The 60-credit Master of Science in 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. Starting in 2010, all registered mental health counseling graduate degrees in New York must be 60 credits. Students may attend part time, but all degree requirements must be completed within five years after admission to degree candidacy.
Students completing the 48 credit requirements have until December 2009 to do so, at which time the 48-credit degree will be discontinued.
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Contact Us
Counseling Graduate Program
Location: JFT 316
Hours: Monday-Wednesday 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM, Thursday-Friday 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Phone: (845) 257-3467
email: counsgradprogram@newpaltz.edu
Mailing Address:
Counseling Graduate Program
JFT 316
SUNY New Paltz
600 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, NY 12561-2440
Additional information on the Licensure and Practice of the Mental Health Professions in New York State – including laws, rules, and regulations – is available from the Office of the Professions (OP).


