University of New Haven Online Master’s in Counseling
The University of New Haven offers an online, low-residency master of arts (MA) in clinical mental health counseling through the College of Arts and Sciences, designed to prepare graduates for licensure as professional counselors. This 60-credit, CACREP-accredited program can be completed in three years and includes a general clinical mental health counseling track and a specialized forensic mental health concentration.
Across both options, students complete 48 credits of core coursework and 700 hours of supervised clinical training, combining 100 percent online coursework with two required residencies. Core courses cover research methods; theories of counseling; counseling skills and techniques; lifespan human development; multicultural and diversity issues in counseling; diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders; and areas like addiction and substance abuse counseling; trauma and crisis intervention; group counseling; family therapy; assessment in counseling; and a sequence of practicum plus two counseling internships. The curriculum emphasizes advocacy, social justice, cultural awareness, and ethical practice so graduates can provide mental health services to diverse individuals, groups, and communities and meet standards for Connecticut LPC licensure.
The general concentration allows students to complete the full 48-credit core plus 12 elective credits tailored to their interests within the field. Electives can be chosen from a set of clinically relevant courses, including those offered in other concentrations, to deepen skills for roles such as mental health counselor, program manager, or case manager in a range of human services and counseling settings.
The forensic mental health concentration prepares students for counseling roles with offenders or victims in criminal justice and legal contexts. In addition to the shared core, this 12-credit concentration adds required courses in forensic psychology; forensic assessment; forensic treatment models; and mental health law. Graduates can pursue licensed professional counselor roles in forensic environments.
Admission to the clinical mental health counseling programs requires a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, official university transcripts with proof of degree, a strongly recommended minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, two letters of recommendation from professors or employers, a statement of purpose, and a resume. Admission is highly competitive, and applications are reviewed once per year for fall entry. The program’s curriculum and supervised clinical experiences are structured to meet CACREP standards and fulfill Connecticut’s educational requirements for LPC licensure.
The University of New Haven is a private university located in West Haven, Connecticut. It is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The master of arts in clinical mental health counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
When you click on a sponsoring school or program advertised on our site, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
Farheen Gani
WriterFarheen Gani has researched degree programs and salaries in counseling since 2020. She has written about topics such as genetic counselor salaries and family and human development bachelor’s degrees. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.