Counselor Education

Return to: School of Education Graduate Division

OVERVIEW

The Master’s degree in Counselor Education is designed with a mission to prepare counselors to work in mental health, school, and career counseling settings who promote social justice and responsibility, serve as leaders in a diverse and global community, and respond to the complexity of human needs across the lifespan.  The Counselor Education Program is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and is an endorsed member of the International Registry of Counselor Education Programs (IRCEP).  Students may prepare for the National Certified Counselor credential offered by the National Board of Certified Counselors, the NC Licensed Professional Counselor Associate credential, and the Licensed School Counselor credential granted by the NC Department of Public Instruction.  Additionally, the counselor education program is recognized as a Criteria C school for Licensure as a Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS).   The Master of Arts degree in Counselor Education is completed within one of the three specialization tracks although a student may decide to become a dual major and complete all requirements for more than one course of study.

The program objectives for all program specializations are to develop counselors who:

1. Develop a theoretically solid philosophy of practice integrating research data into evidence-based practices;
2. Apply knowledge, skills, and dispositions consistent with the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics;
3. Formulate a professional identity that responds to the needs of their client populations while utilizing culturally competent practices and appropriate assessment tools and procedures;
4. Act with expertise in individual, group, and family counseling with diverse clients on personal, social, emotional, career, and educational issues that impact development across their lifespan;
5. Develop leadership ability and advocate to meet client needs and to remove individual and systemic barriers to development and consult with other professionals concerning the developmental needs of culturally diverse clients;
6. Build and sustain collaborative partnerships with stakeholders for promoting social justice, equity, and access.

All program tracks share core courses fundamental to becoming a competent counselor and each track includes specialty classes designed to expand the knowledge base of a particular specialization in mental health, school, or career counseling.  All program tracks may be completed either on campus or online with three short residencies on our Durham campus.  A major emphasis of the training is on culminating clinical experiences in partnership with local agencies and organizations, community service entities, and universities and schools.  All students complete both a Practicum and an Internship requiring supervised field placement. 

Courses are offered on campus, through distance education, and in hybrid formats that combine campus and online learning.  Students may complete a thesis if they desire to engage in original research.  Several electives are offered both within the program and in other related NCCU graduate programs equaling 700 clock hours.

Counselor Education Program Mission

The Counselor Education Program prepares counselors to work in mental health, school, and career counseling settings who promote social justice and responsibility, serve as leaders in a diverse and global community, and respond to the complexity of human needs across the lifespan.  Faculty is expected to teach and mentor students, serve the community and counseling profession, and promote intellectual advancement through conducting and disseminating research.

The program develops counselors who:

1. Develop a theoretically solid philosophy of practice;
2. Apply knowledge, skills, and dispositions consistent with the ACA Code of Ethics;
3. Formulate a professional identity that responds to the needs of their client populations;
4. Utilize cultural competence in practice;
5. Act with expertise in individual, group, and family counseling with diverse clients on personal, social, emotional, career, and educational issues that impact development across their lifespan;
6. Develop leadership ability and advocate to meet client needs and to remove individual and systemic barriers to development;
7. Build and sustain collaborative partnerships with stakeholders for promoting social justice, equity, and access;
8. Utilize appropriate assessment tools and procedures;
9. Consult with others concerning the development needs of culturally diverse clients;
10. Integrate research data into evidence-based practice.

The Counselor Education Program is housed within the Department of Allied Professions in the School of Education and is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and is approved by the International Registry of Counselor Education Programs (IRCEP).  Classes are offered in three delivery formats - on-campus, online, and hybrid.  Applicants must complete an online application including transcripts, references, GRE scores, and a professional statement.  A select number of applicants will be contacted for an admission interview before final decisions are made.  All materials must be submitted by February 1st for fall semester admissions.  Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good academic standing (see University policies on earning grade of C or F).  Financial aid information can be located through the Financial Aid Office.  A limited number of graduate assistantships are available to fully admitted students.

Each of the three concentrations is divided into three phases of courses.  These are sequenced for matriculation through the student’s specific program of study.  Students may opt to complete a thesis for 3 semester hours of credit by enrolling in EDGR 5900 (Phase 3).  The preparation of the thesis should show the capacity of the student under guidance to accomplish independent investigation, and it must demonstrate mastery of the methodology of research.

A brief overview of the three concentrations is as follows:

• The graduate program in Career Counseling is designed to prepare counselors to assist clients in career exploration, career decision-making and career development.
• The graduate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed to give adequate breadth and depth of training to prepare counselors to perform counseling activities in mental health settings.
• The graduate program in School Counseling is designed to prepare counselors to work in K-12 settings.

Letters of recommendation prepared by the counseling faculty will indicate the program in which each student was enrolled (i.e., career counseling, clinical mental health counseling, school counseling) and will describe the nature of the internship which the individual completed (i.e., setting, population served).  In addition, program faculty will only recommend individuals for licenses and certificates for which they are qualified by having met the requisite standards.

Return to: School of Education Graduate Division