Prepare to enter the fast-growing counseling field
and help others transform their lives.
Counseling is one of the fastest-growing fields in the US—37 percent growth over
this decade—according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, particularly in the areas
of substance abuse, behavioral disorders, mental health, and grief counseling.
Pace University's MS in Counseling and MS in Mental Health Counseling programs
prepare you to take advantage of this trend and for jobs in professional settings
such as mental health counseling facilities, hospitals, private practice, and
intervention facilities.
Our degrees provide strong foundations in clinical counseling, plus specialized
knowledge in groundbreaking research in areas like resiliency and positive psychology
and psychotherapy. Students gain an understanding of the many different approaches
to contemporary counseling, including group and individual therapy, as well as
substance abuse, trauma, and loss counseling.
■ The MS in Mental Health Counseling (60 credits) prepares graduates to become
licensed practitioners in mental health counseling with specialties and emphases
on areas ranging from trauma and loss counseling, substance abuse, and positive
psychology. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on skills development using role-
playing and group exercise, as well as interview techniques, research methods,
and internships.
■ The MS in Counseling (36 credits) requires specialization in one of three separate
tracks: substance abuse, trauma and loss counseling, or general counseling. Those
specializing in the substance abuse track are qualified to sit for the Certification in
Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling Exam (CASAC) after they have completed
the New York State-required experience hours.
Both programs provide the foundational credits for students considering careers in
higher education advisement or who wish to move on to a doctoral program. Students
who complete the 60-credit program with distinction are welcome to apply to our PhD
in Mental Health Counseling program. Students enrolled in the 36-credit program can
switch to the 60-credit program if they meet the academic requirements.
