COUNSELING GRADUATE PROGRAM
The Counseling Graduate Program currently offers an M.S. in Mental Health Counseling. An M.S. in School Counseling is under development; check back for updates on when the school counseling program will begin.
MS in Mental Health Counseling
The MS in Mental health Counseling degree offers students the opportunity to pursue a specialized course of study leading to a 60-credit master of science degree in mental health counseling. It serves both students looking to become licensed as mental health counselors and those seeking to eventually proceed into doctoral programs. Degree requirements cover a core curriculum and specialization courses. The counseling practicum and internship experiences provide unique, varied, and intense hands-on mental health counseling training experiences under supervision of licensed professionals. The 60-credit degree is registered with the State Education Department as meeting the educational requirements necessary for mental health counseling licensure in New York, which makes it very marketable. It is registered with the State Education Department. Starting in 2010, all registered mental health counseling graduate degrees in New York must be 60-credits.
NOTE: Students completing the 48-credit requirements have until December 2010 to do so, at which time the 48-credit degree will be discontinued.
» Download printable brochure *
» Steps for Applying
Admissions Requirements
The Department's Graduate Admissions Committee makes admissions decisions based on the following required criteria:
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum grade point average of 3.0 for all undergraduate work with at least a 3.0 average in psychology courses, or strong evidence of recent academic achievement
- Successful completion of undergraduate General Psychology, Statistics, Experimental Methods or Research Methods in Psychology
- Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (General Test); Psychology Subject GRE scores optional
- Completed application for admission to the Master of Science Program in Mental Health Counseling
- Two official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work
- Three letters of recommendation
- International Students must meet these additional university-wide requirements for admission
Application Information
Application Materials
- Apply online
- You can also obtain application materials by downloading a printable application packet or contacting
The Graduate School
HAB 80
SUNY New Paltz
1 Hawk Dr.
New Paltz, NY 12561-2443
Application Deadlines
- The MS in Mental Health Counseling degree only admits students for the fall semester. Fall semester application review begins February 15 and continues until the class is filled.
- Assistantships and other funding information: Funding opportunities for graduate students in the mental health counseling program.
- Admission to SUNY New Paltz is based on academic qualifications, without regard to race, color, sex, disability, age, marital status, or religion.
Degree Requirements (60 credits)
Mental 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
- COU771 Ethics and Professional Orientation: MHC Internship 1 (4 credits)
- COU772 Ethics and Professional Orientation: MHC Internship 2 (4 credits)
Methodology Requirement (6 credits)
- PSY501 ANOVA or PSY503 Correlation and Multiple Regression
- PSY507 Research Methods
Human Growth and Development Requirement (9 credits)
- PSY527 Human Growth and Development
Human Growth and Development Electives (6 credits)
- PSY516 Organizational Psychology
- PSY528 Infancy and Childhood
- PSY529 Adulthood
- PSY531 Middle Childhood and Adolesence
- PSY556 Contemporary Social Psychology
- PSY560 Cognitive Processes
- PSY570 Cognitive Neuroscience
Electives (9 credits)
Choose electives from the two classes listed below or from the classes in the above requirements not used to meet those requirements.
- COU565 Disaster Mental Health
- PSY576 Families in Transition
Two-Year Plan of Study (60 credits)
Fall 1 (12 credits)
- PSY 501 ANOVA (3) or PSY 503 Correlation & Multiple Regression (3)
- COU 510 Counseling Theories (3)
- COU 515 Counseling Skills (3)
- COU 520 Career Development, Counseling, and Assessment (3)
Spring 1 (13 credits)
- PSY 503 Research Methods (3)
- COU 525 Multicultural Counseling (3)
- COU 530 Foundations of Mental Health Counseling (4)
- COU 540 Psychopathology (3)
Summer 1 (6 credits)
- Elective (3)
- Elective (3)
Fall 2 (13 credits)
- COU 545 Group Dynamics and Counseling (3)
- COU 771 Ethics & Professional Orientation: MHC Internship 1 (4)
- PSY 527 Human Growth & Development (3)
- Human Growth & Development Elective (3)
Spring 2 (13 credits)
- COU 550 Couple and Family Counseling (3)
- COU 555 Assessment (3)
- COU 772 Ethics & Professional Orientation: MHC Internship 2 (4)
- Human Growth & Development Elective (3)
Summer 2 (3 credits)
- Elective (3)
Degree Requirements (48 credits)
These requirements discontinued after December 2009
Foundation Courses (6 credits)
- PSY501 - Analysis of Variance
- PSY554 - Research Methods in Psychology
Core Courses (9 credits)
- PSY506 - Multicultural Counseling
- PSY552 - Psychopathology
- And one of the following three courses (to be chosen under advisement):
- PSY528 - Infancy and Early Childhood
- PSY560 - Cognitive Psychology
- PSY556 - Contemporary issues in Social Psychology
Specialization Courses (27 credits)
- PSY553 - Counseling Skills
- PSY508 - Career Counseling
- PSY550 - Couple and Family Counseling
- PSY555 - Assessment
- PSY557 - Group Dynamics and Counseling
- PSY580 - Counseling Practicum (4 credits)
- PSY581 - Ethics and Practice I: Internship (4 credits)
- PSY582 - Ethics and Practice II: Internship (4 credits)
Capstone Course and Electives (3-6 credits)
- PSY590 - Thesis in Psychology (3 or 6 credits)
ANY graduate psychology class taken that is NOT applied towards the foundation, core, specialization, or capstone requirements can be counted as an elective.
Students in the 48-credit program may opt to complete the 60-credit requirements.
» Download printable brochure *
» Steps for Applying
Contact Us:
Graduate Study
Counseling Graduate Program
JFT 316
SUNY New Paltz
600 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, NY 12561-2440
(845) 257-3467
email: gradpsych@newpaltz.edu
Information on the the Licensure and Practice of the Mental Health Professions in New York State is available from the Office of the Professions (OP).
