Master of Science in Counseling with specialization in Clinical Mental Health
The Master of Science in Counseling with a specialization in Clinical Mental Health is designed to prepare candidates with the knowledge and skills necessary to work with individuals, groups, and families presenting with a variety of mental and emotional disorders, as well as to promote mental health and wellness. The program prepares students to be capable and responsive licensed professional counselors in a variety of settings, as well as to engage in consultation and collaboration with other professionals. The program is aligned with counselor education standards, and it covers all required content areas for the National Board for Certified Counselors.
Employment Opportunities
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that mental health counselor positions will grow by 25% through 2029. Mental health counselors may work in a variety of mental health settings like hospitals, mental health centers or organizations, schools, wellness centers, employee assistance programs, private or group practices, among others. Some careers are:
- Mental Health Counselor
- Psychotherapist
- Clinical Therapist
- Child and family Counselor
- Marriage and Family Therapist
This program is currently not accredited by CACREP. It is the responsibility of the student to understand all current requirements for licensure in the state/territory where they plan to seek initial licensure.
Admissions are subject to program capacity.
The Master of Science in Counseling with a specialization in Clinical Mental Health is a fully online graduate program designed to prepare students for professional licensure and clinical practice in diverse mental health settings. Delivered in Spanish through the Online Division of the Metro Orlando Campus, the program is grounded in a developmental, multicultural, and ethical framework. It equips future counselors with the competencies needed to address the emotional, behavioral, and psychological needs of individuals, families, and communities across the lifespan.
Students engage in a curriculum aligned with national counseling standards and gain supervised clinical experience through practicum and internship courses. The program fosters critical thinking, ethical decision-making, cultural humility, and advocacy skills essential for today’s mental health professionals. Graduates are prepared to work in community agencies, private practices, integrated health systems, and other clinical environments that serve populations with diverse needs.
The program is part of the Online Division of the Metro Orlando Campus and is offered in Spanish.
- Dr. Julio A. Cruz Rodríguez, LPC, LMHC, NCC, ACS
Program Director / Assistant Professor
jcruz@agmu.edu - Dr. Dorelys Rivera Dávila, LPC, LMHC, NCC
Program Coordinator / Assistant Professor
dorrivera@agmu.edu - Dr. Mary Ann Martínez Santiago, LPC, LMHC, CCMHC, ACS
Practicum and Internship Coordinator / Assistant Professor
marymartinez@agmu.edu - Dr. Billy Santiago Bermúdez, LP, NCC
Assistant Professor
bsantiago@agmu.edu - Dr. Carmen England Bayrón, LPC
Assistant Professor
cengland@agmu.edu - Dr. Lucilo Salas Pérez, LPC
Assistant Professor
lsalas@agmu.edu - Dr. Vicmarie Vargas Acevedo, LP
Assistant Professor
vvargas@agmu.edu
To produce graduates with a national, international, and global perspective; respect for human diversity; an understanding of scientific principles; and advanced skills as practitioners who facilitate optimal mental and emotional health and well-being for individuals, families, and communities.
- PLO 1. Explain professional practices, ethical and legal standards, historical foundations, and professional roles.
- PLO 2. Employ cultural, social justice, advocacy, theoretical approaches, and strategies to counseling relationships with diverse populations.
- PLO 3. Apply human growth and development theories and principles to counseling practices, promoting development and wellness across the lifespan.
- PLO 4. Apply theories, strategies, and models of career development, counseling, and decision-making with culturally diverse populations.
- PLO 5. Apply theories, skills, and approaches to counseling practice integrating ethics, consultation, and crisis intervention.
- PLO 6. Apply theoretical, ethical, cultural, and social justice skills, methods, and principles to group counseling practice.
- PLO 7. Administer testing and measurement instruments using ethical standards, cultural sensitivity, and appropriate statistical concepts for individual and group assessment.
- PLO 8. Analyze research and statistical methods and strategies in evidence-based practice, supervision, and program evaluation, considering the ethical and cultural implications in the counseling profession.
- PLO 9. Apply skills and practices to address a variety of issues in clinical mental health counseling practice, integrating ethical, cultural, diversity, and advocacy perspectives.
Specific Program Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or from an internationally recognized institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Graduate-level credit earned may be used to demonstrate aptitude when GPA is below 3.0.
- Official transcripts from all previous institutions where a degree was earned.
- Two letters of recommendation from professionals who can assess aptitude for graduate education in counseling.
- A 2–4-page personal essay, resume, or CV.
- An interview with the program's admission committee.
Admissions are subject to program capacity, with entry points available in August and January.