The online Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60-credit hour program developed by the OU Department of Human Relations that can be completed in as few as 30 months. Graduates are prepared to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)* equipped to help individuals and tackle systemic issues. The program provides a comprehensive curriculum taught through a social justice and multicultural lens.
*This degree is approved by the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure and meets the educational requirements to become an LPC in Oklahoma. Licensure requirements vary by state, and students outside of Oklahoma should review their State Licensure board requirements.
Rolling admissions (applications due 14 days before the intended start date).
Fall, Spring
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This program creates strong leaders who harness cultural differences and gather perspectives from across age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds while adapting to constant change.
Community service manager jobs are expected to grow 13% over the next decade.* This degree will prepare you for job advancement in the growing fields of human resources, training, and development.
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Learn in a flexible, online program designed for working adults. You’ll engage in discussions with professors and fellow students while becoming prepared to take the NCE exam and excel in an evolving field.
OU Online graduates find employment within six months after graduation*
OU Online graduates report earning an annual salary of $75,000 or more*
OU Online students say the skills they gained in their program made them more competitive in their career field*
*Source: OU Online Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2023
Take the next step in your career with a degree from the University of Oklahoma. Applications are reviewed year-round for fall and spring sessions. Choose your program, choose your start, and apply today.
The Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling is an online program focusing on a curriculum viewed through a social justice and multiculturalism lens. In addition to asynchronous coursework and live online class sessions, students will attend two residencies on the OU campus. During each residency, students will complete a course by coming to campus and meeting all day for one week. During the program, you can participate in a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship (in person, per state requirements*).
To complete the program, students must complete:
As a graduate of the online Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, you will be able to:
*This degree is approved by the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure and meets the educational requirements to become an LPC in Oklahoma. Licensure requirements vary by state, and students outside of Oklahoma should review their state licensure board requirements.
The mission of the OU Online program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is to develop ethical and sensitive practitioners with the counseling knowledge, skills, and disposition to work with diverse populations in private and public mental health practices, improving mental health and wellness across communities. The CMHC program's purpose is to develop students in the following domains:
The CMHC program mission is undergirded and supported by the overall mission at the University of Oklahoma – to provide the best possible educational experience for our students through excellence in teaching, research, creative activity, and service to the state and society.
The objectives of the OU Online CMHC program are based on current knowledge concerning the counseling and human development needs of a multicultural society. Developed in collaboration with current and former students, personnel from cooperating agencies, various accrediting agencies, and colleagues in this and other university settings, the counseling faculty identified the following objectives for providing excellence in counselor education:
To apply to the online Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, students must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or appropriate international equivalent). Admission is based on the candidate’s potential for graduate study and suitability for the counseling profession. The following section includes high-level application and admissions information.
Applicants must complete the following:
Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may still be eligible for admission on a case-by-case basis.
To apply:
The admissions committee operates under a rolling admission process, and admissions may continue until two weeks before classes start. The committee strives to respond to all applicants within two weeks of submitting a completed application.
For more information on the admissions process, please complete the contact form below, and an admissions counselor will be in touch shortly.
If you would like to compare the estimated cost of your program with a typical financial aid package, use the cost calculator on our OU Online financial aid page.
Graduate tuition waivers cannot be applied to OU Online programs. OU Online programs qualify for the OU Faculty/Staff Tuition Waiver & Fee Exemption, and we encourage you to check your eligibility.
Tuition waiver and fee exemption package application
If you have questions regarding financial aid for your online program, please get in touch with the Online Aid office by emailing onlineaid@ou.edu or calling 405-325-2929.
The University of Oklahoma is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Like every OU Online program, the Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling is built on the foundation of world-class University of Oklahoma faculty mixed with professors of practice providing valuable instruction. By linking industry experts with our online programs, we offer the most advanced curriculum and prepare students for future career success.
Earning a Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from OU Online gives you the skills to succeed in a growing and evolving field. It also gives you access to career support and an expanded professional network as part of the global OU alumni community. Stand out where the industry is moving while enjoying the potential for higher pay, career advancement, and new opportunities.
Tuition and fees for the program are $49,080 ($818 per credit hour). Books and additional materials are not included.
Once accepted into the program, students must submit a $350 nonrefundable deposit within two weeks. Deposits are applied toward tuition expenses and secure a student’s place in the upcoming class. There is no application fee for this degree.
Our tuition calculator can help you estimate your tuition and financial aid for your program of interest.
We are a top-tier public institution offering high-quality, affordable, professional undergraduate and graduate programs committed to maintaining academic excellence online.
Every OU Online program is built on the foundation of world-class faculty mixed with professors of practice providing valuable instruction. By linking industry experts with our online programs, we offer the most advanced curriculum and prepare students for future career success.
When you graduate from an OU Online program, you’ll join the network of 250,000 OU alumni and be forever part of the OU family. Become part of the tradition of excellence that OU has established in its 130-year history.
