Counseling Graduate Program at Chicago State University

The Counseling Graduate Program in the Department of Psychology offers graduate study leading to a Master of Arts degree in Counseling .  The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body, has granted accreditation to both programs of Chicago State University:  Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA) and School Counseling (MA).

The Counseling Graduate Program is designed to train students as counselors so they can work in a variety of settings with an emphasis on working with urban youth and their families.  To this end, all of our diverse instructors have extensive experience in urban and diverse settings and utilize a trauma-informed focus. A multicultural emphasis is infused into every course throughout the curriculum and addresses issues such as social justice, power and privilege, institutional racism, the intergenerational transmission of trauma, oppression, and empowerment.  In the context of small classes, the program students learn to explore these concepts in their own and others' lives, so that they can offer transformative counseling to clients from a variety of backgrounds.  Faculty in the program take pride in their personal approach, which allows them to work closely in facilitating the emotional and professional growth of every student in the program.  The program also has a strong clinical emphasis with a three-course clinical sequence to assure that all graduates have received an effective, evidence-based, and comprehensive training in clinical skills.

Graduates of the School and Clinical Mental Health Tracks currently qualify to sit for examinations for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) and the Illinois Licensed Professional Counselor upon graduation.  The requirements of these examinations are subject to change.  Completion of the School Track qualifies students for the Illinois Professional Education License (PEL) in School Counseling.  Students with a master's degree in Counseling or a closely related field can apply to the Endorsement in School Counseling Certificate Program.  The program has 42 hours of program prerequisites and 18 hours of additional total course work (totaling 60 hours).  Both the School and Clinical Mental health programs are 60 semester credit hours.

Students in the Counseling Graduate Program can be assured that they will receive excellent training that meets and exceeds the highest CACREP standards in the field.  The program is proud to be part of Chicago State University, a predominantly black institution, where the lives of all of our students matter.