Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling (MSMHC)

Overview

The Viterbo University Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling degree is accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. The program is designed to meet state requirements for licensure as mental health counselors in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. The key content areas include professional identity, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, helping relationships, career development, group work, assessment, diagnosis, research, program evaluation, and evidence-based counseling, prevention, and intervention skills.

Policy

Grades 

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for all MSMHC coursework, with no individual course grade lower than C.

Attendance

All graduate students are expected to attend all class meetings. If a student is unable to attend a class, the student must contact the instructor and take responsibility to meet the class objectives. This makeup will ordinarily require additional written work. It is the duty of the student to make arrangements for missed work. If more than one class meeting is missed within a course, the student shall contact the instructor and the MSMHC director in advance to discuss whether the student should enroll in the course at another time.

Transfer Credit

Individual consideration will be granted in the awarding of transfer credits in order to ensure the student meets the licensure requirements as a professional counselor. Up to 15 credits may be transferred from another CACREP-accredited program.

Requirements

All students are required to complete 60 credits and maintain a 3.0 grade point average to be awarded the Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling degree. Those credits include core courses to be completed by all students, as well as electives to fulfill requirements of one of the program’s optional concentrations. The core courses will include practicum experiences and research activities. Initial contact with one’s academic advisor will focus on developing an academic plan.

Research Project Requirements

All students will complete an action research project prior to graduation. This advocacy and research project will be completed in conjunction with their internship experiences. This research project will address an issue, need, or problem relevant to the counseling profession. The student will develop a research proposal, as well as methodology for the identification, collection, and analysis/synthesis of project data. A final research paper will be submitted to the program director, archived in the Viterbo University Todd Wehr Memorial Library, and presented at the annual graduate research symposium, which will be opened to the professional public.

Learning Outcomes
  • Professional Orientation and Ethics: Construct a philosophy of counseling based on the history and future trends of the profession, professional roles and responsibilities, with an emphasis on ethical practice within the framework of American Counseling Association Ethical Guidelines
  • Diversity and Advocacy: Prioritize and respond to all aspects of social and cultural diversity, optimizing human development with clients
  • Human Growth and Development: Compare and contrast theories of human development across the life span and the full continuum of mental health issues to facilitate effective life transitions
  • Career and Life Planning: Utilize theories and skills to facilitate career and life decisions with clients
  • Helping Relationship: Demonstrate the foundational framework for establishing a therapeutic alliance with clients
  • Counseling Continuum: Work effectively in a variety of modalities (individual, group, family) and to use crisis intervention, brief counseling, and long-term mental health approaches with clients
  • Group Work: Articulate group theory and assess their ability to deliver effective group therapy with clients
  • Research and Evaluation: Utilize relevant research strategies within an evidence-based counseling perspective 
  • Assessment: Accurately select assessment instruments for client needs and program evaluations 
  • Diagnosis: Conceptualize and apply relevant diagnostic procedures for clients
Addendum

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

MSMHC Pathway to Ed.D.

MSMHC students may enroll in a maximum of four doctorate level courses (12 credits) that will meet the requirements of the MS in Mental Health Counseling, which also satisfies coursework requirements for the Educational Doctorate in Counseling Education and Supervision. Students will be approved by the graduate faculty to enroll in doctorate level graduate course(s). The following coursework is available to approved MSMHC graduate students:

Educational Doctorate Courses MSMHC Equivalent Courses
COUN 715 Supervision Foundations  
COUN 750 Brain, Behavior, and Psychopharmacology Sub for COUN 650 Psychopharmacology for Counselors
COUN 720 Clinical Trauma Informed Counseling Sub for COUN 580 Trauma and Crisis
COUN 772 Health Care Promotion, Policy, Ethics Sub for  MSMHC Concentration Area

CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist)

Overview

The innovative Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) option uses both face-to-face and web-enhanced courses to offer  high quality, interactive instruction.  Students have the opportunity for expertly supervised clinical practicum experiences in the second and third year of the 36-month year-round program. Students complete 22 doctoral level credits at Viterbo, transferring in a Master of Science in Biology degree from UW- La Crosse and 21  Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare School of Anesthesia credits to graduate with a Doctor of  Nursing Practice degree. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and clinical credits from the School of Anesthesia are required to sit for the national board certification exam to be licensed as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

  • National Board Certification Pathway
  • 3 year plan; 78 credits 
  • For students with a BSN who want to provide anesthesia care for procedures and surgeries and work in a variety of settings (for example: operating rooms, surgical centers, same-day procedures)
Policy

Academic Standing - Satisfactory Progress
Graduate nursing students are expected to earn a B or better in all of their courses AND maintain a semester GPA of at least 3.0 or better.

Required Background Check
Federal and state statutes require that criminal background checks be completed for all persons who provide nursing care for others or who have access to people who receive care. Clinical agencies prohibit placement of students with criminal histories of specific crimes and offenses that have been identified by the state of Wisconsin or others as bars to employment or licensure (such as abuse, assault, or neglect). The School of Nursing requires that all students complete a background information disclosure statement and a criminal history search. Individuals whose background check identifies bars to the provision of care in contracted agencies or places restrictions on client contact will not be allowed to progress in the program.

