Interested in becoming a professional counselor? If you are considering studying Mental Health Counseling Graduate Programs, here you’ll find information on some of the top universities across the U.S. that offer mental health counseling master’s degree programs.

Aspiring mental health counselors must earn graduate degrees before they can begin practicing in the field. Graduates of master’s degree programs in Counseling Psychology find work in a variety of settings, such as mental health clinics, hospitals, or private practices.

Counseling psychology is a field that helps individuals with a variety of emotional, behavioral, and social problems or disorders. In order to become a licensed mental health counselor, most states require you to have a Master’s degree.

Start here to find Best Masters, PsyD, Phds and Certificates in Counseling & Mental Health Graduate Programs. Take a look through the list below and click on the college links to learn more about these programs. Good luck!!

Boston University School of Medicine

The Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine Program is the only accredited program in the United States that is housed in a medical school. It is a two-year Master of Arts program designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As a two-year Master of Arts program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), we prepare students for independent licensure as mental health counselors. The MHCBM Program has a rolling admission process, with no strict deadline.

Ranking: 1st
Tuition Approximately: $52,816 (12-18 credits)
Contact information: 617-358-5462, Fax: 617-358-5481, Dr. Jori Berger-Greenstein jberger@bu.edu
Apply Now: http://www.bumc.bu.edu/gms/mhcbm/

Clemson University College of Education

Graduate programs at Clemson University build on the rich experiences and expertise of faculty and students to provide an educational environment in which both groups share in research, exploration, and inquiry. The faculty of the counselor education program is dedicated to educating counselor education professionals as scholar-practitioners to function in culturally diverse settings. This program utilizes an experiential and theory-to-practice model emphasizing development, prevention, and intervention. The M.Ed./Ed.S. Degree program in clinical mental health counseling requires 60 credit hours that are designed to be developmental in nature, and appropriate course sequencing is vital to ensure proper counseling skill development. If you already have a master’s degree in counseling, you would be eligible to pursue our 30 credit Ed.S. degree program in counselor education.

Ranking: 2nd
Tuition Approximately: $4,693 for In-State and $9,888 for Out-of-State per semester
Contact information: 864-656-7656, gluff@clemson.edu
Apply Now: http://www.clemson.edu/education/academics/masters-specialist-programs/masters-education-specialist-clinical-mental-health-counseling/index.html

George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development

At GWU Graduate School of Education, The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is committed to preparing knowledgeable and ethical Professional Counselors equipped for the practice of individual, couple, family, and group counseling. This 60-credit-hour program is accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The program prepares graduates to enter the counseling profession in a variety of human service settings. Students in the program intern at their Community Counseling Services Center, as well as welfare and other social service agencies, mental health centers, penal institutions, court systems, employment and career centers, allied health agencies, government service agencies, community college counseling centers, and private practice.

Ranking: 3rd
Tuition Approximately: on-campus $1,655 per credit
Contact information:  (202) 994-9283
Apply Now: https://gsehd.gwu.edu/programs/masters-clinical-mental-health-counseling

Georgia State University

Georgia State is committed to high-quality instruction and high impact research to a student population that reflects the diverse composition of our state and nation. They offer undergraduate, graduate and non-degree programs for professionals in education, human development, and health-related fields. Mental Health Counseling degree program prepares you to work with people as individuals, couples or in groups. You will also experience a nine-month practicum-internship. In this internship, you’ll work with clients in community settings.

Ranking: 4th
Tuition Approximately: $4,365 for Resident and $13,652 for Non-Resident
Contact information: 404-413-8200, cpsadmissions@gsu.edu
Apply Now: https://www.gsu.edu/program/ms-mental-health-counseling/

New York University Steinhardt

At New York University (NYU) Steinhardt, The Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness program is designed for aspiring mental health counselors who want to treat mental illness and help clients reach their potential. With a unique focus on crafting healthy lifestyles, the program prepares you to work directly with diverse populations in a variety of professional settings including mental health centers, addiction treatment centers, community agencies, and private psychotherapy practice. This program is registered by New York State as a licensure qualifying program in mental health counseling. A dual-degree option with a post-master advanced certificate in LGBT Health, Education, and Social Services is also available.

