M.S. in Counseling
Explore a career in one of the fastest-growing professions in the U.S.
-
M.S. in Counseling
Degree:
M.S.School:
School of Social and Behavioral SciencesLocation:
Dobbs Ferry, Bronx & OnlineCredits:
48
Get More Info
Counseling M.S. Curriculum
The 48-credit Master of Science Degree Program in Counseling is organized as follows:
Level I:
18 Credits
Basic Foundational Knowledge, Theories and Skills
Level II:
12 Credits
Intermediate Pre-Internship Prep., Social Basis of Behavior and Assessment
Level III:
18 Credits
Advanced Specialty Concentration and Internship
Total
48 Credits
The Master of Science Degree in Counseling Program requires completion of 10 core course requirements, three supervised field placements specific to the student's area of study. There are no elective courses, for students entering in fall of 2017. For students who entered prior to Fall 2017, the elective courses are as follows: CNSL 601, 614, 620, 625, 648, 654, 678 and EDUC 500, 502, 504 and 508.
Level I: Basic Foundational Knowledge, Theories and Skills
- CSNL 630 Counseling and Ethics
- CNSL 640 Human Development I
- CNSL 650 Counseling and Application I
- CNSL 655 Counseling and Application II
- CNSL 673 Research Methodology
- CNSL 643 Intro to School Counseling
Level II: Intermediate Pre-Internship Prep., Social Basis of Behavior and Assessment
- CNSL 651 Mlticltrl Prspctives in Cnslng
- CNSL 660 Group Counseling Theories & Practice (cc)*
- CNSL 665 Career Devlpmnt and Cnslng
- CNSL 670 Practicum in Counseling
*Indicates core course and must be taken at the registered campus.
Track 1 - Master of Science Degree in Counseling with Certification as a School Counselor
Level III: Advanced Specialty Concentration and Internship
The Master of Science Degree in Counseling with certification as a School Counselor requires completion of the 30-credit core course requirements listed above, completion of the following three internship courses (CNSL 690, CNSL 691, CNSL 525) and 3 credits of approved elective credits selected from the Counseling program.
Successful completion of the program and evidence of participation in a seminar on the Identification and Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse, and participation in a seminar in the Prevention of Violence in the School Setting and participation in an approved NYS Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop leads to recommendation to the New York State Education Department for provisional certification as a school counselor.
| Level III: Advanced Specialty Concentration and Internship | |
| CNSL 667 - Assessment in Counseling | 3 credits |
| CNSL 690 - Supervised Internship I: School Setting | 6 credits |
| CNSL 691 - Supervised Internship II: School Setting | 6 credits |
| CNSL 525 - College Planning and Preparation Counseling | 3 credits |
Track 2 - Master of Science Degree in Counseling with Certification as a School Counselor and a Bilingual Extension
Level III: Advanced Specialty Concentration and Internship
Master of Science Degree in Counseling with Certification as School Counselor and a Bilingual Extension requires completion of the 30-credit core course requirement, completion of Assessment in Counseling, completion of the following two internship courses, 6 credits of bilingual/bicultural course work as specified below and three credits in College & Career Counseling.
Certification requires students to demonstrate proficiency in English and in the target language by achieving a passing score on the Bilingual Evaluation Assessment Examination.
Successful completion of the program leads to recommendation to the New York State Education Department for provisional certification as a school counselor and a bilingual extension to the certificate.
| Level III: Advanced Specialty Concentration and Internship | |
| CNSL 667 - Assessment in Counseling | 3 credits |
| CNSL 688 - Supervised Internship I: Bilingaul School Settings | 6 credits (300 hours) |
| CNSL 689 - Supervised Internship II: Bilingual School Setting | 6 credits |
| CNSL 525 - College Planning and Preparation Counseling | 3 credits |
| EDUC 504 - Cultural Perspectives and the Teaching Learning Process | 3 credits |
| EDUC 508 - Theory and Practice in Bilingual Education | 3 credits |
Certification requires students to demonstrate proficiency in English and in the target language by achieving a passing score on the Bilingual Evaluation Assessment Examination.
