The mission of the Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling program is to prepare highly skilled, self-aware, compassionate counselors who provide
evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and collaborative treatment using a whole person
approach.
Grounded in the cognitive-behavioral tradition, this program trains practitioner-scholars
to offer assessment, therapeutic interventions, consultation, program evaluation and
follow-up services using a collaborative integrative approach. Incorporating knowledge
of the biopsychosocial model, the program provides a foundation for ethical practice
and advocacy that facilitates the well-being of individuals, families and communities.
The program also trains students to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary settings
as health service professionals and to engage in self-care and self-reflection.
The MHC degree program prepares master’s level graduates with the attitudes, knowledge
and skills to obtain credentialing as a licensed professional counselor in many states,
become advocacy-oriented practitioners and/or pursue further doctoral training.
Program objectives
The MS in Mental Health Counseling program:
- Meets the requirements for licensure as a licensed professional counselor in Pennsylvania,
New Jersey and many other states.
- Graduates students who have a strong counseling identity and are competent in clinical
skills and cognitive behavioral interventions.
- Facilitates standardized patient (SP) experiences for students as a way to assess students’ clinical skills.
- Provides students with Interprofessional Education (IPE) experiences in which they collaborate with students and faculty across disciplines
as a way to learn with, from and about each other.