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MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling
Request InformationImprove your career possibilities with two valuable counseling degrees and positively impact people’s lives at all stages.
Next start dates
- Course-Based Courses with a set schedule August 30, 2021
Accreditations
CACREP Accredited
Transfer Credits
- Up to 45 Credits
Earn your MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and MS in School Counseling
You can broaden your opportunities as a counseling professional with Walden’s MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling program. Gain the insights and hands-on training to positively impact the lives of children, individuals, and families in school settings, mental health clinics, or other environments. This unique program opens new career avenues by providing the academic preparation to allow you to pursue licensure or certification as both a mental health counselor and a school counselor.
Graduate With Two Counseling Degrees From an Accredited Program
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) dictates the curriculum for accredited counseling degree programs. If you receive an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree with the plan to obtain an MS in School Counseling in a few years, the overlap in coursework may prevent you from doing so. Walden’s MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling program curriculum is uniquely designed to meet CACREP guidelines for granting these two distinct degrees at the same time.
ACADEMIC PREPARATION
With two CACREP-accredited programs you have the academic preparation to pursue licensure or certification in both disciplines.
Career Flexibility
With two counseling master’s degrees, you have the qualifications to switch career paths if your interests or needs change in the future.
Practical Experience
Prepare for real-life counseling scenarios by building professional skills through two face-to-face pre-practica.
Small, diverse classes
Connect with peers from a myriad of cultures, backgrounds, and interests. Intimate class sizes allow greater one-on-one interaction with faculty.
Program Savings
Receive your tech fee waived for your first term and pay no tuition for 9 credits of Practicum and Internship, if you reside in the U.S. and start this program on August 30, 2021. Contact one of our Enrollment Specialists to learn more.
Get Started NowGeneral Program
Gain the confidence, qualifications, and critical thinking skills needed to help clients cope with daily life and overcome their greatest challenges.
Addiction Counseling
Gain the focused skills and insights to provide addiction counseling services to various clients in schools, businesses, community agencies, and other settings.
Forensic Counseling
Enhance your competencies in conflict management and negotiation and learn how those skills can be applied to resolve conflicts in the criminal justice system.
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Build the cross-cultural competencies and skills required to understand family structures, life-cycle dynamics, intergenerational influences, and healthy family functioning.
Military Families and Culture
Explore the nuances of military culture as well as the common hardships associated with the military lifestyle—from prolonged separation and combat-related injuries to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Trauma and Crisis Counseling
Learn about crisis management and study the leadership skills necessary to help communities develop effective, responsive crisis management programs and trauma treatment services.
Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4-point scale, for regular admission (Applicants with a GPA less than 2.5 may be considered for conditional admission.)
- A goal statement with a cultural aptitude component
- Resume
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Tracy Senstock
Senior Academic Program DirectorDr. Senstock has been training counselors and counselor educators since 1988. She has served in program administration since 1990 and has helped achieve CACREP accreditation for many programs. Dr. Senstock is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado and a National Certified Counselor.
Read Tracy's Bio -
Walter Frazier
DirectorSince 1988, Dr. Walter Frazier has practiced counseling at the Grace Christian Counseling Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he holds the position of executive director. He has served as a counselor educator since 2008, and has worked at Walden since 2015.
Read Walter's Bio -
Jayce Patton
Core FacultyDr. Jayce Patton’s clinical work centers on clients of gender and sexual diversity. He served on the Institutional Review Board, is the associate editor for the Journal of Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness, and has published his work in several professional journals and textbooks.
Read Jayce's Bio
Learning Outcomes
As a graduate of the MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling program, you will be able to:
- Analyze the different roles and settings of a counselor.
- Apply sound ethical and legal practices in the work of a counselor.
- Analyze cultural development theories and models.
- Examine empirically based theories of human development.
- Evaluate approaches of career development appropriate to diverse needs and life experiences.
- Examine appropriate evidence-based counseling practices for prevention and intervention.
- Apply essential counseling skills across multiple settings.
- Select group facilitation strategies that are culturally and ethically relevant.
- Analyze assessment procedures to support planning for appropriate counseling interventions.
- Evaluate research methods commonly used in the counseling profession.
Additional Program-Specific Learning Outcomes
MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Evaluate effective treatment strategies for addressing the needs of mental health clients.
- Choose appropriate diagnostic intervention processes to meet a broad range of mental health issues.