Transfer Credits Upon Admission 
Individual consideration will be granted in the awarding of transfer credits. Up to 18 credits may be transferred from another program and utilized to meet the post-baccalaureate to DNP program requirements of Viterbo University if equivalent. Up to nine credits may be transferred to the post-MSN to DNP program, if equivalent. In order to be considered for transfer, the grade earned must be at least a B. Transfer credits must be graduate credit taken from an accredited institution of higher education completed within the last five years and equivalent to the course it is replacing in the requirements at Viterbo. Courses older than five years may be given credit based on individual review. Students who wish to transfer credits must have an official transcript sent to the director of graduate nursing program. Courses will be evaluated for equivalency and written notification of acceptance of transcript credit will be provided to the student by the director.

Transfer Credits After Admission 
The faculty of the Viterbo University graduate nursing program has carefully planned and developed a curriculum to meet the needs of the potential graduates of the chosen tracks. The content for the curriculum was designed for the curricular and graduate outcomes unique to this program and the specific role preparation. In view of the connection of the curriculum to the desired outcomes and the quality of the graduate, once a student has begun classes as a degree-seeking student in the Viterbo University graduate nursing program, all classes (excluding electives) must be taken at Viterbo University. Note: This policy is not applicable to post-MSN to DNP students wishing AGNP or FNP role preparation whose plan of study will be determined on an individual basis or to agreements established with collaborating institutions.

Time for Completion of Graduate Nursing Degrees
Six credits per semester is considered full-time study; however some semesters contain substantially more credits in the full time plan of study.

  • The post BSN to DNP program can be completed in three years. It is expected that students will complete the program within seven years or less.
  • The post MSN to DNP program can be completed in two years. It is expected that students will complete the program in four years or less.
  • The post MSN to DNP program including NP role preparation can be completed in three years. It is expected that students will complete the program in seven years or less.
  • Time spent as a non-degree student does not count toward the completion period, but students will be subject to the catalog/curriculum requirements in effect at the time they become degree seeking.
  • All full-time and part-time degree-seeking students who have not been granted a leave of absence must register each semester until all degree requirements are completed.

Practicum/Clinical Experience

  • A student receiving a C or less for clinical practicum may be dismissed from the program. If dismissal does not occur, the student will be placed on a clinical remediation contract for the subsequent practicum, must repeat the course with a B or better grade, and must achieve B or better in all remaining practicum courses to remain in the program.
  • Prescribed numbers of clinical hours have been incorporated into the various plans of study available within the graduate nursing program. Students must have an RN license for the state in which the clinical site is located. The number of clinical hours varies depending on the track chosen. A ratio of four clock hours to one didactic hour per week is used; therefore one credit of practicum credit is 60 hours of clinical for the APRN and NP tracks. The student will receive a grade for clinical practicum experiences, a BC or better is required for progression. Receiving C or below may contribute to a decision to dismiss a student from the program or specific remediation procedures.

Didactic Classes (includes theory, seminar, and culminating project credits)

  • A student in the graduate nursing program who earns a C in any course, OR goes below a semester GPA of 3.0, will be placed on probationary status and must achieve a grade of B or better in all subsequent courses AND maintain a semester GPA of 3.0 or better to remain in the program.
  • A student who earns less than a C will be required to repeat the course and earn B or better in this and all subsequent classes and maintain a semester GPA of 3.0 or better to remain in the program.

DNP Project
Students will conduct a scholarly project over two or more semesters. This project is an opportunity for students to engage in independent research/evidence-based inquiry/scholarly work in a defined area of significance to the advanced nursing role. Students will work with faculty advisors for assistance, critique, and expertise. The student will receive a grade at the end of each semester of DNP project registration, and B or better indicates satisfactory progress. Students are required to disseminate their work in a prescribed way.

Certification
http://www.viterbo.edu/graduate-program-nursing

Learning Outcomes
  • Practice in an expanded, specialized, and/or advanced nursing role.
  • Affirm the dignity of life and human diversity.
  • Advocate for quality outcomes for individuals, families, populations, and systems.
  • Demonstrate ethical leadership and faithful service in their chosen roles and settings.
  • Facilitate the translation of research and evidence into practice.
  • Utilize technology to impact best practice.
Addendum

Accreditation

The School of Nursing is approved by the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing; P.O. Box 8935, Madison, WI 53708; 608-266-2112; web@drl.state.wi.us; and accredited at the DNP level by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education; One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530; Washington, DC 20036; 202-887-6791; 202-887-8476 (fax); www.aacn.nche.edu/accreditation.

Admission

Program admission requirements and procedures may be found at http://www.viterbo.edu/graduate-program-nursing/application-procedures

Provisional Admission

Occasionally a student does not meet the admission criteria in all respects, but shows promise of the ability to be successful in graduate school. In this case, the student may be admitted to the graduate nursing program on probation. After two semesters (12 credits) of achieving a B or better in all courses, the probation status will be discontinued. If unable to meet this criterion, the student will be required to withdraw from the program.

Policy and Guidelines Applying to Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disabilities

The School of Nursing supports the Viterbo University policy and guidelines relating to the non-exclusion of qualified students from university programs solely by reason of disability. To meet the requirements of and to successfully participate in the graduate nursing program at Viterbo University, a student must be able to perform skills which are essential to advanced nursing roles. While Viterbo University will provide reasonable accommodations in certain course requirements to assist a special needs student to meet certain course outcomes, there are some essential skills for which there are no known substitutes. The applicant to the graduate nursing program and the student throughout the program must be able to meet the requirements of the track chosen. Accordingly, these specific requirements may vary somewhat.

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