Masters Degrees in Counselling, USA

West Chester University offers a CACREP accredited program that provides excellent preparation for a career as a counselling professional: the M.Ed. in School Counselling. All of our master's programs satisfy the core educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counsellor (LPC) in Pennsylvania and most other states.

Our programs' CACREP accreditation ensures a commitment to high academic and fieldwork standards and a focus on professionalism and ethics. CACREP graduates perform better on the National Counsellor Examination and are eligible to become National Certified Counsellor upon graduation, once passing that exam, streamlining the licensure application process.

In preparation for employment, WCU's programs offer a vast number of field placement sites with experienced supervisors as well as professional field experience coordinators who offer assistance in securing the best placement options available.

Our faculty are counselling professionals with real-world experience bringing their teaching to life. Many have authored the textbooks used in our courses. Additionally, each candidate in the program has a full time faculty member advisor to help make the most of their graduate experience.

Course Structure

The School Counselling program prepares students to be effective leaders and advocates as school counsellors while earning a M.Ed. in Counselling and School Counsellor Certification PK-12 grades. The 51 credit hour program consists of:

• core counselling modules,
• school counselling modules and
• 700 hours of field work, resulting in a strong foundation for serving our school students.

Please visit the website to find out more information about the modules taught on this course:

http://catalog.wcupa.edu/graduate/education-social-work/counselor-education/school-counseling-med/#curriculumtext

Career and Academic Progression

Completion of the M.Ed. School Counseling program academically qualifies candidates for the Pennsylvania Educational Specialist I Certificate which is required for employment as an elementary or secondary school guidance counselor. Individuals who have earned a Master’s degree in counseling may pursue a non-degree program of study (certification only) leading to the Educational Specialist I Certificate.

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The Department of Counselor Education offers a Master of Science degree program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The program meets the educational requirements for counselor licensure in all fifty states, as well as the Federal government requirements to work with veterans and individuals receiving Medicare or Medicaid. Completion of this program will also qualify graduates to immediately sit for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) examination. The clinical mental health program will effectively prepare graduates for a broad range of career possibilities, including working in community settings, hospitals, educational institutions, VA treatment centers, and private practice settings.

In preparation for employment, WCU's programs offer a vast number of field placement sites with experienced supervisors as well as professional field experience coordinators who offer assistance in securing the best placement options available.

Our faculty are counselling professionals with real-world experience bringing their teaching to life. Many have authored the textbooks used in our courses. Additionally, each candidate in the program has a full time faculty member advisor to help make the most of their graduate experience.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program prepares students to be effective mental health counselors and provides the educational requirements for counselor licensure, while earning an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The 60-credit hour program consists of:

• core counseling courses,
• clinical mental health specialty courses and
• 700 hours of field work.

The comprehensive program results in a strong foundation for serving the mental health needs of the community.

Curriculum

The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a Full-Time Program which consists of four specific curricular elements: the 27 credit Common Core (6 credits of which will be provided by the Department of Professional and Secondary Education), 15 credits of CMHC specialty coursework, nine credits of elective coursework (that can be taken within the department or in other departments), and nine credits of field experience coursework. Each student is required to pass a comprehensive exam that requires the student to take the knowledge gained through coursework and apply it to a real world case scenario.

For more information about the modules taught on this course, please visit the website:

http://catalog.wcupa.edu/graduate/education-social-work/counselor-education/clinical-mental-health-counseling-ms/

Accreditation

The Clinical Mental Health Counselling program is not yet CACREP-accredited, as it was recently launched and cannot be accredited until a first cohort of students are prepared for graduation. However, the Department of Counsellor Education is currently preparing application for accreditation of the Clinical Mental Health Counselling program and will seek accreditation as soon as possible. All of our master's programs satisfy the core educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counsellor (LPC) in Pennsylvania and most other states.

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All Counselor Education Master’s degree programs have a planned program of study. The plan follows the appropriate requirements for accreditation in that area. Once an academic advisor has been assigned for your program of study, you should make an appointment to discuss your preferences and career aspirations. The program of study that you accept when you enter the program will be the one you will follow until you graduate. If there are any changes, they need to be approved by your advisor.

