Now accepting applications
- Streamlined pathway to a doctoral degree
- Time-saving placement support services
- Fully online coursework without campus visits
New England Commission of Higher Education
Top National College
by U.S. News & World Report
A+ in Diversity from Niche
Free Application Period from March 22 to April 22
Reach the highest level of counseling education
A reputable online program for working professionals to earn their EdD in Mental Health Counseling.
Flexible Pathways
Schedule your education around your life.
Virtual Classrooms
Study at your own pace with 100% online coursework.
CACREP-Aligned Curriculum
Gain valuable clinical skills and prepare for licensure.
Practicum Hours
Put classroom theory into real-world practice.
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Support human well-being and contribute to the body of knowledge in mental health counseling
The online Doctorate in Education (EdD) in Mental Health Counseling (MHC) at American International College (AIC) offers a streamlined pathway to reach the terminal level of counseling education. With this degree, not only can you provide mental health counseling, but you will also be qualified for faculty roles in academia where you can contribute to the body of knowledge in the field through research.
AIC has a long-standing history of making education more accessible for people of all backgrounds, with a legacy centered around diversity, access, and inclusion. With this degree, you can become a part of this legacy by providing access to mental health care for diverse groups of people in need in your community and educating the next generation of mental health counselors.
- 100% online coursework: Study at your own pace
- No campus residencies: Stay close to home
- Field practicum hours near you: Put classroom theory into real-world practice
- Field placement services: Save time with help finding internships and practicum sites
- Enroll full-time or part-time: Schedule your education around your life
- CACREP-aligned curriculum: Get prepared for licensure in most states
The program is based on an integrated curriculum that trains you as a capable counselor and educator well-versed in theory, research, and clinical skills. It offers flexible enrollment options and no campus travel, making it an ideal choice for working professionals.
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Support human well-being and contribute to the body of knowledge in mental health counseling
The online Doctorate in Education (EdD) in Mental Health Counseling (MHC) at American International College (AIC) offers a streamlined pathway to reach the terminal level of counseling education. With this degree, not only can you provide mental health counseling, but you will also be qualified for faculty roles in academia where you can contribute to the body of knowledge in the field through research.
AIC has a long-standing history of making education more accessible for people of all backgrounds, with a legacy centered around diversity, access, and inclusion. With this degree, you can become a part of this legacy by providing access to mental health care for diverse groups of people in need in your community and educating the next generation of mental health counselors.
- 100% online coursework: Study at your own pace
- No campus residencies: Stay close to home
- Field practicum hours near you: Put classroom theory into real-world practice
- Field placement services: Save time with help finding internships and practicum sites
- Enroll full-time or part-time: Schedule your education around your life
- CACREP-aligned curriculum: Get prepared for licensure in most states
The program is based on an integrated curriculum that trains you as a capable counselor and educator well-versed in theory, research, and clinical skills. It offers flexible enrollment options and no campus travel, making it an ideal choice for working professionals.
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How does the field placement process work?
Experiential learning in your community is one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of earning your degree. Practicum hours are guided and directed by AIC faculty in collaboration with your on-site field supervisor at the agency where you are assigned. Support to find field placement sites that align with your career goals is integrated into the program cost.
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How do field placement services help me?
Concurrent coursework and field experiences connect theory with practice. Field placement provides 700 hours of real-world, hands-on mental health counseling experience. Your Field Placement Coordinator helps identify quality placement sites within your local community so you can focus on your coursework and build your skills.
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How should I prepare for my field placement?
Your Field Placement Coordinator and faculty guide you through the entire process. They give you a realistic idea of the field experience to ensure you are ready to work in a supervised, fast-paced environment.
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Can I arrange my own field experiences?
