Find Your Path: Graduate Programs in Mental Health and Sexual Health

Master’s Degrees

Tuition and state licensure requirements may vary across programs. Please check the individual degree page for details. Master’s degree students are eligible for federal financial aid.

MPS in Addictions Counseling

Prepares counselors to serve clients with substance use disorders by providing strong theoretical and practical foundations in evidence-based treatment modalities. Career paths: Behavioral counselor, social service assistant, alcohol and drug counselor, clinical supervisor, program manager, youth services coordinator.

MPS in Integrated Behavioral Health

Trains counselors to assess, diagnose and treat mental health, substance use and co-occurring disorders, with an emphasis on client-centered and multiculturally attuned care. Career paths: Mental health therapist, behavioral health counselor, behavioral health therapist, social/human service assistant, senior clinical supervisor. 

MPS in Sexual Health

Empowers professionals to address sexual health-related areas by providing strong scientific knowledge and training in sexual and gender issues. Career paths: Counselor, clinician, educator, advocate, health practitioner, allied health professional. Offered in partnership with the Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health at the UMN Medical School. 

MPS in Sex Therapy

Puts students on a direct path to becoming a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) in Minnesota and earning optional AASECT Sex Therapist certification. A fully online degree created in collaboration with the Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health at the UMN Medical School. 

Comparing Master's Degrees

* Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC): Provides counseling and support to clients with substance use disorders.

**Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC): Provides a wide range of counseling services to individuals, groups and families. This is a provisional license that individuals can earn on their way to full LPCC licensure. Additional hours of supervised training are required after completion of the MPS prior to licensure.

***Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC): Provides a more clinically focused scope of practice compared to an LPC. Trained to diagnose and treat serious mental health conditions and often works in clinical settings that require advanced therapeutic skills. Additional hours of supervised training are required after completion of the MPS prior to licensure.

✝ The MPS in Sex Therapy meets a majority of the certification requirements for AASECT Sex Therapist certification. Additional requirements, including postdegree supervision, will not be met by the program.

Graduate Certificates

Tuition may vary across programs. Please check the individual certificate page for details. Certificate students are not eligible for federal financial aid.

AASECT Certification

We are an AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists) approved provider. Each course with the HSEX designator is approved by AASECT for 35 CE credits. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification. Each of our graduate sexual health programs may fulfill additional AASECT requirements. Check the specific program page for details.

Advanced Sexual Health Education Certificate

Prepares professionals for a career working as a sexual health educator or in sex education-adjacent careers. No license required to apply. Career paths: Sexual health educator, advocate, community outreach worker, youth worker, health practitioner.

Human Sexuality Certificate

Provides counselors and clinicians with the latest research and insights to inform their practice; for educators and advocates, this adds specialized knowledge to their toolkit. Career paths: Health practitioner in nursing, social work, family science, psychology, medicine, pharmacy or dentistry; advocate, educator.

Sex Therapy Certificate

For professionals who hold a counseling or allied health license (LPCC, LP, LICSW, etc.) and want to expand their skills, or for aspiring sex therapists in a licensure training program. Career paths: Health practitioner in nursing, social work, family science, psychology, medicine, pharmacy or dentistry; advocate, educator.

Transgender and Gender Diverse Health Certificate

Prepares professionals who want to make a difference on the front lines of healthcare, patient advocacy or education to deliver sensitive, competent care to transgender and gender-diverse patients and clients. Career paths: Healthcare professional in nursing, social work, family science or psychology.

Trauma Informed Care Certificate

Provides students with training in recognizing the signs of trauma, creating a supportive and trusting environment and trauma-informed interventions and their intersections with diverse populations. Career paths: Counselor, social worker, healthcare professional, educator.

Comparing Certificate Programs

How to Apply

Follow the counseling programs application instructions for the programs below:

• Master of Professional Studies in Addictions Counseling
• Master of Professional Studies in Integrated Behavioral Health 
• Master of Professional Studies in Sex Therapy
• Trauma Informed Care Certificate 

Follow the sexual health program application instructions for the programs below:

• Master of Professional Studies in Sexual Health
• Sex Therapy Certificate