Customize your counseling course plan.
- All students in the M.A. in clinical mental health counseling program meet educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
- All students in the clinical mental health counseling program meet educational requirements for the National Certified Counselor (NCC).
- All students completing the clinical mental health counseling program will also have met the educational requirements for the Board Certified Coach (BCC).
Clinical mental health counseling students not enrolled in the dance/movement therapy concentration may also meet educational requirements for other professional credentials:
- Clinical mental health counseling students not enrolled in the dance/movement therapy concentration may gear their elective choices so they also complete educational requirements for the Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). Students interested in the ACS should take COUN 660 Counseling Supervision: Issues, Concepts, and Methods.
- With some additional coursework (beyond the required credits for the MA degree), students may also complete educational requirements for a NJ-specific certificate, the Student Assistance Coordinator Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (SAC CEAS).
Please visit the Graduate Education and Human Services - How to Apply page for details on how to apply.
Unique elective course offerings
The counseling faculty strive to provide a diverse range of electives that reflect student interests, faculty expertise and current events in the counseling field.
Clinical mental health counseling students not enrolled in the DMT concentration can choose two electives as part of their 60-credit program of study.
Elective offerings include
Coursework and fieldwork requirements
Clinical mental health counseling students not enrolled in the dance/movement therapy concentration complete 60 credits of coursework and 700 hours of fieldwork.
- All clinical mental health counseling students take the same 45-credits (36 credits of core courses and 9 credits of fieldwork).
- Clinical mental health counseling students not enrolled in the dance/movement therapy concentration take 15-credits of coursework in: addictions, advanced psychopathology, and two electives from the program’s diverse range of electives (e.g., play therapy, disordered eating, trauma, creativity).
For more information, please visit the catalog.
Accelerated option for psychology majors
The accelerated degree option allows qualified undergraduate psychology majors at Rider University to accelerate earning their master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling without a concentration in dance/movement therapy. Contact the program coordinator to learn more.
Contact
Professor, Director of Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Coaching Programs
Bierenbaum Fisher Hall
jbuser [at] rider.edu
609-895-5486
Academic Focus: Counseling Services