GSE Mental Health Counseling

A group of students and faculty from the Graduate School of Education posing for a photo on the plaza.

Mental Health Counseling Program Mission

Aligned with Fordham’s Jesuit education emphasis on cura personalis (“care of the whole person”) and commitment to social justice, the mission of the Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in the Mental Health Counseling (MHC) program is to prepare graduates for diverse careers, fostering societal well-being through culturally responsive, science-based approaches, and systemic equity to promote inclusive mental health outcomes in various settings. View a comprehensive student handbook for this program.

At a glance

  • Degree type: MSEd
  • Credit hours: 60
  • Cost per credit: $1,835 
  • Duration: 2 or 3 years
  • Classes begin: Fall
  • Applications due: January 15 (priority), February 1 (final)
  • Location/Modality: Lincoln Center
  • Full-time or part-time?: Full-time or part-time
  • Is there an accelerated option?: No

Note: Applicants who submit completed applications by the priority deadline will receive early consideration for GSE School-Based Aid.

Program Objectives
In line with the program’s mission, the program's objectives are preparing mental health counseling students to:

  1. Integrate psychological knowledge as the foundation for effective counseling practice.
  2. Demonstrate ethical decision-making competency across various settings serving diverse populations.
  3. Apply a social justice perspective within evidence-based practices.
  4. Foster self-awareness and a commitment to both personal growth and ongoing professional development.

Career Path
Program graduates will be eligible for employment in mental health clinics, community mental health centers, hospitals, non-profit counseling agencies, college and university counseling centers, corporate mental health services (e.g., employee assistance programs, personnel departments, mental health support units), and are eligible to open independent private practices after licensure.

APPLY

The program has a reflective practitioner orientation and includes a strong multicultural counseling emphasis. It can be completed full-time in two years (with summers) or part-time in three years (with summers).

Stakeholder Feedback
Recent survey results from students, alumni, faculty, and site supervisors reflect strong preparation in ethics, multicultural counseling, and individual counseling, while also identifying areas for continued growth such as program evaluation and research methods.

MHC Program's Stakeholder and Exit Surveys Results Report (January, 2025).pdf

Hear more about the program in this video

Graduates of the program are eligible to obtain a New York State License as a Mental Health Counselor once they pass the licensing exam and accrue 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised mental health counseling experience. Find more information on New York State's Mental Health License requirements.

The M.S.E. in Mental Health Counseling program at Fordham University is accredited by
the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period
of January 2015, through September 2034.

Visit the Student Association of Mental Health Counselors (SAM) page

Browse the Admissions section for more about the application and financial aid processes.

Fieldwork Requirements

There are 600 hours of on-site supervised field experience required. This 600-hr. internship can only start in the fall semester.

Program Curriculum and Sequence

Browse course schedules and descriptions and review a list of courses. Students can complete the program in two-three years as long as they take at least six credits each fall, spring, and summer. View a sample course sequence here. 

Contact

Admissions
[email protected]

Academic Year of Entry

2020-2021

2021-2022

2022-2023

2023-2024

2024-2025

2025-2026

         

 

 

Number of Applications

226

255

273

295

267

323

Number Accepted

157 (69.47%)

122 (47.84%)

188 (68.86%)

183 (62.03%)

176 (65.9%)

181 (56%)

Number Matriculated

36 (22.93%)

32 (26.23%)

37 (19.68%)

39 (21.31%)

37 (21%)

52 (29%)

Retained into 2nd year

36 (100%)

31 (100%)

37 (100%)

39 (100%)

35 (100%)

35 (100%)

Graduated in 5 years

36 (100%)

36 (100%)

45 (100%)

39 (100%)

35 (100%)

35 (100%)

Total Graduated

36

36

45

32

32

38

*Mean undergrad GPA

3.32

3.43

3.51

3.39

3.5

3.65

Mean GRE Verbal 

Not Required 

Not Required 

Not Required 

Not Required 

Not Required

Not Required

Mean GRE Quantitative

Not Required 

Not Required 

Not Required 

Not Required 

Not Required

Not Required

Mean GRE Writing

Not Required 

Not Required 

Not Required 

Not Required 

Not Required

Not Required

Mean MAT

Not Required 

Not Required 

Not Required 

Not Required 

Not Required

Not Required

Program Outcomes

       

 

 

*Obtained state licensure--our alumni state licensure data is estimated based on the limited information available

73%

66%

77%

66%

  100%

N/A

Enrolled in doctoral program

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

3%

Not Available

Passage of CPCE

Not taken

Not taken

Not taken

Not taken

Not taken

Not taken