Department of Counseling

School Counseling
Mental Health Counseling

Purpose

The master’s programs in counseling offer graduate education in counseling preparation. The 60-credit Master’s in School Counseling prepares students to obtain their New York State initial school counselor certification. This program will prepare students to become New York State Initially and Professionally Certified School Counselors in urban and suburban school settings.

The Master of Science in School Counseling offers one certification within the degree program. Successful completion of the School Counselor Program leads to recommendation to the New York State Education Department for certification as a school counselor. At this time, the School Counseling Bilingual Extension program is currently not approved to be offered under the 60 credit hour program. Once the School Counseling Bilingual Extension program is approved, students will be notified via email. Upon program completion, graduates are eligible to work towards meeting the three year externship required for professional certification as a school counselor in New York State. The New York State Education Department has discontinued provisional and permanent certification for School Counselors as of February 1, 2023. After that date, qualified individuals will work towards initial and professional certification through the New York State Education Department (pending completion of the 60-credit hour Master’s Degree program in School Counseling and all New York State Education Department certification requirements). As of February 2024, there is a new requirement for certification in New York State. Students are required to take and pass the NYSTCE – School Counseling exam before their initial certification will be issued by the New York State Education Department.

The 60-credit Master’s in Mental Health Counseling prepares students to become New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselors in public and private agencies. The Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling is a licensure-qualifying program. In addition, the mental health counseling program is not an approved distance learning program and students are only allowed to take up to 27 credits on-line. Upon program completion, graduates are eligible to work towards meeting the 3,000-hour externship required for licensure as a mental health counselor in New York State. According to the New York State mental health counseling licensure regulations, graduates will have up to two years (with the option of two additional one-year extensions) to meet the 3,000 hours of experience and pass a licensing examination to complete the licensure requirements.

Note: The following clinical courses cannot be taken online for the School Counseling and Mental Health Counseling programs, CNSL 650 Counseling and Application I , CNSL 655 Counseling and Application II , CNSL 660 Grp Counsel Theory & Practice (cc), CNSL 670 Practicum in Counseling, CNSL 690 Intrnshp I-School Setting , and CNSL 691 Intrnshp II-School Setting ,; CNSL 686 Intrnshp I: Mntl Health , CNSL 687 Intrnshp II: Mntl Health . Other courses may not be available online and courses offered online are offered at the discretion of the department.

Expectations of the Graduate

Graduates of the Master of Science in School Counseling will be prepared to assume a professional school counseling role in a school setting. Graduates will be expected to do the following:

Identify and apply the American School Counseling Association standards to qualify for certification as a School Counselor in New York State.
Demonstrate mastery of Human Growth and Development, Social and Cultural Foundations, Theories of Counseling, Groups, Lifestyle and Career Development, Appraisal, Research and Program Evaluation, and Professional Orientation and Ethics.
Identify, explain, and respond to concerns, issues, and challenges relevant to today’s students.
Define, explain, and apply counseling, assessment, advocacy, prevention, and intervention techniques to assist students.
Apply current knowledge and research from social and behavioral sciences, including the use of technology, to the practice of counseling in a school setting.
Identify and explain the impact of cultural diversity on counseling techniques and make appropriate applications.

Graduates of the Master of Science in the Mental Health Counseling Degree Program will be prepared to assume a professional mental health counseling role in a setting specializing in treating mental health, or related, issues. Graduates will be expected to have achieved the following:

Identify and apply the American Mental Health Counseling Association standards to qualify to take the licensing examination in Mental Health Counseling required by New York State
Demonstrate mastery of Human Growth and Development, Social and Cultural Foundations, Theories of Counseling, Groups, Lifestyle and Career Development, Appraisal, Research and Program Evaluation, and Professional Orientation and Ethics.
Diagnose and treat symptoms presented by clients
Define, explain, and apply counseling methods for the assessment, diagnosis & treatment of mental disorders
Demonstrate current knowledge and ability to utilize research from social and behavioral sciences, including the use of technology, to the practice of counseling
Demonstrate an awareness of the impact of cultural diversity on the counseling process.

Admission Requirements

Please refer to the general requirements for admission and matriculation in the Admissions section.

