Clinical Counseling, MS

Program Coordinator: Leigh Atherton (4425-B Health Sciences Building; 252-744-6290; athertonw@ecu.edu)

The Clinical Counseling, MS is a 62 credit hour Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Education Programs (CACREP) accredited clinical mental health counseling program. Graduates are eligible for licensure as a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC) and a licensed clinical addiction specialist (LCAS) upon passing an examination and the completion of a supervised work experience. Students graduating from the clinical counseling program are provided a one-year reduction in the experience requirements for licensure as an LCAS by the NC Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board. Without our degree, the required experience for this license is two years. Graduates of the clinical counseling program may be employed in clinical mental health and substance use treatment settings, such as inpatient or outpatient programs, detoxification centers, residential and halfway-house programs, and home-based counseling programs.

The program requires a minimum of 62 s.h. as follows:

Required courses:

Personal Experiential Counseling Requirements

Students in the clinical counseling and rehabilitation counseling programs are required to participate in personal counseling and experiential activities. These include participation in a small personal growth group, a group counseling course, counseling pre-practicum and practicum courses, and an option of individual personal counseling by the student counseling center or from another mental health professional to meet part of an optional requirement in the counseling practicum course. All of these personal counseling experiences are oriented toward increasing personal and interpersonal growth of the student in order to become a competent professional clinical counselor.

Retention Standards

Good academic standing in accordance with ECU Graduate School guidelines is required.

Must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all required courses for the degree to graduate

Students not maintaining the criteria above may be placed on academic probation in accordance with Graduate School policies.

In addition, the program has the following specific regulations:

In courses graded on the S/U system, a minimum grade of “S” must be earned before progression to subsequent S/U graded courses; and
No more than six semester hours of U or C or lower grades in any required or elective courses for the degree.

Students receiving a grade of U or C or lower in more than six semester hours of required or elective courses will be dismissed from the program in accordance with departmental policies.

In courses graded on the S/U system, the grade of Unsatisfactory (U) is assigned when the equivalency of a C grade or lower is earned. If a student receives a U grade in a course, the student may repeat the course one time. If an S grade is not earned on the 2^nd attempt, the student is dismissed from the program.

Licensure/Certification Requirements in North Carolina

The curriculum for all ECU Certificates, Degrees, and other Graduate Programs have been designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements in North Carolina and prepare students to sit for licensure/certification exams in North Carolina. The various licensure boards in each state are responsible for setting requirements for licensure/certification in their state. Other states have their own requirements, and you’ll want to make sure your program meets criteria in your home state (or state where you intend to work) before you apply. Search our state Licensure Dashboard to see if the program you’re interested in meets the educational requirements for licensing/certification in your home state (or state where you intend to work).