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Program:
The Master of Science Degree in Counseling program, in the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, is designed to ensure that graduate counseling students are adequately prepared to work in school settings as school counselors, and in public and private agencies.
The Counseling program provides students the opportunity to follow any of several career paths in the counseling field. Graduate students who complete the 48 credit School Counselor program are recommended to the New York State Education Department and receive provisional certification as school counselors. Students completing the 48 credit Bilingual School Counselor program are recommended for provisional certification as a school counselor with the bilingual extension to the certificate. Graduate students who complete the 48 credit Mental Health Counseling program are eligible to sit for the professional licensing examination.
The Master of Science Degree in Counseling offers the following specializations: Counseling, Counseling with Certification in School Counseling, Counseling with Certification in School Counseling and a Bilingual Extension, Mental Health Counseling, and Advanced Certificates in Alcohol/Substance Abuse Counseling, and in Retirement Counseling.
Nearly 20% of our past degree recipients plan to work in mental health counseling. The new Mental Health Counseling degree allows these students to earn a state license that may soon become the new entry-level standard for the area of mental health counseling. The Mental Health Counseling program is designed to ensure students who successfully complete this degree have the necessary preparation for licensing as a mental health counselor, as determined by the Committee of Higher Education and Professional Practice of the New York State Education Department.
Both counseling programs are part time with the option of full time and are designed to meet the needs of working adult students from non-traditional, multicultural backgrounds.
Download a PDF version of our Program Brochure
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Program Contacts:
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Fernando Cabrera, EdD
Program Director
fcabrera@mercy.edu
Telephone: 914-674-7279
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Mary Ellen Hoffman, MS
Associate Program Director
mehoffman@mercy.edu
Telephone: 914-674-7334
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Hind Culhane, EdD
Co-Chair, Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences
hculhane@mercy.edu
Telephone: 914-674-7338
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Diana D'Amico Juettner, JD
Co-Chair, Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences
djuettner@mercy.edu
Telephone: 914-674-7338
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Career Opportunities:
The Master of Science Degree in Counseling qualifies students who complete school internships to receive a New York State certification to work in schools. It can also prepare graduating students to enter the counseling field in an agency setting.
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Curriculum:
The Master of Science in Counseling includes the following fields of study: ethics, human development, counseling applications, multicultural perspectives in counseling, group counseling, career development, diagnostic tools for measurement, and research methodology.
For the complete course curriculum click here.
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Campuses where program is offered:
Dobbs Ferry, Bronx and online with two-week residency requirement.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
What will this degree prepare me to do?
The Master's program in Counseling offers graduate education in counseling preparation. The 48 credit course of studies prepares students to become counselors in urban and suburban school settings or in mental health counseling and other public and private agencies. The Master of Science in Counseling offers two certifications and three advanced certificates within the degree program which are designed to meet the varied requirements of different areas in the counseling field. The advanced certificates enhance student knowledge and training in one of the three areas. Successful completion of the School Counselor program leads to recommendation to the New York State Education Department for provisional certification as a school counselor. Students completing the Bilingual School Counselor program will be recommended for provisional certification as a school counselor and also for a bilingual extension to the certificate. Students from other states and countries are afforded the opportunity to modify the course requirements to meet the professional standards of your region. The Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling is a licensure-qualifying 48 credit program. Graduates are eligible to seek initial employment towards meeting the 3,000 hour externship required for licensure as a mental health counselor in New York State. According to the new law regulating mental health counseling licensure, graduates will have up to two years to meet the 3,000 hours of paid experience and pass a licensing examination to complete the licensure requirements. Students from other states and countries are afforded the opportunity to modify the course requirements to meet the professional standards of your region.
Are certification and licensure the same?
Certification and licensure are not the same. Certification is done by specific certifying bodies, such as the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) . Licensure is established by individual states. Some states (such as Virginia and Tennessee) require 60 graduate hours for licensure. However, most of these will allow you to graduate with a 48 credit degree, and then take 12 post-graduate credits. You should read the licensing law for the state(s) in which you wish to be licensed to ensure that your academic work will meet those requirements.
How long does the counseling program usually take to complete?
The MS in Counseling and MS in Mental Health Counseling degrees are each 48 credits. Students complete the degree in two to three years, with a maximum of five years allowed for degree completion (exclusive of time spent in the armed forces). Though it is rare that it is needed, additional time can be granted if the student submits a request in writing and receives permission of the program director.
What is the difference between matriculation to the Counseling program and probationary admission?
Admission to the graduate program requires: (1) two professional letters of recommendation, (2) a two to three page essay stating the applicant's reason(s) for pursuing a degree in counseling, (3) a resume, (4) completion of a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an approved institution, (5) an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale), including grades of B or better in one-three credit mathematics or statistics course. If you do not meet all these requirements you may be admitted on a provisional basis until you have fulfilled the prerequisites or (in the case of GPA), demonstrated your ability to do adequate graduate-level work. You must complete the prerequisites within the first two semesters (or nine credits) of study.
Are there any other things besides certification or licensure requirements I should consider when planning my course of study?
You need to decide what type of counseling you want to do in order to focus your work activities, practicum and internship courses, and additional coursework beyond the required core courses in that area. There are several specialties within the professional counseling field. One of the first decisions a student needs to make is whether they wish to pursue school counseling or to counsel in an agency setting. This will be a major determination in deciding whether to pursue a Master's Degree in Counseling or a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling.
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