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• Mental Health Counseling M.A.
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Curriculum

In the first semester of the program, students undertake an introductory MHC course in addition to developmental psychology, psychopathology, and clinical assessment, with an assessment practicum. An intensive January course covers ethical and legal issues in counseling.

In the second semester, students undertake course work in psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral approaches to counseling as well as group processes. Students continue to explore the counseling process through role-play and other in-class exercises in their counseling practicum course. Through this course, they have the opportunity to conduct, intake, and counsel a relatively uncomplicated client at the Brooklyn College Personal Counseling Program. They also may continue their counseling practicum at the college's Personal Counseling Program and may begin their clinical internships.

Over the summer, students participate in a social, linguistic, and cultural foundations of counseling course.

In the third semester, internship experience is the primary focus. Students carry out a 20-hour per-week internship at a site of their choosing. MHC faculty members provide group supervision of interns as part of a yearlong internship course (six credits per semester). In conjunction with the internship class, in-depth course work focuses on experiential approaches and couples and family counseling.

An intensive January course covers career development counseling. In the final semester of the MHC Program, course work relates to research and program evaluation, along with an advanced elective. Students also continue with their yearlong internship and group supervision course.

This is a very demanding, full-time, daytime, year-round program. Although it may be possible to work on a part-time basis during the first year, by the second year outside work is generally not possible. The combination of internship and course work makes it very difficult to work while attending the program. We wish to stress that this is an intensive, two-year program with course work in the summer and during the January breaks. Please bear this in mind when deciding whether to apply.

Curriculum

The M.A. Program requires the following courses (60 credits total). The ordering of specific courses, particularly intersession and summer classes, may vary annually.

First Semester

• Foundations of Mental Health Counseling (3 credits)
• Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
• Psychopathology (3 credits)
• Assessment Techniques (3 credits)
• Assessment Practicum (3 credits)

Winter Break (approximately 10 days)

January Intersession

• Ethical and Legal Issues (3 credits)

Second Semester

• Psychodynamic Approaches (3 credits)
• Cognitive and Behavioral Approaches (3 credits)
• Group Process (3 credits)
• Counseling Practicum (3 credits)

Summer (June–July)

• Social, Linguistic, and Cultural Foundations of Counseling (3 credits)

Mid-July–August Break

Third Semester

• Experiential Approaches (3 credits)
• Couples and Families (3 credits)
• Counseling Internship I (6 credits)

Fourth Semester

• Research Methods and Program Evaluation (3 credits)
• Career Development (3 credits)
• Counseling Internship II (6 credits)
• One elective (3 credits-approved by Director), which may include:
  • Child and Adolescent Counseling (required for students that have child cases at internship)
  • Neuroscience, Trauma, Psychopharmacology, and Severe Mental Illness in Mental Health Counseling

Course Schedule

The program is offered only on a full-time basis with fall admission.

First-Year Students

Courses are scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students should expect to be on campus for classes three to four days per week (excluding Fridays). In addition, students are expected to be available for substantial, unpaid practicum work in the first year. Mandatory practicum client and supervision appointments may be scheduled for you on Fridays, Saturdays, and/or Sundays.

Second-Year Students

Courses are scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays from approximately 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students are expected to be available for substantial, unpaid internship work, 20 hours per week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays), in the second year.

Outside employment cannot interfere with students' ability to meet these requirements.

Comprehensive Examination

Students must pass a comprehensive examination after completing 48 credits in order to advance in the program. The comprehensive exam consists of diagnosis, formulation, treatment planning, etc., of two case vignettes, one psychodynamic and one CBT treatment approach. Detailed information about and practice for the comprehensive exam is provided to students through multiple courses.

Internship

In addition to course work, students complete a clinical internship in an approved mental health setting. The 600-hour (approximately one year), unpaid internship is carried out in the second year. Our students have completed internships at various mental health agencies, clinics, hospitals, counseling centers, and specialized programs including domestic violence, substance abuse, and eating disorder settings. The internship is an opportunity to specialize in a treatment approach or client population or gain broad clinical training.

The Brooklyn College MHC Internship Coordinator must approve all sites before students can begin their internship placements. Approval decisions are based on the breadth and depth of experience offered at the site, in addition to the setting. In all cases, on-site supervision is required by a credentialed mental health professional with at least three years of appropriate professional experience. While the program maintains a list of approved internship sites, we encourage students to apply to additional sites of interest.

Placement Requirements

The Brooklyn College MHC Program requires the following of all internship placements:

• On-site supervision provided by a licensed mental health professional with at least three years of appropriate professional experience.
• Opportunities for direct service through individual and group counseling (120 hours of direct counseling service per semester). Clinical sites where students only carry out intakes or assessments are not permissible.
• A minimum of one hour per week of individual supervision by the internship site supervisor.
• Evaluation of the intern to be completed by the internship supervisor at the end of each semester.
• A signed contractual agreement between the internship site supervisor and the MHC Program of Brooklyn College, which binds the supervisor to his or her commitment to supervise students, and a signed affiliation agreement between CUNY and the internship site, which specifies the broad terms of the internship placement. The Brooklyn College Internship Coordinator will provide additional information about these contractual agreements.

Internship students are required to keep weekly logs of their hours, activities, and details of the clinical work being carried out at their practicum sites. These logs are submitted to the Brooklyn College Internship Supervisor on a monthly basis, accompanied by a Supervisor Verification of Internship Hours Form, which certifies the supervision times and content of discussion, signed by the supervising counselor. MHC students who do not complete the minimum number of direct contact hours during the academic year (i.e., 240 hours) are required to complete their hours in the summer following the second year of the program. Internship site supervisors formally evaluate students at the end of each semester. Students are required to keep a copy of this evaluation, which is reviewed and signed by the student, the internship site supervisor, and the Brooklyn College internship course instructor.

Teaching Opportunities

While there are undergraduate teaching opportunities, first-year master's students typically do not have the academic background or experience to teach these courses. It might be possible for an exceptional second-year student with appropriate background and experience to be considered for a teaching position.

Research Opportunities

There are opportunities to participate in research projects, although this is a practice-oriented program and not primarily a research program. You also may arrange to carry out a research project with a Psychology Department faculty member. The MHC Program provides a research course in the final semester, and clinical research is addressed in most courses. Applicants who intend to pursue research or university teaching as a significant part of their careers are advised to attend a doctoral program.