Program Requirements for Admission to Application to the School Counseling Program

Two professional letters of recommendation on letterhead (letters from friends, neighbors, acquaintances, or clergy are welcome but do not replace the two professional letters).
In an 800-1000 word personal statement, please address all of the following questions: What does it mean to be a school counselor? What influenced you to want to be a school counselor? What are your three biggest strengths? How will your strengths and challenges impact you as a student in the school counseling program and as a future school counselor? (If your GPA is below a 3.0, this must be one of your challenges that you discuss). What influenced you to apply to Mercy College?
A current résumé that demonstrates related counseling experience.
In-person interview with the program director (or designee) once above requirements have been accepted.
Undergraduate college transcripts (and Graduate transcripts) if applicable.

Program Requirements for Admission to Application to the Mental Health Counseling Program

Two professional letters of recommendation on letterhead (letters from friends, neighbors, acquaintances, or clergy are welcome but do not replace the two professional letters).
In an 800-1000 word personal statement, please address all of the following questions: What does it mean to be a mental health counselor? What influenced you to want to be a mental health counselor? What are your three biggest strengths? Your three biggest challenges? How will your strengths and challenges impact you as a student in the mental health counseling program and as a future school counselor? (If your GPA is below a 3.0, this must be one of your challenges that you discuss). What influenced you to apply to Mercy University?
A current résumé that demonstrates related counseling experience.
In-person interview with the program director (or designee) once above requirements have been accepted.
Undergraduate college transcripts (and Graduate transcripts, if applicable).

Course Load

Students must consult with the program director or their faculty advisor regarding required courses for the Counseling Program. Full-time students may register for up to nine credits per semester. Students will only be permitted to take twelve credits in a semester with prior approval from their faculty advisor. Part-time students may register for either three or six credits per semester. No student will be allowed to take more than 12 credits per semester.

Transfer Credits

Graduate courses taken at other institutions prior to admission at Mercy University may, if pertinent to the plan of study, be credited to the graduate degree. Permission to transfer credits must be requested at the time of admission and official transcripts and course descriptions must be submitted to the program director for evaluation.

Transfer credit will be granted only for courses taken in the five-year period prior to acceptance in the Mercy College Program and for courses in which the student earned a grade of B or higher. Transfer credit is limited to six credits. Courses with a grade of B- or lower are not acceptable for transfer.

Maintenance of Matriculation

It is expected that students will fulfill the requirements for their graduate degree by registering over successive sessions. Registration is accomplished by either enrolling in classes or maintaining matriculation. The Maintaining Matriculation fee is $100 per session and is processed as a registration.

Students who have not maintained matriculation and wish to return to their program within one year after their last course will be charged the Maintenance of Matriculation fee of $100 for each missed session. Maintenance of matriculation without attending classes is limited to one year. Activated U.S. Military Reservists are not required to pay the Maintenance of Matriculation fee.

Maintenance of Good Academic Standing

The cumulative GPA for both good academic standing and degree conferral is a 3.0. A student admitted as a Special Matriculant (Provisional) is required to achieve a 3.0 average or better and B or greater after completing a certain number of credits as stipulated by their respective program. Grades are subject to review by the faculty advisor and program director at the end of each semester. If the academic average for any semester falls below 3.0 and/or a student received less than a B in any course, the student will be placed on academic probation. If the student fails to achieve a 3.0 GPA in two consecutive semesters, the students will be subject to dismissal from the program. Please refer to the Department of Counseling Academic Standing and Academic Probation for additional policies detailed below.

Academic Probation

All students who have a semester cumulative GPA of below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. If a student is unable to achieve a cumulative GPA within a reasonable time, they will be dismissed from the program. If a student receives a grade of F or FW in any course the student will be subject to dismissal from the University.

For all students on probation, future registrations must be reviewed and approved by the director of the student’s program or by their faculty advisor.

In all subsequent terms in which the student is on probation, the student must achieve a term GPA of 3.0 or better. If the 3.0 or higher is not achieved the student will be dismissed. Students who receive a grade of less than B- will be required to repeat the course. Students will be allowed to repeat a course only once.