Students are strongly encouraged to list agency referrals on the field intake form for the Field Placement Coordinator to arrange. The College is required to review and approve the agency and site before the start of any fieldwork.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for enrollment in this program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Master’s degree in psychology or closely related field
- 3.0 GPA
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
This course emphasizes diversity in relation to the theories, issues, and trends related to multicultural counseling and family consultation. The focus is on the impact of diversity on psychological, physical and social health and growth. Coursework covers studies of the attitudinal and behavioral patterns of diverse people based on life stage, religious beliefs and rituals, sexual orientation, gender identity, racial identity, ethnicity, cultural beliefs and rituals, familial dynamics, socioeconomic status, and intellectual and physical differences. Students will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to provide competent counseling and consultation to diverse individuals, groups, and families. (3 credits)
This course encompasses the understanding of substance use disorder within the criteria of the current DSM and addiction as a disease within the medical model. Students will be introduced to contemporary theories on the social, physiological, psychological, and emotional components of addiction. The appropriate mental health counseling treatment modalities for addiction and co-occurring disorders will be reviewed and practiced through an understanding of the stages, effects, and processes of addiction. This course will cover prevention, interventions, and outreach strategies related to addiction and recovery counseling. Medically assisted treatment will also be discussed. (3 credits)
This course covers the major theories of human lifespan development in relation to the well-being of individuals and mental health counseling. Students will engage in a comprehensive study of major theories of physical, cognitive, affective, and social development and their application to mental health counseling and psychological interventions. Students will relate developmental theory to real-life developmental issues and to the understanding of learning and personality development. Through case studies and a review of literature, students will understand the nature of the developmental needs and potential issues of individuals and families at each developmental stage of life. (3 credits)
This course covers major theories and principles of psychopathology and intervention in relation to mental health counseling. Students will engage in a comprehensive study of the identification and diagnosis of psychopathology and mental health treatment planning for abnormal, deviant, or psychopathological behavior. This course includes the study of the assessment of psychopathology and therapeutic strategies for the treatment of crises, short-term mental health issues, and long-term mental health issues. Students will study the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) for the criteria of diagnoses in relation to intake, assessment, treatment planning, and counseling. Case studies will be examined to address the physiological, biological, and environmental factors related to psychopathology across the human lifespan. (3 credits)
Sally Van Wright
EdD ’19
"I want to learn more, I want to study more, but I don’t want to stop doing what I’m doing to help people."
Eugene Isaak
EdD ’19
"I really like the atmosphere here, and I really like the people. They’re really engaged here; they really care. I discovered that AIC is a big part of this community. I was amazed at the interconnection — not just the people, but the programs and outreach."
FAST FACTS
3 intakes per year
Full-time or part-time
100% online coursework
MHC Program Outcomes
The doctoral Mental Health Counseling program is designed to meet the educational requirements for a licensed mental health counselor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and similar professional designations in other states. You will gain experience addressing mental health issues, human dynamics, and social justice for various individual or group cases, institutions, or workplaces. The program is based on a balanced, sequential scientist/practitioner model and emphasizes the interrelation of theory, research, and practice.
Numbers Tell the Story of Mental Health in America
American International College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The EdD MHC program’s curriculum is aligned with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) to prepare you for licensure in most states. (Students are responsible for ensuring they meet all state licensing requirements.)
It depends on your schedule, and the choice is yours. You can complete this program on a full-time basis and earn your degree in two years and three months (seven trimesters). Or, you can enroll in the program part-time and earn your degree in three years and seven months (eleven trimesters).
The online MHC program costs $830 per credit hour + fees* for a total investment of $54,780. Financial aid may be available to our online students.
*Please speak with your enrollment advisor about additional program fees.
Yes. Our faculty members are experienced practitioners. They are experts in their field and dedicated to your success in diverse counseling settings.
161,588 Median Total Annual Wages*
Job postings in 2021 (up 28% since 2018)
The most common industries employing mental health counselors, by the number of employees, are as follows:
22%
Projected 10-year Growth
161,588 Median Total Annual Wages*
Job postings in 2021 (up 28% since 2018)
The most common industries employing mental health counselors, by the number of employees, are as follows:
Outpatient care centers (41%)
Individual and family services (16%)
Elementary and secondary schools (10.5%)
Colleges, universities, junior universities, and professional schools (6.35%)
- General medical and surgical hospitals and specialty hospitals (6.08%)
- Residential care facilities (3.13%)
- Administration of human resource programs (2.64%)
- Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals (2.47%)
- Justice, public order, and safety activities (1.68%)
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Lightcast, DataUsa.io
