Master of Science in Counseling

The master of science in counseling program provides students with the core curriculum required for pursuing Massachusetts state licensure and offers cutting-edge courses in topics such as differential diagnosis, psychopharmacology and trauma-focused therapies. Students of this program specialize in Mental Health Counseling (MHC). Students may opt to add on a certification in School Adjustment Counseling (SAC) after completing the master's program.

Highly flexible, our distinctive program is designed to meet students’ personal and professional goals.

Program Features 

• Flexible pacing options: Full-time students can complete this program within two years; part-time students can complete anywhere from three to six years, depending on the number of courses taken per semester 

• Predictable scheduling: Courses taught on Tuesday and Thursday evenings

• Hands-on experiential learning: Students will complete, at a minimum, a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship, applied clinical training 

• Licensure opportunities: Core curriculum aligned with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts licensure requirements for becoming mental health and school adjustment counselors

• World-class faculty: Faculty have years of professional experience and research specializations in a wide range of areas, including multicultural counseling competencies, culture and mental health, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), LGBT well-being, social justice, trauma, and the impact of racial discrimination 

• Graduate assistantships: Opportunities to apply for graduate assistantships, grants, and scholarships.

Curriculum 

Students develop programs of study with faculty to reflect their interests and support their career goals. The program curriculum sequence is designed to best prepare degree candidates for their practicum and internship clinical experiences in community-based mental health agencies, in-home therapy, residential, hospital, alcohol, and other settings. 

The MS in counseling program is a 60-credit program leading to licensing eligibility as an LMHC through the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services.

Sample Core Courses*

• Developmental Psychopathology 

• Community Counseling in a Multicultural and Diverse Society 

• Differential Diagnosis  

• Legal and Ethical Issues in the Human Services Professions 

• Group Counseling 

_{*Subject to change; accurate for the 2025-2026 academic year}

Practicum and Internships 

The MS in counseling program consists of one 100-hour counseling practicum and two (2) 300-hour counseling internships, for a combined 700 hours across three (3) courses. A seminar will be taken alongside each practicum/internship course. 

Students pursuing the School Adjustment Counselor Initial License certification after completing the master's program will complete two additional practicums for an additional 450 hours or 900 hours (depending on your prior discipline). 

Careers 

Licensed mental health counselors work in a wide variety of settings, such as mental health facilities, residential treatment facilities, outpatient care centers, in-home therapy, individual and family services, hospitals, educational institutions, and government agencies. 

Common job titles include clinical mental health counselor, substance abuse counselor, addictions counselor, behavioral mental health counselor, direct care counselor, and residential counselor. 

Due to the increase in coverage for mental health counseling by insurance policies and the increase in demand for counseling services, employment in the field of mental health counseling is projected to grow 19 percent between 2023 and 2033. The median income for LMHC varies depending on counseling specialization and work setting. In May 2024, the median annual salary for mental health counselors and school adjustment counselors was $59,190.* 

_{*Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024}