Clinical mental health counseling

MCoun
Hybrid You can complete this program in a hybrid format that blends online coursework with in-person classes held periodically in Corvallis, Oregon.*
delivery
$643 Based on current tuition rates. No additional charge for nonresident students. Does not include course materials and associated fees and expenses.†
per credit
Summer
start term

Your ability to deliver comprehensive mental health counseling services to children, adolescents, adults and families can make a profound difference in your community. In Oregon State University’s hybrid Master of Counseling with an option in clinical mental health counseling program, you’ll develop the high-level knowledge, clinical experience and credentials to work in community counseling agencies, rehabilitation facilities, college counseling centers, primary care facilities and more.

Designed for Oregon and Washington residents, this part-time program offers the flexibility of online learning while enabling you to form strong connections through face-to-face classes. You’ll study core counseling topics such as trauma-informed counseling, applied psychopharmacology and threat interventions, and learn how to promote healthy relationships, holistic wellness and social justice.

Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s hybrid clinical mental health counseling program

As a student in Oregon State’s hybrid Master of Counseling with an option in clinical mental health counseling program, you’ll gain the in-demand skills you need to stand out in the job market and level up your career. You’ll learn from Oregon State's College of Education counseling faculty, who are renowned for their research and professional practice.

  • Group counseling
  • Social and cultural diversity
  • Human growth and development
  • Career development
  • Assessment and testing
  • Research and program development
  • Mental health counseling
  • Trauma-informed counseling
A small group of diverse people sit in a circle of chairs, talking to one another

Program details

Through a collaborative cohort model, this program emphasizes academic excellence, competence in counseling skills and personal growth. The core curriculum is based on eight knowledge areas required by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), including social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, and group counseling and group work.

The hybrid MCoun with an option in clinical mental health counseling program is offered by Oregon State’s College of Education.

Degree requirements

A total of 90 quarter credits is required to graduate with your Master of Counseling with an option in clinical mental health counseling. Degree requirements and curriculum information are available on Oregon State's academic catalog and the College of Education's Master of Counseling Program Handbook.

Two people sitting side-by-side in a counseling session. One person is taking notes while another smiles.

Additional program features

The first two years balance online coursework with in-person classes in Corvallis, Oregon. The program can be completed in three years, with most students reducing or pausing employment in the final year to fulfill internship requirements.

You are required to complete a minimum of 600 hours of internship, totaling 12 credits, although you may choose to complete up to 25 credits of field experience. This is a great opportunity to serve your community while learning how to provide services that will help others. You are also required to complete a minimum of 100 hours (8 credits) of practicum to develop counseling skills prior to enrolling in an internship.

State of Colorado: This program requires an internship. Although Oregon State University participates in the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), due to Colorado’s Workers’ Compensation Act, we have limited authorization to offer programs that require internships in the state of Colorado. The Colorado internship site must provide workers’ compensation. In some cases, a proposed internship site may not provide workers’ compensation insurance and, as a result, is not available as an internship site. Please contact Shannon Riggs, associate vice provost for educational programs and learning innovation, with questions.

You are required to attend 10 individual counseling sessions and to participate in 10 hours of a group membership experience. These personal growth experiences allow you to observe and work with a practicing professional to achieve a greater understanding of the counseling process from a client’s perspective. This requirement is essential for personal growth.

You are required to earn 6 contact hours (CEUs) of professional development activities by attending an approved professional conference.

You must successfully pass a comprehensive national exam as determined by program faculty. You will be financially responsible for the cost of the exam.

The program meets initial eligibility requirements for licensure as a licensed professional counselor in Oregon and in many other states. (Please consult your state licensure board for specific academic and experiential requirements.)

The program also is approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. This accreditation allows you to gain competence in counseling knowledge and skills, personal growth, and development of a professional counselor identity and dispositions.

Explore the detailed admissions information for the MCoun with an option in clinical mental health counseling program, including any application deadlines and required documents, on the Oregon State Graduate School website.

You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online from Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.

Careers in clinical mental health counseling

The knowledge you acquire in Oregon State’s hybrid MCoun with an option in clinical mental health counseling program will help you fill in-demand jobs. You'll be equipped to make a difference as a counselor working in mental health and addiction treatment centers, outpatient and residential facilities, private practice, and school- and hospital-based mental health programs.

Job market outlook

Use the interactive tool on this page to discover employment trends, top occupations and salary details for professionals who have skills related to clinical mental health counseling. Please be aware that completing a program related to the job market information shown here does not guarantee employment or a specific salary.