Statue on LVC campus in Spring

Clinical Mental Health Counseling 3+2

With LVC's accelerated dual-degree program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC), you can earn your Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Science in Counseling in just five years.

The CMHC program features an evidence-based curriculum, along with opportunities to get real-life experience through internships and a practicum. You’ll also develop ethically focused clinical and interpersonal skills through classroom and hands-on learning.

When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to take the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) and for Licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) status.

Learn More About the Program

Taught by highly-regarded faculty who are experts in their fields, you’ll be immersed in a curriculum that quickly gets you comfortable working in a wide variety of settings, with a wide variety of people. By the time you graduate, you’ll be prepared for a career in workplaces like schools, community agencies, integrative healthcare organizations, and private practices.

Psych professor speaking to student

Be Mind-full

Internships & Practicums

CMHC students gain real-life experience through internships and practicums at a variety of sites, such as:

  • Annville Psychological Services
  • Center for Hope and Healing
  • Milton Hershey School
  • Pennsylvania Counseling Services

Student & Faculty Research

As a CMHC major, you can take advantage of our student and faculty research program as an extracurricular learning opportunity. You’ll work alongside professors as they conduct empirical research, gaining experience and psychological insights along the way.

23%
expected job growth in counseling, 2020–30 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
#15
mental health counselor ranking as a profession in U.S. News & World Report, Best Social Services Jobs 2022

LVC’s CMHC program is designed to meet the educational requirements to be licensed as a professional counselor in Pennsylvania. Additional requirements to obtain licensure are mandatory, including but not limited to passing the state licensure exam and acquiring the requisite supervision hours. Students should consult the Pennsylvania State Licensing Board to determine the requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Students interested in licensure outside Pennsylvania can contact the American Counseling Association or the National Board of Certified Counselors to access licensure requirements for other states. The student is responsible for contacting the appropriate board for licensing and certification information.

Please consult Dr. Lou Manza, chair and professor of psychology, at manza@lvc.edu for additional information.

In Their Words

The 3+2 CMHC program feels like home. Every professor is focused on building you into a better person rather than a better test-taker. I love how applicable the classes are. This program will help you find a niche through a vast array of course topics and clinical experiences.
Jordan Stum ’25
The flexibility in course formats has been helpful in managing extracurricular activities including an NCAA sport and work, which I imagine will carry over into my practicum and internship experiences as well. The professors in both the undergraduate and graduate phase are also incredibly supportive and accessible in and out of the classroom.
Katie Pounder ’24
LVC prepared me very well. It made … the workforce less intimidating than it could have been. I learned the foundations of how to conduct and interpret research and how to determine if research was valid … which has been incredibly useful in my personal and professional life.
Jennifer Arnold ’13, Licensed Professional Counselor, Annville Psychological Services

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