Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling
The MS program in Mental Health Counseling leads to New York State licensing. Candidates seeking specialization in college counseling enroll in the mental health program.
The department offers a sequence of courses for practicing school counselors who already hold certification who are seeking a bilingual extension. For additional information, please refer to this Bulletin under Bilingual Extension for Pupil Personnel.
Either MS program in Counseling (School or Mental Health) can be completed in 2 years full-time (which requires attendance in daytime classes) or 3 to 4 years part-time with evening classes. All candidates for either master’s degree must take the 36-credit sequence of basic and advanced core courses, 12 credits of specialization courses, and 12 credits in fieldwork (for a total of 700 hours).
The Mental Health Counseling program is registered with the New York State Education Department and leads to licensing as a Mental Health Counselor. Post-degree clinical hours and exams are required beyond the master’s degree for permanent licensing. Dr. Matthew Day and Dr. Jennifer Kyle are the advisors for the Mental Health Counseling program.
Requirements for Matriculation
These requirements are in addition to the general requirements for matriculation.
- Satisfactory completion of the following five prerequisite course areas:
a. Introduction to psychology
b. Developmental psychology (child, adolescent, or life-span)
c. Abnormal psychology (or Psychopathology)
d. Statistics
e. Social basis of behavior (sociology, anthropology, or social psychology).
In some cases, strong applicants missing one course prerequisite may be conditionally admitted into the program, pending the completion of the missing prerequisite within the first semester - In the 500-word essay on the admissions application, please describe your motivations for entering the counseling profession and your expectations of graduate-level study
- Interview may be required.
Non-Matriculation
The Counseling program does not accept non-matriculated students. QC field site supervisors who have received a course voucher and wish to take a course in the Counseling program should contact the Program Coordinator.