Counseling, M.S.
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 #181 (school counselor) to earn the endorsement.
In addition to the College of Professional Studies and Advancement Graduate Admissions Requirements, applicants must:
- Submit the results of the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal
- Submit three letters of recommendation
- Complete an admission interview with a faculty member
- Pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or ISBE approved alternative if planning to complete the School Counseling option
- Submit a written response to questions provided by the Office of Admissions
Program Details:
- Requires 60–67 SH for completion
- Only courses from CACREP accredited universities may be accepted for transfer into the Counseling program
- Requires a grade of “B” or better in all coursework
- 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)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling - 60 SH
| HSC 501 | Fundamentals of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 503 | Counseling and Human Development in a Multicultural Society | 3 OR 5 |
| 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 510 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 511 | Professional Practice and Ethics in Human Services | 3 |
| HSC 512 | Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 514 | Counseling for Career Development | 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 Counseling | 3 |
| LAP 501 | Introduction to Psychological Assessment | 3 |
| LAP 506 | Advanced Human Development | 3 |
Note: HSC 503 must be taken for 3 semester hours.
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 OR 5 |
| 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 510 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 511 | Professional Practice and Ethics in Human Services | 3 |
| HSC 512 | Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 514 | Counseling for Career Development | 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 Counseling | 3 |
| LAP 501 | Introduction to Psychological Assessment | 3 |
| LAP 506 | Advanced Human Development | 3 |
Note: HSC 503 must be taken for 3 semester hours.
School Counseling (for those without a Professional Educator License) - 67.5 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 OR 5 |
| 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 510 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 511 | Professional Practice and Ethics in Human Services | 3 |
| HSC 512 | Theories and Techniques of Group Counseling | 3 |
| HSC 514 | Counseling for Career Development | 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 Counseling | 3 |
| LAP 501 | Introduction to Psychological Assessment | 3 |
| LAP 506 | Advanced Human Development | 3 |
| RLR 585N | Workshop: Reading Literacy Methods for School Support Personnel | 0.5 |
| SPE 500 | Introduction to and Methods of Teaching Students with Disabilities | 3 |
Note: HSC 503 must be taken for 3 semester hours.
For more information about this program please refer to the Counseling and Human Services Graduate Student Handbook.