Prepare for a career as a professional clinical counselor in a broad spectrum of settings, including community agencies, mental health centers, hospitals, integrated behavioral health centers, and substance abuse treatment centers. This degree is ideal for those interested in improving people’s lives on an individual level within a variety of contexts.
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Degree Details
Official Degree Title
Master of Arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness
Licensure or Certification
Format
Full-time
Credits
60
Start Date
Fall
Application Deadline
We are committed to generating, advancing, and disseminating knowledge related to all aspects of research and practice in counseling. We teach our students to understand people across the lifespan in cultural contexts, promote equity and social justice in our work, and help all people craft lives of wellness, health, and meaning.
You will gain the skills to:
- Form helping counseling relationships and demonstrate a commitment to the growth and development of your clients
- Apply counseling skills such as assessment, case conceptualization, practice, and advocacy
- Assess clients within various socio-historical contexts with attention to issues of power and privilege – including gender, race and ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and ability/disability
This MA combines core courses and content electives with counseling labs and internships. You’ll study counseling foundations, theory and process, ethical issues, group dynamics, cross-cultural counseling, abnormal psychology, and human growth and development, then apply your knowledge within your internship placement.
Elective courses focus on applied content areas such as bereavement counseling, career counseling, marriage and family counseling, and addiction counseling, as well as on counseling special populations such as LGBT people, women, people with disabilities, and individuals with addiction disorders.
You’ll be prepared for a fulfilling career in:
- Community mental health programs
- College counseling centers
- Trauma-focused programs
- HIV and AIDS outreach programs
- Substance abuse treatment centers
This program is accredited by the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for 2015 through 2025. Graduates of this program meet the academic requirements for licensure in the state of New York. Each state sets their own policies, regulations, and standards for licensure. If you intend to pursue licensure in a state other than New York, you should consult our Licensure page for more information on whether our program meets the academic requirements for licensure in that state and whether there is additional course work you may need to complete to meet that state’s requirements.
Program Benefits for International Students
If you’re an international student, you may be able to work in the United States after graduation for an extended period of time. Most students studying on F-1 visas will be eligible for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) off-campus work authorization. F-1 students in our program may also be eligible for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) OPT extension, allowing you to extend your time in the United States to pursue degree-related work experience for a total of 36 months or 3 years. For more information on who can apply for this extension visit NYU’s Office of Global Services: STEM OPT.
Want to Study Online?
NYU Steinhardt also offers this master's degree in an online format.
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