

Marquette’s counseling curriculum is designed for your success.
Our online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling offers the same course work as our on-campus CACREP-accredited master’s program. Grounded in the foundational skills and expertise gained from our experienced faculty, our online curriculum combines academic rigor with the flexibility of an online program. After earning your degree, you will be prepared to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Wisconsin and in many other states.
To introduce you to the online learning platform, Desire to Learn (D2L), you will be required to complete a 0-credit hour, self-managed orientation. This required course will be available before the start of the program and will help familiarize you with the tools and resources available to you in D2L.
Courses for counseling degree programs
Most coursework can be completed on your schedule, but our online program includes five courses with synchronous components. Every week, students and their instructor will meet virtually to discuss and develop impactful counseling skills, including live response and interactive role play.
Clinical mental health counseling students will complete 60 credit hours: 15 core courses, 2 electives, 1 practicum course and 2 internship courses.
Students pursuing the child and adolescent counseling specialization will be required to complete the same number of credits: 15 core courses, 1 specialization course, 1 elective, 1 practicum course and 2 internship courses focused on child or adolescent treatment.
Learning through action
Counseling students are required to complete both their practicum and internship during the program. These opportunities provide students with hands-on experience in assessment, diagnosis, intervention, prevention and consultation.
Our team will help you find and connect with sites in the Milwaukee area or your region. Students pursuing the child and adolescent counseling specialization will need to choose a clinical mental health counseling site that aligns with their focus.
In the past, students have worked at outpatient centers, children’s hospitals, community centers, and other agencies and clinics. During their practicum and internship, students will meet weekly with a faculty member and a site supervisor. Usually students will complete both field requirements at the same clinical site.
The practicum is usually taken in the second year. Students must log a minimum of 40 hours of direct client service and 60 hours of indirect service, including paperwork, seminars and staff meetings. Students will complete their internship courses in their third year, completing 600 hours total. They should expect to spend 20 to 25 hours on site every week.
Core courses
COUN 6000: Introduction to Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6003: Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6012: Professional Ethics and Legal Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6020: Life-Span Human Development (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6030: Theories of Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6040: Multicultural Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6050: Research Methods in Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6060: Psychopathology and Diagnosis (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6070: Assessment in Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6080: Career Development and Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6120: Group Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6130: Family Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6150: Addictions Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6170: Trauma Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6180: Advanced Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling (3 Credit Hours)
Elective courses
COUN 6160: Counseling with Children and Adolescents (3 Credit Hours)
Developmental stages and tasks of children and adolescents; theories and techniques of developmental and remedial counseling with children and adolescents; warning signs, possible causes and prevention and intervention strategies of behavior problems. Focuses on the assessment and integration of strength-based counseling approaches in counseling children and adolescents and addresses collaboration and consultation with families, schools and communities. Prerequisites: COUN 6000, COUN 6030 and COUN 6060
COUN 6090: Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disabilities (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6986: Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 Credit Hours*)
Practicum and clinical courses
COUN 6965: Counseling Practicum (3 Credit Hours)
COUN 6986: Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 Credit Hours*)
*Two internship courses are required (6 credit hours total).