Master of Science in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Concentration

On this page:

Why Choose Clinical Mental Health Counseling?

You will learn theories and techniques for counseling individuals, families and groups, and administration and interpretation of psychometric assessment. The College of Health, Education, and Human Services Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) through October 31, 2027. Learn more about CACREP Accreditation. Note: You will be evaluated for endorsement by department faculty for demonstrating, ethical, academic, and clinical competence in the professional orientation. 

This degree qualifies you to earn professional counseling licensure (LPC) in Ohio (https://cswmft.ohio.gov/) by taking the National Counseling Exam (NCE). Licensure and certification requirements vary from state to state, and we have not determined if this program meets educational requirements outside of Ohio.  If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information and guidance regarding that state’s licensure or certification requirements.

CMHC Narrative Report

In 2022-23, there were 30 graduates of Wright State University's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Our graduates consistently achieve high pass rates on licensing examinations. The pass rate for graduates taking the NCE examination in the 2022-23 school year was 86 percent on their first attempt and 100 percent for those who took the test a second time. Of the 30 students who graduated, 72 percent graduated from the program in the expected time period (within 3 years), and 100 percent of those program graduates responding to surveys were employed in the field within six months of graduation. 

  • Year: 2022-23
  • Current Students: 191
  • Number of Graduates: 30
  • Completion Rate: 72 percent*
  • NCE Exam Pass Rate: 93 percent
  • Placement: 100 percent**

*Represents the percentage of students that graduated within the 3-year expected time frame. Many students who exceed this time frame did so due to the pandemic and/or balancing full-time jobs, family responsibilities. Our program does not require students to attend full-time and many elect to be enrolled part time which will require more semesters to graduate.
**Represents the percentage of students who were employed in the field within 6 months of their graduation.

Contact Information

Josh Francis, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS
Associate Professor
Director, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
College of Health, Education, and Human Services
387 Millett Hall
937-775-2150
josh.francis@wright.edu

Related Links

Careers

Mental health counselors work in a variety of settings including hospitals, prisons, private practices, mental health centers, and community health centers.  Employment opportunities for mental health counselors are projected to grow 22 percent from 2021 to 2031 (bls), much faster than average. 

Almost 83 percent of our 2019-20 graduates were employed in Ohio within a year of graduation (ODJFS Data Match, 2020). 

The College of Health, Education, and Human Services has provided a dedicated career consultant to assist you in connecting your major to a career. The career consultant focuses on staying up to date on career trends in education, kinesiology and health, leadership, and human services. Our assigned career consultant is an extension of services offered through Wright State’s Career Services.  

Real-World Experience

You will practice and build skills in both a required practicum and an internship.

Success Stories

Academics and Curriculum

View the Master of Science in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Concentration program information and degree requirements in the Academic Catalog.

Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Concentration Program of Study (PDF)

Admission

Admission Deadlines

The graduate counseling programs review and admit new students twice a year. You are eligible to begin your program the following semester after you are admitted (i.e., if you are admitted in the fall, you are eligible to begin taking classes during the spring semester, and so on.) The deadline to have all required application materials submitted to The Graduate School is as follows: 

  • Spring admission (January start date) application is due August 1.
  • Fall admission (August start date) application is due December 1.
  • Only complete applications will be forward to the Department of Human Services office for review. Please check with the Graduate School at 937-775-2976 to determine if your application is complete. After department review, successful candidates will be invited to a required group interview (successful candidates will receive an invitation via mail). Group interview details are provided in the invitation letter. 

Admission Procedures

In addition to the University and College of Graduate Programs requirements, the Department entrance eligibility requirements include the following:

  1. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to enter the program. Applicants can be admitted conditionally if cumulative GPA is below 3.0 with department approval.
  2. A minimum of three letters of recommendation.
  3. A statement of educational and professional goals.
  4. Candidates are invited to a group interview only after applications are completed by the deadline date (required GPA, 3 letters) and their application is reviewed and approved by the Department.
  5. The group interview is 3 hours in length and an evaluation of candidate readiness. Applicants are assessed on the following criteria:
    1. Poise and affect in the interview situation
    2. Apparent commitment to field
    3. Knowledge of professional role
    4. Appropriate motivation towards role
    5. A realistic personal appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses the candidate would bring to the field
    6. Group participation and interaction
    7. Interpersonal skills
    8. Knowledge of technological competence and computer literacy
    9. Cultural sensitivity and understanding of diversity
  6. Candidates accepted into the program will be notified by the College of Graduate Programs approximately two weeks after the group interview. The accepted candidates will be invited to an orientation session that will occur approximately two-three weeks after the notification of acceptance. The orientation is an opportunity to get answers to questions candidates have about their future education in HS. Note: Individuals with special needs should notify the department in advance to arrange for assistance.

Apply to Graduate School.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is this program online?

    The Addictions counseling program and the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (CRC) program are offered 100% online but there are face-to-face courses available as an option. The School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) programs offer online classes, but they are not fully online. Currently a little more than half of our courses can be completed online. There are classes that are only offered in person due to the nature of the content.

  • How much does it cost?

