Community Counseling

DEGREE: MASTER OF ARTS 48 Semester Hours

This program is designed to prepare graduates who are qualified to work as counselors in a variety of settings. These settings may include agencies providing services to individuals, groups, and families; residential settings; social services agencies; hospitals, and religious organizations. Graduates from the program are trained to exhibit high standards of professional competence and ethical practice integrating theory, skills, and values. The program requirements reflect current components of the Licensed Professional Counselor examination in the State of Illinois. The program is CACREP accredited.

Program Objectives
The Community Counseling Program is designed to enable students to

Exhibit high standards of professional competence and ethical practice.
Assimilate and integrate counseling theory and skills.
Develop awareness and understanding of current and developing practice and professional issues relevant to the field of counseling.
Develop awareness and understanding of multicultural issues and the current and evolving needs of our pluralistic society.
Demonstrate appropriate Christian values in their chosen vocation.

Degree Requirements

Completion of 48 semester hour program (no more than 15 hours at the 4000 level), and successful completion of the Capstone Experience.

Areas of Study

Human Growth/Development/Maladaptive Behavior (3 hours)

PSY-6000 Counseling and Human Development

Social and Cultural Foundations (3 hours)

PSY-6005 Multicultural Counseling

Helping Relationships (6 hours)

PSY-4201 Counseling Skills
PSY-6010 Counseling Theory and Practice

Group Work (3 hours)

PSY-6015 Group Counseling

Career and Lifestyle Development (3 hours)

PSY-6020 Career Counseling and Education

Appraisal (3 hours)

PSY-6025 Assessment Techniques

Professional Orientation (3 hours)

PSY-6035 Introduction to the Counseling Profession

Clinical Experiences (9 hours)

PSY-6981 Practicum: Professional Counseling (see course description for prerequisites)
PSY-6991 Internship: Professional Counseling (see course description for prerequisites)