Masters in Science (M.S.) in Mental and Behavioral Health Counseling
Admission
Application Process for Mental and Behavioral Health Counseling Master’s Program (M.S.)
Application Deadline
The Mental and Behavioral Health Counseling (MBHC) program is a two-year program with a summer start (June) and a summer end (August graduation). All students in the MBHC program, housed within the Department of Psychology, are expected to be full-time students. Applicants are admitted beginning in the summer session only. Thus, when beginning your application in the GradCAS system, please be sure to select “Summer” of the year in which you are submitting your application (e.g., “Summer 2025”). The completed application and all supporting materials must be electronically submitted by January 15th.
How to apply
The Overview page on the Psychology Department website provides a program overview and detailed information for prospective applicants. A link to the centralized application service can be obtained from the Graduate School Admissions website. All applications must be submitted online though the application portal.
When completing the online application, you must first select “Summer” of the year in which you are submitting your application before you indicate that you are applying for the Mental and Behavioral Health Counseling program.
Application Materials
- Application fee of $65, plus Centralized Application System (CAS) fees.
- Personal Statement (one copy submitted as supplemental material in online application; limit to 1000 words) – Please be sure to include the following information in your statement:
- Your clinical/counseling interests and experience. Please give us an idea of the types of clinical/counseling experiences (volunteer or otherwise) in which you have participated. Please be specific concerning your roles and responsibilities.
- Your goals for a career with a master’s degree in Mental and Behavioral Health Counseling. What populations, settings, or content areas (e.g., substance use) do you want to work in most and why?
- Ways in which our program matches your interests and what attracts you to our program specifically.
- Inclusion and Diversity Statement (one copy submitted as supplemental material in online application; limit to 500 words) – Please include the information below:
- In your inclusion and Diversity statement, please describe how your background and experiences demonstrate your commitment and ability to engage with issues of diversity and inclusion. Please include how those commitments might be reflected in your graduate school career and beyond.
- Unofficial transcripts from every undergraduate and graduate institution you attended (upload PDFs as supplemental materials in online application).
- Official transcripts from each institution are NOT required before the January 15th deadline, but they will be required if you are offered admission to the program and choose to enroll.
- A copy of your Curriculum Vitae documenting previous educational, work, volunteer, and clinical/counseling experiences (upload as a supplemental form in online application).
- TOEFL scores (for applicants with a native language other than English)
- Two letters of recommendation for an individual who can speak to your ability to be successful in a graduate mental and behavioral health counseling program.
The GRE is NOT required for admission to the master’s program. Our faculty and staff are committed to providing an inclusive, equitable, and diverse place of learning. The GRE disadvantages students of color, women, and students of lower socioeconomic status. Further, the costs and logistics of taking the GRE have raised questions about equity of access for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and rural areas. Thus, the requirement of the GRE is inconsistent with the values of the MBHC program at URI.
No admissions materials should be sent via mail to the Psychology Department or to the Graduate School. All admissions materials are to be submitted via the online application system.
Selection/Interview Process
Applicants are evaluated based on previous academic achievement, previous professional experience (in applied and clinical/counseling settings), letters of reference, and match between applicant and program goals. Finalists will participate in a personal interview to complete the evaluation process.
The interview is an important part of the admissions selection process. Applicants are typically given at least two weeks’ notice if they are to be invited to interview. Interviews typically take place in February.