Ranking: 5th
Tuition Approximately: $82,848
Contact information: 212 998 5555, Fax: 212 998 4358, applied.psychology@nyu.edu
Apply Now: https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/appsych/ma/counseling_mental_health_wellness

Southern Connecticut State University

Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs prepare graduates to work with clients across a spectrum of mental and emotional disorders, as well as to promote mental health and wellness. Their Masters level Counseling programs are fully accredited through CACREP, as well as recognized in the International Registry of Counselor Education (IRCEP). The program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credit hours) prepares graduate students to work in a variety of community counseling agencies, college counseling centers, hospitals, and other counseling settings including private practice. To be considered full-time, undergraduate students must be registered for at least 12 credit hours per semester, and graduate students must be registered for at least 9 credit hours per semester. Doctoral students are only considered part-time, regardless of the credit load.

Ranking: 6th
Tuition Approximately: Vary
Contact information: (203) 392-SCSU
Apply Now: https://www.southernct.edu/academics/schools/education/departments/counseling/CMHC/

Syracuse University

The Syracuse University School of Education is to prepare thoughtful and socially just leaders who bridge scholarship and practice. The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares professionals for a range of counseling settings and interventions focused on wellness and advocacy Including- community mental health counseling, counseling people with disabilities, career counseling, substance abuse services, counseling with youth, crisis counseling, and counseling persons who have experienced domestic violence. The program of study consists of core counseling courses, specialized courses appropriate to prepare the students to work in community agencies and clinical experiences in community counseling settings. The 60-credit Master of Science degree prepares graduates to successfully pursue licensure in the State of New York and other states and credentialing as a Nationally Certified Counselor.

Ranking: 7th
Tuition Approximately:
Contact information: 315-443-2266, clohara@syr.edu
Apply Now: http://soe.syr.edu/academic/counseling_and_human_services/graduate/masters/clinical_mental_health_counseling/default.aspx

Touro College School of Health Sciences

At the School of Health Sciences, they train students to become nurses, occupational and physical therapists, physician assistants and speech pathologists, as well as advocates, leaders, and allies in the communities they come from and those that they serve. A wide range of courses is offered, providing students with a dynamic understanding of established counseling theory, abnormal psychology, human development, assessment and intervention techniques that lay the groundwork for your patient interactions. Their 60-credit MS program lays the groundwork for aspiring mental health counselors to begin work in a highly competitive and rewarding field in the service of patients and clients in need of help.

Ranking: 8th
Tuition Approximately: $785 per credit
Contact information: Faye.Walkenfeld@touro.edu, jilina@touro.edu
Apply Now: http://shs.touro.edu/programs/behavioral-sciences/mental-health-counseling/

University of Louisville College of Education and Human Development

At UL College of Education and Human Development, Clinical Mental Health Counseling is part of the Counselor Education Program in the Department of Counseling and Human Development. The Clinical Mental Health Program has been accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. The Master of Education (M.Ed) in Counseling and Personnel Services with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed for those who wish to engage in the practice of professional counseling in a community-based setting. The program provides students with the knowledge base and clinical skills to provide mental health services through counseling and consultation in a variety of work settings. Students enroll in the Clinical Mental Health program both full and part-time.

Ranking: 9th
Tuition Approximately: Varies
Contact information: 502-852-6884
Apply Now: http://louisville.edu/education/degrees/med-cps-mhc

University of Pennsylvania

At Penn Graduate School of Education, the CMHS program is designed to prepare students to either 1) enter the Professional Counseling program at Penn GSE (see below) or 2) continue on to doctoral programs at other institutions. This full-time, one-calendar-year master’s program is a gateway to professional training in psychology, mental health counseling, school counseling and/or research in these areas. Students in the Counseling and Mental Health Services (CMHS) M.S.Ed Program have multiple options for further study and career advancement here at Penn GSE. The M.S.Ed. in Counseling and Mental Health Services is a gateway to professional training in psychology, mental health counseling, school counseling, and research. The degree prepares students either to enter the Professional Counseling program at Penn GSE or to continue in a doctoral program at another university.

Ranking: 10th
Tuition Approximately: $15,594 per semester
Contact information: (877) Penn-GSE, Fax: (215) 746-6884, admissions@gse.upenn.edu
Apply Now: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/aphd/cmhs/msed

University of South Florida

The RMHC Master’s Program at the University of South Florida is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Counseling is designed to meet the curriculum needs of (1) school counselors who seek to broaden their knowledge about mental health issues, (2) school counselors who wish to pursue Florida Licensure as a Mental Health Counselor, and (3) professional counselors who have relocated to Florida and may lack some of the courses required by the State of Florida for licensure. The coursework covers a broad range of mental health issues. The curriculum is based on the standard of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The Graduate Certificate provides the academic experiences and courses required by the state. Students must hold a Master’s degree in counseling or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Ranking: 11th
Tuition Approximately:
Contact information: 813-974-2855
Apply Now: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/cfs/academics/rmhc/

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