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Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MA (Online)
Degree
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Department
At a Glance
The online Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling is designed to put your goals within reach. Three start dates each year and a manageable course load of just two classes during each accelerated session enables you to earn your degree in as few as two years — all while maintaining an ideal work/school/life balance. This 60-credit program prepares you to work with individuals across the lifespan and treatment spectrum.
Department Chair: Sandy Gibson, gibsonc@tcnj.edu
Duration
- full time: 2 years
- part time: up to 6 years
Availability
- online*
Specializations
- generalist practice
- addiction counseling
20
- courses
60
- credits
$714
- per credit*
Who should pursue this program?
A counseling degree will offer you a wide variety of career pathways; many counselors work in community agencies, hospitals, or private practices and provide care directly or serve as administrators. Upon graduation, you will meet the requirements to take the National Counselor Exam to be a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and be eligible to apply to be a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) or its equivalent. Prospective students who live near the TCNJ campus are encouraged to apply to the in-person program.
Engaged Faculty
What sets our faculty apart? It’s their academic prowess and active engagement as practicing counselors. Our faculty members are immersed in the current landscape of mental health counseling, bringing firsthand experience and a practical perspective to the classroom.
Careers
The clinical mental health field is experiencing an unprecedented surge in job opportunities, reflecting the increasing recognition of mental health as an integral component of overall well-being. Employment in the field is expected to grow by 18% between 2022 and 2032, according to the latest national data. Our programs will prepare you for success, enabling you to confidently enter the workforce and command a salary that reflects your expertise and dedication.
Financial Aid
Students pursuing a graduate degree at TCNJ may be eligible for some types of student financial assistance, including but not limited to student loans and assistantships. Graduate students must follow the same steps as undergraduates in applying for federal loan assistance. You should visit the Office of Student Financial Assistance for information about aid sources.
Department/School
This program is offered by the Department of Online Counselor Education in the School of Graduate, Global, and Online Education at TCNJ. Learn more about our vision and mission, curriculum, course sequence, and course descriptions. An annual report will be posted in May 2025.
Program Stucture
This program consists of three 14-week terms a year, each of which is divided into two carefully curated seven-week sessions. The practicum/field experience will span a full term, and the internship will span two terms.
Courses are offered online in a blend of asynchronous and synchronous work, meaning you will do most of it on your own time, whenever it best fits your schedule. Each course meets synchronously for 90 minutes each week. Attendance in our synchronous course time is expected; together, we use this time to apply the content learned asynchronously and practice clinical skills. However, we recognize that students have busy lives and that sometimes the unexpected may make a student unable to attend a class. In the rare circumstance that a student is not in attendance, the class will be recorded, and an additional assignment will be provided to that student to evidence their engagement with the content and exhibit their use of the skills learned.
Full-time students can take two classes per term and finish in two years. Part-time students can decide how many classes to take each term but must finish within six years.
Online Delivery
Although our program is online, every course in the program has a 90-minute synchronous component each week. We recognize that life can impede class attendance from time to time and there are some asynchronous options for the occasion absence. However, there are a few synchronous experiences where attendance is mandatory, including a 10-hour experiential group counseling experience that will occur over a single academic session. In addition, throughout the duration of the practicum and internship, each student participates in individual and/or triadic supervision on a regular schedule that averages one hour a week and group supervision on a regular schedule that averages 1½ hours per week.
This online program leverages cutting-edge technology to enhance the learning experience and to provide essential skills for your future counseling practice. Through interactive virtual classrooms, multimedia resources, and real-time collaboration tools, you’ll be a part of a dynamic and engaging online environment that mirrors the richness of in-person instruction. Participate in simulated counseling sessions; access diverse case studies; and engage in immersive, experiential learning.
Our instructional designers have developed a no-cost introductory module to prepare you to successfully engage in the online learning environment. In addition, we’ve standardized the online classroom experience to ensure a seamless transition from course to course, even for those who might be new to online education.
Curriculum
Our dynamic curriculum is designed by national experts and aligned with the newly released 2024 CACREP standards. There are two tracks available: generalist practice and addiction counseling. In both you will supplement your classes with community-based engagement, independent studies, or faculty research.
Generalist practice track: Customize your course of study by pursuing the generalist practice track and choosing electives that offer a broader clinical experience.
Addiction counseling track: This track embraces multiple pathways to recovery, preparing you to work across the addiction treatment spectrum and providing a strong foundation in harm reduction.
See the details for our curriculum, course sequence, and course descriptions.
Admission Requirements
Our application process is simple and efficient; GRE scores aren’t required, and with rolling admissions and monthly interviews, you can begin in the next available cohort. You need to complete the following:
- Essay (statement of interest)*
- Two letters of recommendation from faculty or employers only
- Resume
- Official transcript(s) from all post-secondary institutions, including a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Synchronous group interview
You can also use code “GROWTCNJ” to waive the $75 application fee.
*Share with us how your lived expertise integrates into your desire to be a mental health counselor, including your aspirations for creating meaningful change in individual lives and communities.
Accreditation and Licensure
As this is a new program, we cannot apply for CACREP accreditation until the first cohort of students is in an internship. The CACREP application will be submitted at that time. If CACREP accreditation is secured, everyone who graduates within 18 months of the date of accreditation will be deemed to have graduated from a CACREP-accredited program.
