The M.Ed. program is designed to provide students with an overarching understanding of professional counselor roles as well as specific skills and interventions needed to work successfully with diverse groups of people in community, work and family settings.
Overview
Our Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC). Students who complete the program can apply to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania.
A low student-to-faculty ratio allows master’s candidates to learn from and be mentored by innovative professors who bring a wide variety of experiences to the classroom in addition to the latest research and advanced techniques in the field. Opportunities to conduct research are available and can be especially valuable for those who plan to pursue a doctorate, as nearly a quarter of the master’s candidates do.
For the master’s degree, students take courses in areas such as assessments in counseling, therapeutic approaches, human development across the lifespan, group counseling, career counseling, multicultural perspectives and research. Lehigh embraces diversity, and the program emphasizes social justice throughout the curriculum.
A clinical coordinator assists students in setting up field work and internships, including at the Community Voices Clinic, a local public school-based center, where they can practice counseling skills under the supervision of a Lehigh faculty member and doctoral-level graduate assistants. Students also have opportunities to practice skills at mental health centers and college counseling centers.
The degree requires the completion of 20 courses (60 credits). A typical course load of four courses in the fall, four in the spring, and four in the summer allows candidates to complete the program in two years (two falls, two springs and one summer).
Practical experience is an important part of the program with a minimum of 240 hours of field work required as well as an internship of 15-20 hours a week for two semesters. Most students complete the internship in their second year of courses.
Classes are held in the afternoons and evenings to make the program more convenient for students who are working professionals. The majority of courses are offered on campus only; however, some courses each semester are available online. The master’s in Mental Health Counseling has a high completion rate, opening up a wide variety of employment opportunities.
Application Requirements
- Online application
- Transcripts, minimum GPA of 3.0 (undergraduate)
- Two letters of recommendation (at least one recommendation must come from a faculty member at an accredited academic institution)
- Proof of English proficiency
- Personal essay
Quick Facts
Transcript Evaluations: Evaluations are required for applicants who have earned a degree outside the U.S.
Deadline(s): January 15 for fall semester start. The application and all supporting materials are due by the listed deadline.
Modality: On-Campus
Course Requirements: 20 courses (60 credits)
Typical Course Load: Fall (4 courses), spring (4 courses), summer (4 courses) which allows candidates to complete the program in two years (two falls, two springs and one summer).
Time to Completion: 2 years
Practical Experience Component: Minimum of 100 hours of field work required and an internship of 15-20 hours a week for two semesters (usually in second year)
Program Alumni: Graduates work as counselors in community organizations and governmental agencies, as well as hospitals. Some graduates have gone on to pursue doctoral studies.
Accreditation
Our program is accredited by the Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of August 2014 through August 2024 (currently under review for reaccreditation).
The faculty strives to train counselors who can conceptualize and intervene in competent, preventative, developmental and therapeutic ways to assist a broad cultural cross-section of individuals to improve their understanding, adjustment and daily functioning across the life span. We welcome students who will both appreciate and embrace the scientific and empirical underpinnings of the counseling field and work to apply them in culturally appropriate ways.
The following competency areas adapted from the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC; 2024) are the guiding policy for our CHS training program and serve as the basis for evaluation of student professional progress and readiness for practicum, internship, and professional practice:
- Professional counselor identity, ethical behavior and social justice practices;
- Human development and wellness across the lifespan;
- Neuroscientific, physical and biological foundations of human development and wellness;
- Ecological, contextual, multicultural and social justice foundations of human development;
- Evidence-based counseling, consultation and social justice advocacy theories and skills;
- Group theory, practice and social justice advocacy;
- Career and life development;
- Assessment of human behavior and organizational/community/institutional systems;
- Tests and measurements;
- Traditional and social justice-oriented research and evaluations;
- Theory of psychopathology and relevant classification systems;
- Practicum/internship experiences.
Please Note: School counselors do not require CACREP accreditation to practice in schools in the United States. CACREP accreditation is not required for a license as a professional counselor in many jurisdictions within the U.S.
Curriculum
This professional preparation program reflects the increasing level of skills and competencies required for certification as a counselor in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as new regulations governing professional counselor licensure in Pennsylvania. The M.Ed. program is designed to provide the basic coursework as well as the specialized counseling "common core" coursework and practical experience and professional concentration for certification as a school counselor in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; as preparation for further graduate study (i.e., doctoral study [see Ph.D. program manual]).
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| Assessment and Appraisal in Counseling | |
| Culture-Centered Career Intervention | |
| Counseling and Therapeutic Approaches | |
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| Professional Seminar | |
| Theory and Practice of Group Counseling | |
| Introduction to Family Counseling | |
| course number | course name |
|---|---|
| Master's Counseling Practicum | |
| Master's Internship I | |
| Master's Internship II |
At least one advisor-approved 3 credit elective from each of three areas (9)
| course number | |
|---|---|
All courses are 3 credits, unless otherwise noted. Course descriptions can be found in the course catalog.
Career Opportunities
Graduates work as counselors in community organizations and governmental agencies, and in hospitals. Some graduates have gone on to pursue doctoral studies.
The demand for counselors in social services and community organizations is rising. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the field will grow by 14 percent by 2026.
International Students
Optional Practical Training (OPT) lets eligible F-1 students work in their field of study in the United States for 12 to 36 months after completing their program. Most students studying on F-1 visas become eligible for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) off-campus work authorization. F-1 students with a degree in a STEM field—science, technology, engineering or math—may be eligible for a 24-month extension of their 12 months of OPT. Thus, students with an F-1 visa in our program may be eligible for the STEM OPT extension, which allows for up to a total of 36 months of Optional Practical Training off-campus work authorization. For more information on who is eligible to apply for this extension, visit Lehigh’s Office of International Students and Scholars: STEM OPT Extension
Faculty and Staff
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Lori Gallagher Anderson
Coordinator, Counseling and School Psychology
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Dr. Aimee Adams
Assistant Visiting Professor
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Dr. Terrina Brooks
Teaching Assistant Professor
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Dr. Grace I. L. Caskie
Associate Professor
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Dr. Cheré D. Hunter
Director, Community Voices Clinic and Teaching Assistant Professor
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Dr. Nicole L. Johnson (she/her)
Associate Professor
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Dr. Christopher Liang
Professor and Chair, Department of Education & Human Services
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Dr. Vanesa Mora Ringle
Assistant Professor
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Dr. Jonathan Sepulveda
Assistant Professor
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Dr. Susan Woodhouse
Associate Professor and Program Director
