Gain confidence as a counselor with practical experiences built into Marquette’s curriculum
Marquette University’s online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling faculty know how critical immersive, hands-on experience is for new counselors. These 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 both their practicum and internship hours during the program.
I wanted a hands-on experience for sure. Not only does that look good for a future career but I wanted to make sure this is what I wanted to do.
Where will I complete my practicum and internship?
Marquette faculty strive to find students site-based experiences that supplement the program’s enriching and supportive curriculum. Students will be provided opportunities to work directly with faculty to communicate their interests and goals for training, and faculty will assist in finding sites within the student’s local area that are an appropriate match and that meet programmatic requirements. During their practicum and internship, students will meet weekly with a faculty member and a site supervisor. Usually, students complete both practicum and internship field requirements at the same clinical site.
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 focus.
MARQUETTE’S COUNSELING STUDENTS FIND PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS AT HIGHLY RELEVANT AND REWARDING LOCATIONS INCLUDING:
How does a clinical mental health counseling internship differ from a practicum?
The counseling practicum and internship courses each provide an opportunity for students to get real-world exposure to the topics and techniques they have studied in the classroom. Each of these experiences vary slightly in requirements and purpose:
The clinical mental health master’s practicum is usually taken in the second year of the program. Students must log a minimum of 40 hours of direct client service and 60 hours of indirect service, including paperwork, seminars and staff meetings for their practicum completion, which is a prerequisite of starting an internship. Students will complete their two internship courses in their third year, completing 600 hours total of on-site work. They should expect to spend 20 to 25 hours on site every week.
Before taking Practicum and Internship, students will go through a Preparation course to help prepare them for these experiences. Practicum experiences are more oriented toward skill development through shadowing and observation as well as supervised practice. Internships, the details of which are determined by the placement site, give students an opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge in a professional setting with goals to become increasingly autonomous throughout the experience with continued supervision.
| Practicum - 3 credit hours | Internship - 6 credit hours |
| Typically taken in the second year, one semester | Typically taken in the third year, two semesters |
40 hours of direct client service 60 hours of indirect service | 600 hours total 20-25 hours per week |
| Often completed at the same site | Often completed at the same site |
| Shadowing and supervised work to offer learning opportunities and opportunities to develop skills. | 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
Making the transition from studying counseling to applying it with real clients can seem intimidating, but your professors will help you along the way to make sure you are ready. Additionally, 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 ensure you are making sufficient progress. Counseling is a dynamic practice centered around relationships. At Marquette, you will find a program that offers you guidance and support while pushing you to become an agent of change and a confident counselor.