Master of Science in Clinical Counseling with Advanced Standing

Admission with advanced standing may allow a candidate to complete the Master of Science in Clinical Counseling degree in one-and-a-half years (three semesters), depending on prior preparation. The full-time master’s program in clinical counseling requires 60 credit hours post-bachelor’s, and is usually completed over the course of two years. Advanced standing can be achieved in two ways: 1) as an external applicant who holds an acceptable undergraduate degree from a school either within or outside of the U.S. who has completed the equivalent of the first semester’s required graduate-level courses; or 2) as a currently enrolled undergraduate student at Illinois Institute of Technology who has used electives to take courses within the graduate program. In both cases, the applicant must first meet the criteria for regular admission into the program in order to qualify for advanced standing.

This applies to external applicants who have already taken up to 15 credit hours of graduate-level clinical counseling coursework at another university. Applicants must have already completed a B.S. or B.A. in psychology or a closely related field, or, if an international applicant, hold a relevant professional degree from outside the U.S. from an accepted university. If criteria for admission are met and the applicant wishes to transfer in courses to obtain advanced standing status, each course to be transferred will be evaluated to determine equivalency to one of our CACREP–accredited courses. For a course to be accepted towards advanced standing, the student needs to obtain a grade of "B" or better. Candidates may be asked to provide additional evidence of their previous coursework, including projects and course syllabi, to determine eligibility for advanced standing. Candidates will be notified upon admission of their advanced standing status.

Currently enrolled Illinois Institute of Technology undergraduate students who meet the criteria for regular admission to the master’s program can consider completing their master’s degree more quickly by smart use of their electives. In their junior and senior years, qualified students can take up to 15 credit hours of graduate-level courses in the Clinical Counseling program that will meet their undergraduate elective requirements, but will also count toward their Master of Science Clinical Counseling. For a course to be accepted towards advanced standing, the student needs to obtain a grade of "B" or better.

Interested students should speak to their undergraduate advisers in the fall of their sophomore or junior year and work closely with the head of the division of counseling and rehabilitation science throughout to ensure proper course sequencing.

Clinical Counseling Program

The Clinical Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP) for both clinical rehabilitation and clinical mental health counseling. Students are provided with a comprehensive education in principles of both clinical rehabilitation and clinical mental health counseling, and then  specialize in one of these two areas through their practicum, internship, and research experiences. 

The clinical counseling program is designed to prepare students to function as counselors for persons with a variety of needs, including mental health issues impacting the individual and/or family, and persons with physical or mental disabilities to address psychosocial and vocational adjustment. The program is grounded in a strengths-based philosophy of client empowerment where the counselor’s role is to assist individuals to realize their optimum level of mental health and personal wellness, including vocational adjustment and independent living. This is done through the use of a variety of therapeutic interventions, including individual, group and/or family counseling, diagnosis, case management, and the provision or coordination of evaluation, training, placement, and follow-up services. The demand for rehabilitation and clinical mental health counselors has exceeded the supply in recent years in public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors.

Core graduate coursework provides the basic knowledge and skills necessary to the fields of rehabilitation and mental health counseling. This includes counseling theory, rehabilitation and mental health counseling principles and practices, ethics, individual and group counseling, assessment, diagnosis of mental disorders, evidence-based treatment of mental disorders, job placement, medical and psychosocial aspects of disability, human growth, career development, and research methods. Additionally, this program has a strong emphasis on psychiatric rehabilitation. Concurrently, fieldwork of progressively increasing complexity takes place at a variety of community-based mental health and rehabilitation sites in the Chicago area. 

Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Specialization

The Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (CRC) track is specially designed for students interested in working with persons with disabilities, or who have specific interest in state vocational rehabilitation or private sector rehabilitation. Students in the CRC track will conduct relevant research projects related to the service of persons with disabilities, and will complete their fieldwork experiences in service to the disability community. Practicum and internship experiences include placements in the state VR system, at the VA, private sector rehabilitation facilities, rehabilitation center and hospitals, nonprofit rehabilitation organizations, and other facilities for persons with disabilities.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) track is specially designed for students interested in working with persons with mental health and/or behavioral issues. Students in the CMHC track will conduct relevant research projects related to the service of persons with mental health and/or behavior concerns, and will complete their fieldwork experiences in related settings. Practicum and internship experiences include placements in mental health and counseling centers, private practices, outpatient mental health facilities, mental health and behavioral health hospitals, substance abuse treatment facilities, nonprofit organizations, and other facilities for persons with mental health and/or behavioral concerns. 

For individuals currently working in the rehabilitation and/or mental health counseling field who are interested in pursuing a M.S. in Clinical Counseling at a slower pace, there is an option to take a reduced course load available, which is designed to meet the needs of the working professional. Courses are generally offered in the evening or via distance education, and the required fieldwork experiences (practicum and internship) are typically worked out with the student’s place of employment if it meets fieldwork site requirements. The part-time program takes approximately three years to complete.

This is a two-year, 60 credit hour program.