Mental Health Counseling, MS
Society is putting ever-greater focus on wellness and mental health. Our fully accredited master’s program in mental health counseling will put you in a position to make a difference in this vital field.
Build a Foundation for Practice
Learn to understand the nature, development and treatment of various forms of mental health-related problems in this program. As a student, you’ll combine counseling, assessment and consultation skills needed for clinical practice with an ability to put evidence-supported practices to work. Be part of a program that emphasizes personal and professional growth, respect for human diversity, social justice, client strengths and ethical responsibility.
Empowering Healthy Minds
Growing up on Long Island, Luisa Perez Ortiz had trouble finding resources to help navigate her own struggles with mental health. Today, Perez Ortiz is a first-year student in GSE’s mental health counseling master’s program—a path made possible through a SUNY scholarship supporting underrepresented students pursuing mental health degrees.
Points of Distinction
Starting in your second year, you’ll complete 600 hours of clinical work that build the skills necessary to pursue professional practice. By the time you graduate, you’ll be eligible to pursue licensure as a mental health counselor in New York State.
Our long-standing relationships with non-profit mental health centers, hospitals, college counseling centers and substance abuse treatment centers are at the core of our program. As a student, you’ll have internship opportunities that deliver lasting hands-on experiences.
UB’s master’s program in mental health counseling is accredited by the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC). That accreditation is a seal of approval that tells you—and future employers—that your education is informed by the latest practices.
Program Summary
Find details about application deadlines and requirements, courses and more. Have questions? Contact our admissions office.
| Academic credential granted | Master of Science (MS) |
|---|---|
| Credits required for completion | 60 |
| Time to completion | 4 semesters plus summer (full-time) or 5 semesters (full-time) |
| Location | On campus |
| Experiential contact hours | 600 |
| Application deadline | Fall: Feb. 1 |
Standard Program of Study
Semester One
- CEP 521 Introduction to Mental Health Counseling
- CEP 532 Introduction to Statistical Research
- CEP 653 Foundations of Counseling Theory*
- CEP 504 Intro to Rehab of Substance Abuse (or CEP Elective)
Semester Two
- CEP 615 Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
- CEP 618 Principles of Counseling Practice*
- CEP 634 Multicultural Counseling
- CEP 658 Introduction to Group Counseling
Semester Three
- CEP 600MH Internship
- CEP 586 Assessment in Mental Health Counseling**
- CEP 695 Psychopathology & Evidence-based Interventions
Semester Four
- CEP 600MH Internship
- CEP 541 Human Growth and Development
- CEP 664 Process of Consultation**
Semester Five
- CEP Elective
- CEP Elective
- CEP 629 Family Counseling
- CEP 680 Career Development
* Prerequisites for internship
** Requires concurrent enrollment in internship
Accelerated Program of Study
You can complete this program with four semesters of full-time study plus coursework that is taken during the summer between the first and second years.
Electives
- CEP 548 Coaching for Wellness
- CEP 553 Self Care in Service
- CEP 566 Wellness and Engagement
- CEP 611 The Mindful Therapist
- CEP 616 Grief Counseling
- CEP 644 Counseling Children and Adolescents
- CEP 645 Intro to School Counseling
- CEP 661 Medical/Psychosocial Aspects of Disability and Chronic Illness
- CEP 683 Vocational Placement Process
Additional electives are available and vary by semester.
Internship (12 credits)
Six credits of CEP 600MHC Internship in Mental Health Counseling are taken during third and fourth semesters in residency. You are required to complete a total 600 hours of on-site agency time in addition to attending the weekly internship class on campus. You will receive supervision from the on-site clinical supervisor as well as supervision and didactic instruction in the CEP 600MHC Internship course over the span of the clinical internship.
Concurrently with CEP 600MHC Internship you must also enroll in:
- CEP 586 Assessment in Mental Health Counseling (during semester three)
- CEP 664 Process of Consultation (during semester four)
Standardized Testing No Longer Required
In an effort to make the application process more equitable, the GRE/MAT is no longer required for admissions consideration. If you still plan to take the GRE/MAT exam, you can send your scores through the testing agency, and they will automatically be added to your application; however, they are not required for admission consideration to this program.
You must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
Submit your completed online application, which includes:
- Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
- Contact information for at least three individuals who will each be asked to provide an electronic recommendation letter. Academic or professional references are preferred.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. (UB transcripts are automatically submitted for current UB students and alumni.) Most admitted applicants to this program have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
- Résumé
- Short answers to the following prompts that are on the application:
- Discuss your motivations for choosing UB’s program and pursuing a career as a mental health counselor. Additionally, if your racial or ethnic background has influenced your journey toward this career, we invite you to share those experiences. (500–1000 words)
- Describe your involvement in initiatives committed to cultural diversity and social justice. Detail the nature of your participation and the impact of these efforts. (250–300 words)
- Describe any experiences you have had related to counseling, volunteer work or community involvement. Include any additional information you believe is relevant to help us understand your background and interests. (250–300 words)
Former/Maiden Name: Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.
Admission Decision: The admission decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
In-State Residency Tuition
In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you must provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months before your semester start date.
If accepted, you will need to upload three documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.
International Applicant Additional Requirements
- Official original proof of your degree
- A copy of your passport biographical page
- Official test scores—dated within two years of submitting your application—for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Test, the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic, or DET (Duolingo English Test).
- TOEFL minimum score is 250 for computer-based test, 600 for paper-based test and 79 for internet-based test
- IELTS Academic Test minimum score is 6.5 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall
- DET minimum score is 120 overall
- Financial documentation: International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
- An official bank statement
All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application and dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
Career settings include:
- Hospitals
- Mental health centers
- State government agencies
- Substance abuse treatment facilities
Recently released revised federal regulations under 34 CFR §668 now require the University at Buffalo (UB) to determine whether or not academic programs leading to professional licensure meet the educational requirements for licensure in states where UB students reside.
As such this attestation outlines the responsibilities of both UB and students in our Master of Science in mental health counseling program.
UB offers the Master of Science in mental health counseling which leads to the licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) license in New York State. The program also adequately prepares students to take the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) upon program completion, which is required for licensure in New York State. Students may also opt to take the National Counseling Exam (NCE) upon program completion.
Upon passing one or (in some states) both national exams, completing typically three years of post-education counseling experience (the amount experience varies by state), and meeting any other unique state requirements, our graduates have the opportunity to obtain an LMHC license in their own home state, so long as the home state recognizes programs accredited by the Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC). Accredited master’s programs in mental health counseling are typically accredited by either MPCAC or the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Our program is accredited by MPCAC. However, some states may deny licensure to graduates from institutions not accredited by CACREP.
Therefore, students enrolling in the Master of Science in mental health counseling program while residing outside of New York State should be aware that:
- UB cannot guarantee that this online program meets all the requirements for licensure in a student's state of residence or any state.
- If an online student seeks the LMHC license in a state other than New York, it is the student’s responsibility to determine that state’s specific licensure requirements beyond the curricular requirements for UB’s Master of Science in mental health counseling program, and to seek additional guidance from their home state’s licensing board, including national examination requirements, the board’s recognition of an MPCAC-accredited program and any other state guidelines for satisfying those licensure requirements. The National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) website also provides a comprehensive directory of contact information, available licenses and required examinations for each state. Students are also instructed to consult with the UB program director and department leadership for assistance with this process.
Disclaimer: The University at Buffalo cannot provide legal advice or guarantee professional certification or licensure eligibility in any state. Students are responsible for understanding and complying with all applicable state certification and licensure requirements. UB is not a state licensing authority and cannot guarantee that a student will be issued a professional license or professional certification in any state.
