The application deadline date changes from year to year. The latest application deadline information can be found here.
Yes. Applicants can apply to both programs, but will need to complete a separate application for each program. However, applicants will need to select one program prior to enrolling in the program.
The program does not take applications from students currently enrolled in the in-person Seattle University CMHC and School Counseling programs because of sequence of courses would delay graduation for students currently enrolled in-person.
Applicants who don't want to attend this Fall will need to re-apply to the program. All application documents do not need to be resubmitted, but some may need to be updated by the application deadline to be considered complete.
Yes. The CMHC online program mirrors the in-person CMHC program. The online program allows students to obtain a high-quality graduate education remotely from anywhere in the US. The learning outcomes are the same for the online CMHC program and the in-person CMHC program.
The first two years of the program consists of asynchronous online coursework, with two to three courses per quarter. The third year of the program is a hybrid experience in which students complete an in-person practicum and internship under supervision and take an online synchronous supervision course that meets once a week. Students can complete their practicum and internship anywhere in the United States at a site approved by the program. The program assists students with securing a field placement.
This program was designed with the working adult in mind. We anticipate that most students will be able to work full-time while taking courses during the first two years of the program. During the 3rd year, it may be difficult to work full-time because students will be in the field completing their practicum and internship.
The online CMHC program is a 3-year full-time program. The first two years of coursework is online asynchronous. The third year of the program is a hybrid experience in which students complete a in-person practicum and internship under supervision while taking part in an online synchronous group supervision class that meets once a week.
Information on tuition cost and scholarships can be found here.
Students should also budget for the residency. We anticipate students spending $500 per residency for a total of $1,000. This cost is used to support the summer residency. The summer residency fee does not include costs for room and board and travel. Students are responsible for fees associated with travel and room and board for the residency. Additional fees apply and can found in the Financial Aid page.
Students take between two to three online asynchronous courses a term during the first two years in the program. In the last year of the program students take one online synchronous group supervision course while completing a in-person practicum and internship at a program approved site within the United States.
Lecture classes have 25-30 students to one faculty member. Clinical courses have no more than 12 students to one faculty member.
The online CMHC program is a 3-year full-time program. The first two years of coursework is online asynchronous. The third year of the program is a hybrid experience in which students complete a in-person practicum and internship under supervision while taking part in an online synchronous group supervision class that meets once a week.
The online CMHC program is on a 10-week quarter system. The program has four quarters: fall, winter, spring, and summer. More detailed information on the academic calendar can be found here.
Faculty bring a combination of research and counseling experience to their teaching. All our faculty have doctoral degrees in counselor education, are experienced in the field of counseling, and those who teach clinical courses are fully licensed.
Yes. You can find all information regarding technical requirements here.
Practicum and internship takes place in a mental health setting in the United States at a program approved site.
Practicum is 100 hours of which 40 are direct client contact. Internship is 600 hours of which 240 are direct client contact. Approved field sites may require students to complete more hours than the minimum. The state in which a student seeks licensure may also require a student to complete more than the minimum hours to be eligible for counsellor licensure. We encourage students to reach out to their state licensing board to determine requirements for counselor licensure. Students can anticipate being on site a minimum of 10-15 hours a week for practicum and 20-25 hours a week for internship. A weekly group supervision and individual on-site supervision are required as part of the field experience.
There is a summer residency that takes place on the Seattle University campus.
We anticipate students spending $500 for tuition per residency for a total of $1,000. The summer residency fee does not include costs for hotel and travel, so students are responsible for those fees.
Counselor licensure varies by state. We encourage you to reach out to your state licensing board to determine if Seattle University’s online CMHC program will lead to licensure in your state. The American Counseling Association provides a list of links to US State Professional Counselor Licensure Boards.
As with all programs at Seattle University, the counseling degrees offered by the College of Education are accredited, in this case by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Additionally, the Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed to align with the criteria outlined by CACREP. We are currently seeking accreditation for the new online offering of the program, which should be approved by the time the first cohort graduates. As soon as the new online platform is approved, graduates will be retroactively included as graduating from a CACREP accredited program.
The process to seeking CACREP accreditation is a 3-year process. This process involves a self-review by the program, and then if approved, a site review by the CACREP self-study team.