Counseling and Psychology Degrees Offered at Mercy College
Mercy College appears in our ranking of the 50 Top Online Bachelor of Psychology Degree Programs.
There are seven degree programs in the counseling and psychology field available at Mercy College through the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. At the undergraduate level, the Department of Psychology and Social Work allows students to earn a bachelor of science (B.S.) or bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree with a major in psychology, and the entire program can be completed on campus, online, or via a hybrid method. A total of 120 hours are required for graduation, consisting of 60 hours of general education courses, a 36-hour psychology core, and 24 hours of general electives. The core is made up of six advanced electives in the field and six required courses including Modern Psychology/Historical Perspectives, Psychobiology, and Experimental Behavior I and II. Undergraduate students who are planning to pursue a master’s degree in either education or psychology with at least a 3.0 GPA can participate in the 4+1 Program which allows students to take courses in their senior year that meet requirements for both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. This way, the B.S. and M.S. can be completed after a total of 5 years of study.
There are three master’s degrees offered through this department also. The M.S. in Psychology is researched-based and provides a broad look at the field through the lens of a scientist. Students complete a total of 36 credit hours which include classes like Psychopathology, Physiologic Psychology, and Statistics and Research Methodology followed by electives as well as either a thesis or comprehensive examination. The other two master’s degrees focus on a combination of research and clinical work. The M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy requires completion of a 16-course track with specialized classes like Family Law, Domestic Violence, and Family Systems Assessment. Prior to graduation, all students take part in three MFT practicums and a clinical research project. Completion of this program meets all educational requirements for a New York State therapist license. The M.S. in School Counseling consists of 66 credit hours with the option of adding a six-hour bilingual extension course. The degree incorporates four tracks, psychological foundation, assessment, intervention, and professional practice which includes internship and fieldwork experiences. Upon graduation, students qualify for school psychologist certification by the New York State Department of Education.
The Counseling department in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences also offers two master’s degrees. The main difference between the counseling and above-mentioned therapy programs is that the former is focused primarily on techniques for clinical practice, while the latter also includes a scientific component. The M.S. in Counseling requires 48 credit hours with 12 of these being supervised internships. This program is preparation for working as a school counselor, and there are 11 core classes like Human Development, Counseling and Application, and Multicultural Perspectives in Counseling. The M.S. in Mental Health Counseling includes training for a variety of settings and consists of eight core and eight advanced classes as well as two internships. Both programs prepare students for provisional licensing as counselors in New York.
About Mercy College
Opening its doors in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy College has long-established ties to the Catholic Church and is still influenced by Jesuit teaching methods today. The main campus is located in its original location in Dobbs Ferry, New York, but there are smaller learning centers available in Manhattan, Yorktown Heights, and Bronx. Mercy College has always emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusiveness, implementing programs like the PACT mentoring program which helps freshmen feel a sense of belonging on campus. There is also an emphasis on innovation and keeping up-to-date with the newest educational methods available. With a total population of over 9000, students are enrolled in ninety different degree programs including 40 that are offered entirely online.
Featured Programs
The U.S. News and World Report has ranked the online programs at Mercy College as among the top in a variety of fields including nursing, education, and business.
Mercy College Accreditation Details
Mercy College has been regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) since 1968, and this status was last reaffirmed in 2015. This signifies that the school has met all quality standards set forth by the commission in seven key areas including Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience, Ethics and Integrity, Educational Effectiveness Assessment, and Governance, Leadership, and Administration. The MSCHE is one of seven regional accreditation bodies in the United States that work together to protect students from sub-par education and to guard against public funds in the form of financial aid and grants being distributed to inadequate schools.
There are other associations that investigate individual programs within a college to ensure that the curriculum provides adequate preparation for work in the field. For example, at Mercy College, the school psychology program is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists.
Mercy College Application Requirements
Admission decisions for first-time freshmen are based on a holistic view of each applicant including the evaluation of transcripts, extracurricular activities, leadership experiences, and community engagement. Submission of SAT or ACT scores is optional. For transfer students, a GPA of 2.0 on prior coursework is recommended, but the college will take other factors into consideration if an applicant has a lower GPA.
To apply for graduate admission, applicants must submit the online application along with official transcripts showing completion of an undergraduate degree with a GPA at least 3.0, two letters of recommendation, a personal essay, resume, and interview with the program director. An undergraduate major in psychology, sociology, or education is preferred, but individuals with other majors are welcome to apply.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition at Mercy College for full-time students is $9200 each semester. Rates for graduate school are dependent on the degree program, and both the psychology and counseling programs fall on the same tier with tuition costing $872 per credit hour. There are a variety of scholarships available like the Mercy Scholars Program for incoming freshmen, the Unstoppable Scholarship offering full tuition awards to low-income students, and departmental awards. Mercy College takes pride in the fact that it offers the lowest private tuition rates in New York and works with each student to find adequate funding solutions.