CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
www.merrimack.edu/healthcounsel
DEADLINES
Fellowships
Rolling Deadline:
Applications for 2023-2024 will be reviewed until all spots are filled.
Begins: May 22, 2023
Summer I 2023
Application Deadline: April 24, 2023 (April 10, 2023 for international applicants)
Begins: May 29, 2023
Fall 2023
Application Deadline: August 14, 2023 (July 14, 2023 for international students)
Begins: August 2023
Transform people’s lives as a mental health counselor. The need for qualified, compassionate mental health counselors has never been greater. With Merrimack College's M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, you’ll gain the knowledge, skills and techniques needed to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Featuring a combination of coursework and fieldwork, the program curriculum provides a comprehensive framework in counseling theory and clinical methods. It’s everything you need to advocate for clients facing addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma and other mental health challenges.
Tailored For You
• Choose from online or on-campus programs; both feature the same rigorous curriculum
• Earn your M.S. in 2 years of full-time study, or 3-4 years part-time
• Learn from high-caliber faculty who are expert practitioners in the field
• Gain hands-on experience through 700 hours of hands-on clinical training (100 practicum hours and 600 internship hours)
• Network with classmates who have a range of experiences
• Build your portfolio through a fellowship experience (campus program only)
GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS
Save 50-100% on your first year of tuition
Available only to students in the campus program, fellowships link graduate study with onsite field experience to help build your professional skills. Learn more at www.merrimack. edu/cmhc-fellowships.
TUITION AND SCHOLARSHIPS
The Master of Science is 60 credit hours.
Campus program: $1,028 per credit hour ($61,680)
Online program: $650 per credit hour ($39,000)
Applicants to the campus program (excluding those awarded a fellowship) are eligible for the Dean Scholarship, which is awarded based on merit and need. This generous scholarship, in addition to our already low tuition, can help you save significantly on tuition costs.
*2022–2023 tuition rates subject to change.
Accredited Program
Merrimack is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Our master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling also meets the requirements of the Massachusetts state licensing board, so upon graduation, you will be eligible to sit for the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).
Hands On Experience
In addition to classroom learning, all students complete 700 hours of fieldwork, consisting of 100 practicum hours and 600 internship hours, during the second year of the program. We will find an internship placement for you that meets your interests. As you explore advanced counseling techniques through your internship, you’ll have the opportunity to apply your skills by working with clients individually and in groups. On-site supervisors will help you refine your clinical approach as you develop treatment plans to meet the needs of populations dealing with substance abuse, depression, anxiety, grief, trauma and other challenges.
An In-Demand Career
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts clinical mental health counseling jobs will increase by more than 20 percent over the next decade. Graduates of our master's program have a job placement rate of nearly 100 percent, based on their top-notch training and the program’s strong reputation among employers.
Sampling of Courses
CMH 5010: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
CMH 5035: Group Counseling
CMH 5070: Psychological Assessment
Program information subject to change. Visit the website for up-to-date program information.
“I’ve gotten so much out of this program. In addition to earning my degree, I’ve met some wonderful people who will be lifelong friends and colleagues.”
PIUS AKPOMEDA, M.S. '18