    You can find information on cost and financial aid at Graduate and Professional Tuition and Fees.

  • Do you offer any assistantships?

    A limited number of graduate assistantships are offered within the Department of Human Services (DHS) and throughout the university. We encourage students to apply for any graduate assistantship positions that are available. Please note that not all GA positions are listed in Handshake as the link mentions, but the application process is the same for all available positions.

  • Are there scholarships available?

    There is a graduate tuition scholarship program offered through the Graduate School.

  • How long does it take to complete the program?

    This largely depends on how many courses you decide to complete each semester. The School Counseling and CMHC are both 60 credit hour programs. The Addictions Counseling Program is a 63-credit hour program and the CRC program is 69 credits. For full time students, the programs take 2.5- 3.5 years to complete. Graduate students are encouraged to work closely with their faculty advisor to prevent delays in completion.

  • How many classes do students take each semester?

    The number of classes depends on the individual student and the load they are capable of taking each semester. Six credit hours is considered full time for graduate students at Wright State University. This is typically two courses in our programs. Students take more or less depending on their situation. Students are able to take different course loads each semester but should be mindful of how full-time vs part time status can affect scholarships and financial aid. The faculty advisor is your main resource for ensuring you are on track for program completion.

  • Can I complete this program if I am a FT teacher? (School Counseling Program)

    Yes. All graduate classes are scheduled outside of business hours and we have many wonderful students who are full-time teachers and other full-time employees. However, students who work full time as a classroom teacher have a very difficult time completing the 100 hour practicum and 600 hour internship experience in the school setting. Unless time will be allotted by the building administrator to complete practicum and internship hours during the contracted school day, this will be a challenge. This is something to consider before beginning the program. Full time teachers interested in applying for the program are encouraged to reach out to Dr. Neyland-Brown, school counseling program director, to discuss if this is feasible.

  • I work in the day, when are courses scheduled?

    All graduate classes are scheduled outside of business hours and we have many wonderful students who are full time teachers and other full time employees. Classes are scheduled in the evenings beginning as early as 4:40 p.m. and as late as 7:20 p.m. Each class meets once/week for 2 hours and 40 minutes. Online classes may be synchronous or asynchronous.

  • When are applications due?

    You can find this information under admission deadlines.

  • Do I need to take the GRE?

    The GRE has temporarily been waived however, students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement and who opt out of submitting a GRE score will need to submit a Graduate Admission Petition to the graduate school prior to submitting the application.

  • Who should I contact about the program?

    Contact the program director of each program for more information:

    • Addictions Counseling: Dr. Mary Huber
    • Clinical Mental Health: Dr. Huma Bashir or Dr. Joshua Francis
    • Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling: Dr. Mary Huber
    • School Counseling: Dr. Neyland-Brown
  • What if I am interested in both the school and CMHC program?

    Dr. Neyland-Brown is dually licensed in both School Counseling and CMHC. She can help you explore the possibility of pursuing both licenses and whether this is a good fit for you.

  • Do I have to complete a thesis?

    View our graduation requirements.

    Graduate students in the CMHC, CRC, School Counseling and Addictions Counseling program are not required to complete a thesis. As part of program completion and to be eligible for graduation, Students are required to take and pass the appropriate licensure exam. If a student does not pass or does not take the exam before they graduate they will need to complete  the department comprehensive exam.

  • Are your programs accredited?

    All four programs are CACREP accredited programs. Find more information on accreditation.

  • What license will I apply for upon program completion?
  • Can I just apply for the Trauma Certificate Program?

    Anyone with a master’s degree and/or is pursing masters in any programs in the DHS and other related fields are eligible to apply for Trauma-Informed Counseling Certificate, e.g., licensed social worker, clinical psychologist school administrators, school personnel, and nursing.

    Please contact Dr. Huma Bashir or Dr. John Conteh for more information.

  • I already have a Master’s Degree, will any of my courses transfer?

    Per our accreditation standards, we currently only allow transfer coursework from other CACREP accredited counseling programs. Any transfer courses are at the discretion of the program. Please contact a program director for an appropriate review.  

  • I don’t live in Dayton. Can I complete the program from another city?

    Quite a few of our students commute from Columbus, Cincinnati, Lima, and parts of Indiana. Although we offer many online courses, students are required to come on campus for courses delivered in person.

  • If I plan on practicing in another state should I wait to take the required licensure for that state?

    All students are required to complete the department comprehensive exam or the appropriate exam for licensure in the state of Ohio as a graduation requirement. Most students opt to take the licensure exam. If you plan to practice in another state, you will want to explore licensure requirements for that state. Another state examination cannot be substituted for program completion.

Program Outcomes

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

You will learn theories and techniques for counseling individuals, families and groups, and administration and interpretation of psychometric assessment. This major has all the courses required to qualify for admission to the Ohio Professional Counselor licensure exam (NCE).  

Last year, there were 33 graduates of Wright State’s clinical mental health counseling program. Our graduates consistently achieve high pass rates on licensing examinations. The pass rate for graduates taking the NCE examination in 2018-2019 was 80 percent. Of the admitted students, 80 percent graduate from the program during the expected time period.