Visit the website http://education.ua.edu/academics/esprmc/counseling/macmhc/

The master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed to prepare students for employment and practice in public and private mental-health settings. The curriculum offers course work and applied experiences for students’ specialty interests to include areas such couple/family counseling, addictions counseling, play therapy, and similar specialty practice with unique populations or using unique methods of counseling. The clinical mental health counseling program is 60 credit hours and meets accreditation criteria put forward by Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program: Select Courses

While the majority of your courses will be offered through the Program in Counselor Education (designated as BCE) many required courses will be offered by affiliated programs. During your academic career, you will likely enroll for courses in Educational Psychology (designated as BEP), Educational Research (designated as BER), School Psychology (designated as BSP), and other areas. These courses afford the opportunity to take advantage of the expertise of faculty in other programs in the College of Education. Please refer to the Program Planning Record for Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

BCE 512 – Counseling: Theory and Process. Three hours. Introduction to counseling, counseling theories, and the counseling relationship; and an overview of the counseling process.

BCE 513 – Career Development. Three hours. An introduction for counselors and teachers to career development concepts, labor force information, and other resources needed to help persons with career planning and decision making.

BCE 514 – Counseling Skills. Three hours. An experiential course involving applied elements of theoretical models and customary helping skills to orient and prepare students for their initial supervised work with counseling clients.

BCE 515 – Practicum in Counseling I. Three hours. Prerequisite: BCE 514 and permission of the faculty. Laboratory training in attending, listening, and influencing skills. Supervised experience in counseling.

BCE 516 – Practicum in Counseling II. Three hours. Prerequisites: BCE 515 and permission of the faculty. Supervised practice in counseling.

BCE 518 – Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Three hours. Seminar and fieldwork designed to acquaint the student with the functions and roles of the counselor in various community and agency settings.

BCE 521 – Group Procedures in Counseling and Guidance. Three hours. Prerequisite: Permission of the faculty. Background in group methods, including group guidance, group counseling, and group dynamics. One-half of class time is spent in a laboratory experience during which each student is provided an opportunity to function in a group.

BCE 522 – Individual and Group Appraisal. Three hours. Prerequisite: BER 540. An overview of measurement methods, practice in administration and interpretation of standardized tests, and evaluation of tests and testing programs for counseling and guidance.

BCE 525 – Internship in School and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Three to twelve hours. Prerequisite: Permission of the faculty. Supervised field experience in an appropriate job setting.

BCE 528 – Advanced Seminar in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Three hours. Prerequisite: BCE 518. Advanced study and discussion of a variety of agency-specific issues and topics.

BCE 611 – Multicultural Counseling. Three hours. This course is designed to introduce students to multicultural issues unique to counseling and other helping professions.

BCE 650 – Counseling Strategies for Family Relationships. Three hours. Prerequisite: BCE 512 or permission of the instructor. Examination of theoretical and applied elements of systemic intervention with troubled families.

BER 500 – Introduction to Educational Research. Three hours. An overview of the research process, primarily for master’s students.

BER 540 – Statistical Methods in Education. Three hours. Descriptive and basic inferential statistics, including graphs, frequency distributions central tendency, dispersion , correlation, and hypothesis testing. Computer applications are included.

BEP 550 – Life span Development. Three hours. A study of principles and concepts of physical, cognitive personality, and social development from conception through death.

BSP 660 – Psychopathology. Three hours. Thorough examination of the history, scope, and understanding of abnormal behavior through the life span, with emphasis on educational and clinical implications. The most recent classification system is used to structure topics and issues in the course.

Find out how to apply here - http://graduate.ua.edu/prospects/application/

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The master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling is designed to prepare rehabilitation counselors to serve persons with disabilities in a variety of work settings. The rehabilitation counseling program is 48 credit hours and is fully accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE).

