American International College

What you'll study

The degree totals 60 credit hours and includes 700 practicum/internship hours. Sample core courses listed in the curriculum preview include:

• PSY 5217 - Counseling Theories, Techniques, Practice, and Consultation: major counseling theories, their influence on current techniques, evaluation of treatment modalities, linking DSM diagnoses to therapeutic approaches, and applied role-play and consultation practice. (3 credits)
• PSY 5229 - Crisis Intervention and Trauma-Informed Care: theories and methods of crisis intervention, trauma-informed practices to promote healing and avoid re-traumatization, short- and long-term counseling techniques, community/societal crisis responses, and evaluation of intervention services. (3 credits)
• PSY 5355 - Systems and Theories in Counseling and Psychology: historical survey of major psychological schools (structuralism, functionalism, behaviorism, gestalt, psychoanalysis) and their epistemological roots; coverage from ancient to modern thought.

Entry requirements

Admission requires a bachelor's degree in any field, a minimum GPA of 2.75, two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. The program does not require the GRE. There are three start dates per year and students may enroll full-time or part-time.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to pursue roles as clinical mental health counselors and to work toward state licensure as Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) or Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). The program’s CACREP-aligned curriculum and the required 700 practicum/internship hours are intended to support licensure eligibility in many states; applicants must verify licensing rules for the state where they intend to practice.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Prospective students should contact the enrollment office to discuss tuition, program fees, and any institutional aid. The published tuition rate is $830 per credit hour plus additional fees; financial support options and eligibility vary, so speak with an advisor about scholarships, payment plans, and other funding resources.