MAC - Clinical Mental Health

Graduate Programs

The Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling track at MNU is designed to train you as a Clinical Mental Health counselor.

Fast Facts

Meets on-site & online

60 credit hours

Complete in 33 months

Play Video

Accelerate Your Career

Our Masters of Arts in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health track is for students whose passion for counseling is geared toward a desire to work with a diverse population of clients, with emphasis on advocacy, diagnosis and assessment. This Clinical Mental Health track prepares you to provide excellence in counseling services in a variety of settings, including private practice, community agencies, managed behavioral health care organizations, hospitals, employee assistance programs and substance abuse treatment centers. The Clinical Mental Health track will allow you to provide a full range of services to your patients.

Program Overview

The course work of the entire counseling program prepares you to be a general counselor first and then adds classes specifically designed as a means of better preparing you for work within the area of mental health counseling. This program meets all academic requirements for licensure in Kansas, Missouri and most other states.

Visit our Catalog to view all courses

CATALOG

Create a sample schedule

SAMPLE SCHEDULE

Cost & Value

A degree from MNU is a competitively priced, affordable option designed for students with a busy schedule. We’re here to help you find the best options to assist you as you work toward earning your degree.

Credit Hours:

60 total

Tuition:

Varies by program See Program Costs for more information.

RISE Opportunity Scholarship

This program is eligible for the RISE Opportunity Scholarship. MNU has committed over 2 million dollars to support adult students who wish to complete an advanced degree. Apply now or connect with admissions to learn more: pgadmissions@mnu.edu or 913.971.3800

Payment Options

Your degree is an investment in your future. We have a variety of different payment options available, so you can choose the option or combination of options, that best fits your situation. The total cost will be calculated based on your program and can be divided into multiple payments.

Financial Aid Available

The Federal Direct Student Loan Program is an additional payment option. MNU School Code: 007032. Information and applications may be obtained from the Student Financial Aid Services Office at 913.971.3298 or finaid@mnu.edu.

Military/Veteran Financial Aid

MNU appreciates the service and protection that the Military provides for us all. We offer a Military Financial Aid Program that can help active military, veterans and their spouses reposition themselves in the working world.

National Loan Repayment Program

Licensed primary care providers in eligible disciplines can receive loan repayment assistance for their qualifying educational debt through the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.

Application Process

Fall 2025 Start

Now accepting applications for fall 2025.

*Some exceptions made on case by case basis

Application and interviews for the Master of Arts in Counseling program occurs every February and April. The number of students accepted is limited, so please don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application.

Applicants for whom English is a second language must have a score of 600 or greater on the TOEFL examination taken within the last five years.

APPLY FOR MAC PROGRAM NOW

Prospective students will need to provide:

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0* or above for all undergraduate coursework, or minimum GPA of 3.2 in the last 30 hours of undergraduate coursework.

*Lower GPAs are eligible but will be placed on an academic probationary period.

All official transcripts

Three professional &/or academic references

A writing assessment

One half-day of comprehensive interviews with graduate faculty after all other admission requirements have been met.

CACREP Accreditation

Our program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)—the gold standard in the of field professional counseling. The University is authorized to offer associate’s degrees in all fields, bachelor’s degrees in all fields, and master’s degrees in the fields of Administration/Leadership, Business, Counseling, Education and Nursing. The University accreditation is through the Higher Learning Commission.

Program Objectives

Students will have knowledge about the profession of counseling including history, professional roles, organizational structures, ethics, standards and credentialing.
Students will have knowledge of social and cultural diversity including the cultural context of relationships, issues and trends in a multicultural society.
Students will gain an understanding of the nature and needs of persons at all developmental levels and in multicultural contexts.
Students will be knowledgeable and understand career development and related life factors.
Students will have knowledge of the helping relationship to include an understanding of the counseling process in a multicultural society.
Students will be knowledgeable about group work including group purpose, development, dynamics, theories, methods and skills, and other group approaches in a multicultural society.
Students will be knowledgeable about assessments to include an understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation in a multicultural society.
Students will be knowledgeable about research methods, statistical analysis, needs assessment, and program evaluation.
Students will be knowledgeable about the role that personal faith or belief systems play in the counseling process.

Program Demands and Schedule

The Master of Arts in Counseling program offers two options for class times to accommodate the demands of your busy life. The program offers day/evening hybrid and evening sections for interested applicants (depending upon each section reaching the needed number of students).

Generally, the day program group takes classes from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while the evening group generally attends courses from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Classes are held twice per week, with some scheduled breaks throughout the year. Please contact us for full and detailed class schedule information, including exceptions to these general class times.

The 60-62 semester-hour, financial aid- eligible program is designed to be completed in 33 months. Many of our students have been able to maintain full- time employment while in the program but this is dependent on each student’s life situation and demands.