Mission

Professional rehabilitation counselors encourage and support persons with disabilities and their families to fully participate in their community by providing individual and group counseling, vocational assessment, case management, advocacy, assistive technology, and consultation services to help meet their personal, social, vocational, psychological, independent living, and quality of life goals. The mission of the Rehabilitation Counselor Education (RCE) distance-based program at the University of Alabama is to prepare professional rehabilitation counselors who will provide quality rehabilitation counseling services for persons with disabilities from diverse backgrounds and their families.

Visit the website http://education.ua.edu/academics/esprmc/counseling/marehab/

In addition to objective of the Program in Counselor Education, the RCE Program has the following objectives:

Objectives

1. To introduce the philosophy and historical tenets of rehabilitation counseling through new literacies of technology and interpersonal communication.

2. To deliver a 21st century, distance-based curriculum of didactic and clinical experiences that encourages active learning and adheres to the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) standards.

3. To prepare qualified rehabilitation counselors to work in both public and private settings located in rural and urban communities to facilitate the needs of all persons with disabilities and their families.

4. To recruit, select, and matriculate rehabilitation counseling graduate students who represent minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities.

5. To provide our rehabilitation counseling graduate students with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop a philosophical orientation and approach reflective of their commitment to meeting the needs of persons with disabilities and their families, as well as employer and community needs.

6. To foster our university’s mission in advancing the intellectual and social condition of the people by communicating to our rehabilitation graduate counseling students the need for advocacy, community integration, and social responsibility.

7. To prepare our rehabilitation counseling graduate students to become ethical rehabilitation counselors by understanding and following the Code of Professional Ethics for rehabilitation counselors.

8. To promote the involvement of our rehabilitation counseling graduate students in rehabilitation counseling professional associations (e.g., National Rehabilitation Association, National Rehabilitation Counseling Association, American Rehabilitation Counseling Association, National Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Association) to enhance awareness of professional issues and service that are important to the growth of our field.

The RCE master’s program is 48 semester hours in length. However, a 60-semester hour option is available for students who wish to pursue 60 hours of graduate coursework. The curriculum provides both didactic and experiential learning and culminates in a 600 hour internship under the supervision of a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. The RCE program is fully accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE). Students completing the RCE program are eligible to become Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC). For more information about becoming a CRC, visit the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification website: http://www.crccertification.com/

The RCE program is an on-line program. Distance students must meet criteria for full or conditional admission. Distance students who can enroll for 9 hours (fall and spring) and 6 hours (summer) may complete the degree program in two calendar years. Distance students may take more or fewer hours each semseter with advisor approval. Some rehabilitation courses are offered as synchronous courses and will require weekly participation via live virtual classroom.

In most states, program graduates are eligible to begin the process of becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). The following link provides a listing of counselor licensure boards in all of the states: http://www.counseling.org/Counselors/LicensureAndCert/TP/StateRequirements/CT2.aspx

Employment Outlook

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2009), jobs for rehabilitation counselors are expected to grow by 19%, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Rehabilitation counselors serve persons with disabilities in a variety of work settings including, but not limited to, state-federal vocational rehabilitation agencies, non-profit community rehabilitation programs, private-for-profit rehabilitation companies, rehabilitation hospital settings, community mental health and substance abuse programs, correctional facilities, and private practice.

Find out how to apply here - http://graduate.ua.edu/prospects/application/

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All Counselor Education Master’s degree programs have a planned program of study. The plan follows the appropriate requirements for accreditation in that area. Once an academic advisor has been assigned for your program of study, you should make an appointment to discuss your preferences and career aspirations. The program of study that you accept when you enter the program will be the one you will follow until you graduate. If there are any changes, they need to be approved by your advisor.

