The blended Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) graduate program at the University of Nebraska Kearney prepares counselors to provide a full range of culturally sensitive services for individuals, couples, families, adolescents, children, groups and communities in community agencies, treatment centers, correctional facilities, medical settings, private/group practice, and Veterans Affairs clinics. Students learn to help clients explore emotions and experiences, adjust to difficult life challenges, improve family and other relationships, diagnose and treat mental and behavioral disorders, develop strategies for coping and change, and refer to other resources or services in the community.

The general objective of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling major prepares graduates to meet the highest standards for delivering effective counseling in a wide variety of community and agency settings. Employment of mental health counselors is expected to grow by 20 percent between 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment of substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors is expected to grow by 21 percent.

Accreditation

The clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) as of April 1, 2000 and CACREP's international affiliate, the International Registry of Counselor Education Programs (IRCEP) as of February 11, 2011. This program also meets the academic requirements for Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) regulated by the State of Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

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Admission to Pursue a Degree

Those planning to be full-time students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program should obtain full admission the semester prior to their enrollment by completing the following steps:

1. Complete the UNK Department of Graduate Studies online application. All materials listed below are uploaded with the online application:
   1. $45 non-refundable application fee.
   2. Academic history-official transcripts of all previous academic work. If your GPA falls below the UNK Graduate Studies minimum expectation of 2.75, please upload a Low GPA Statement with explanation for your past academic performance, how you be successful academically at the graduate level (minimum 3.0 GPA), and why you should be admitted as an exception to the GPA requirement.
   3. Resume with requested information (listed in the application).
   4. "Motivation for becoming a clinical mental health counselor professional" essay.
   5. Three electronic professional references.  Forms are automatically sent to recommenders when application is submitted.
2. When all materials have been received, the Office of Graduate Studies will conduct an initial evaluation. Applicants meeting admission requirements for graduate study will be forwarded to the Department for consideration and recommendation.
3. Applicants must participate in the CSP Department admission interview/intake process which occurs each semester. When the application is complete, the CSP Department Office Associate will send the applicant a confirmation of this meeting via electronic mail to the preferred email address indicated on the application.
4. Department recommendations for admissions are submitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
5. Letters with admission decisions (i.e. an unconditional/full status, conditional/provisional status, or denial) are mailed from the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies .

Tuition fee-2 years$26,000

Total fee-2 years$52,000