As members of the clinical mental health counseling program of James Madison University, we have formed our own special community of faculty, staff and students. We vary in abilities, age, class, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation and place of birth, but we share a common vision of achieving a vitally important mission and transforming students into successful community counselors. Our alumni are dedicated to providing competent, caring and ethical services to diverse clients in public agencies, community programs and private practices. Putting our principles into practice, we strive to create a caring community in which we can thrive personally and grow professionally. While many of our graduates work in rural communities in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley or among the mountains of West Virginia, many more have moved on to serve in other communities throughout the mid-Atlantic region and across the nation. We invite our students to embark on a life-long journey of exploring new possibilities, refining their skills and staying fresh throughout their careers. We encourage them to support one another in the formidable task of facilitating the change process in individuals, couples, families, groups, and communities as licensed professional counselors. Finally, we challenge our graduates to advance the clinical mental health counseling profession through service, research, innovation, advocacy and training. The Master of Arts degree is awarded only after completion of all educational specialist degree requirements. This program provides the academic and applied training necessary for individuals seeking employment as counselors in clinical mental health agencies, psychiatric facilities or private practice. The program requires the completion of a minimum of 60 credit hours.