Successful completion of the program leads to recommendation to the New York State Education Department for provisional certification as a school counselor and a bilingual extension to the certificate.
Course Load
Students must consult with the program director and/or interview with the program director or designee regarding required courses and electives for the Counseling Program. Full-time students may register for up to 12 credits per semester. Part-time students may register for either three or six credits per semester.
Transfer Credits
Graduate courses taken at other institutions prior to admission at Mercy College may, if pertinent to the plan of study, be credited to the graduate degree. Permission to transfer credits must be requested at the time of admission and official transcripts and course descriptions must be submitted to the program director for evaluation.
Transfer credit will be granted only for courses taken in the five-year period prior to acceptance in the Mercy College Program and for courses in which the student earned a grade of B or higher. Transfer credit is normally limited to six credits. Courses with a grade of B- or lower are not acceptable for transfer.
Maintenance of Matriculation
It is expected that students will fulfill the requirements for their graduate degree by registering over successive sessions. Registration is accomplished by either enrolling in classes or maintaining matriculation. The Maintaining Matriculation fee is $100 per session and is processed as a registration.
Students who have not maintained matriculation and wish to return to their program within one year after their last course will be charged the Maintenance of Matriculation fee of $100 for each missed session. Maintenance of matriculation without attending classes is limited to one year. Activated U.S. Military Reservists are not required to pay the Maintenance of Matriculation fee.
Maintenance of Good Academic Standing
The cumulative GPA for both good academic standing and degree conferral is a 3.0. A student admitted as a Special Matriculant is required to achieve a 3.0 average or better after completing a certain number of credits as stipulated by their respective program. Grades are subject to review by the faculty advisor and program director at the end of each semester. If the academic average for the semester falls below 3.0 the student will be placed on academic probation. If the student fails to achieve a 3.0 GPA in two consecutive semesters, the students will be subject to dismissal from the program.
Academic Probation
All students who have a cumulative GPA of below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. If a student will not be able to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 within a reasonable time, the student will be dismissed from the program. If a student receives a grade of F or FW in any course the student will be subject to dismissal from the College.
For all students on probation, future registrations must be reviewed and approved by the director of the student’s program as well as the school dean.
In all subsequent terms in which the student is on probation the student is required to achieve a term GPA of 3.0 or better. If the 3.0 or higher is not achieved the student will be dismissed. Students who receive a grade of less than B may be required to repeat the course. Students will be allowed to repeat a course only once.
Time Limit
Requirements for the master's degrees in counseling programs must be completed within five years from the date of the candidate’s admission (exclusive of time spent in the Armed Forces). Exceptions will be made only if a student requests in writing an extension of time in advance and receives the approval of the director.
Advisement
Students in the counseling programs must attend new students orientation offered by the Counseling Department in their first semester of the program. In addition, students must meet with their assigned faculty advisor to plan his/her courses and to review the plan of study prior to course registration and field placement.
Application Deadlines for Field Placement
For practicum (only offered in the Spring):
- Spring placements - October 15
For Internship:
- Fall placements - February 15
- Spring Placements - October 15
A 3.0 GPA is required to register for practicum and/or internship placement
Completion of at least 33 credits, including CNSL 630, 640, 642*, 650, 651, 655, 660, 665, 667 and 673 as well as Violence Prevention and Child Abuse Workshops, is required prior to registration in either of the internship courses in School Counseling. Mental Health Counseling students must also complete 614 and 654 in order to be eligible for Internship. Supervised Internship placement must be applied for the semester prior to course registration.
Academic Program Sequence Map
Download a copy of the sequence map for:
ARCHIVE
- 2018 - 2019
Counseling - School Counseling MS Sequence Map - 2018 - 2019 Counseling - Bilingual Extension MS Sequence Map
- 2017 - 2018 Counseling - School Counseling 3 Year MS Sequence Map
- 2017 - 2018 Counseling - School Counseling Bilingual Extension MS Sequence Map
- 2016 - 2017 Counseling - School Counseling 3 Year MS Sequence Map
- 2016 - 2017 Counseling - School Counseling Bilingual Extension MS Sequence Map
Besides certification and licensure requirements, what else should I consider?