- Assess the impact of biological/neurological mechanisms on mental health.
- Develop strategies for interfacing with outside stakeholders (i.e., the legal system and behavioral health professionals).
MS in School Counseling
- Examine appropriate evidence-based counseling practices for prevention and intervention.
- Apply essential counseling skills across multiple settings.
- Select group facilitation strategies that are culturally and ethically relevant.
- Analyze assessment procedures to support planning for appropriate counseling interventions.
- Evaluate research methods commonly used in the counseling profession.
Read our MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Outcomes Report, MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Annual Data Report, MS in School Counseling Program Outcomes Report , and MS in School Counseling Annual Data Report on the School of Counseling DATA webpage.
Career Outlook
The counseling field is in need of qualified, compassionate professionals like you to meet the demand for services. Through 2028, jobs for mental health counselors are expected to grow 22%,1 while employment of school counselors is expected to grow by 8%2—both faster than the national average.
The MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling program allows you to earn two valuable credentials simultaneously. Elevate your resume and expand your career options with master’s degrees from CACREP-accredited programs that prepares you to pursue licensure or certification in your state.
An MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling can prepare you to pursue career options such as:
- Mental health counselor
- Clinical therapist
- Licensed professional counselor
- Mental health therapist
- School counselor
- Guidance counselor
- Academic advisor
- Counselor for college and career readiness
Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
An MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling can prepare you to work in settings such as:
- Outpatient and inpatient mental health and substance abuse centers
- Individual and family service organizations
- Public or private hospitals
- Courts/Government agencies
- Public schools
- Private schools
- Preschools
- Early learning centers
FAQ About Walden’s Online MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling Program
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Graduates from the MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling are well prepared to pursue state licensure as a professional counselor and licensure or certification as a school counselor. Graduates may also pursue work in agencies, youth detention centers, hospitals, trauma centers, shelters, correctional facilities, community churches, public and private schools, universities, and private practice. Graduates who work in schools can help improve student success by implementing comprehensive school counseling programs that support the academic, personal-social, and career needs of all students. School counselors also provide short-term counseling; collaborate with teachers, families, administrators, and community members to support students; advocate for students and student needs; and analyze data that identifies student needs, concerns, and challenges. Graduates who work in mental health positions provide counseling to individuals of all ages, couples, and families. Mental health counselors also serve as advocates for the mental health needs of their clients and their communities.
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Walden’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and MS in School Counseling programs are both accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Although these programs focus on specialty areas within the field of counseling, much of the foundational coursework is identical (i.e., students take the same courses on topics such as counseling theories, techniques of counseling, life span development, assessment, and research). Earning an MS degree in clinical mental health counseling and then returning to pursue an MS degree in school counseling is not always possible due to institutional policies held by universities that restrict students from earning a second degree in a similar field, due to an overlap in coursework. Students may encounter financial aid restrictions as well. CACREP is aware of these complications and has a dual degree policy that allows students to complete two CACREP-accredited master’s-level programs at one time (e.g., dual degree). In order for students to be recognized for earning degrees from CACREP-accredited programs, the organization stipulates that both degrees must be completed concurrently and both must require full internship experiences.1
1Source: https://www.cacrep.org/for-programs/cacrep-policy-document/#policy5.c
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Because of institutional policies held by universities that restrict students from earning a second degree in a similar field due to an overlap in coursework, it would be difficult and potentially cost prohibitive to earn these two degrees separately. The best way to obtain two master’s-level degrees from CACREP-accredited programs is to complete them in a dual degree program in adherence with the CACREP dual degree policy. Walden meets the dual degree policy outlined by CACREP.1
1Source: https://www.cacrep.org/for-programs/cacrep-policy-document/#policy5.c
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Students who successfully complete two classes a quarter can expect to complete the dual degree in three years and nine months. Students may enroll in three courses each quarter to potentially shorten the duration of the program, as long as their GPA remains a 3.5 or higher.
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Yes, both the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the MS in School Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Additionally, Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
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Yes. All of Walden’s programs are online. Walden has been a leader in distance education since 1970.
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Students complete core courses, field experiences in both clinical mental health counseling and school counseling, pre-practicum and group labs, optional specialization courses, and more. As a result, graduates earn two MS degrees, are academically prepared to sit for licensure exams, and enter the professional world as a well-rounded job candidate.
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