Grow by doing.
Grow by doing.
Master’s in counseling practicum and internship experiences
Marquette University’s online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) faculty knows how critical immersive, hands-on exposure to clients is for new counselors. The counseling practicum and internship experiences provide students with the opportunity to apply their skills in assessment, diagnosis, intervention, prevention and consultation.
Counseling students at Marquette are required to complete, and will receive credit for, both their practicum and internship hours as a part of the online CHMC curriculum.
Because every student’s journey is unique, every placement is personally selected
Marquette University counseling faculty members strive to find students site-based experiences that match the enriching and supportive curriculum of the CMHC program. Working with each student, faculty and staff leverage university connections and find appropriate sites for students to complete practicum and internship credits. The path to becoming a counselor is a personal one, so the site of your field experience should be selected with care. Whether you’re located in the Milwaukee area or across the country, Marquette faculty will work with you to find the best placement available.
Where will I complete my practicum and internship?
In the past, students have worked at outpatient centers, children’s hospitals, community centers, and other agencies and clinics. Students pursuing the child and adolescent counseling specialization will need to choose a clinical mental health counseling site that aligns with their specialization focus. Usually students will complete practicum and internship field requirements at the same clinical site.
Marquette’s counseling students find practicum and internship placements at highly relevant and rewarding locations including:
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Why do I have to take a practicum and internship? Aren’t they the same thing?
The counseling practicum and internship courses provide an opportunity for students to get real-world exposure to the topics and techniques they’ve studied.
Practicum experiences are more oriented toward skill development through shadowing and observation as well as supervised practice. The clinical mental health master’s practicum requires a minimum of 40 hours of direct client service and 60 hours of indirect service including paperwork, seminars and staff meetings.
Internships, the exact details of which are determined by the placement site, give students an opportunity to work directly with clients in a professional setting with limited supervision. Counseling students attend internship sites on a schedule and log 20-25 hours a week for a total of 600 hours.
First, complete the practicum:
- Credits: 3 credit hours total
- Timing: Typically taken in the second year of the CMHC program
- Duration: One semester
- Requirements: Minimum of 100 clock hours (40 hours of direct client service, 60 hours of indirect service)
- Expected activities: Shadowing and supervised work to offer learning opportunities and opportunities to develop skills.
Then, embark on your internship:
- Credits: 6 credit hours total
- Timing: Typically taken in the third year of the CMHC program
- Duration: Two semesters
- Requirements: Minimum of 600 clock hours total (300 per semester); Anticipated 20-25 hours per week
- Expected activities: Supervised and independent work determined by the internship site to replicate professional experience.
Counseling practicum and internship course descriptions
COUN 6965: Counseling Practicum (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6986: Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 Credit Hours*)
Students are required to complete the internship course twice for a total of 6 credit hours and 600 clock hours of internship work.
Gain independence without losing support
Applying your course work with real patients might seem intimidating, but your professors will help you along the way to make sure you’re ready. Plus, in both the practicum and internship experiences you will meet weekly with a site supervisor and a faculty member to address any concerns you have and to make sure you’re on the right track.
Counseling is a dynamic practice centered around relationships. At Marquette, you’ll find a program that offers you guidance and support while pushing you to become an agent of change and a confident counselor.
Counseling practicum and internship FAQs
Can I work full time and complete the practicum and internship?
Typically students are not able to work full-time because of the number of hours required during internship and the fact that these hours must be completed during the work day. We require students to prioritize practicum-internship scheduling in order to ensure they complete their required hours each semester.