Mental Health Counseling, MS
New York, USA
MSc
DURATION
36 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 89,700
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
The program focuses on preparing students to become effective mental health counselors, equipped to work with diverse populations in various settings. It emphasizes foundational skills such as clinical assessment, counseling techniques, ethics, and cultural competence. Students engage in hands-on practicum experiences that allow them to apply what they learn in real-world environments, helping them build confidence and competence before entering the professional field. The curriculum is designed to meet licensing requirements, ensuring graduates are ready to pursue certification and licensure as mental health counselors.
The program also highlights the importance of a supportive learning environment, offering opportunities for mentorship and professional development. Students can explore specialties like trauma, addiction, or children’s mental health, tailoring their education to specific interests. The curriculum integrates current research and best practices, fostering a deep understanding of mental health issues and intervention strategies. By combining coursework, practical experience, and career support, the program aims to prepare students not just to meet industry standards, but to become compassionate and effective helpers in their communities.
The curriculum emphasizes hands-on skills development using role-playing and group exercise, as well as interview techniques, research methods, and internships.
Note: The MS program is open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field. Applicants who have not completed a major in psychology or a related discipline may be required to complete two prerequisite undergraduate psychology courses—such as Introduction to Psychology, Lifespan Development, or Social Psychology—prior to beginning graduate study.
Take Courses Like…
- MHC 658 Group Dynamics
- MHC 687 Foundations of Mental Health Counseling and Consultation
- MHC 694 Practicum in Mental Health Counseling
Get Involved with Professional Associations
Students and faculty can interact, join, and present at regional, state, and national association conferences. This includes developing partnerships to conduct critical research on topics impacting individuals seeking mental health counseling services and beyond. Faculty have a longstanding and collaborative relationship with the following key organizations, allowing them to guide students in establishing professional connections during their time in the program.
- American Counseling Association (ACA)
- American Counseling Association-New York (ACA-NY)
- American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)
- New York Mental Health Counselors Association (NYMHCA)
- Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
- North Atlantic Region Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NARACES)
- New York Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
Graduates of this program are eligible for New York State certification in mental health counseling and are prepared for a variety of professional counseling positions, as well as advanced training in specific theoretical approaches and training at the doctoral level. Students who complete this program with distinction are encouraged to apply to our PhD in Mental Health Counseling program at Pace University.
Graduates of our program gain a distinctive advantage in advancing their clinical licenses through New York State’s newly established diagnostic privilege designation. Upon completing Pace University’s Mental Health Counseling program and obtaining licensure, you will have the authority to formally diagnose your clients. This credential expands your employment opportunities across various facilities, increases your eligibility for a broader range of insurance panels, and enhances your earning potential. Additionally, it signifies that your diagnostic expertise is recognized by New York State as equivalent to that of social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists.
As a Pace student, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with our robust career services team to develop a career plan that best fits your goals.
Our graduates are prepared for jobs like:
- Behavioral health counselors
- Behavioral therapists
- Care coordinators
- Case managers
- Child and adolescent counselors
- Counselors in private practice
- Dual-diagnosis clinicians
- Directors of counseling
- Grief and bereavement counselors
- Program directors
- Substance abuse counselors
International Career Success Program
The INSPIRE Program (International Student Professional Readiness Program) is a badged internship and career success program exclusive to Pace. Year after year, this one-of-a-kind program empowers international students to achieve results in obtaining internships, jobs, and salary outcomes. Domestic students, we have an equivalent program for you called ASPIRE.
Where Pace Graduates are Employed
- Montefiore Medical Center
- Monte Nido
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
- Phelps Memorial Hospital
- St. Vincent’s Hospital
- St. Christopher’s Inc.
- St. Christopher’s Inn
- VNS Health