60
credits
$800
per-credit
$3,400 Graduate Assistantships available per semester (Must be available to work on Albany or Troy campuses.)
3 years
to graduate
Online
program
A mix of live and asynchronous online courses with in-person internships near you
Licensed Mental Health Counselors have a master’s degree in counseling and provide evaluation, assessment, treatment and consultation services for adults and children, families and communities.
We also offer an on-campus version of this program.
Our master’s in Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology is approved by the New York State Education Department’s Office of the Professions. Graduates are eligible to take the exam required to practice as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York state.
(We offer a Community Psychology master’s for those not seeking licensure as a LMHC.)
Use your program electives toward a concentration in any of these areas:
Our master’s in Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology program is 60 credits and can be completed full time in approximately three years. The program has been registered with New York State Education Department as meeting the educational qualifications leading to licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in New York state.
This program is registered with the New York State Department of Education and meets the education requirements for the New York state Licensed Mental Health Counselor credential. Students who want to become licensed in other states will need to research educational requirements specific to the state(s) of interest.
This new program is now taking applications for the fall 2024 semester. Space will be limited so apply by May 20, 2025, for a chance to secure your spot.
Applicants should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and should have completed undergraduate courses in Social Science Statistics, History and Systems of Psychology, and three additional courses in behavioral sciences.
Our master’s program comes with a deep, Russell Sage-level of support from an assigned faculty advisor who works with you to ensure your success.
Associate Professor of Psychology, Chair and Graduate Program Director
Professor of Psychology
Professor of Psychology
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Assistant Professor of Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology
Gayle Morse, Ph.D., Professor “Students with a master’s degree in counseling walk out the door with jobs. There’s such a need for counselors that they have jobs immediately.”
Graduates of Russell Sage’s Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology program become Licensed Mental Health Counselors and enter private and group practices or join state and county agencies, health care systems, universities, school districts, human service agencies, and more.
As a counseling psychology master’s candidate, you will work therapeutically with clients in person under the supervision of licensed, registered professionals. Students will be guided through the process of finding an internship site near them by our dedicated internship coordinator.
You will also conduct research and may be eligible for research funding from Russell Sage College’s Broughton Graduate Fellowship or Paul Search Research Award in Community Psychology, or from the American Psychological Association.
Professional organizations and conferences are another opportunity to learn. Our students have presented research at the American Psychological Association’s national and regional conferences and Russell Sage College’s Graduate Research symposium.
Meet students and alumni from our counseling master’s program.
Mental health counselors can be lifelines for people struggling with many types of mental health issues. Whether they are leading support groups, engaging in one-on-one therapy, or taking on other related jobs, compassionate and educated people willing to work in the mental health field are in high demand. Those who choose to dedicate themselves to […]
Licensed Mental Health Counselors use their expertise in counseling theory, psychological development across the lifespan, psychological research, and more to help individuals and communities achieve optimal mental health and well-being. These professionals have met certain criteria to use the term “Licensed Mental Health Counselor” or “LMHC” with their names and on their resumes. In New […]
Learn more about the benefits of a master’s degree in counseling and community psychology for starting a career as a licensed mental health counselor.
