College of Science and Society Graduate
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
MS Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
A 60-credit, CACREP-accredited master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, available online, with 700 hours of supervised fieldwork.
Turn compassion into a counseling career
Become the clinical mental health counselor your community needs
Now, more than ever, we need skilled and sympathetic counselors to help address the mental health needs of our communities. At University of Bridgeport, our Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program prepares you with the knowledge and skills to provide meaningful and effective counseling services to all patient populations.
Personal growth
Understand your own development
To best help others navigate their mental health, you will need a thorough understanding of yourself. Self-awareness is critical to your development as a counseling professional.
Your values, coping strategies, boundaries, and biases are essential to your success as a future clinical mental health provider.
Professional growth
Learn the theory behind the practice
To excel as a counselor, you need a strong understanding of the history, theoretical concepts, and best practices that inform modern counseling.
Coursework focuses on counseling theories, crisis intervention, addiction treatment, and more.
Clinical skill
Apply what you learn in the field
Thanks to our connections with mental health care providers throughout the state, you will immerse yourself in the real world of clinical mental health counseling.
You will complete a 100-hour practicum and two 300-hour internships, allowing you to begin making a difference before you even graduate.
A full year of supervised field experience
Supervised internship experience is critical to counselor development and job placement. Our students intern in mental health and substance abuse clinical settings including hospitals, intensive outpatient programs, outpatient programs, and residential treatment facilities. Practicum and internship courses meet weekly for didactic training and student reflective practice under the supervision of University of Bridgeport faculty. UB’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program has been awarded HRSA funding to train students in dialectical behavior therapy skills, motivational interviewing, and Circle of Security Parenting, and participating students receive a stipend during their internship experience.
Admission
What you need to apply
University of Bridgeport graduate programs are on rolling admissions. Completed applications and all supporting documents are due by the dates below.
Prerequisites
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or recognized international institution
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- 9 credits in undergraduate psychology coursework with a grade of B or higher
- Volunteer or work field experience in social service agencies, mental health professions, or substance use intervention sites
- Lower GPAs will be considered for highly qualified applicants. Three undergraduate credits in abnormal psychology or psychopathology are recommended.
Required materials
- Application
- Official transcript for the last degree earned
- Resumé demonstrating significant exposure to the field of counseling
- Interview with the review committee, once all required materials are received
- International transcripts must include an official course-by-course evaluation from an accredited academic evaluating service.
Deadlines
Curriculum
A 60-credit, trauma-informed curriculum
Our 60-credit evidence-based curriculum blends classroom learning with practical experience. As you learn the best practices of modern counseling, you will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge during an internship in the field.
Counseling theories
Assessment, diagnosis, and the theoretical concepts that inform modern counseling practice.
Trauma-informed care
Crisis intervention, addiction treatment, and ethics, taught through a trauma-informed lens.
Practicum and internship
A 100-hour practicum and 600 internship hours in real clinical settings.
Examination preparation
Preparation for the National Counselor Examination or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination, required to earn your licensure.
After you graduate
Your path to licensure
Professional counselors must hold a license in the state where they practice. In Connecticut, the Department of Health issues licensure for clinical mental health counselors.
CACREP accredited
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.
Meet the Counseling Program Director
Dr. Buller is an associate professor of counseling and psychology at UB, where she serves as the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program’s department chair. She has training and experience working with clients using evidence-based treatments. Her professional training includes Dialectical and Behavioral Therapy Skills training, Circle of Security Parenting, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
Dr. Buller received several grants to support her dissertation study, “Exploring the Experiences of Counselor Educators Recognized for Their Excellence in Teaching.” Her research interests include best practices in counselor education, DBT-Skills facilitation, MI, COSP, and MBCT.
Allison Buller, Ph.D., LPC, Program Director
Student voices
What our students say
Attending University of Bridgeport was the single best decision I’ve made in my learning career, and maybe even my life. Being a part of this community has provided me with the support I needed, and the professors who taught me will be lifelong mentors.
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.
Being in this program will help me better provide for my family and push forward in a field I love. […] The professors are all amazing at their profession and are always there to help me when needed. I am currently a substance abuse counselor and also in recovery myself. I wanted to get into this field to help people because I remember in the past, I had more negative experiences than positive ones within substance abuse treatment. I want to be able to combat that, and this is the best way to do it.
What I wasn’t expecting was the camaraderie I felt with my classmates. From the very first class, we role-played scenarios, swapped telephone numbers, and studied and networked together. (…) Seeing and experiencing the growth with my classmates made me emotional at times. We encouraged one another and gave much-needed feedback. There was no competition or isolation. My peers became my UB family.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How can I apply to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program?
To apply, you will need to submit an application, official transcripts, and a resumé. Qualified applicants will also be invited to interview with the program’s review committee. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree, the required psychology coursework, and relevant volunteer or work experience in the counseling field.
What does the curriculum cover?
Our 60-credit curriculum combines evidence-based coursework with hands-on clinical training. You will study counseling theories, assessment, diagnosis, crisis intervention, ethics, and trauma-informed care while completing a 100-hour practicum and 600 internship hours in real clinical settings.
What are the expected student outcomes?
By graduation, you will have the knowledge and clinical experience needed to pursue licensure as a clinical mental health counselor. You will also be prepared to sit for the National Counselor Examination or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination and begin your post-graduate supervised clinical experience.
Can I complete the program online?
Yes. You can complete your master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling 100% online, synchronously or asynchronously, in as little as two years full time or as few as three years part time.
What is the program’s mission?
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program trains future clinical mental health counselors in trauma-informed, evidence-based counseling strategies used to meet the mental health needs of diverse communities. Through a commitment to cultural humility and advocacy, the program aims to enhance the mental and emotional well-being of all we serve, especially those in marginalized and underrepresented communities.
Related programs
Start your application
University of Bridgeport graduate programs are on rolling admissions, and you can begin during the fall, spring, or summer semesters.