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Mental Health Counseling - M.S.

Manhattan College’s mental health counseling program satisfies New York State education requirements for licensure as a mental health counselor.

Why Choose a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling?

A Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) is trained to treat mental health, human relationship, education and career concerns within ethical, developmental, preventive and treatment contexts. As demand grows for compassionate, disciplined professionals to help treat these issues, your career outlook is excellent. 

Faculty in this program are either licensed psychologists or mental health counselors and bring real-world knowledge and experience to their teaching. You’ll benefit from their expertise as you accrue on-site counseling experience, get feedback, insight, and support from peers and professors. 

Graduates of this program have built careers as mental health counselors, social service counselors, rehabilitation counselors, social and community service managers, and have landed director positions as well. 

The current moment demands fortitude, compassion, and a degree from one of the top mental health counseling graduate programs in the region, Manhattan College. Let’s meet this moment together.

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60

Minimum Credit Hours

Online Blended

In-person and online coursework

90%

of students employed upon graduation

22%

Industry job growth by 2031

*Job growth estimate for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors provided by the The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

This program allows students the ability to learn from active professionals in the field, find challenging internship experiences, meet and grow alongside an eager cohort, prepare and understand each step toward licensing and gain an invaluable base of connections.

Jack P. Consiglio ’19, Clinician/Staff Clinician at Center for Anxiety

Learning From Experts Who Care

Professors in this program will challenge your assumptions and support your professional development. You’ll also join a student cohort made up of a truly diverse cultural mix, many drawn right from the New York City area. This diversity of perspective and insight enriches education for all students. 

  • Discover Professional Opportunities

    internships nyc

    When it comes to New York counseling degrees, Manhattan College has the location advantage. We are located in New York City and close to Westchester County and Long Island, which gives students access to professional opportunities at some of the nation's top mental health hospitals, clinics, and agencies. 

    As a graduate student in the College's mental health counseling program, you will gain 700 hours of supervised, on-site counseling experience in some of the most ethnically and economically diverse areas in the U.S. Please note that in addition to program coursework, students are required to complete 3,000 clock hours of supervised post-graduation experience in a mental health counseling licensed organization or private practice in order to meet requirements for New York State licensure. 

  • Find Learning That Matches Your Lifestyle

    Whether you’re right out of college, or switching careers, committing to a whole new round of education can be as daunting as it is exciting. The Manhattan mental health counseling program includes summer coursework, which helps you finish your degree faster. For added flexibility, many of the courses are also offered online. Students typically complete this program between 2.5 and three years.

  • Join an Enthusiastic Community

    Imagine you are sitting in a small class of students with richly varied backgrounds. You are encouraged by faculty, and each other, to engage in lively, thought-provoking discussions, establishing personal and professional connections that last a lifetime. This deepens the educational experience for everyone — and this is what you get at Manhattan College.

Build Valuable Skills

You have the heart. Now, acquire the necessary practical skills, including:

  • Using assessment instruments
  • Counseling and psychotherapy
  • Clinical assessment and evaluation
  • Treatment planning and case management
  • Prevention, discharge, and aftercare services

This program’s curriculum requires students to develop a research-based study plan that aligns with their interests and the needs of a chosen population. Once approved, that population will be the focus of your study. 

Fieldwork experiences train students to counsel patients suffering from depression, anxiety, substance abuse, personality disorders, dementia, adjustment disorders, eating disorders, and other issues. You’ll also have the option to participate in the nine elective credits program focused on alcohol and substance abuse counseling.

  • Admission Requirements

    Applicants for master's programs must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or institution. Normally, an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale is required, although other factors may be considered. Ideally, applicants should have suitable preparation in the behavioral sciences. Consideration will be given for teaching experience and for other applicable experience. 

    Required documents include the application form, transcripts, statement of interest, resume, and two letters of reference. 

    ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
  • Program Requirements

    The Master of Science in mental health counseling requires 60 credit hours of coursework.

    See the Degree Requirements

Meet the Faculty

  • Browse Department Faculty

    Enhance your classroom experience and accelerate your learning, not just with field work, but with the years of knowledge your professors have acquired as mental health counselors, school counselors, and psychologists.  
  • Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently asked questions students ask about the program:

    • What kinds of settings do graduates get positions in after graduation?
      Our students go on to work at mental health agencies, hospital settings, private practice and in nonprofit organizations, such as the Children’s Aid Society.
    • Are there evening and weekend classes?
      During the fall and spring semesters, classes meet Mondays through Thursdays. We have 4:30 - 6:20 p.m. sections and then 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. sections. However, during the summer, classes meet twice a week for seven weeks vs. the fall and spring courses, which meet once a week for 15 weeks. The two-hour difference is made up in assignments.
    • How long does it take to complete the degree?
      The degree can be completed anywhere between two years (including two summers with two sessions each summer (May-June; July-August) and five years (deadline as indicated by New York State to complete a graduate program). It is uncommon for students to need more than 2.5 to 3 years to complete the program.