Fairleigh Dickinson University

Program Information

Degree Offered

MA - Clinical Mental Health Counseling Psychology

Format: Campus

Program Description:

The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs prepares its graduates for the professional practice of counseling. It prepares counseling professionals for a variety of work settings such as university, community agencies, clinics, hospitals, drug abuse centers, child protective services, private practice, business and industry. The program prepares highly competent counseling professionals – including entry and advanced level counselors, counseling researchers, and counseling administrators - to have a significant impact on the mental health field as counselors, program directors, researchers, grant writers, and policy makers on the local, state, and national levels. With those goals in mind, the curriculum focuses on a broad spectrum of issues including: assessing, treating or working to ameliorate a disability, problem, or disorder; the antecedent conditions that predispose people to developmental, emotional, personality or relationship problems experienced by individuals, couples, families or groups; the nature and treatment of those disorders; crisis intervention strategies; and the influence of various family and group dynamics, gender differences, cultural diversity, social problems, and age on the emergence of various problems and symptoms.

Students will be trained to conduct intake and assessment interviews, to develop treatment plans and counseling interventions, and to function as ethical and competent counselors. Students also will acquire a knowledge of research and assessment techniques and the pragmatic concerns (e.g., managed care and budget constraints) facing the mental health field today.

In order to apply what they have learned in the classroom, students will, in consultation with and with the approval of the Coordinator of Practicum/Internship, procure a Practicum and Internship Site and complete 100 hours of Practicum and 600 hours of internship at a mental health counseling site. Experiences will be arranged with the Coordinator of Practicum/Internship and the student will be supervised both “on-site” and on campus by licensed personnel.

The M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60-credit degree. The counseling program is based on the practitioner/researcher model valued in the mental health professions.

Accreditation:

The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program meets the educational requirements of the Professional Counselors Examiners Committee for licensure as a licensed associate counselor (LAC) and licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the State of New Jersey and also meets the educational requirements of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Eligibility Requirements:

* Graduation from an accredited college or university.

* If an applicant’s undergraduate degree was NOT in psychology, he/she must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in their major. The applicant must also successfully complete an undergraduate General Psychology or Advanced Psychology course (with a grade of B or better) prior to beginning the graduate counseling program.

* No GRE scores required.

* Submission of official undergraduate and graduate transcript(s).

* Submission of three (3) letters of recommendation.

* Completion of a Fairleigh Dickinson Graduate School Application form.

* A written personal statement of professional goals.

* A personal interview which will be scheduled after submission of application. At this time, a short writing sample will be completed by the applicant.

# of Credits Required:

60

Tuition & Financial Aid

Cost Per Credit Hour:

$1075.00 USD

Financial Aid Offered: Yes

Classification: Master's Colleges & Universities I

Institution Sector: Private not-for-profit

Locale: Large Suburb

Size & Settings: 5,000 - 9,999