Sport & Human Performance and Counseling: Specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, (M.S./M.A.)

(Offered by the Department of Counseling and Integrated Programs)

This dual degree option prepares graduates to work with a range of clients who struggle with issues regarding mental health and wellness in relation to achieving peak performance. This unique dual degree program provides students a comprehensive foundation in clinical mental health counseling as well as mental skills training that leads to psychological well-being and optimal performance. This dual degree program also allows a range of dynamic career paths in both clinical mental health and sport and human performance fields. Students will also learn about utilizing their training in both areas to promote social justice and advocate for clients with diverse backgrounds and clinical issues.

Accreditation, Licensure and Certification

Adler University’s M.A. in Counseling: Specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Graduation from a CACREP-accredited program helps students meet the academic and field training counselor licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. Students wishing to seek licensure are strongly encouraged to research the requirements to sit for licensure for each state or province in which they wish to practice. Graduates of the CMHC program are also eligible to take part in the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential, after successful passage of the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and completion of required experiences.

In particular, graduates of the program are eligible to apply for the following credentials:

The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential in the state of Illinois.
The Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) credential in Illinois, upon completing all necessary post-graduate training and supervised experiences.

The MSHP program offers specialized courses in mental performance and externship opportunities to enable students to attain certification with the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Students can gain practical experience to apply for certification and be eligible to take the certification exam once they complete this program.

Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC)

MSHP-CMHC Dual Degree Program Overview

A comprehensive curriculum of both degrees including supervised field experiences totaling 77 credit hours.
The Social Justice Practicum, a social responsibility immersion experience created to develop an identity in graduates as social justice advocates and agents of social change (200 hours total).
A sport and human performance field training experience (MSHP Externship).
The Clinical Mental Health clinical field experiences include supervised practicum (100 hours) and internship (600 hours). Through our vast network of community. partners, students are able to complete their practical training in a variety of settings.
A CMHC Comprehensive Examination.

Full-Time or Part-Time Learning Schedule

The class offerings are designed to meet the needs of students who desire a full-time three-year track or a part-time four-year learning schedule; however, MSHP classes are only offered once per academic year.

Dual Degree Admission Requirements

Individuals applying to any dual degree program must:

Apply to and be accepted into both programs
Approved applicants of the dual degree program will be invited for personal interviews with program faculty of each program as the ﬁnal step in the application process.

Professional Practice and Field Training

Both CMHC and MSHP programs require students’ completion of the social justice practicum, which will be recognized by both programs.
CMHC requires students’ completion of counseling practicum (a minimum of 100 clock hours) and internship (a minimum of 600 clock hours).
MSHP requires students’ completion of Sport and Human Performance Externship.
For details of program specific field training experiences, refer back to individual program information in this catalog.

MSHP - CMHC Dual Degree Graduation Requirements

Satisfactory completion of all required courses and seminars
Satisfactory completion of Social Justice Practicum I & II
Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 100 hours of practicum and 600 hours of internship in the CMHC program
Satisfactory completion of the MSHP externship
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and no more than two grades or six credit hours of C in courses other than practicum prerequisites
Passing grade on the CMHC Comprehensive Examination
Submission of completed graduation application and full payment of all outstanding tuition and fees
Faculty approval for graduation and recommendation to the Board of Trustees for the conferral of the Master of Science in Sport & Human Performance and the Master of Art in Counseling: Specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Dual Degree Program (MSHP - CMHC) Requirements

*Courses denoted with an asterisk are CMHC counseling practicum prerequisites, which students need to complete prior to their counseling practicum.

**Courses denoted with two asterisks are sport externship prerequisites, which students need to complete prior to their sport externship. Students are required to attain a grade of B or higher in these courses. Students will need to retake the courses with a B- or lower grade prior to, or concurrently with, their practicum and attain the required grade.

# Courses denoted with a “#” sign are recognized by both degrees.

Core Courses

CMHC Electives (6 Credit Hours)

See Department of Counseling and Integrated Programs Elective Menu provided on their program of study/advisement sheets, or take one of the MSHP course lists above as their electives.

MSHP Elective (3 Credit Hours)

Students are required to take an elective of three credit hours. If students do not have an upper-level undergraduate kinesiology course (e.g., motor learning, exercise physiology, biomechanics; as required by standard K3 Sport Science for the CMPC credential), students are encouraged to take MSHP 560 - Motor Learning & Skill Acquisition Performance: Psychology of Coaching as their elective.