Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master's Program

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Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

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Lead the Change in Mental Health Care

SUNY Fredonia’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) is more than a degree—it’s a call to action. This nationally aligned, 63-credit program prepares you to become a licensed mental health counselor ready to serve high-need communities. With a low-residency hybrid format, you’ll continue working while earning your degree from award-winning faculty who are recognized leaders and practicing clinicians. This program gives you the expertise, clinical experience, and professional credibility to launch or accelerate a career that changes lives—including your own.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Program Requirements:

Statement of Intent/Professional Statement should focus on the following:
1. Your perception of potential success in forming effective and culturally relevant interpersonal relationships in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.
2. Your perception of your aptitude and ability to reach the level of demands placed upon you in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.
3. Your perception of the relevance of the Clinical Mental Health Program in meeting your career goals.
An individual interview with program faculty may be scheduled with applicants.

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What You’ll Gain

Flexible Learning – A hybrid, low-residency format lets you balance professional responsibilities while earning your degree.
Real-World Experience – Field work takes place in clinical settings near your home, offering relevant, hands-on practice.
Specialized Knowledge – Courses include trauma-informed care, multicultural counseling, group work, and ethical practice.
Licensure Preparation – Program meets state and national standards for licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor.
Faculty Mentorship – Learn from award-winning faculty who are leaders in both practice and research.
Cultural Competency – Develop the skills to work effectively in diverse communities and advocate for mental health equity.
Career Versatility – Graduates are prepared for roles in private practice, public service, higher ed, courts, and more.

Career Opportunities for Clinical Mental Health Counseling

counselor in private practice
counselor in government service agencies
college counseling centers

counselor in public and private counseling agencies
counselor in family court systems
counselor in substance abuse centers

What does a CMHC degree plan look like?

View Example CMHC Curriculum

Admission Requirements

What are all the required and elective courses offered to obtain this degree?

View Full Curriculum

CMHC 520 Professional Orientation and Ethics

This class provides an overview of the field of professional counseling. By participating in the course, students will accomplish the following learning objectives: (1) students will become familiar with the nature of the profession and its relationships to other human service professions; (2) students will become broadly familiar with the major theories of counseling and the techniques and strategies associated with each theory; (3) students will identify the various work settings where professional counselors are employed, and the roles and functions of counselors in each setting; (4) students will become acquainted with the major elements of the professional counseling process, from initial assessment through evaluation of services; and (5) students will identify the major issues and problems in the field at this time. (6) Students will also be exposed to some multicultural counseling content.

CMHC 540 Counseling Techniques

The major goal of this course is to provide students with an understanding and experience in the fundamental methods and techniques commonly employed in counseling and psychotherapy. Emphasis is placed on the counseling relationship, attending and listening skills, cognitive, affective, and behavioral counseling interventions, role-playing activities, and the concerns commonly expressed by beginning counselors.

CMHC 640 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy

Theory is intended to help guide practice. It presents practitioners with the opportunity to try achieving “something” with our clients. Something could mean helping people eliminate distressing symptoms in their lives, remove a sense of isolation, get rid of generalized anxiety, tap into ancestral spirits, or foster a connection with others, just as a few examples. Inherent in all theory are assumptions about people, like what is considered normal and virtuous versus abnormal and unacceptable, so there are values and beliefs wrapped up in the way we as practitioners view the world. Theory is as much about the practitioner as it is about the ‘client,’ consequently, it is essential that the act of helping is consistent with the will, ability, and motivation of the practitioner to strive for the best he or she can provide to the person in need. Theory is also about how environments inform the manner in which we live and function. How 'counseling' looked in Victorian Austria during Freud's time can't be compared to how it might look in modern-day Kampala, Uganda. These contextual issues are important to our learning. We will focus attention to how these issues of the interactions between people and contexts in urban settings are vital to adopting theories of practice.

It's Different Here

State-of-the-Art Counseling Clinic

On-campus sessions include advanced counseling simulations and real-time feedback. Icon: Building with headset

Hybrid Format for Working Adults

Online courses and one weekend a month on campus let you earn your degree without leaving your job.

Serve Where You're Needed Most

Prepare for roles in high-need mental health settings across New York.

Download the CMHC Student Handbook PDF.

New York State prides itself in the high quality of its licensed and certified professionals. For the protection of its citizens, each license and certificate has requirements that individuals must meet in order to be licensed or certified in New York State. SUNY’s academic programs leading to licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed these State requirements. This is a role SUNY plays in protecting the public. Other states frequently have their own requirements, so if your goal is to practice in another state, this disclosure will help you check to see what that state requires. Enrolled students and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact their state’s licensure entity using the links provided in the full disclosure document to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by their state(s) of choice.

Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified. The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at SUNY Fredonia is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York State. Through a good faith effort, and for the purpose of complying with the federal regulation, we have determined that the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at SUNY Fredonia meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following U.S. States: New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, however, it is important to note that [SUNY Fredonia is not the licensure/certification authority in these U.S. States and cannot assess whether an individual candidate will be issued a license/certificate in these U.S. States and instead it is incumbent on each individual candidate to contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. State for any further guidance on the requirements for licensure/certification requirements and application processes.

Students in a state not listed here should contact the Program Director, Dr. Sabrina Musson, for specific questions about Fredonia's Mental Health Counseling program.

Why Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Fredonia?

Low-residency hybrid program format

The low-residency hybrid format allows students to maintain their current professional responsibilities while also pursuing a Master's degree. Students do course work online, with field work in clinical settings near their home.

Faculty focus on students

Fredonia's student-focused approach to learning and campus resources provide a unique learning experience.

Learning from clinical mental health counseling experts

Program faculty are recognized leaders in the Counseling field and practicing clinicians which allows for real-life and practical examples of the course materials.

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Lead the Change in Mental Health Care

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Program Requirements: