PREPARE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
School of Professional Studies Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC)
YOUR BEST NEXT STEP
You are ready to take the next step in your education and your career. We are here to make sure you take the right one. With our compassionate faculty, adaptable programs, and focus on experiential learning, North Park’s Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) will empower you to complete your degree and change the course of your life. At North Park you will learn counseling skills in a context that deeply respects the dignity of each person and supports the spiritual and cultural diversity of all humanity. This is more than a degree.
IT’S A GREATER PURSUIT. EMPOWERING
COMPASSIONATE
In the CMHC program, we’ll offer you meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth. Our expert faculty will be your bridge to life-changing professional experiences. Peer groups will become supportive networks, and counseling psychology and ethics courses will set you up for success in every part of life.
You are a real person with a real life. You need a college that recognizes this. In the CMHC program, we strive to understand and support every one of our students with grace. Our staff and faculty will learn your individual story, address your practical questions and concerns, and help you find a path that works regardless of the barriers you may face.
EXPERIENTIAL
RESPONSIVE
Your path to a better career starts on day one of your first CMHC class. Your assignments are designed to help you build practical, applicable, professional counseling skills. Your professors have real-world experience that they’ll pass on to you, because applied learning today will become greater job prospects tomorrow.
In a competitive and demanding job market, you need a degree that sets you apart. At NPU, we continually adapt our programs to stay ahead of the curve and set you up for success. Our advisors will work with you to meet your individual needs and turn your passions into marketable skills.
ADAPTIVE This education is not one-size-fits-all. North Park’s accelerated seven-week courses offer an innovative and agile approach to preparing you for whatever’s next, tailored to your schedule, your goals, and your learning style. Every class will give you exactly what you need to advance in your counseling career.
THE RIGHT PLACE FOR YOU North Park’s welcoming community and supportive learning environment are shaped by our Christian identity and city-centered location. From our dedicated faculty to our flexible course schedules, everything we do is designed to equip you with what you need to complete your degree and open doors professionally.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists is projected to grow 19 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average of all occupations. While careers in mental health counseling are rapidly changing, and becoming more available, credential requirements are also increasing. A Master degree is essential to pursuing a career as a licensed professional counselor.
— Data provided by www.bls.gov
Prepare to serve clients as a compassionate, dedicated, and skilled professional counselor. Build foundational knowledge in counseling theory, acquire an understanding of legal and ethical responsibilities, and master assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of clients. Upon program completion, you will be eligible to apply for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
The personal support you want. Our caring, experienced faculty and committed advisors will provide personal guidance from your first class through graduation day—because we are just as invested in your success as you are.
The practical experience you need. Real career growth happens through real experience. We will give you hands-on experience at every turn, ensuring that your classroom learning doesn’t just stay in the classroom.
The perfect program for your future. The CMHC is the degree you need to excel in the counseling field. Every one of our classes will equip you with practical skills and help you to achieve more and advance faster.
You have chosen a dynamic vocation in which you can truly make a difference in the lives of your clients and your community.
PROGRAM DETAILS Through the integration of spiritual and intercultural components into your coursework and training, you’ll become a well-rounded counselor, able to serve diverse populations. • Learn from expert practitioners • Put newly developed skills to use in real-world, multicultural settings • Immerse yourself in the world of counseling psychology • Acquire skills in culturally responsive and spirituality-integrated counseling
Coursework and Requirements CMHC coursework provides the academic preparation needed for licensure.
Successful completion of 60 credit hours of coursework. • Successful completion of supervised practicum experience at an approved site with an approved clinical supervisor for a minimum of 100 hours. • Successful completion of supervised internship experience at an approved site with an approved clinical supervisor, for a minimum of 600 hours. •
“The CMHC professors are lively, friendly, and knowledgeable, and they make all the students feel at home in the program. I love the hands-on approach they take. And the scheduling is very convenient, with classes at night.”
