Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MA

Who Should Pursue This Program?

Consider this program if you’re an experienced human services professional or a recent college graduate who would like to work as a general counselor or addiction specialist. It’s also a good fit if you’re planning to pursue a doctoral program after graduation. Prospective students living far from the TCNJ campus are encouraged to apply to the online program.

Accreditation and Licensure

The program is accredited by CACREP, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, the recognized accreditor for counseling programs in the United States and worldwide. CACREP accreditation signals that the curriculum, faculty, and clinical training meet a rigorous national standard; it is required or preferred for many counseling licenses and can streamline the path to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

You can choose to take electives in addiction counseling that would meet the educational requirements for licensure as both a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Jersey.

If you are interested in general practice as a mental health counselor, you can pursue it by taking a variety of elective courses alongside the core mental health counseling coursework. This general practice option would meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Jersey.

Careers

TCNJ graduates are well positioned in the field: 100% of the Class of 2022 who sought employment and responded to a TCNJ career survey reported working in counseling. Graduates work as clinical mental health counselors, addiction counselors, and, with experience, clinical supervisors and program administrators, in community and government agencies, hospitals and behavioral health facilities, substance use treatment centers, colleges, and private practice.

Demand for graduates in this field is strong: employment for mental health and substance use counselors is projected to grow 18% through 2035 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Curriculum

The 60-credit curriculum spans 20 courses and includes supervised clinical training through practicum and internship. You choose a generalist or an addiction counseling track and can supplement coursework with community-based internships, independent studies, or faculty research. The coursework is detailed in this program planner.

Supervised Clinical Experience

Clinical training is built into the program through a supervised practicum and internship, so you graduate with the hands-on hours licensure requires.

Practicum (COUN 690): You complete 120 hours of supervised experience in a clinical mental health setting, including a minimum of 40 direct-service clock hours. Each week you receive a 90-minute group supervision with a faculty member, one hour of on-campus individual supervision with a faculty member, and one hour of supervision from your site supervisor.

Internship (COUN 693, or COUN 694/695 over two terms): After completing practicum, you complete 600 clock hours in a clinical mental health setting, including 240 direct-service clock hours and a minimum of 10 hours of group counseling. Each week you receive a 90-minute group supervision with a faculty member and one hour of supervision from your site supervisor. Students in the Substance Abuse and Addiction (addiction counseling) track complete at least 300 of the 600 hours in an addiction-related treatment setting.

Tuition and Aid

Tuition is $1,170.17 per credit, the same regardless of where you live. Financial aid, graduate assistantships, and federal loan options are available; graduate students apply for federal aid using FAFSA.

» Learn more about tuition, assistantships, and aid

Engaged Faculty

Learn from nationally and internationally recognized faculty who are fully engaged with their students. Your professor knows your name and teaches all of your classes. You won’t find any TAs here.

Extensive Network

Study alongside peers with solid counseling experience, learn from faculty who have valuable contacts in their field, and benefit from an alumni community with strong professional connections.