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<span>Mental Health Counseling</span>
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Mental Health Counseling

Master of Science
Mental Health Counseling MS

Join our established and respected program to prepare yourself for a dynamic career as a mental health counselor. Small class sizes and close interaction with our esteemed faculty will prepare you to enhance your professional development in various mental health counseling capacities.

Quick Facts

Application Deadline
February 1
You Can Start
Summer & Fall
Delivery Options
Main Campus, Syracuse Campus
Cost Per Credit Hour
$471
Credit Hours
60
Estimated Completion Time
2 Years

Overview

Our Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited program prepares students with the listening, problem-solving, treatment planning and case consultation skills needed for a successful future in the field. The program consists of 60 credits, which allows you to create relationships with area leaders for future opportunities, plus see the skills, theories and ethics utilized in the practice.

Practice and Field Experiences

Oswego partners with local counseling practices where you will work with real situations and real clients.

Outcomes

Graduates of our program will be prepared to work as licensed, professional, mental health counselors in a variety of settings. The mental health counseling program satisfies the state educational requirements leading toward professional licensure and prepares students to sit for a licensing exam. Students interested in becoming a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor can also take additional coursework to prepare for the state exam.

Career Opportunities

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor
  • Mental Health Professional
  • NYS credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC)

The Mental Health Counseling program at SUNY Oswego provided me with the necessary training to work in a field that I am passionate about. Working with clients in an internship setting allowed me to understand what this career is about and what it has to offer to a community, as well as my professional development

Program Resources

Application Requirements

Official transcript

Submit official transcripts confirming your bachelor’s or master’s degree/advanced certificate. This includes graduate-level coursework or post-baccalaureate degree/certificate. U.S. transcripts must be sent directly from the granting institution (electronic or mail).

For credentials earned outside of the United States, we require students to provide a World Education Services (WES) Course by Course (ICAP) evaluation, an IEE Education Course Report (US), or TEC (formally known as SpanTran) Divisional Course Analysis. This evaluation ensures that we can provide quality assessment of coursework from all countries where various grading scales and languages may exist.

GPA of at least 3.0

A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better is required for applicants. If you have questions regarding your GPA, please speak to the department advisor for further information.

GRE optional

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are optional for admission into the program. Applicants have the option to submit a test score as part of their application package.

Department interview

As a prospective student, you will meet with faculty to assess your skills and goals for attending the program. Email confirmation regarding interviews with a time and date will be sent out two to four weeks after submission deadline.

Statement of purpose

In 500 words or less, describe your personal achievements relating to your academic interests, and detail your educational and professional objectives with reasoning for applying to SUNY Oswego. This statement will help the review team better understand and evaluate your application.

Resume

Include a professional resume or curriculum vitae that includes your academic history, professional background and any accomplishments of note. This document should provide details that support your admittance to the program.

Two letters of recommendation

Indicate two names with valid email addresses. We will send an email request directly to the references on your behalf. These references should be able to speak to your character, work ethic and abilities.

Application fee

Prospective students are charged a non-refundable $65 fee for processing the application.

International admissions

All international transcripts must be verified using one of the following methods as part of your application process:

  • WES Course by Course (ICAP) evaluation,
  • an IEE Education Course Report (US), or
  • TEC (formally known as SpanTran) Divisional Course Analysis.

English Language Proficiency: Submit official TOEFL (79 overall, MBA 83) or IELTS (6.5) scores, unless exempt.

Visa and I-20 Documentation: After acceptance, upload your financial documents and passport copy to receive your Form I-20 for your visa application.

For more details, please visit Application Requirements for International Graduate Students.

Professional Licensure Disclosure Statement

All academic programs offered by SUNY Oswego that lead to a state license or certification in a particular profession have been designed to meet state licensing requirements in the state of New York. Our programs are not designed to meet licensure requirements in other states. If you plan to pursue a license in a particular profession in a state other than New York after you graduate, it is your responsibility to determine whether our curriculum will meet the requirements in the state where you plan to live and work. For questions about licensure disclosure, please contact SUNY Oswego's Provost Office. 

Phone: 315-312-2290 

Email: [email protected]

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