Counseling (MSc)

Curriculum and Requirements

In clinical mental health counseling, you'll learn to assist clients in resolving psychological disorders and/or developmental issues through interventions and/or remediation.

In school counseling, you'll become eligible to obtain your professional educator license with an endorsement in school counseling, preparing you to work as a K-12 school counselor in Illinois

A supervised practicum (100 clock hours) and internship (600 clock hours) are required. You’re responsible for finding and securing an internship site placement.

View Program Requirements View Coursework

Program Mission and Objectives Mission Statement The Counseling Faculty are committed to preparing multiculturally competent counseling professionals for school, community, and higher education settings who can facilitate positive change in the development and interactions of diverse individuals throughout their lifespans. The Faculty are also committed to the generation and application of knowledge about counseling and related issues and techniques. Master’s Program Objectives Objective one – common core courses: Students will demonstrate mastery of a common core of knowledge and skills in counseling. this common core involves coursework in such areas as (a) human growth and development, (b) social and cultural foundations, (c) groups, (d) career and lifestyle development, (e) research and program evaluation, (f) professional orientation and (g) appraisal. Objective two - experiential courses: Students will be able to demonstrate effective use of counseling skills for a selected setting. Specific courses that address this objective are: Supervised Experiences (9 credit hours required)* Objective three - specialization courses: Students will demonstrate mastery of knowledge and skills in a selected area of professional preparation (12 hours in clinical mental health counseling or school counseling coursework and electives). Learning Outcomes We take pride in helping you move in a timely manner through our program regardless of full- or part-time status. During your program of study, you will: Demonstrate knowledge of common core areas in counseling, which include ethics, diagnosis of mental health, career, theories, group work, assessment, crisis intervention, substance abuse, counseling skills and strategies, and multiculturalism. Demonstrate effective counseling competencies. Demonstrate general dispositions toward self-reflection and being non-judgmental, and openness to supervision. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in Clinical Mental Health or School Counseling. Demonstrate knowledge of multicultural counseling skills and social justice issues. All M.S.Ed. Counseling students learn the core knowledge complete coursework for professional counseling licensure eligibility in the state of Illinois. Standard Curriculum Course Rotation M.S.Ed. Counseling Course Rotation Course # Course Title Fall Spring Summer 500 Professional Identity and Ethics in Counseling Combined N/A N/A 501 Diagnosis of Mental Health Issues in Counseling Combined N/A N/A 510 Counseling Skills Across the Lifespan Combined N/A N/A 511 Career Counseling N/A N/A Combined 513 Postsecondary and College Counseling for School Counselors Combined N/A N/A 521 Counseling Children Combined N/A N/A 523 School Counseling: Programs, Issues and Practices N/A Combined N/A 524 CMHC: Programs, Issues, and Practices N/A Combined N/A 525 Counseling Skills and Strategies N/A Combined N/A 530 Counseling Theories Combined N/A N/A 532 Evidence Informed Practice in Counseling and Counselor Education N/A N/A Combined 533X Standardized Testing N/A N/A Combined 540 Group Counseling Theories and Procedures N/A Combined N/A 550 Practicum in Counseling (time intensive course) CMHC specialty section SC specialty section N/A 565 Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling N/A Combined N/A 567 Substance Use and Addictions in Counseling N/A Combined N/A 570 Consult. & Man. in Dev. School Counseling Programs Combined N/A N/A 586 Internship in Counseling (6 credit hours over two semesters) Combined Combined Combined 593 Crisis Intervention (8 week online course) N/A N/A Combined 784X Theoretical Foundations of Family Therapy N/A Combined N/A Program Community Highlights On an annual basis, 70-100 eligible applicants apply for admissions to the master's level counseling degree programs. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program averages 50 to 60 degree program enrolled students. The School Counseling program averages 40-50 degree program enrolled students. Counseling faculty work to recruit and admit diverse student populations. Note : NIU collects race/sex demographic information based on students' legal classifications. However, in alliance with NIU's stated commitment to diversity and inclusion , we recognize that our students, faculty and staff may identify beyond the demographics listed. Self-reported counseling student race and sex last year included: Race/Ethnicity Women Men African-American or Black 11% 2% Asian-American 2% 3% Caucasian or White 48% 25% Hispanic, Latino or Spanish-American 6% 1% The NIU Counselor Educator team includes seven full-time faculty and two instructors of counseling. Professors of counseling represent not only diversity of multicultural intersectionality, but also diversity of counseling approaches and research interests. Counselor education program faculty review various program and student outcome data points each year to determine the continuation of our changes in program delivery design. This annual review report (DOCX) includes: Summary of the program evaluation results Subsequent program modifications Any other substantial program changes