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 program is accredited by the Masters 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 1
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 2
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 3
CEP 600MH Internship
CEP 586 Assessment in Mental Health Counseling**
CEP 695 Psychopathology & Evidence-based Interventions
Semester 4
CEP 600MH Internship
CEP 541 Human Growth and Development
CEP 664 Process of Consultation**
Semester 5
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.
CEP 548, 553, 566 and 611 are offered through the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology's advanced certificate program in mindful counseling for wellness and engagement.
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 3)
CEP 664 Process of Consultation (during semester 4)
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.
- Resume
- 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
New York State prides itself in the high quality of its licensed and certified professionals. For the protection of its citizens, each license and certificate has requirements that individuals must meet in order to be licensed or certified in New York State. SUNY’s academic programs leading to licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed these State requirements. This is a role SUNY plays in protecting the public. Other states frequently have their own requirements, so if your goal is to practice in another state, this disclosure will help you check to see what that state requires.
Enrolled students and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact their state’s licensure entity using the links provided in the full disclosure document to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by their state(s) of choice.