Visit the website http://education.ua.edu/academics/esprmc/counseling/maschool/

The master’s degree in School Counseling is designed to provide prospective school counselors with the skills necessary to establish and conduct effective developmental guidance and counseling programs in schools, pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Students preparing for positions in School Counseling are provided experiences qualifying them for work at all levels of school counseling. The school counseling program is 48 hours and meets accreditation criteria of National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

School Counseling Program: Select Courses

While the majority of your courses will be offered through the Program in Counselor Education (designated as BCE) many required courses will be offered by affiliated programs. During your academic career, you will likely enroll for courses in Educational Psychology (designated as BEP), Educational Research (designated as BER), School Psychology (designated as BSP), and other areas. These courses afford the opportunity to take advantage of the expertise of faculty in other programs in the College of Education. Please refer to the Program Planning Record for School Counseling.

BCE 511 – Principles of Guidance. Three hours. Explores the rationale for guidance by examining human development and sociological, psychological, and philosophical bases for guidance. Provides awareness of services by surveying components of guidance programs.

BCE 512 – Counseling: Theory and Process. Three hours. Introduction to counseling, counseling theories, and the counseling relationship; and an overview of the counseling process.

BCE 513 – Career Development. Three hours. An introduction for counselors and teachers to career development concepts, labor force information, and other resources needed to help persons with career planning and decision making.

BCE 514 – Pre-practicum in Counseling. Three hours. An experiential course involving applied elements of theoretical models and customary helping skills to orient and prepare students for their initial supervised work with counseling clients.

BCE 515 – Practicum in Counseling I. Three hours. Prerequisite: BCE 514 and permission of the faculty. Laboratory training in attending, listening, and influencing skills. Supervised experience in counseling.

BCE 516 – Practicum in Counseling II. Three hours. Prerequisites: BCE 515 and permission of the faculty. Supervised practice in counseling.

BCE 521 – Group Procedures in Counseling and Guidance. Three hours. Prerequisite: Permission of the faculty. Background in group methods, including group guidance, group counseling, and group dynamics. One-half of class time is spent in a laboratory experience during which each student is provided an opportunity to function in a group.

BCE 522 – Individual and Group Appraisal. Three hours. Prerequisite: BER 540. An overview of measurement methods, practice in administration and interpretation of standardized tests, and evaluation of tests and testing programs for counseling and guidance.

BCE 523 – Program Development and Management. Three hours. An examination of the organization and implementation of the guidance functions of schools and the guidance responsibilities of counselors, teachers, and administrators.

BCE 525 – Internship in School and Community Counseling. Three to twelve hours. Prerequisite: Permission of the faculty. Supervised field experience in an appropriate job setting.

BCE 650 – Counseling Strategies for Family Relationships. Three hours. Prerequisite: BCE 512 or permission of the instructor. Examination of theoretical and applied elements of systemic intervention with troubled families.

BCE 611 Multicultural Approaches to Counseling. Three hours.

Prerequisites: Majors only or with instructor permission. This course is designed to introduce students to multicultural issues unique to counseling and other helping professions.

BER 500 – Introduction to Educational Research. Three hours. An overview of the research process, primarily for master’s students.

BER 540 – Statistical Methods in Education. Three hours. Descriptive and basic inferential statistics, including graphs, frequency distributions central tendency, dispersion , correlation, and hypothesis testing. Computer applications are included.

BEP 550 – Life span Development. Three hours. A study of principles and concepts of physical, cognitive personality, and social development from conception through death.

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The Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration is a 61-hour degree program designed to train students to work in mental health settings. Students may specialize in counseling children and adolescents or adults. Students who complete the concentration in mental health counseling will have met the educational requirements for licensure as professional counselors with mental health service provider (MHSP) designation in the state of Tennessee.

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The School Counseling concentration is a 49-hour degree program with an emphasis on developmental school counseling. Students who complete the concentration in school counseling will have met the educational requirements necessary for licensure as school counselors in the state of Tennessee.

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Your compassion for others and willingness to help are prerequisites for this growing field of personal counseling. Young people and adults in transition will all benefit from the creative, clinical skills you develop at IUP.

PROGRAM ALSO OFFERED AT THE MONROEVILLE CAMPUS

The MA program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is also available at the Monroeville campus. It is a 60-credit degree designed to prepare students to work in a variety of settings, including mental health centers, drug and alcohol treatment programs, specialized community agencies, rehabilitation programs, correctional institutions, health care settings, and business and industry.

