Heidelberg College

What you'll study

The MAC begins with four required foundational courses: COU 502 Introduction to Professional Counseling Identity; COU 503 Human Growth and Development; COU 504 Theories of Counseling; and COU 532 Professional Issues in Counseling: Legal and Ethical. Core and clinical coursework covers counseling techniques, group work, assessment, research methods, career guidance, child and adolescent counseling, couples and family work, multicultural counseling, trauma, substance use, human sexuality, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, and agency/clinical mental health practice. Clinical and field components include COU 580 Practicum in Clinical Counseling and COU 583 Internship Experience for Clinical Counseling, plus a comprehensive examination (COU 690). Students may also take electives (e.g., COU 545) and advanced trauma or intensive modal courses (COU 611, COU 613).

Entry requirements

Applicants are conditionally admitted and must submit a Graduate Studies application, official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a 2–3 page personal statement of professional goals, and Ohio BCI and FBI background checks. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required. After completing nine credit hours, students interview with MAC faculty for full admission. Students are advised by the Program Director until fully admitted and then receive a permanent advisor.

Career prospects

The programme is designed to prepare graduates for professional licensure and employment as counselors; Heidelberg reports strong completion and early-career outcomes, including a 98% programme completion rate, a 98% first-attempt licensure exam passage rate, and a reported 100% combined employment and doctoral admission rate for graduates. Course content aligns with CACREP's eight core areas to support readiness for clinical roles in community agencies, mental health settings, schools (where applicable by state requirements), and related counselling positions.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

A notable funding resource is Heidelberg's HRSA grant, which provides up to $25,000 to counselling students during internships to offset unpaid clinical hours and support hands-on training. Prospective students should also consult the university's graduate funding pages and external scholarship sources for additional support; the programme's evening and part-time options can help students balance work and study.