Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
New UB CMH Counseling students entering the fall 2024 semester will be eligible for a $10,000 stipend, awarded by the Health and Human Services Administration (HRSA), during their internship experience. This will be applied in their second year, which includes a full year of field experience in mental health and substance abuse clinical settings including hospitals, intensive outpatient programs, outpatient programs and residential treatment facilities.
Now, more than ever, we need skilled and sympathetic counselors to help address the mental health needs of our communities.
Counseling is more than a career — it’s a calling. If you’re compelled by compassion and driven to make a meaningful difference, this career path may just be calling to you. While traits such as empathy and authenticity naturally lend themselves to counseling, becoming an expert requires specialized knowledge and training. At UB, we offer the education you’ll need to find your calling — and a fulfilling career — in this ever-growing field. This is through our master’s in Counseling degree.
Turn compassion into a career
At University of Bridgeport, our Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program prepares you with the knowledge and skills to provide meaningful and effective counseling services to diverse patient populations. Our comprehensive program uses today’s evidence-based practices to train the counseling professionals of tomorrow — combining comprehensive, collaborative coursework with relevant, hands-on learning so you can turn your dedication to helping others into meaningful work.
A flexible Counseling program — designed for you
We know life doesn’t pause when you pursue your graduate degree. That’s why, at UB, you can complete your master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling 100% online — gaining the same rigorous, career-ready education on a flexible schedule tailored to professionals. Complete your online studies in as little as 2 years full-time or earn your degree in as few as 3 years part-time.
Prepare for professional success
Our 60-credit trauma-informed curriculum will help you build the foundation you need to provide expert counseling to a broad range of client communities. To legally practice as a counselor, however, you’ll need more than academic knowledge and experience — you'll also need to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE). Passing this exam is necessary to earn your licensure and, at UB, our comprehensive program will prepare you for success on this important test.
Become the clinical mental health counselor your community needs
Our faculty of counseling experts carry decades of experience in the field. With their guidance and instruction, you’ll address the three dimensions of your development as a counselor: your personal growth, professional development, and counseling skills and strategies.
Understand your personal growth and development
To best help others navigate their mental health, you'll need a thorough understanding of yourself. Self-awareness is critical to your development as a counseling professional. Your values, coping strategies, boundaries, biases, and more are essential to your success as a future clinical mental health provider. UB’s master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares you with the knowledge and skills to better understand yourself — so you can more effectively help others.
Achieve professional growth and development
When it comes to earning a career in counseling, practicing self-compassion is just part of the journey. To excel as a counselor, you need to develop a strong understanding of the history, theoretical concepts, and best practices that inform modern counseling. Through coursework focused on counseling theories, crisis intervention, addiction treatment, and more, UB will provide you with the professional expertise necessary to achieve a fulfilling career as a clinical mental health counselor.
Develop your counseling skill set
It’s not enough to understand the theories and concepts that today’s counselors use. To prepare for a rewarding career in clinical mental health counseling, you’ll have to apply your understanding in the field.
When you enroll in UB’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, you’ll gain the hands-on experience necessary to hone and refine your counseling skills. Thanks to our connections with mental health care providers throughout the state, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the real world of Clinical Mental Health Counseling. You will complete a 100-hour practicum and two 300-hour internships in the field — allowing you to begin making a difference before you even graduate.
Please note that to earn licensure, you must complete 3000 hours of fieldwork experience in the state where you plan to practice. After completing your program of studies, you will be responsible for completing the additional clinical hours necessary to earn legal certification.
If I were to put my experience with the Counseling program at UB into one or two sentences, I would say that it was great learning from expert faculty who truly cared about my growth as an individual and as a counselor. I was also supported, encouraged, and challenged by the other students in the program. In short, it was a great experience.
Interested in becoming a clinical mental health counselor?
Download your free MS Counseling guide now!
Download GuideMission statement
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at University of Bridgeport trains future clinical mental health counselors in trauma-informed, evidenced-based counseling in preparation to meet the mental health needs of diverse communities. Through a commitment to cultural humility, the program is committed to enhancing the mental and emotional well-being of all potential people being served, especially those in marginalized and underrepresented communities. This program is committed to being a nexus for the application of evidence-based treatment, advocacy, and commitment to the greater Bridgeport community.
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The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has granted accreditation to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling MS degree program in the College of Science and Society at University of Bridgeport through March 31, 2028.
Your future starts today!
- Apply online!
- We have comprehensive support services that will get you through college and into a great career
Find additional information about the Counseling MS degree in the academic catalog.