COUNSELING PROFESSION IS GROWING

Our program gives you the skills you'll need to work in a number of settings, including mental health centers, drug and alcohol treatment programs, specialized community agencies, private practice, vocational or rehabilitation programs, correctional institutions, health care settings, social services, business, and industry. The 60-credit-hour program includes a series of counseling skills courses, including individual and group practicums, and a 600-hour field experience under the supervision of a qualified supervisor.

The counseling curriculum is based on the educational standards as set forth by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Students who successfully complete their course work will be eligible to take the National Certification Exam. Upon passing the exam, students will be board-eligible counselors.

Prospective students for the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling must meet departmental admissions requirements and procedures in addition to those of the School of Graduate Studies and Research.

Prospective students should contact the department to determine these requirements. Applicants are required to attend an admission workshop as the final step in the admissions process. Workshops are held two times a year, and applicants should contact the department to obtain the dates of workshops and deadlines for applications to reach the department.

The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

The program philosophy is to approach helping from an educational and developmental perspective, emphasizing prevention and promoting enrichment in people's lives while also providing skills for effective intervention. The wide variety of employment settings in which our graduates are found reflects this developmental, preventative, and interventionist focus.

THE MA DEGREE WILL PREPARE YOU TO

-Acquire the state and national licensure needed to practice.
-Broaden your view of multicultural issues with regard to mental health.
-Assist youth and adults who suffer from drug and alcohol abuse.
-Guide individuals through career planning and career transitions.
-Obtain necessary training as an individual, group, and systems counselor.
-Find work in the following settings: mental health and substance abuse clinics, forensics settings, private practice, consultation services, and career counseling programs.
-Pursue a doctoral degree in counselor education or counseling psychology.
-Be a part of an occupation that is projected to have a “much faster than average” job growth through 2022, with a 16 percent growth rate in Pennsylvania.

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Students in pre-Kindergarten, elementary, middle/junior, and high school need support throughout the educational process. With this degree, you will be trained to provide career awareness, personal development, decision-making, interpersonal communications, educational planning, and community involvement.

MED PREPARES YOU FOR BOTH ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

A series of counseling skills courses, including practicums at the elementary school and secondary school levels, will give you a strong preparation for pre-K-12 commonwealth certification. You'll also complete a 600-hour field experience under the supervision of a certified school counselor.

The hallmark of this program is its philosophy based on the developmental approach to school counseling. Children and youth learn best when they are given the opportunity to increase self-awareness and develop those life skills that contribute to an understanding and utilization of self in all life experiences.

This approach to counseling is sequential and flexible, involves all school personnel, helps students learn more effectively and efficiently, and is managed by a trained counselor who provides specialized counseling services and interventions.

The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

THE MED PROGRAM WILL PREPARE YOU TO

-Work in both public and private schools with in-depth clinical experience in individual and group counseling.
-Guide students from kindergarten through high school who experience mental health issues.
-Master individual and group counseling methods that allow you to have a lasting positive impact on growing minds and hearts.
-Expand your options to consider college admissions counseling, career counseling, private practice, and consulting.
-Pursue a doctoral degree in counselor education, school psychology, or counseling psychology.
-Be a part of an occupation that is projected to have an “average” job growth through 2022 and a median annual salary of $51,300 in Pennsylvania.

While teaching experience is not a prerequisite for school counseling certification in Pennsylvania, students are expected to possess an understanding of educational philosophy and child or adolescent growth and development. They should also understand the basic principles of psychology, sociology, and learning theory in addition to courses specific to either a child or adolescent population.

Prospective students for the Master of Education and school certification program must meet departmental admissions requirements and procedures in addition to those of the School of Graduate Studies and Research. Applicants are required to attend an admission workshop as the final step in the admissions process. Workshops are held two times a year, and applicants should contact the department to obtain the dates of workshops and deadlines for applications to reach the department.

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