–BINYOMIN WEISSWASSER, ’17
PRACTICUM AND INTERNSHIP
COHORT MODEL
All CMHC students must complete 700 hours of supervised clinical work (100 hours of practicum and 600 hours of internship), working under the supervision of a licensed counselor, delivering assessment, counseling, and related professional services. Typically, this stretches over two semesters, but it can be lengthened to accommodate work and life schedules. North Park has partnerships with a variety of internship settings, or you can seek your own internship that closely aligns with your interests. Along with on-site hours, the internship course meets for a selected number of times throughout the semester to provide feedback and support during your practicum.
The CMHC program is based on a cohort model:
TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
Our high-quality education, combined with affordable tuition, make North Park one of the best values for professional counselor training in the Chicago area. North Park also offers student loan options, and convenient payment plans.
FLEXIBLE We designed the CMHC program with the working adult in mind. Our flexible schedule of accelerated evening courses—meeting once per week on our Chicago campus—allows you to remain employed while earning your degree in two years.
STUDENT-CENTERED The CMHC cohort model is designed to encourage and support everyone’s contribution to the group. Each cohort attends classes together throughout the program. Classes are held on the same night of the week from semester to semester so that students can plan their schedules well in advance.
SUPPORTIVE Cohorts spend a considerable amount of time together in small participatory group discussions, fostering deep friendships, peer support, and family-like bonds.
PROFESSIONAL NETWORK The professional relationships cohorts build can result in a network that extends beyond the classroom, and can significantly assist career development and professional advancement.
ALL TAILORED TO FIT YOUR LIFE. Flexibility is built into everything we do. All our programs are designed to let you balance the demands of work, family, and school. With new classes starting every two months and sevenweek accelerated courses that meet just one night per week, we’ll fit right in to your life.
FIND YOUR SUCCESS Completing your CMHC degree will empower you to achieve personal, academic, and career success. Our supportive environment, flexible coursework, personalized advising, and innovative programming will help you achieve your career goals. “I appreciate the support and guidance I’ve received at North Park. I received my undergrad degree here and had a wonderful experience, which is one of the reasons I chose this CMHC program.”
–ANA POULOS ’17
OUR MISSION Our mission is to prepare diverse students for lives of significance and service through theoretical, practical, and professional learning experiences. We create a caring, inclusive community of learners, welcoming students from any faith tradition seeking personalized, flexible approaches to higher education and professional development.
START HERE
We look forward to walking alongside you as you achieve your goals.
APPLY
The application for admission to the CMHC program is quick and easy to complete. There is no fee, and the application can be completed online. While there are no strict application deadlines, the CMHC program accepts students twice a year in the fall and spring, so we encourage you to apply in advance of your term.
Required application materials: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution An electronic copy of your current resume Three professional and/or academic recommendations are required as part of your application.
DETERMINE YOUR COST
• File your FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov, if necessary • See a basic estimate of the annual costs you can expect: www.northpark.edu/AID • Students who completed an undergraduate degree at North Park University can enter the CMHC program with a 20% tuition reduction through an Alumni Grant
INTERVIEW AND ENROLL
The admissions process for the CMHC requires an in-person interview. After all application materials have been received, you will be contacted to set up an interview. A final admissions decision will be made following the interview.
An essay, as described on the application Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended, sent directly to North Park University:
Contact the Financial Aid office with any questions you may have at (773) 244-5560 or financialaid@northpark.edu.
COME SEE FOR YOURSELF One of the best ways to learn about North Park University is to attend an information session, where you will learn more about admission requirements, experiential learning opportunities, and financial aid. We look forward to meeting with you soon! • Attend an informational session at our Chicago campus. • Schedule a personal appointment with an admissions representative. • Sit in on a class. Plan your visit at northpark.edu/CMHC
School of Professional Studies Office of Graduate Admissions 3225 West Foster Ave., Box 40 Chicago, IL 60625 (800) 888-6728 (773) 244-4880 www.northpark.edu/CMHC