Program Overview

Mental Health Counseling, Master of Arts

The CCNY Mental Health Counseling program provides students with the knowledge and experience required to become a licensed professional counselor. The curriculum offers a thorough foundation in the theory and practice of counseling for the prevention and amelioration of psychological distress. Graduates of the program are prepared to deliver high-quality, ethical, and culturally-competent mental health services that meet the needs of increasingly diverse communities.

Program Overview

• The program admits students for the fall semester only.
• Total credits required: 60
• GRE required: No
• Minimum TOEFL/IELTS scores: 550 (PBT), 79-80 (IBT) or 6.5 (IELTS), 53 (PTE) or 100 (Duolingo)
• Degree awarded: M.A.

Eligibility

• An undergraduate major in psychology is preferred; however, students with another major who have completed courses in introduction to psychology, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, personality psychology, and experimental psychology (or an equivalent course in psychological research) will be considered.
• Applicants should also have had some type of hands-on experience working with others in a helping capacity, either through work or by volunteering.
• A minimum grade point average of 3.2 with an average in psychology of 3.5.
• Other requirements include an individual and/or group interview and at least two letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant's strong sense of personal integrity, strong verbal and writing skills, commitment to learning, and potential to perform in an exemplary fashion in the roles of graduate student and Mental Health Counselor.

Supporting Documents Required

• Official transcripts from post-secondary institutions attended
• 2 letters of recommendation
• Resume/CV
• Personal Statement
• Diversity Statement
• Interview (candidates will be contacted for an interview; not all applicants will be granted an interview)

Program Details

• Students take all of their courses in a set sequence with the other members of their incoming cohort.
• All courses are held exclusively on Tuesdays and Thursdays, freeing up the remaining days of the week.
• Most graduates of CCNY's Mental Health Counseling program go on to careers as Licensed Mental Health Counselors either in private practice or community-based agencies, where they are able to provide services to underserved populations.
• Many also choose to further their education and pursue a doctoral-level degree, after which they go into academia, research, and/or private practice.

Faculty Information

• There are eight dedicated Mental Health Counseling (MHC) faculty members with interests in trauma, substance use disorders, adolescent mental health, and couples and family therapy representing a variety of theoretical orientations, including cognitive-behavioral, humanistic/existential, and family systems.
• Our faculty have also been among the leaders in researching the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in real time, the impact of forced migration and human rights abuses, and the intersection of trauma and substance use disorders.

Curricular Innovation

• The MHC program offers a unique small cohort model with personalized attention and support for each student.
• Faculty advisors are dedicated to guiding students, who can also seek assistance from other faculty members.
• The close-knit cohort fosters strong bonds that extend beyond graduation.
• The program's faculty expertise enables comprehensive education in trauma, resilience, substance use disorders, and family/couples counseling.
• The structured curriculum can be finished in two years, facilitating timely progress towards becoming licensed counselors.

Program Advisor

• Greg Thompson

Additional Information

• 700+ hours of applied experience in counseling and related services provided at a field placement site.
• 100/12 peer-reviewed research articles/books published
• $1.7M grant from the National Institutes of Health
• 8:1 student to faculty ratio