Education Specialist Degree - Mental Health
Ranked the 6th best program in the student counseling & personal services category by U.S. News and World Report in 2009.
The Education Specialist degree program at Indiana University prepares students to provide counseling and therapy services to individuals, groups, couples, and families in agency and private practice settings. This 65 credit hour, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited program, enables students to complete the academic, internship and practicum requirements for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in the State of Indiana. For licensed counselors and for counselors with a master’s degree, the Ed.S. program provides an opportunity to develop advanced competence in an area of specialization, with emphasis on practice.
Preference for admissions to the Ed.S. program is given to students who are currently in the master's program or have received a master's degree from either Indiana University - Bloomington or Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis. Students in the master's programs at either IUB or IUPUI can apply for the Ed.S. program after they have successfully completed their practicum (G524). Students who are interested in the Ed.S. program, but do not have a master's degree in counseling, should apply to the master's program.
For Indiana State licensure as a Mental Health Counselor, individuals must satisfy post degree professional experience requirements in addition to the Ed.S. program requirements. For licensure, the State of Indiana requires 1000 counseling contact hours and 200 hours of face-to-face supervision by a licensed counselor or other licensed and approved supervisor. Applicants should contact the Indiana State Health Professions Bureau or the State board to which they intend to apply for licensure, for current requirements.
The IU program emphasizes training and clinical field experiences in the following areas: (1) clinical assessment of individuals, couples, and families, (2) case conceptualization and intervention skills from a wide range of theoretical systems, (3) research competence. Integration of conceptual, clinical, and research skills is demonstrated through a qualifying project or a comprehensive examination, submitted to the student’s advisory committee.
Students may pursue master's level course work for this program on the Indianapolis and the Bloomington campus. All advanced course work needed for the Ed.S. in Counseling program is offered at the Bloomington campus.
Professional counselors assist individuals in enhancing human development throughout one's life span. Professional counselors assist people to deal with emotional problems and the challenges of everyday life. Goals are developmental, educative, and preventive. While remediation is recognized as a necessary component of counselor training, the basic value commitment is to the optimum development of the individual with an emphasis on helping students/clients learn more effectively and efficiently. Professional counselors also assist people in growing mentally, emotionally, spiritually, socially, educationally, and professionally. Professional counselors work in educational, health care, residential, private practice, community agency, government and business and industry settings.
The mental health counseling program is a 65 credit hour program leading to the Ed.S. (Education Specialist) degree. Preparation for this degree occurs through a combination of course work on basic theory, laboratory experience, practicum, a two semester internship in a relevant setting and a one semester advanced internship. Please note: It is NOT possible to obtain an MS degree in Mental Health Counseling. One must complete the Ed.S. degree.
Admission Requirements:
Enrollment in this program is limited and admission is competitive. The admission requirements are as follows:
For admission to the Ed.S. program a student must be admitted to or have completed an MS degree in counseling. Preference for admissions is given to students who are currently in the master's program or have received a master's degree from either Indiana University - Bloomington or Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis. Students who are interested in the Ed.S. program, but do not have a master's degree in counseling, should apply to the master's program. Application deadlines are March 1 for Summer Session I and Fall matriculation and November 1 for Spring matriculation.
A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all undergraduate course work and a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 in all graduate course work.
Three letters of recommendation from persons qualified to evaluate the applicant’s academic performance, professional behavior, and personal character. At least one of these letters must be from a faculty member from the applicant’s graduate degree program (preferably one's advisor). At least one letter must be from a current or former supervisor or employer.
A goals statement that describes the applicant’s reasons for seeking admission to the program and describes the applicant’s strengths, weaknesses, and personal vision for self as a mental health counselor.
Transfer to Ed.S. Program
If you are currently enrolled as a Masters student in the Counseling program on the Bloomington or IUPUI campuses, you can apply to transfer to the Ed.S. program using your IU Network ID and Password. Click to apply to transfer to Ed.S.
