Counseling, M.S. - Illinois
NLU’s CACREP-accredited Counseling program prepares students to become licensed professional counselors, licensed school counselors in the State of Illinois or both.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling option coursework meets the educational standards for licensure in Illinois at both the LPC and LCPC levels. It also meets the educational requirements for certification as a Board-eligible National Certified Counselor. The program prepares students to sit for the National Counselor Exam and Licensed Professional Counselor license examination in Illinois.
Applicants interested in school counseling who do not already have a Professional Educator License should choose the “School Counseling for those without a Professional Educator License” option. Graduates, with completion of additional state requirements, will be eligible for a Professional Educator License endorsed for school counselor.
Applicants who have a Professional Educator License should choose the “School Counseling for those with a Professional Educator License” option. Graduates, with completion of additional state requirements, will be eligible for endorsements for school counselor.
All School Counseling students must pass the Content Exam #235 (school counselor) to earn the endorsement.
For more information on state licensure and certification information please visit NLU’s Public Disclosures page.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
PLO1. Students will demonstrate the ability to apply code of ethics and legal standards in the profession.
PLO2. Students will demonstrate the ability to apply the multicultural competencies in diversity, multiculturalism, and advocacy.
PLO3. Students will demonstrate the ability to describe and apply theories of individual and family development across the lifespan.
PLO4. Students will demonstrate the ability to describe and apply theories and models of career development, counseling and decision-making.
PLO5. Students will demonstrate the ability to describe, compare, contrast and apply major counseling skills and approaches to practice.
PLO6. Students will demonstrate the ability to select and utilize assessments for diagnostic and intervention planning purposes.
PLO7. Students will demonstrate the ability to describe, compare, contrast and apply major counseling theories to practice.
PLO8. Students will demonstrate effective group leadership through the application of theoretical foundations and techniques of group counseling, process and development.
PLO9. Students will demonstrate awareness of personal characteristics and behaviors that influence the counseling process and engage in ongoing personal and professional self-evaluation and implications for practice.
PLO10. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the importance of evidence-based, ethical, and culturally relevant research in advancing the counseling profession.
In addition to the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Graduate Admissions Requirements, applicants must:
- Submit three letters of recommendation
- Complete an admission interview with a faculty member
- Submit a written response to questions provided by the Office of Admissions
Program Details:
- Requires 60–68 SH for completion
- Transfer credit may be accepted on an individual basis with the Program Chair approval
- Requires a grade of “B” or better in all coursework except the following courses required in the School Counseling option for students without a PEL; EPS 509, EPS 539, and SPE 500, which can be completed with a min grade of "C". School Counseling Students also must pass RLR 585N (please note, RLR 585N is graded as pass/fail).
- Requires a 3.0 GPA or greater on a 4.0 scale prior to graduation
- Requires a minimum 100 hour practicum
- Requires a minimum 600 hour internship
- Requires completion of one of two options—Clinical Mental Health Counseling OR School Counseling (additional courses are required for those without Professional Educator Licenses who choose the School Counseling option)
Required Courses
Clinical Mental Health Counseling - 60 - 63 SH
| HSC 501 | Fundamentals of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 503 | Counseling and Human Development in a Multicultural Society | 3 |
| HSC 504 | Clinical Techniques of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 505 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis | 3 |
| HSC 506 | Introduction to Theory and Practice of Family Therapy | 3 |
| HSC 509 | Human Development Theory | 3 |
| HSC 510 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 511 | Professional Practice and Ethics in Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 512 | Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 514 | Counseling for Career Development | 3 |
| HSC 519 | Psychological Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 524 | Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 533 | Counseling Practicum | 3 |
| HSC 541 | Trauma and Crisis Intervention Theory, Response Models and Techniques | 3 |
| HSC 542 | Psychopharmacology for Counselors | 3 |
| HSC 543 | Introduction to Theory and Practice of Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| HSC 581 | Counseling Internship I | 3 |
| HSC 582 | Counseling Internship II | 3 |
| HSM 508 | Research and Evaluation Methodology | 3 |
| HSS 534 | Perspectives on Substance Abuse | 3 |
Addictions Elective Course
This is an optional elective course for those wishing to obtain the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) certificate.
| HSS 535 | Substance Use Disorders and Treatment Considerations of Special Populations | 3 |
School Counseling (for those with a Professional Educator License) - 60 SH
| HSC 501 | Fundamentals of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 503 | Counseling and Human Development in a Multicultural Society | 3 |
| HSC 504 | Clinical Techniques of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 505 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis | 3 |
| HSC 506 | Introduction to Theory and Practice of Family Therapy | 3 |
| HSC 509 | Human Development Theory | 3 |
| HSC 510 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 511 | Professional Practice and Ethics in Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 512 | Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 514 | Counseling for Career Development | 3 |
| HSC 519 | Psychological Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 533 | Counseling Practicum | 3 |
| HSC 534 | School Counseling: Theory, Issues and Practice | 3 |
| HSC 541 | Trauma and Crisis Intervention Theory, Response Models and Techniques | 3 |
| HSC 542 | Psychopharmacology for Counselors | 3 |
| HSC 543 | Introduction to Theory and Practice of Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| HSC 581 | Counseling Internship I | 3 |
| HSC 582 | Counseling Internship II | 3 |
| HSM 508 | Research and Evaluation Methodology | 3 |
| HSS 534 | Perspectives on Substance Abuse | 3 |
Additional ISBE Requirements for Endorsement:
- Candidates must pass School Counselor Content Area Test (235)
School Counseling (for those without a Professional Educator License) - 68 SH
| EPS 509 | Structure and Organization of the Educational System for School Counselors | 2 |
| EPS 539 | Foundations of Behavioral Support | 2 |
| HSC 501 | Fundamentals of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 503 | Counseling and Human Development in a Multicultural Society | 3 |
| HSC 504 | Clinical Techniques of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 505 | Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis | 3 |
| HSC 506 | Introduction to Theory and Practice of Family Therapy | 3 |
| HSC 509 | Human Development Theory | 3 |
| HSC 510 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 511 | Professional Practice and Ethics in Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 512 | Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 514 | Counseling for Career Development | 3 |
| HSC 519 | Psychological Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 533 | Counseling Practicum | 3 |
| HSC 534 | School Counseling: Theory, Issues and Practice | 3 |
| HSC 541 | Trauma and Crisis Intervention Theory, Response Models and Techniques | 3 |
| HSC 542 | Psychopharmacology for Counselors | 3 |
| HSC 543 | Introduction to Theory and Practice of Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| HSC 581 | Counseling Internship I | 3 |
| HSC 582 | Counseling Internship II | 3 |
| HSM 508 | Research and Evaluation Methodology | 3 |
| HSS 534 | Perspectives on Substance Abuse | 3 |
| RLR 585N | Workshop: Reading Literacy Methods for School Support Personnel | 0.5 or 1.0 |
| SPE 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
Note: RLR 585N must be taken for 1SH. Students completing RLR 585N for 0.5SH must also register for supplemental RLR 585O Workshop for 0.5SH that covers content of instructional strategies for English learners and bilingual education required by ISBE.
Additional ISBE Requirements for Endorsement:
- Candidates must pass School Counselor Content Area Test (235)