Master of Science in Mental Health Care and Christian Integration
The Master of Science in Mental Health Care and Christian Integration (MS) degree was created to serve individuals who already possess a clinical degree and desire to integrate their faith in their practice as clinicians, or for pastors who want more training in applied counseling but without the clinical sequence of the CMHC program.
All Richmont students complete coursework in biblical studies, practical theology, and the integration of applied psychology and practical theology. Through the pursuit of the MS degree, the integration component may be taken in. Although this degree is not designed to lead to licensure as a counselor, MS graduates may pursue further study in counseling elsewhere or use this training to supplement training received at another institution.
The MS in Mental Health Care and Christian Integration is designed to meet the needs of the following students:
- Those seeking primarily theoretical training in the integration of counseling and theology. These may be students who are interested in research or preparation for a more advanced degree or who have already earned a graduate degree in a related field.
- Professionals who wish to integrate their faith and practice. These are people who already have training and are counseling in some context but wish to more explicitly integrate their Christian faith in their counseling. These people also may be motivated by seeking a credential to demonstrate to managed care organizations that they are qualified to list “Christian counseling” as a specialization of their practice.
- Those who are concurrently receiving training at another institution in a program that leads to a counseling- related credential and who wish to formalize their training in integration.
- Pastors who counsel as part of their ministry and wish to formalize their training in integration and applied counseling skills.
Although the MS degree is NOT designed to lead to licensure or to any independent practice of counseling, it essentially extracts the integrative track from the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with minor alterations and additions. It requires 31 hours of coursework as outlined in the program sequence. The MS degree can be completed in a minimum of three semesters but cannot extend past three academic years from the time of matriculation.
Program Objectives
Objective 1: Students will be prepared to ethically implement mental health care into their vocation incorporating insights from the counseling field.
Objective 2: Students will integrate Christian spiritual formation and critical theological reflection as these pertain to the counseling profession
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Mental Health Care and Christian Integration curriculum consists of a minimum of 32 semester hours.
Mental Health Care Curriculum (18 hours)
| CED5122 | Foundations in Counseling | 2 |
| CED6113 | Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CED6143 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| CED6802 | Trauma in Developmental Context | 2 |
| CED6512 | Introduction to Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy | 2 |
| CED7113 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| CED7833 | Couples, Marriage and Family Therapy I | 3 |
Integration Curriculum (14 hours)
| CED6112 | Personal and Spiritual Life of the Counselor | 2 |
| CED6302 | Deconstruction in Theology and Counseling | 2 |
| CED6362 | Practical Integration | 2 |
| CED6352 | Biblical Anthropology | 2 |
| CED7132 | Theodicy and Trauma Counseling | 2 |
| CED7362 | Integrative Theology | 2 |
CEDx2x2
| Counseling and Spirituality Integration Elective | 2 |
1 Year Program Sequence
Below is the suggested sequence of courses for a student pursuing the basic Master of Science in Mental Health Care and Christian Integration
Two-year program sequence options are available from the Records Office.
Fall Semester I: 11 hours
| CED5122 | Foundations in Counseling | 2 |
| CED6113 | Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CED6512 | Introduction to Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy | 2 |
| CED6802 | Trauma in Developmental Context | 2 |
| CED7362 | Integrative Theology | 2 |
Spring Semester I: 14 hours
| CED6112 | Personal and Spiritual Life of the Counselor | 2 |
| CED6143 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| CED6302 | Deconstruction in Theology and Counseling | 2 |
| CED7132 | Theodicy and Trauma Counseling | 2 |
CEDx2x2
| Counseling and Spirituality Integration Elective | 2 |
| CED7833 | Couples, Marriage and Family Therapy I | 3 |
Summer Semester I: 7 hours