Students interested in learning more about the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Mental Health Counseling degree at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) are invited to attend information sessions on the campus next month.
The university received permission from the Indiana Commission on Higher Education to offer the 60-credit master’s program last fall.
The first class, which is expected to be comprised of about 15 students, will begin this August. Applications for admission are due May 1.
The information sessions will be held on the following dates and times in Room CC 170 on the IUPUC campus:
- Friday, March 9, at 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 13, at 6 p.m.
- Friday, March 16, at 3 p.m.
Students who attend the informal sessions can talk with psychology faculty and academic advisors about the program and its curriculum, which is consistent with accreditation body guidelines and meets the criteria for preparing graduates for licensure as mental health counselors in the state of Indiana.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the occupational outlook for counselors with master’s degrees is expected to grow faster than average compared to other occupations. Overall employment is expected to grow by 18 percent through 2018, with job openings for those who specialize in substance abuse and behavioral disorders expected to grow by 21 percent.
The BLS reports employment of licensed mental health counselors working in managed care systems will grow by 24 percent, which is much faster than the average for all occupations, because health insurance companies typically view treatment by counselors as less costly alternatives to psychiatrists and psychologists.
Although growth in the field varies by specialty, job openings are expected to exceed the number of graduates, especially in rural areas like south central Indiana.
“By offering this program, IUPUC can help address projected shortages of master’s prepared counselors throughout our region. As a growing teaching and research institution, we are excited about the opportunity that lies before us to meet this important need,” explained Dr. Marwan Wafa, vice chancellor and dean.
Kathy Compton, director of IUPUC’s psychology program, said the need throughout the university’s service area for well-trained mental health counselors, including those who specialize in substance abuse, grows each year. “As society becomes more knowledgeable about mental health issues and addiction, more people are seeking treatment. Increasingly, drug offenders are being referred to treatment programs rather than correctional institutions that are experiencing crowded conditions,” she added.
In 2010, the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction, reported 491,129 (or nearly 8 percent of 6.5 million Hoosiers) were in need of substance abuse treatment.
To be admitted to the M.A. in Mental Health Counseling degree program at IUPUC, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, at least 15 undergraduate course credits in psychology or behavioral science on their academic transcripts, and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Courses for the master’s program are sequenced so that students can complete the degree in two to three years, reported Dr. Gary Felsten, interim associate dean for academic affairs. “In addition to the courses, students must complete a 100-hour practicum, 600-hour internship, and a 300-hour advanced internship with 100 hours of personal supervision to meet the state’s licensure requirements.”
The mental health master’s degree is the university’s second graduate program. It has offered Indiana University Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degrees for several years.
For complete details about admission criteria for the M.A. in Mental Health Counseling degree, visit www.iupuc.edu/mentalhealth or call 812.348.7390.