You need to decide what type of counseling you want to do in order to focus your work activities, practicum and internship courses. There are several specialties. First decide whether you wish to pursue school counseling or to counsel in an agency or hospital setting. This will help you decide upon a Master's Degree in Counseling or a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling.
How long does the counseling program take?
Typically, three to four years (five years is the maximum allowed - excluding time spent in the armed forces).
What will this degree prepare me to do?
The MS in Counseling will prepare you to become a school counselor in urban and suburban schools. The MS in Mental Health Counseling will prepare you to become a mental health counselor in other public and private agencies.
Is Mercy College a nonsectarian institution?
Yes. Qualified applicants are admitted without regard to race, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age or physical disability.
What is the difference between matriculation to the Counseling program and probationary admission?
Admission to the graduate program requires: (1) two professional letters of recommendation, (2) an 800-1000-word personal statement answering the following questions: What does it mean to be a school counselor? What influenced you to want to be a school counselor? What are your three biggest strengths? Your three biggest challenges? How will your strengths and challenges impact you as a student int eh school counseling program and as a future school counselor? (If your GPA is below a 3.0, this must be one of your challenges that you discuss.) What influenced you to apply to Mercy College?, (3) a résumé, (4) completion of a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an approved institution, (5) an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale). If you do not meet all these requirements you may be admitted on a provisional basis until you have demonstrated your ability to do adequate graduate-level work by earning grades of B or better in at least the first 18 credits.
Are certification and licensure the same?
No. Certification is done by specific certifying bodies like the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). Licensure is established by individual states. Some states (such as Virginia and Tennessee) require 60 graduate hours for licensure. However, most of these will allow you to graduate with a 48 credit degree, and then take 12 post-graduate credits. You should read the licensing law for the state(s) in which you wish to become licensed to ensure that your academic work will meet those requirements.
Abby Hirsch
Professor/ Graduate Internship Coordinator Lecturer
Cynthia Walley
Associate Professor, School Counseling
Jack Simons
Assistant Professor
Counseling Overview
The Master of Science Degree in Counseling is designed to prepare you to work in a school setting as a school counselor. You'll have the opportunity to follow any of several career paths in the counseling field. Additionally, completing the 48-credit School Counselor program will likely earn you provisional certification as a school counselor. (Same with the 54-credit Bilingual School Counselor program, too).
Graduate students who complete the 60-credit Mental Health Counseling program are eligible to sit for the professional licensing examination.
Specializations:
- Counseling
- Counseling with a specialization in School Counseling and Bilingual Extension
- Advanced Certificates in Alcohol/Substance Abuse Counseling and in Retirement Counseling (CASAC)
Additionally, if you're interested in mental heath, Mercy's Mental Health Counseling Degree will earn you the license that has become the new entry-level standard for the field.
Both counseling programs may be taken part-time or full-time
Counseling Fast Facts
- Designed for full and part-time students
- Program qualifies students who complete school internships to receive a New York State certification
Career Opportunities
The Master of Science Degree in Counseling qualifies students who complete school internships to receive a New York State certification to work in schools.
Counseling FAQS
No. Certification is done by specific certifying bodies like the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). Licensure is established by individual states. Some states (such as Virginia and Tennessee) require 60 graduate hours for licensure. However, most of these will allow you to graduate with a 48 credit degree, and then take 12 post-graduate credits. You should read the licensing law for the state(s) in which you wish to become licensed to ensure that your academic work will meet those requirements.
You need to decide what type of counseling you want to do in order to focus your work activities, practicum and internship courses. There are several specialties. First decide whether you wish to pursue school counseling or to counsel in an agency or hospital setting. This will help you decide upon a Master's Degree in Counseling or a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling.
Purpose
The master ’s programs in counseling offer graduate education in counseling preparation. The 48-credit Master's in School Counseling prepares students to become New York State Certified school counselors in urban and suburban school settings. The 60- credit Masters in Mental Health Counseling prepares students to become New York State licensed Mental Health counselors in public and private agencies.
