Clinical Counseling Program is to educate compassionate and highly motivated individuals in a Christian environment who excel in providing client-centered care, practice as an agent of change, serve as leaders in their communities, and advance the mental health profession. The Master of Science in Clinical Counseling will prepare clinicians who are clinically competent and Biblically sound.
- Prepares students to take their boards to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in South Carolina
- Emphasizes clinical competence from a Christian worldview
- Application of counseling education in clinical training though practicum and internships
- Offers students opportunities for clinical emphasis in Marriage and Family, Addiction Treatment or Christian Counseling
- Click here for the Master of Science in Clinical Counseling (60 hours)
Program Objectives
- The Clinical Counseling Department will prepare counselors who demonstrate behaviors of academic excellence and appropriate help-seeking behaviors from various sources to improve academic skills.
- The Clinical Counseling Department will prepare counselors who can understand and develop a professional identity as a clinical counselor.
- The Clinical Counseling Department will prepare counselors who provide exceptional counseling and relational skills.
- The Clinical Counseling Department will prepare counselors who understand knowledge of development, psychopathology, and treatment planning.
- The Clinical Counseling Department will prepare effective counselors who are culturally competent and responsive to clients in diverse communities.
- The Clinical Counseling Department will prepare counselors who have awareness of their own spiritual development and are able to use spirituality effectively in clinical settings.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will have acquired the knowledge, interpersonal skills, clinical reasoning and problem solving abilities, clinical and technical skills, and professional behaviors required to be a practicing clinical counselor:
- Students will apply physical, social, and psychological development theories to evaluate and manage patients across all ages and in a wide range of clinical settings.
- Students will explain and apply the process to elicit an accurate assessment, case conceptualization and effective treatment intervention based on the knowledge of human functioning.
- Students will demonstrate cultural competency, sensitivity, and responsiveness when working with individuals, groups and communities who represent various ethnicities, religions, cultures, and belief systems.
- Students will demonstrate excellent communication skills with patients, their care teams, and other members of the healthcare team.
- Students will demonstrate exemplary professionalism by demonstrating high values, principles, and ethical decision making for all patients, their care teams and members of the healthcare team.
- 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Bachelor’s degree from regionally accredited university
- 12 undergraduate hours in psychology or related subject
- MAT unless the student has
- an undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- another Master’s degree obtained
- 15 credits of graduate studies with a 3.0 GPA or above
- Application with Statement of purpose
- 3 Recommendation Forms (2 academic, 1 professional)
- On-campus interview
- Official transcripts
- Application fee as set forth by the CSU graduate council
Provisional Acceptance into the Graduate Program
Provisional admission may be granted to a student who has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution but has not met all requirements for regular admission. Requirements for provisional admission are as follows:
- Provisional admission can be given only upon the specific recommendation of the Director of the Clinical Counseling Graduate Program once the appropriate documents have been received by the Graduate School.
- A student may take a MAXIMUM of nine graduate hours in the Clinical Counseling Master’s program under provisional or non-degree admission. Once the student has taken nine graduate hours, no further graduate coursework may be undertaken until the student has met the following criteria:
- The student must have a completed admissions file in the Graduate School.
- The student must show a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on the first nine (9) credit hours of graduate course work at Charleston Southern University.
- The Director of Graduate Studies in Clinical Counseling must recommend the student for regular admission.
Note: Financial Aid is not available to students under Provisional Admission.
Non-degree Graduate Students
Admission as a non-degree graduate student may be granted when the student has earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution but does not desire to work toward a graduate degree or is enrolled in another university and desires that credit for courses taken at CSU be transferred to the graduate school in which the student is seeking a degree. Financial Aid is not available to non-degree students.
Regulations Governing Non-Degree Graduate Students: A non-degree student must present a transcript demonstrating an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Even though a non-degree graduate student has been admitted to the university, the student has not been admitted to any department or to any degree program. No more than nine (9) credit hours earned while classified as a non-degree graduate student will be accepted toward a Master of Science in Clinical Counseling degree at Charleston Southern University. A student must, therefore, gain regular admission to the program before completing more than nine (9) credit hours of study for additional hours to be counted toward a master’s degree. Regular admission is based on criteria above.
With prior approval, a maximum of nine (9) semester hours of transfer credit may be accepted from a graduate program at an accredited institution toward the fulfillment of the requirements for the MS in Clinical Counseling at Charleston Southern University. Approval of the Director must be obtained during the application process, and the decision whether to award credit at that time is final. Students may not attempt to transfer previously-taken courses later. Only courses in the “B” or “A” range will be considered for transfer.
Students currently enrolled in the Master of Science Degree in Clinical Counseling program must have prior written approval to take courses from another institution for transfer credit. The approval must carry the signatures of the Program Director or Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Registrar.
To graduate students must have a 3.0 GPA and no more than two (2) “C’s” on their graduate transcript. Students who earn a third “C,” even in their last course, will be expelled from the program.
All students must apply for graduation with the Office of the Registrar. See the Academic Calendar for graduation application deadlines.
Student Progress
The student must maintain an overall 3.00 GPA. If the GPA falls below 3.00 it must be raised to the required GPA the next semester or the student will be ineligible to continue in the program. The GPA is calculated only on credit hours earned at CSU.
If a student earns a “C” in any course, he or she will be placed on academic probation and allowed to progress in the program. If a student earns an “F” in any course, he or she will not be allowed to progress, will be placed on academic probation, and may be permitted by the Graduate Program Director to repeat the course.
Any student earning more than two grade below a “B” throughout the MS in Clinical Counseling course of study will be dismissed from the program.
Validation of credits
All credits earned at Charleston Southern University or accepted by transfer will remain valid if the master’s degree is completed within six (6) calendar years from the time the student registers for the first course that applies toward the degree.
* The program is pursuing accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) as a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.
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