American International College
Licensure Program for Mental Health Counseling
Springfield, USA
Higher doctorate
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 23,000 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus, Blended
* International resident tuition| International Commuter Tuition - $15,000
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The doctoral program in Mental Health Counseling provides professional preparation in applied mental health counseling. The Mental Health Counseling doctoral program is designed to meet the educational requirements for a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in Massachusetts, and similar professional designations in other states. Students gain experience addressing mental health issues, human dynamics, and social justice for a variety of individual or group cases, institutions, or workplaces. The program is based on a balanced sequential scientist/practitioner model and emphasizes the interrelatedness of theory, research, and practice, and offers choices to meet the individual needs of students.
Those who are interested in pursuing certification or licensure will generally meet academic, experiential, and other requirements depending on the type of certification/licensure sought; however, each state or jurisdiction may have additional requirements. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet all state licensing requirements as promulgated by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health Professionals or by the appropriate board in the state in which they wish to practice. For specific information, your state or provincial certification/licensing board should be contacted.
- Students will develop competencies in lifespan development and psychopathy assessment, diagnosis, case conceptualization, and treatment planning, and will apply that knowledge to the practice of mental health counseling and research.
- Students will develop competencies in individual/cultural differences, and ethical and legal standards in order to provide ethical and culturally sensitive services to culturally diverse populations and organizations, and will apply that knowledge to the practice of mental health counseling and research.
- Students will develop competencies in counseling and psychotherapeutic interventions, treatment modalities, clinical skills, remediation, and consultation, and will apply that knowledge to the practice of mental health counseling and research.
- Students will develop written and oral competencies in scientific methodology and the application of these competencies to psychoeducational and clinical practice and other scholarly activities, and will apply that knowledge to the practice of mental health counseling and research.
- Students will develop personal and interpersonal competencies and skills essential for mental health counselors to conduct themselves in a competent and professional manner and will apply that knowledge to their practice of mental health counseling and research.
Core Course Requirements
- PSY8217 Counseling Theories, Techniques, Practice, and Consultation
- PSY8225 Family, Marriage, and Couples Counseling and Consultation
- PSY8227 Crisis Intervention and Trauma-Informed Care
- PSY8307 Career Development and Lifestyle Appraisal
- PSY8317 Group Counseling Theories and Practice
- PSY9418 Psychometric Tests and Measurement for Individuals and Groups
- PSY8355 Systems and Theories in Counseling and Psychology
- PSY9410 Substance Use Disorders and Addiction Counseling
- PSY8507 Issues and Ethics in Professional Orientation
- PSY8607 Clinical Skills in Treatment Modalities and Consultation
- PSY8517 Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse
- PSY8340 Racial, Multi-Cultural and Social Bases of Behavior
- PSY9220 Bivariate and Multivariate Applied Research Methods and Evaluation
- PSY9949 Studies in Human Lifespan Development
- PSY9950 Studies in Psychopathology Assessment, Diagnosis, and Intervention
Practicum and Internship Requirements
(Students required to complete only the practicum and internship in their area of study)
- PSY8219 Practicum in Mental Health Counseling
- PSY8518 Internship in Mental Health Counseling I
- PSY8519 Internship in Mental Health Counseling II*
Dissertation Requirements
(Continued Enrollment fee available for those who have not completed the dissertation after 2 semesters)
- PSY9951 Dissertation in Mental Health Counseling I (6 Credits)
- PSY9952 Dissertation in Mental Health Counseling II (6 Credits)
Total required Credits: 66
*Some states may require more internship hours than others. Each student must check the requirements as stated by their state’s licensure board.
Additional Program Notes: Students must pass the Comprehensive Qualifying Exam (COMPS) before starting the dissertation. One semester of practicum and two semesters of internship are required for the degree. The total number of hours for practicum and internship is dependent on the type of licensure the student is pursuing. It is the student’s responsibility to contact their specific state or provincial certification/licensure board for further information. Transfer credits may not be considered for the licensure track due to licensure requirements in Massachusetts. Students with a Master’s degree in a related field and seeking licensure must complete a minimum of 66 credits as determined in consultation with the program director.