About
Admission
How to Apply
Curriculum (starting Fall 2018)
Curriculum (before Fall 2018)
About
The 60-credit Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling serves both students looking to become licensed as mental health counselors and those seeking to eventually proceed into doctoral programs. The curriculum covers mental health counseling practice and research, in addition to necessary coursework in human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, helping relationships, group work, career and lifestyle development, appraisal, research and program development, and professional orientation. Practicum and internship experiences provide unique, varied, and intense hands-on mental health counseling training experiences under supervision of licensed professionals. The degree is registered with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) as meeting the educational requirements for mental health counseling licensure in New York. The M.S. in mental health counseling degree can be completed full time in two years, including summer classes. Students may attend part time, but all degree requirements must be completed within five years after admission to degree candidacy.
Admission
The Counseling Graduate Programs’ Admissions Committee reviews applications.
Minimum admissions requirements are as follows:
1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
2. Minimum grade point average of 3.0 for all undergraduate work, or strong evidence of recent academic achievement.
3. Successful completion of 9 undergraduate credits in the social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, education, philosophy, anthropology, political science, history, economics, geography, criminology, gender studies, communication).
4. Completed application for admission to the Master of Science program in Mental Health Counseling.
5. One official copy of transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Please send OFFICIAL transcripts to:
Office of Graduate Admission
100 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, New York 12561-2442
6. Three professional letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your professional/academic activity, interpersonal skills, and overall qualifications.
7. An updated resume.
8. Response to essay admissions questions.
9. Completed dispositions self-assessment.
10. Additional application information for international students.
Additional admissions preferences are as follows:
11. Coursework in any of the following: abnormal psychology, personality, counseling theories, lifespan development, culture/diversity, behavioral assessment, group behavior, inferential statistics, social science research methods.
12. Applied human services experience–can be volunteer, paid, or an internship.
How to Apply
Students may apply online or via paper application.
Notice to Persons Who Have Prior Felony Convictions
Curriculum (starting Fall 2018)
Degree Requirement: 60 creditsCounseling Foundations (15 credits)
- COU510 Counseling Theories
- COU515 Counseling Skills
- COU520 Career Development, Counseling, & Assessment
- COU525 Multicultural Counseling
- COU575 Human Growth and Development
Practicum & Internship (9 credits)
- COU530 Practicum in Mental Health Counseling
- COU771 Internship in Mental Health Counseling 1
- COU772 Internship in Mental Health Counseling 2
Professional Practice (12 credits)
- COU545 Group Dynamics & Counseling
- COU550 Couple & Family Counseling
- COU565 Disaster Counseling & Crisis Intervention
- COU570 Substance Use & Addictions Counseling
Measurement & Diagnosis (9 credits)
- COU610 Research Methods & Program Evaluation
- COU540 Psychopathology
- COU555 Assessment
Professional Identity & Training (6 credits)
- COU501 Ethics & Professional Identity
- COU505 Professional Roles in Counseling
Specialization (6 credits)
- COU585 Contemporary Issues/Title:
- COU585 Contemporary Issues/Title:
Elective (3 credits)
- COU561 Evidence Based Assessment/Treatment of Traumatic Stress
- COU562 Assessment & Interventions with Children, Adolescents, and Families
- COU563 Assisting Veterans & First Responders
- COU566 Assisting Vulnerable Populations
- COU567 Grief, Loss, and Bereavement
- COU585 Contemporary Issues/Title:
Mandatory Training
- Child Abuse Identification Workshop
- Details on taking this workshop on or off campus.
Curriculum (before Fall 2018)
Degree Requirement: 60 creditsMental Health Counseling Requirement (36 credits)
- COU510 Counseling Theories
- COU515 Counseling Skills
- COU520 Career Development, Counseling, and Assessment
- COU525 Multicultural Counseling
- COU530 Foundations of Mental Health Counseling (4 credits)
- COU540 Psychopathology
- COU545 Group Dynamics and Counseling
- COU550 Couple and Family Counseling
- COU555 Assessment
- COU771 Ethics and Professional Orientation: MHC Internship 1 (4 credits)
- COU772 Ethics and Professional Orientation: MHC Internship 2 (4 credits)
Methodology Requirement (3 credits)
- PSY501 ANOVA or PSY503 Correlation and Multiple Regression
- PSY507 Research Methods
Human Growth and Development Requirement (3 credits)
- PSY527 Human Growth and Development
Human Growth and Development Electives (6 credits)
Choose two:
- PSY516 Organizational Psychology
- PSY528 Infancy and Childhood
- PSY529 Adulthood
- PSY531 Middle Childhood and Adolescence
- PSY556 Contemporary Social Psychology
- PSY560 Cognitive Processes
- PSY570 Cognitive Neuroscience
Electives (9 credits)
Three courses to be chosen from the following:
- ANY other 3-credit courses from the lists above which have NOT been used to fulfill one of the above requirements.
- ANY other 3-credit Counseling (COU) or Psychology (PSY) graduate courses not listed above.
- Thesis of 3 or 6 credits
Mandatory Training
- Child Abuse Identification Workshop
- Details on taking this workshop on or off campus.
