MEd in Professional Counseling (Mental Health Counseling)
UGA M.Ed. Mental Health Counseling program interviews will be held VIRTUALLY for the 2024-2025 admission cycle. Interviews are scheduled for Friday, February 23, 2024.
Submission of valid GRE scores is still required for applications. However, all application criteria are considered and applied flexibly so that a strength in one area can mitigate a weakness in another area.
Prepare to serve as a professional counselor in a variety of community mental health settings with the M.Ed. in Professional Counseling (Mental Health Counseling).
This two-year, full-time, cohort-based program covers a broad range of topics for working with many different populations. Our coursework will help you develop effective counseling skills and gain broad-based expertise to serve in settings such as community mental health agencies, hospitals, juvenile justice settings, outdoor therapeutic programs, drug and alcohol treatment facilities, and private practice.
Highlights
- Program is nationally accredited
- Emphasis on social justice
- Cohort model of training
Accreditation Information
The M.Ed. in Professional Counseling program is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of May, 2019 through July, 2024. The program was placed on probation in January 2024 for not meeting standards fully in the required timeframe.
Graduates of the program will be eligible for Georgia licensure.
Curriculum
The M.Ed. in Professional Counseling will prepare you for the practice of individual, couple, family, and group counseling. Our program places special emphasis on working with diverse, underserved, and oppressed populations and developing strategies to address social justice issues. We provide the coursework necessary for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) in Georgia.
During your time in the M.Ed. program, you may choose a concentration for your studies. Options include:
- Marriage and family therapy
- Juvenile offender counseling
- Women’s studies
To receive your master’s degree, you will take a minimum of 60 semester hours of academic credit. Your coursework includes:
- Interpersonal Relationships
- Individual Appraisal
- Foundations of Mental Health Counseling
- Multicultural Counseling
- Counseling Theories and Practice
- Career Development
- Social Justice and Advocacy
- Group counseling
- Individual Counseling Practicum
- Psychodiagnosis
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Internship in Mental Health Counseling
- Human Development and the Lifespan
- Research Methods
- Psychopharmacology
- Seminars covering topics such as disability, sexuality, religion, and trauma
- You may also take elective courses within the departments of Psychology, Social Work, or Child and Family Development.
In addition to classes, students will be engaged in clinical work four out of the five semesters of the program. Possible clinical sites include a college counseling center, childhood trauma agency, private therapy practice, community mental health agency, juvenile justice center, and a university counseling and psychiatry service center.
These experiences will help you develop your clinical skills in practice under the close supervision of faculty and on-site counselors. Our program will assign your practicum/internship based upon your clinical interests, needs, and availability.
Additional information and disclosures regarding state licensure for professional practice in this field can be found at the UGA Licensure Disclosure Portal .
Downloads
How to Apply
Part 1: Apply to the University of Georgia
The Graduate School handles admission for all graduate programs at the University of Georgia, including those in the College of Education. The Graduate School website contains important details about the application process, orientation, and many other useful links to guide you through the process of attending UGA at the graduate level.
Start A Graduate School Application
Part 2: Apply to the M.Ed. in Professional Counseling (Mental Health Counseling)
To apply, submit the following:
- Graduate School application
- Send GRE scores to Graduate Admissions via ETS; ETS code for UGA is 5813 (M.A.T. scores will also be accepted). Only scores from the GRE General test are required. Please do not submit subject-specific GRE scores. No departmental code is required.
- TOEFL or IELTS (applicants from non-English speaking country only)
- Official transcripts that indicate GPA from any and all previous undergraduate and graduate institutions in which the student was enrolled
- International applicants: Please submit official transcripts in native language as well as TOEFL scores
- A personal statement of purpose for applying to the program
- A current resume
- 3 letters of recommendation
All application criteria are considered and applied flexibly so that a strength in one area can mitigate weakness in another area. Please note, that applicants are only admitted every Fall semester.
Deadline To Apply
- December 1
Funding Opportunities and Availability
Currently, students have secured funding through two HRSA training grants: one grant focuses on behavioral health, and the other focuses on interventions for opioid addictions. Students apply and, upon acceptance, will receive training and funding applicable to their second year of training.
In addition to these training grants, a small number of graduate assistantships are offered through the UGA Career Center.
Additional Resources
Please use our online form if you have any questions for the department. Please be as specific as possible so that we may quickly assist you.
The College’s programs are taught by dedicated faculty who are experts in a range of areas and are passionate about helping students succeed both in their programs and professionally.
A close working relationship with your advisor is key as you progress through your program of study. Please note that most graduate students at UGA are not assigned to a faculty advisor until after admittance.
Almost all in-state students begin their studies at UGA paying limited tuition or fees. Please note that these amounts are subject to change and are meant to give prospective students an idea of the costs associated with a degree at the University of Georgia College of Education.
Students may qualify for a variety of assistantships, scholarships, and other financial awards to help offset the cost of tuition, housing, and other expenses.
Our students have a range of opportunities available outside the classroom as well, from professional organizations, experiential learning, clubs and other non-academic experiences.
See for yourself how much UGA College of Education has to offer! Schedule a tour of campus to learn more about the UGA student experience.