Apply for Admissions to the Master Degree in Counseling program
If you are not currently enrolled as a Masters student in the Counseling program, please use the following links to begin the admissions process:
Appointment of Ed.S. Advisory Committee
The student’s Ed.S. advisory committee has the responsibility for program guidance throughout the program. There must be two faculty members from the counseling faculty and one representing the minor area on the specialist advisory committee. A form for appointing an advisory committee and for outlining the program of studies is available at Indiana University-Bloomington in Education 4070 and on the web here.
Admission Deadlines
- March 1 - to start classes in the Summer
- November 1 - to start classes in the Spring
THERE ARE NO SPECIAL ADMITS
Ed.S./MS Degree Program - Mental Health Counseling
Clinical mental health counseling is considered the specialty area of professional counseling that is concerned with a broad range of activity focusing on issues dealing with mental health across the human life span. The Mental Health Counseling program specialization builds upon the community counseling curriculum by providing specialized skills that prepare students to assess and treat emotional and behavioral disturbances.
The Mental Health Counseling Program specialization prepares graduates who:
- Establish a professional identity as a Mental Health Counselor
- Have general knowledge of clinical, developmental, and systemic theories of human behavior, human development, and human relating;
- Have specialized knowledge in psychopathology, personality theory, psychopharmacology, and professional issues in clinical mental health;
- Have specialized knowledge in assisting persons with cognitive, behavioral and emotional disturbances;
- Have a systemic approach to accomplishing behavior change through interpersonal and group processes;
- Demonstrate effective skills in group, individual, and family counseling;
- Have a foundation in the current clinical counseling process and outcome research such that they can read, evaluate, and critique the research literature and integrate that research into the practice of professional community counseling;
- Have an understanding and respect for the influence of areas including, but not limited to, culture/ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic class, and have experience in working with a broad array of clientele representing such diversity.
- Provide competent professional service and leadership within the mental health field upon graduation.
Capstone Project or Comprehensive Examination:
A substantial project or a comprehensive examination constitutes the culmination of the Ed.S. program. A project normally requires a written manuscript describing the project. Projects vary from program to program.
How to fulfill the Capstone project/Comprehensive examination request is determined by the student and Ed.S. committee chair. Many students take the CPCE or CCE examination. Check with the Ed.S. program committee chair.
Electronic submission for the CAPSTONE project, click here: https://info.educ.indiana.edu/onlineforms/login.aspx?type=capstone
Mental Health Counseling Ed.S./MS Program Outline:
Students are required to complete a minimum of 65 credit hours, including the following:
Major - 45 credit hours required
- G502 Professional Orientation & Ethics
- G505 Individual Appraisal: Principles and Procedures
- G510 Introduction to Alcohol and Drug Counseling
- G522 Counseling Techniques
(must be taken concurrently with G523)
- G523 Laboratory in Counseling
(must be taken concurrently with G522)
- G524 Practicum in Counseling
- G532 Introduction to Group Counseling
- G550 Internship in Counseling (6 credit hours required)
- G552 Career Counseling - Theory/Practice
- G563 Foundations of Mental Health Counseling
- G575 Multicultural Counseling
- G598 Seminar on Professional issues
- G615 Psychopathology and Advanced Diagnosis
- G647 Advanced Internship in Counseling
Research - 6 credit hours required
Human Development Minor - 9 credit hours required
Elective Course Work - 5 credit hours required
- G542 Organization & Development of Counseling Programs
- G562 Intervention, Consultation & Program Development
- G568 Family Counseling
- G581 Workshop in Counseling and Guidance (variable title)
- G590 Research in Counseling
- G622 Advanced Theories of Counseling
- G632 Advanced Group Leadership: Counseling
- G654 Seminar in Career Development: Theory and Research
- G672 Human Sexuality: An Introduction to Therapy
- G685 Seminar in Counseling Research Methods
- G763 Advanced Practicum in Counseling Supervision
- G785 Topical Seminar in Counseling Psychology (variable title)
Other areas, including Anthropology, Evaluation, Sociology, and Psychology
An attempt is made to keep information current and accurate. However, please verify details with the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology cep@indiana.edu.