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
Starting in your second year, you’ll complete 600 hours of clinical work that build the counseling, assessment and consultation skills necessary to pursue professional practice. Our long-standing relationships with non-profit mental health centers, hospitals, college counseling centers and substance abuse treatment centers provide internship opportunities for many of our students.
Empowering Diversity
Luiza Perez Ortiz, a student in GSE’s mental health counseling master’s program, received a scholarship created to support underrepresented students who are entering or enrolled in mental health degree programs at SUNY or CUNY campuses.
Overview
Our program maintains a special emphasis on personal and professional growth, respect for human diversity, social justice, client strengths and ethical responsibility.
The MS in mental health counseling program is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of February 2018 through February 2028.
By the time you graduate, you’ll be eligible to pursue a license as a mental health counselor in New York State. In recent years, about half of our graduates have pursued this path.
Program Requirements
Find details about deadlines, courses, application requirements and more in this section. Have questions? Contact our admissions office or the department.
| Credits required | 60 |
| Time to completion | 4 full-time semesters plus summer or 5 full-time semesters |
| Location | On campus |
| Experiential contact hours | 600 |
| Application deadline | Feb. 1 (fall entry) |
- Hospitals
- Mental health centers
- State government agencies
- Substance abuse treatment facilities
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 additional courses taken during the summer between your first and second year.
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 600, MHC Internship in Mental Health Counseling, are taken during your 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 600 MHC
Internship course over the span of the clinical internship.
Concurrently with CEP 600 MHC Internship, you must also enroll in:
- CEP 586 Assessment in Mental Health Counseling (during semester 3)
- CEP 664 Process of Consultation (during semester 4)
You must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Your completed online application will include:
- Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee. After submitting your application, you will receive a link to pay online.
- 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.
- Statement of intent which addresses the following items:
1) An outline of your reasons for interest in our program/becoming a mental health counselor (500-1000 words).
2) A description of how you have been involved in efforts that commit to cultural diversity and/or social justice (250-300 words).
3) A description of experience(s) you have had related to counseling, volunteer work, community involvement and/or additional information you would like us to know (250-300 words).
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.
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 are required to provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months prior to your semester start date. If accepted, you will need to upload 3 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 for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic. Test scores must be dated within two years of submitting your application.
- TOEFL minimum score is a 250 for a computer-based test, 600 for a paper-based test and 79 for the Internet-based test
- IELTS minimum score is 6.5 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 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 must be dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
Are you an international student and unable to take the IELTS, PTE or TOEFL?
If you are currently unable to take the IELTS, PTE or TOEFL tests because they are canceled due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the University at Buffalo will accept the Duolingo English Test (DET) for proof of English proficiency. This test can be taken online, in your own home. More information can be found on the Graduate School’s website.
The TOEFL iBT® Special Home Edition is a safe and convenient option for students who are unable to take the TOEFL iBT test at a test center due to public health concerns.
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.
Is burnout categorically different than depression?
Step into the diverse world of mental health counseling research.
Scott T. Meier, professor in the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology, discussed “The persistent burnout/depression problem” in The Journal of Psychosomatic Research.
From helping kids deal with bullying to understanding how meditation and yoga boost wellness, our research covers a multifaceted landscape. We explore important things like diversity, gender, and social justice in education, using tools like surveys and numbers to understand mental health better. Want to know more or get involved?
Faculty Expertise
Myles Faith, PhD, is a professor of counseling, school and educational psychology. Faith has spent decades studying “nature vs. nurture” with respect to childhood obesity and its impact on families. His work includes investigations into how children’s eating behaviors and body weight may be influenced by their temperaments, access to technology at school and at home—even their mothers’ eating habits and health during pregnancy.
Faith’s goal is to develop better evidence-based interventions that help parents and caregivers find positive strategies for healthy eating.
Additional Resources
Graduates of the mental health counseling MS program go on to careers in hospitals, mental health centers, substance abuse treatment centers and more. Ask us how you can join them.