The curriculum focuses on a broad spectrum of issues including: assessing, treating or working to ameliorate a disability, problem, or disorder; the antecedent conditions that predispose people to developmental, emotional, personality or relationship problems experienced by individuals, couples, families or groups; the nature and treatment of those disorders; crisis intervention strategies; and the influence of various family and group dynamics, gender differences, cultural diversity, social problems, and age on the emergence of various problems and symptoms. Students will be trained to conduct intake and assessment interviews, to develop treatment plans and counseling interventions, and to function as ethical and competent counselors. Students also will acquire a knowledge of research and assessment techniques and the pragmatic concerns (e.g., managed care and budget constraints) facing the mental health field today. In order to apply what they have learned in the classroom, students will, in consultation with and with the approval of the Coordinator of Practicum/Internship, procure a Practicum and Internship Site and complete 100 hours of Practicum and 600 hours of internship at a mental health counseling site. Experiences will be arranged with the Coordinator of Practicum/Internship and the student will be supervised both “on-site” and on campus by licensed personnel.

Graduation from an accredited college or university. If an applicant’s undergraduate degree was NOT in psychology, he/she must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in their major. If the applicant does not have an undergraduate psychology major they must have had 12 credits in psychology including the following (with a grade of B or better): general psychology developmental psychology abnormal psychology 3 additional credits No GRE scores required. Submission of official undergraduate and graduate transcript(s). Submission of three (3) letters of recommendation. Completion of a Fairleigh Dickinson Graduate School Application form. A written personal statement of professional goals. A personal interview which will be scheduled after submission of application. At this time, a short writing sample will be completed by the applicant.