Degree Requirements

Successful completion of 60 graduate credits for School Counseling and 60 graduate credits for Mental Health Counseling.
A 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Successful completion of a comprehensive examination.

Time Limit

Requirements for the master’s degrees in counseling programs, including passing the CPCE, must be completed within five years from the date of the candidate’s admission (exclusive of time spent in the Armed Forces). Exceptions will be made only if a student requests in writing an extension of time in advance and receives the director’s approval.

Advisement and Orientation

Students in the counseling programs must meet with their faculty advisor to plan their courses and review the plan of study before course registration.
All newly enrolled students must attend the Counseling Department New Student Orientation in their first semester. New Student Orientation will only occur in the Fall and Spring term.

Application Deadlines for Clinical (Field) Placement

Application Deadline for Practicum Placement School Counseling: mid-November
Application Deadline for School Counseling Internship Placement: mid-February
Application Deadline for Practicum/Internship Mental Health Counseling Placement: early March

A 3.0 GPA is required to register for field placement.

Completion of at least the basic Level 1 and Intermediate courses is required. Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop, Violence Prevention and Child Abuse Workshops, is required before registration in either of the internship courses in School Counseling. Mental Health Counseling students must also complete basic Level 1 and Intermediate courses to be eligible for Practicum. Field placement must be applied for before the fall semester before Practicum.

Students who wish to take the workshops at Mercy University can register here: http://mercy.edu/academics/school-education/test-prep-certification-workshops.

For additional information regarding field placement, review the Counseling Department Handbook.

Additional Academic Opportunities

Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE)

Students who are enrolled in the Mental Health Counseling and the School Counseling, degree programs must successfully pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE). Students must pass the comprehensive examinations before their degree will be conferred.

The Mercy University Department of Counseling utilize the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), published by the Center for Credentialing and Education Inc. (CCE), which is an affiliate of the National Board for Certified Counselors Inc. (NBCC).

Students must pass the exam to graduate. Disability accommodations must be set up in advance. Exams are closed book, closed note. During each semester, students will be informed via email about signing up for the exam by the department administrator.

During the Practicum semester, students will received study material from AATBS to aid them in preparing for the exam. There will be study books and online practice material for infor@AATBS.com.

After students take the exam, scores will be sent to exam coordinator (department administrator) approximately 45 days following students’ exams. The exam is graded out of 136 points, but 16 of those questions are text questions. Since the passing score changes every month, for administrative reasons and since the average score for Mercy University students has been averaged to about 70, the passing score for the exam is 70.

Students will be informed officially by the department, if they have passed the exam. Once passed, this information will be added to your transcript.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COUNSELING-CASAC 350-HOUR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM - STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM

CASAC-T Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Standardized 350-Hour Education and Training Program Mercy University CASAC-T Program is an OASAS Certified Education Training Program. The courses have been approved by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), satisfying the educational requirements for state certification. With the competitive market for counselors and mental health providers, your CASAC-T Certification paves the way for both direct patient care and supervisory positions in the area of substance abuse and addiction. The intensive program at Mercy University will specifically prepare you for the five domains for CASAC preparation including assessment, counseling, case management, client, family and community education, and professional responsibility. Mercy University students receive the professional training and ethical knowledge base to enable them to provide alcoholism and substance abuse counseling in one of the most progressive fields.

The following courses are required for completion of the CASAC-T Credential:

Pass Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE). This exam is a requirement for graduation.

For Mental Health Counseling students, all of the above courses coincide with degree requirements. For School Counseling students, courses denoted with an asterisk* are electives.

e-Portfolio Requirement: The e-Portfolio requirement ensures that the CASAC Candidate is effectively able to practically apply the generic paradigms of counseling skills, techniques, and practice to the specific provision of services to alcohol and substance abuse populations. As you examine each paradigm and discuss its application to counseling, the CASAC Candidate will be specifically required to apply their knowledge base to the provision of treatment and services to substance abusers and their families.

e-Portfolio requirements are not applicable to CNSL 678 . Students will automatically receive 45 clock hours following the completion of that course.

Graduate students who wish to obtain their CASAC-T certification may take (but are not required to enroll in) any of the following substance abuse courses as electives. They include: CNSL 501 , CNSL 502 , and CNSL 674 .