Counseling Degrees offered at Mercy University
Mercy University’s Department of Counseling prepares graduate students for careers that directly affect individuals, families and communities. The department centers its approach on enabling each person to work in a variety of settings through education that prioritizes ethical practices, skillful counseling techniques and a commitment to equality and fairness. Evidence-based practices are the foundations of the curriculum, then ensuring graduates can meet the varied needs of their future clients.
The school offers two Master of Science degree programs. Both require 60 credit hours. The School Counseling program runs for four years and prepares you to get New York State original school counselor certification and work with K-12 students, teachers, parents and administrators. The Mental Health Counseling program spans three years and qualifies graduates to sit for the New York state professional licensing exam. This opens pathways to work in clinical settings that include family services centers, outpatient facilities, hospitals and private practice.
Both counseling programs at Mercy University provide opportunities to earn your Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor Certificate (CASAC-T) with your degree. This credential requires an additional 350 hours of training in the Addiction Specific Standardized Curriculum. You gain access to high-demand roles in patient care and supervisory positions within substance abuse and addiction treatment. Your career options expand beyond your primary degree focus.
Faculty members bring real-life experience from hospitals, private practices, community agencies and other clinical settings. Their active involvement in the field means you learn current practices and receive guidance based on actual professional challenges, not just theoretical concepts. Practicum and internship placements let you apply classroom knowledge to real-life environments. You build hands-on skills before graduation.
Flexibility defines Mercy’s program structure. You can pursue your degree full-time or part-time and attend classes during the day or evening at either the Dobbs Ferry or Bronx campus. Select courses are available online to accommodate your schedule. The mercy mental health counseling program integrates the latest research in behavioral sciences and is about how technology disrupts counseling practices. As with the mental health track, the school counseling track develops culturally responsive strategies for the communities you’ll serve and prepares you to recognize and respond to students’ social and emotional needs in diverse K-12 settings.
What counseling programs does Mercy University offer?
Both counseling programs at Mercy University follow a structured three-level curriculum design that builds your expertise over time. The Master of Science in School Counseling organizes its 60 credits across Level I (18 credits of simple foundational knowledge), Level II (24 credits covering intermediate preparation and assessment), and Level III (18 credits focused on advanced specialty concentration and internship). Mental health counseling students complete a similar progression. Level I provides 18 credits, Level II offers 27 credits, and Level III delivers 15 credits of advanced training.
School counseling graduates must complete specific field requirements that match New York State certification standards. You’ll need 100 hours in a practicum placement and 600 hours interning as a school counselor. These experiences qualify you for employment at elementary, middle school, and high school levels in rural, urban, and suburban areas. Your degree prepares you to work in state education departments and not-for-profit agencies supporting college and career readiness beyond traditional school settings.
The Mercy mental health counseling program qualifies you to sit for the New York state professional licensing examination upon completing the 60-credit requirements. Graduates are eligible to seek employment toward meeting the 3,000-hour supervised experience required for licensure as a mental health counselor in New York State. Employment opportunities span family services centers, outpatient facilities, hospitals, government agencies, and private practice settings.
Funding opportunities support counseling students at Mercy. The HEART Grant (Helping Evidence-Based Advocates with Responsive Training) provides stipends and tuition relief for clinical placements during your second year, along with experiential training through service-learning projects. The Interdisciplinary Health Education Learning Program (IHELP) fellowship expands internship opportunities for graduate Fellows in School Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Occupational Therapy programs. This fellowship targets services for children, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth at risk for behavioral health disorders in high-need areas.
Students pursuing either program can earn their CASAC-T credential through the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). This credential opens pathways to both direct patient care and supervisory positions in substance abuse and addiction treatment.
Internships/Practicum at Mercy
Fieldwork at Mercy University involves two distinct components that bridge classroom theory with professional practice. Mental health counseling students complete a summer practicum followed by a full year of internship. School counseling students progress through structured clinical experiences that prepare them for certification requirements in a like manner.
The mercy mental health counseling program maintains strong relationships with clinics and agencies throughout the greater New York area. These partnerships provide graduates with clinical experience and professional contacts before entering the workforce. You gain exposure to real-life client interactions while building networks that extend beyond graduation.
School counseling students complete 100 hours in a practicum placement and 600 hours interning as a school counselor. Application deadlines vary by program and placement type. School counseling practicum applications are due mid-November, while internship applications are due mid-February. For the mercy college mental health counseling program, practicum and internship applications are due in early March.
Registration for field placement requires a 3.0 GPA. You must complete at least the basic Level 1 and Intermediate courses before applying for placement. School counseling students face additional requirements before internship registration. You need to participate in the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) Workshop and Violence Prevention seminar. The Child Abuse identification and reporting workshop is also required. Mental health counseling students must complete basic Level 1 and Intermediate courses to qualify for practicum.
Field placement applications are submitted before the fall semester preceding your practicum experience. This timeline allows the department to coordinate with partner agencies and match you with placements that line up with your professional interests and the specific focus areas within counseling programs at Mercy University.
What sets Mercy University apart?
Counseling programs at Mercy University distinguish themselves through a steadfast dedication to encouraging diversity and inclusivity within both the student body and faculty. The department’s core purpose centers on cultivating counselors who champion equality and fairness in professional settings of all types. Evidence-based practices anchor every aspect of the curriculum and prepare you to address the needs of diverse client populations with proven therapeutic approaches.
Career prospects for graduates reflect strong market demand. School counseling positions are projected to grow 8% through 2029. Mental health counseling roles are expanding at 25%, more than four times faster than the national average for all professions. Student outcomes data supports these projections. 75% of 98 students reported that their degree improved their career prospects. 78% of 98 students indicated they would recommend the school to others.
Faculty members bring active professional experience to your education. Most professors have worked as school counselors or mental health clinicians and offer insights from ground application rather than purely academic points of view. Their involvement in the field means you receive guidance on current challenges and best practices drawn from real clinical work. This practical knowledge complements the theoretical foundation you build through coursework.
The mercy college mental health counseling program meets educational requirements for licensure in 43 states and territories. These include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, New York, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin. This multi-state eligibility provides geographic flexibility for your career path. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialty holds accreditation status “In Process” with CACREP.
Mercy University holds national recognition for its academic programs and commitment to student success. The institution ranked No. 1 in New York and No. 11 nationwide in Newsweek’s America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026. U.S. News and World Report identifies Mercy as a top performer on social mobility.
Next steps
Start your application by visiting www.mercy.edu/apply-now, where you can submit your graduate application online. The process requires a nonrefundable $40 application fee, official baccalaureate transcripts and supporting documents that may include letters of recommendation and your résumé. Graduate admissions events provide opportunities to explore how the mercy mental health counseling program lines up with your professional goals and ask questions to faculty members.
You must pass complete examinations before receiving your degree. Students take the CPCE exam. If you don’t pass on your first attempt, the Department of Counseling requires completion of remediation preparation. A second unsuccessful attempt means you’ll need an alternative exam.
Your professional path continues with state requirements after you complete the program. Mental health counseling graduates work toward the 3,000-hour externship required for licensure, with up to two years (plus the option of two additional one-year extensions) to meet these hours and pass a licensing examination. School counseling graduates pursue the three-year externship required for professional certification. As of February 2024, New York State requires passing the NYSTCE School Counseling exam before initial certification is issued.
Should you need to leave your program temporarily, you can return using an abridged application based on your leave duration.