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SMWC to Offer Counseling Grad Program

News | 02.02.2024

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) will offer a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS-CMHC) beginning in May 2024. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the employment growth rate for mental health, substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors is expected to expand and grow 18% by 2032, much faster than average for all occupations.

The curriculum for the MS-CMHC will be designed so that students can seek licensure in any state in the United States upon completion. The course delivery will be hybrid with courses online, two brief residencies on campus and on-site training in the student’s geographic area with completion in as little as two years.

Brennan J. Randolph, MBA, interim president of SMWC, said, “We are pleased to launch this much-needed program to address the high demand for mental health professionals. The MS-CMHC will join our very successful Master of Arts in Art Therapy (MAAT) and our Master of Arts in Music Therapy (MAMT).”

This program is designed for students who have just earned their undergraduate degree and immediately want to go on to earn their master’s degree or a mental health professional with a bachelor’s degree who has been working in the field for years and feels that they can make a bigger impact with a master’s degree.

“Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is very proud to offer the M.S. In Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Students will take classes online and complete clinical training at sites in their communities. There is a tremendous need for mental health counselors in Indiana, and across the U.S. With 50 years of experience in distance teaching, SMWC is poised to deliver a high-quality program that will ultimately help many Hoosiers with mental health challenges.” said Tracy Richardson ’88, Ph.D., MT-BC, dean of the division of arts and social sciences at SMWC.

To learn more about the MC-CMHC, visit smwc.edu or contact admissions at admissions@smwc.edu.