Program Review

The counselor education program is in a constant state of self-evaluation using multiple means of assessment. These evaluation methods are crucial to ongoing program improvement and vital to the health of our overall program. The link below leads to a recent program review which includes a summary of data from surveys to our past students, supervisors, and employers along with some data generated measuring CACREP standards in our tracks. If you have any questions or comments email us.

Chi Sigma Iota

MNU Counselor Education Department has a chapter of Chi Sigma Iota. This is an honor society reflecting student excellence in counseling. The Chi Sigma Iota dues and honor cords may be purchased through the MAC Honor Society Payment Form.

Program Recognition

Ranked a Best Value: Most Affordable Accredited Master’s in Counseling Programs for Kansas by Human Services Edu.

The advanced program approved by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is:

School Counseling

CAEP Accountability Measures

OThe Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) requires institutions to publish data annually on accountability measures. The data demonstrates the quality of the provider’s programs and graduates to potential students, employers, and media. CAEP examines the provider’s employer satisfaction, completer satisfaction, and licensure exam performance.

Measure 1 – Completer Impact and Effectiveness

CAEP does not require this information for our reading specialist and school counseling programs. We do provide this information for our initial preparation programs, which you can view here

Measure 2 – Satisfaction of Employers and Stakeholder Involvement

MNU’s EPP collects data through employer surveys, which MNU sends to employers of completers who are one to three years post-graduation. The employer survey tracks employer perceptions regarding the readiness of our graduates to perform effectively in the classroom. Measure 2

Measure 3 – Candidate Competency at Program Completion

Kansas State Department of Education requires completers to pass licensure exams. The exams measure completers’ content knowledge for their endorsement subject area and pedagogical knowledge. Per guidelines, in order for these test results to be made public, ten or more examinees are required. Measure 3

Measure 4 – Ability of Completers to be Hired in Education Positions for Which They Have Been Prepared

The EPP measures the ability of completers to be hired in education positions through graduate self-reporting of employment and a review of KSDE employment information. Measure 4

Is there a way I can participate in MNU Master of Arts in Counseling Program without going to the campus?

Yes, for students accepted that do not live within a 30-mile radius of the campus, there is an option to attend all courses remotely.

Will I be able to see and communicate with students and faculty that are on campus if I attend remotely?

Absolutely, new classroom technology allows remote attenders to see, hear, and interact with those attending in person.

Can I alternate between attending remotely or in-person depending on what works best for me each week?

If you are accepted as a remote attender, you always have the option of attending in person. Those within the 30-mile radius would need to request permission to attend remotely. In-person attenders will be granted two opportunities to attend remotely without being counted as absent.

If I do not live in Kansas and attend the program remotely, am I eligible for licensure in my state?

The answer to this is most often yes. However, there are a few states that may require extra academic work; you will be informed in writing upon applying for the program if that is the case for your state of residence.

What happens if I move while in the program?

If your residential address changes to outside a 30-mile radius you may be granted the option to attend remotely, provided the maximum number of remote attenders has not been already been met. Those attending the program remotely who at some point move within the 30-mile radius can complete the current term remotely but will then convert to an in-person attender.

What technology is required on my end to attend remotely?

An internet connection 4.0 Mbps up/down or higher – Broadband or Wireless (No cellular based connections are allowed: specifically T-Mobile home internet and Verizon home internet).
Speakers and a microphone or a headset with a microphone.
A webcam.
A computer running Mac OS X 10.11 or later or Windows 10 20H2 or later.
The latest Zoom desktop client.
Required PC specs: Dual Core 2ghz CPU or higher (Intel i3/i5/i7 or AMD equivalent) with 4GB ram or more.

If our family computer meets all requirements, can I use that for attendance purposes?

The device you will use to attend remotely and for your coursework must be strictly dedicated to that purpose. There are issues around confidentiality and ethics that prevent your classroom device to be shared among others.

Are there certain requirements about my location if I am a remote attender?

Yes, remote attenders must be in a private space, free from all distractions; “traffic” of other persons or pets is not allowed. Remote attendance is not permitted for students that are in transit.

Do I have to pay more for the program if I attend remotely?

No, the cost is the same for all students.

Is there any way I can attend remotely if I live within the 30-mile radius?

Some exceptions may be made to attend remotely for students within the 30-mile radius. This is contingent on available space and approval of the faculty. The most common considerations would be for disabilities or health related issues.

As a remote attender what are my options for Internship Sites?

If you live in the Kansas City Metropolitan area, we have many internship sites we partner with on a regular basis and provide an Internship Fair to help you explore options and find the best fit for you. If you live such a distance that our current internship site partners would be prohibitive, you will research options in your area and communicate with the Internship Administrator to get an internship option approved.

Navigate Your Counseling Career

Find the counseling program that’s right for you. Talk to your MNU team to customize your journey.