Forensic Mental Health Concentration
Prepare for a Successful Career in Forensic Counseling
The University of New Haven’s online M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Forensic Mental Health online degree prepares you for counseling roles focused on the care of offenders or victims in forensic settings. When you finish your program, you can work as a licensed professional counselor in criminal justice and legal contexts.*
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Complete the form to learn more about this program.
- Duration 3 years
- Cost per Credit $769
- Credit Hours 60
Program Benefits
- Join an in-demand industry
- Gain valuable field experience
- Learn from experienced counselors and clinicians
- Develop the knowledge to pursue licensure
Focus Your Studies and Gain Specialized Skills in Forensics
The online M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Forensic Mental Health online degree delivers the expertise you need to assess, treat, and evaluate individuals connected to the criminal justice system. Because this program is offered jointly by our psychology and criminal justice departments, you will benefit from an interdisciplinary perspective that puts you at the forefront of forensic mental health counseling.
This low-residency program features 100% online coursework and a forensic mental health curriculum grounded in advocacy and social justice principles. You’ll learn to serve clients from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life. Finish your degree in just three years and advance your counseling career as a forensics expert.
Qualify for In-Demand Forensic Mental Health Jobs
As approaches like restorative justice and community-based intervention become more prevalent, mental health experts play an essential role in the legal and criminal justice systems. Clinicians at the intersection of counseling and forensics provide specialized knowledge that can help victims, rehabilitate offenders, and reduce crime rates.
With the employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors expected to grow 18% through 2032,1 earning your M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Forensic Mental Health degree online from the University of New Haven can prepare you for success in a rapidly growing field.
Forensic Counselor
$70,000/YEAR2
Forensic mental health counselors are mental health clinicians that have specialized their practice in the legal or criminal justice field. They are employed in settings like courts, prisons, mental health facilities, and government agencies. These counseling professionals work with individuals who are involved in the criminal justice system as victims or offenders.
Marriage and family therapist
$56,570/YEAR1
Substance abuse counselors, also known as addiction counselors, serve clients with addiction in crisis or recovery contexts. They help them develop strategies to cope with substance abuse and receive the treatment they need. In many cases, these counseling professionals coordinate with psychologists, psychiatrists, or social workers to develop effective treatment plans.
Additional counseling and forensic mental health jobs include:
- Correctional Counselor
- Licensed Professional Counselor*
- Mental Health Clinician
- Victim Advocate
Curriculum
Our M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Forensic Mental Health online degree delivers practical skill development through discovery-based learning opportunities in and outside of the classroom. Coursework is designed to align with state of Connecticut and CACREP standards for licensed counseling professionals.* As a student, you will complete an internship, practicum, and in-person residency to apply what you learn in real-world settings.
The forensic mental health curriculum includes abnormal psychology in criminal populations, forensic assessment, forensic treatment methods, and mental health law. Courses are 15 weeks in duration and emphasize collaborative, experiential education.
Course Spotlight: CJST 6601 Mental Health, Law, and Criminal Justice
Basic psychological theory and specific applications in the criminal justice system will be explored. Particular emphasis is placed on mental health issues as they affect the criminal justice system.
Curriculum DetailsCourse Spotlight: PSYC 6656 Abnormal Psychology in Forensic Populations
This is an advanced course in mental disorders associated with prisons and other forensic practice. Emphasis is on disorders involving violent and predatory behavior including personality disorders, psychosis, pedophilia, and other sexual paraphilias. Special emphasis on psychopathy, psychopathology, and criminal behavior. Well-known forensic cases will be examined.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to commonly asked questions about online learning at the University of New Haven. If you need additional information that’s not covered here, our admissions team can help. Contact us or call 855.474.8465.
This program can be completed in three years, depending on transfer credits and how many courses you take at a time.
GMAT or GRE scores are not required for admission into this program.
To apply for the M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, you will need official transcripts, résumé, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.
You do not have to choose a concentration as part of your degree. Students also have the option of pursuing a general program by selecting from a list of approved courses, including courses available in the other concentrations.
When you complete your program, you will have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to function as a professional clinical mental health counselor. You will be prepared for employment in a variety of settings and able to meet certification and licensure standards as a mental health counselor.
Sources:
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm.
- Payscale.com, Certified Forensic Counselor. Retrieved from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Certified_Forensic_Counselor/Salary.
*Click here to learn more about licensure information for the online MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.