Admission: MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Admission Requirements
Please review your student checklist (login required) for information on the specific documents and requirements needed for your admission.
Liberty University’s online master’s in clinical mental health counseling degree is designed to equip you with the specialized training you need to gain state licensure and become a Professional Counselor (LPC)*.
By earning this online LPC degree, you will enhance your understanding of human psychology through field-tested techniques and explore best practices for promoting the mental health and holistic wellness of clients in diverse communities.
*Individual state licensure requirements may vary, please verify licensure requirements for the state in which you reside.
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.7 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work. Please note – once accepted into the program, a 3.0 graduate GPA is needed to maintain good academic standing in the program.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Students must have 3 credit hours in statistics (can be MATH 201) either on their transcripts or must complete this requirement as a prerequisite to specific graduate courses.
- Contact information for 2 recommenders from professional sources (i.e., not family/friends). This form can be submitted online (login required) or to luoverify@liberty.edu – 1. Name 2. Position/Title 3. Email 4. Phone 5. Place of Employment 6. Mailing Address. These individuals should be qualified to address the applicant’s ability to complete the graduate-level work, disposition, ability to become a counselor, and their maturity, motivation, and ethics. Some examples of individuals that may be suitable include professors, employers, or leaders in an organization where the applicant volunteers. Please note: This contact information must be less than 1 year old.
- Statement of Purpose
- Please describe in 200-250 words why you desire to become a counselor and indicate the type of counselor certification you plan to seek after graduation.
- Describe in 200-250 words an occasion in which you have interacted with an individual or a group of individuals from another culture. Identify the cultural differences which were present and how you demonstrated respect for those differences.
- Describe in 200-250 words how you form effective interpersonal relationships with others in individual and group settings.
- Complete the form agreeing to the Department of Counselor Education and Family Study’s Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Mission Statement and Diversity Statement.
- Students seeking to be admitted into this program and planning to finish it outside of the U.S. will be required to sign an International Disclosure Agreement (login required).
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
- ACD – Department Admission Review approval required – upon all documents being received on the checklist, the application will be sent for admission review by the department. This review can take 1-2 full business days for review (24-48 hours).
Alternate Pathway for Admission
Students who do not meet the required 2.7 GPA can potentially be placed into the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Studies.* Upon successful completion of this certificate with at least a 3.0 GPA, these students can be reevaluated for the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
*In order to be eligible for the alternate pathway, admission requirements for the graduate certificate must still be met.
Department of Counselor Education and Family Studies Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Mission Statement and Diversity Statement
Mission
Commitment to Diversity
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
- Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcripts must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
- If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment.
Enrollment in one of the master’s-level licensure programs does not guarantee a degree from Liberty or qualification for professional licensure. Students are responsible for meeting all academic and professional requirements for graduation. Further information regarding these academic and professional requirements are outlined in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Handbook. Students enrolled in an MA in Counseling licensure program are responsible for knowing the material outlined in this handbook. Further, it is the sole responsibility of the student, not the program, to obtain information regarding prerequisites for licensure as outlined by their particular state board of counseling or marriage and family therapy.
Unofficial Transcript Policy
An unofficial copy of your college transcript can either be faxed from the institution, printed from the school’s official site, or be an opened copy that you may have in your possession. Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Cumulative GPA
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript must be issued directly from the institution in a sealed envelope with a signature across the back. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements.
Official college transcripts are not required initially for acceptance if unofficial transcripts are provided; however, if the student uses unofficial transcripts to earn acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day time frame will prevent registration.
The 60-hour Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree is designed to lead to professional licensure as outlined by individual state boards of counseling. Before enrolling in a licensure program at Liberty University, students should consult the rules and regulations regarding professional counseling for their particular state. More specifically, students should be aware of the following before enrolling in one of Liberty University’s counseling programs:
- State regulations regarding licensure opportunities if an applicant has a previous felony conviction.
- State regulations regarding the type and number of academic courses and practicum/internship hours.
- The state accreditation requirements for educational institutions.
- The state regulations and requirements for online graduate education programs.
Liberty University Admissions Contact Information
Email for Sending Documents
luoverify@liberty.edu
Address to Send Transcripts
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
