Mental Health Counseling (MSEd)
Program Overview
Program Overview
The Mental Health Counseling (MSEd) program at Hunter College School of Education prepares graduates to work as mental health counselors in various settings, including hospitals, agencies, community settings, and private practice. Students can complete the program part-time or full-time.
Academic Plan
The program's academic plan is designated as MENHC-MSED, requiring students to earn at least 60 credits.
Program Mission Statement
The program's mission is to train clinicians who are clinically insightful, capable of practicing in various clinical settings, and committed to serving a diverse population. The program values an education that promotes cultural humility, curiosity, empathy, critical thinking, self-awareness, ethical practice, advocacy, and an appreciation of human diversity.
Program Objectives
The program objectives include:
- Students develop a professional identity aligned with the roles and functions of professional school counselors.
- Students become effective counselors who use clinical skills and evidence-based strategies to improve the lives of their clients.
- Students apply ethical standards, principles, and legal considerations in their work with clients.
- Students develop and demonstrate multicultural humility, knowledge, skills, and advocacy by actively minimizing stereotyping, prejudice, and stigmatization.
- Students develop an awareness of and a strengths-based approach to human development across the lifespan, including the impact of family, community, and environmental factors, and apply strategies to promote wellness.
- Students demonstrate the competencies to work both individually and systemically within complex systems by advocating for access, equity, and social justice.
Advisors and Faculty
The program's advisors and faculty include:
- Veronica Muller, Program Leader
- Alex Fietzer, Program Faculty
- Linzy Andre, Program Faculty
- Uzma Khan, Program Faculty
- Michelle Lask, Clinical Coordinator of Field Placements
- Hadeel Elder, Program Faculty/Fieldwork Site Development
- Valerie Lyons, Academic, Licensure, and Graduation Advisor
Program Sequence
Students can consult the program sequence for course information.
Transfer of Credits
A matriculated student may request a transfer of credit for a graduate-level course completed at another institution. The course must have been taken within the past five years and closely match the content of a required course in the student's Hunter College program. Graduate students are limited to 12 transfer credits.
Courses Permitted for Transfer
The program will review transfer of credit requests for the following courses:
- COCO 70000 Life Stage Development
- COCO 70200 Theories of Counseling
- COCO 70300 Psych Social, Cultural, and Political Aspects of Disability: Rehabilitation and Special Education
- COCO 70800 Measurement and Appraisal
- COCO 70900 Research Methods in Counseling
- COCO 71000 Chemical Dependency: Issues in Counseling
- COCO 71100 Supervision and Administration in Counseling
- COCO 71200 Career Counseling, Assessment and Placement
- COUNM 71600 Foundations of Mental Health Counseling
- COCO 71500 Family Systems And Counseling Issues
- COUNM 71700 Psychopathology: Diagnosis and Treatment
- COUNM 72000 Program Development & Evaluation
- COUNR 72000 Medical Aspects of Disability
- COUNR 72100 Intev. Children/ Adolescence
Transfer of Credit Not Approved
Transfer of Credit is never approved for the following courses:
- COCO 70100 Counseling Skills and Interviewing Techniques (KC)
- COCO 70600 Group Counseling (KC)
- COCO 70700 Multicultural Aspects of Counseling
- COUNM 71800 Practicum in Mental Health Counseling (KC)
- COUNM 71900 Advanced Counseling Skills and Contemporary Issues
- COUNM 72500 Internship in Mental Health Counseling 1 (KC)
- COUNM 72600 Internship in Mental Health Counseling 2 (KC)
Clinical Experiences
Students in the Mental Health Counseling program are required to complete two fieldwork experiences during their academic program: practicum and internship.
Practicum
Practicum is a one-semester placement, which may be completed in the fall or spring semester. Practicum requires students to be in the field a minimum of 100 hours per semester.
Internship
Upon successful completion of practicum, students are eligible to start internship, their second fieldwork experience during their academic program. Internship is a two-consecutive semester placement, which starts in the fall semester and is completed in the spring semester. Internship requires students to be in the field a minimum of 300 hours per semester.
Certification and Licensure
This program leads to eligibility for the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) credential in New York State. Professional licensure is required to practice mental health counseling.
Graduation
Graduation is the official completion of the program and conferral of an academic degree. In order to graduate, students must apply for graduation using CUNYFirst the semester before the semester of their planned graduation and complete any outstanding requirements by the stated deadlines.