The Master of Science in (School) Counseling offers two certifications within the degree program. Successful completion of the School Counselor Program leads to recommendation to the New York State Education Department for provisional certification as a school counselor. Students completing the Bilingual School Counselor Program will be recommended for provisional certification as a school counselor and also for a bilingual extension to the certificate. The Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling is a licensure-qualifying program. Upon program completion, graduates are eligible to work towards meeting the 3,000-hour externship required for licensure as a mental health counselor in New York State. According to the state laws regulating mental health counseling licensure, graduates will have up to two years (with the option of two additional one-year extensions) to meet the 3,000 hours of experience and pass a licensing examination to complete the licensure requirements.
Note: The following courses: (Counseling and Applications I, CNSL 655 – Counseling and Applications II, CNSL 660 – Group Counseling Theories & Practice, CNSL 670 Practicum in Counseling, CNSL 688or 690 Internship I, and CNSL689 or 691 Internship II) (CNSL 650 – Counseling and Applications I, CNSL 655 – Counseling and Applications II and CNSL 660 – Group Counseling Theories & Practice) cannot be completed as distance learning courses for the School Counseling program, New York State will not permit more than 27 credits of distance learning courses to be counted toward the 60-credit Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling. New York State also requires students pursuing a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling to take the following courses in a traditional classroom environment: CNSL 650, CNSL 655 and CNSL 660.
Admission Requirements
Please refer to the general requirements for admission and matriculation in the Graduate Admissions section of the course catalog.
Program Requirements for Admission to the School Counseling Program
- Two professional letters of recommendation on letterhead
- An 800 - 1000-word personal statement, answering the following questions:
- What does it mean to be a school counselor?
- What influenced you to want to be a school counselor?
- What are your three biggest strengths? Your three biggest challenges? How will your strengths and challenges impact you as a student in the school counseling program and as a future school counselor? If your GPA is below a 3.0, this must be one of your challenges that you discuss.
- What influenced you to apply to Mercy College?
- A résumé
- In-person essay on assigned topic may be required depending on qualifications
- Undergraduate college transcripts (and graduate transcripts, if applicable)
Degree Requirements
- Successful completion of 48 graduate credits for School Counseling, 51 graduate credits for School Counseling with Bilingual Extension (54 credits for those entering in fall 2017 and thereafter), and 60 graduate credits for Mental Health Counseling
- A 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Successful completion of a written comprehensive examination
Counseling Objectives
Graduates of the Master of Science in Counseling Degree Programs will be prepared to assume a professional school counseling role in a school setting. Graduates will be expected to do the following:
- Apply current knowledge and research from social and behavioral sciences, including the use of technology, to the practice of counseling.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of cultural diversity on counseling techniques and applications
Program Outcomes
By the end of this program, students should be able to:
- Identify and apply the American School Counseling Association standards to qualify for provisional certification as a School Counselor in New York State
- Demonstrate mastery of the eight CACREP Core Counseling Competencies: Human Growth and Development, Social and Cultural Foundations, Theories of Counseling, Groups, Lifestyle and Career Development, Appraisal, Research and Program Evaluation, and Professional Orientation and Ethics
- Identify, explain, and respond to concerns, issues, and challenges relevant to today’s students
- Define, explain, and apply counseling, assessment, advocacy, prevention, and intervention techniques to assist students
- Apply current knowledge and research from social and behavioral sciences, including the use of technology, to the practice of counseling in a school setting
- Identify and explain the impact of cultural diversity on counseling techniques and make appropriate applications
- Meet identified professional and ethical standards required to work as a school counselor in New York State
- Be cognizant of the concerns, issues and challenges relevant to today's students in urban and suburban schools
Connect with Mercy
1 year 8 months ago
Trying to figure out a resolution for this year? Get out there and join a @mercyintramurals team for the spring...
1 year 9 months ago
Nothin' but W's all 2020 💥
📸: @mercywbb
.
.
.
#mercycollege #mercymavericks #mymercy #mercybasketball #...
- 1 of 319
- next ›
