American International College
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Springfield, USA
MA
DURATION
700 hours
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
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
This program is based on an integrated curriculum intended to produce clinicians trained in theory, research, and clinical skills. Students accepted into the Master of Arts program can elect to specialize in mental health counseling or mental health counseling with a forensic psychology concentration.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed to meet the educational requirements for a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and similar professional designations in other states. The 60-semester-hour mental health counseling concentration includes coursework in research, assessment, counseling, psychopathology, human development, and ethics. A pre-internship clinical practicum of 100 hours is required, and is followed by a 600-hour clinical internship.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program with a Forensic Psychology Concentration is also designed to meet the educational requirements for an LMHC. This concentration is a 66-semester-hour program that incorporates courses from the mental health counseling concentration. The forensic psychology concentration also includes six semester hours of forensic psychology coursework. A pre-internship clinical practicum of 100 hours is required, and is followed by a 600-hour clinical internship.
Due to state licensing requirements, transfer credits may not be permitted. 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 their knowledge of human development and psychological and psychopathological assessment, diagnosis, case conceptualization, and treatment planning in relation to mental health counseling.
- Students will develop knowledge of individual/cultural differences as well as ethical and legal standards, so they gain the skills and develop the ethical commitment to provide quality services to culturally diverse clients and organizations in relation to mental health counseling.
- Students will develop competencies in their knowledge of psychotherapeutic intervention, treatment modalities, and effective clinical and counseling skills in relation to mental health counseling.
- Students will develop competencies in their knowledge of scientific methodology and its application to relevant practice, as well as the skills necessary for effective application of that knowledge to mental health counseling.
- Students will develop personal and interpersonal competency and clinical skills, which are essential for mental health counselors to conduct themselves in a professional manner.
- PSY5207 Applied Research Methodology and Evaluation
- PSY5217 Counseling Theories, Techniques, Practice and Consultation
- PSY5225 Family, Marriage and Couples Counseling and Consultation
- PSY5229 Crisis Intervention and Trauma Informed Care
- PSY5307 Career Development and Lifestyle Appraisal
- PSY5317 Group Counseling Theories and Practice
- PSY5325 Learning Theories and Behavioral Interventions
- PSY5347 Psychopathology: Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment
- PSY5355 Systems and Theories in Counseling and Psychology
- PSY5407 Pre-Internship Clinical Practicum
- PSY5417 Human Growth and Development
- PSY5418 Psychometric Tests and Measurement for Individuals and Groups
- PSY5630 Human Sexuality for Counselors
- PSY6410 Substance Use Disorders and Addiction Counseling
- PSY6507 Issues and Ethics in Professional Orientation
- PSY6517 Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse
- PSY6607 Clinical Skills in Treatment Modalities and Consultation
- PSY6615 Multicultural Studies and Social Bases of Behavior
- PSY6807 Mental Health Counseling Internship I
- PSY6809 Mental Health Counseling Internship II*
- PSY5316 Principles in Forensic Psychology #
- PSY5430 Assessment Techniques in Forensic Psychology #
*Some states may require more internship hours than others. Each student must check the requirements as stated by their state’s licensure board.
Total Required Credits (without forensic concentration): 60
Total Required Credits (with forensic concentration): 66
#Forensic Concentration only
Additional Program Notes: Transfer credits may not be considered for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program based on licensure requirements. Graduates of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program may be able to transfer equivalent coursework to the Educational Psychology doctoral program or the Mental Health and Human Development doctoral program at American International College.