Academic Catalog

Counseling

Mission Statement

The Department of Counseling educates compassionate and competent professional leaders who promote social justice and global community relationships.

Vision Statement

The Department of Counseling creates a socially just learning community of educators, counselors, administrators and leaders who advance multicultural competence.

Admission

Admission to the 60–61-semester-hour Master of Arts in Counseling, Track I: Professional School Counseling and the 60-semester-hour Track II: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, the 36-semester hour Nonprofit Leadership, as well as the Ed.D. Higher Education Administration (HEA) program is based on a thorough review of each applicant’s documents. Requirements include:

  1. An undergraduate last-60-hour grade point average of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale (for unconditional admission). Conditional admission requires an undergraduate overall cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
  2. Completion of the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) within five years prior to admission if Graduate Education GPA evaluation is less than a 3.0.

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts degree is conferred upon students who have completed 36 graduate semester hours in Leadership in Nonprofit Leadership, and, 60–61 graduate semester hours in Counseling. Bradley University’s Counseling program courses are offered via campus-based and online pedagogies. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs has accredited the Counseling program and its pedagogies since 1993. The online delivery offers the equivalent academic curriculum offered to campus-based students. The Higher Learning Commission has accredited the online delivery of Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Professional School Counseling since 2015.

Both campus-based and online students graduating from Bradley University’s Master of Arts in Counseling program who demonstrate successful academic and professional development will be eligible to take the National Counselor Examination during their final year of study. Online counseling students must check the specific requirements for the practice of counseling in the state where they reside or where they intend to practice, as well as any applicable reciprocity rules.

All applicants must complete the prescribed application forms of the College of Education and Health Sciences and Graduate Education. A candidate who may need to furnish standardized scores may contact Educational Testing Service directly at www.ets.org to complete either the Graduate Record Examination or the Miller Analogies Test (GRE or MAT).

The applicant seeking admission to the Counseling program must obtain three letters of reference from educational field employers or college/university professors who can recommend the applicant as having strong potential for success in graduate studies and potential continued service to the education profession.

Students should consult with their faculty advisor for departmental program requirements prior to registering for classes.

Online Programs

Online Students. Students who reside outside of Illinois must check with the department website for credentialing information in either Professional School Counseling or Clinical Mental Health Counseling to learn about specific requirements for professional practice, as well as any applicable reciprocity rules. Variations in requirements may occur either in the student’s state of residence or the state where the student may plan to practice professional counseling relative to their area of specialization.

Bradley University is a SARA-approved institution (SARA=State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements).

State laws governing distance education programs may limit Bradley University’s ability to offer online opportunities to students. If you wish to enroll in one of our online degree programs and reside outside of Illinois, please inquire to determine if Bradley has acquired permission to offer online courses in your state.

Master of Arts Degrees

Certificate Programs

Master of Arts in Counseling

Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

The Master of Arts in Counseling program is designed to prepare students for positions as counselors in a variety of settings. The counselor education and supervision faculty believe that the work of the professional counselor is to promote the positive growth and development of the clients with whom the counselor interacts.

The counseling model for preparing counselors recognizes the profound interactive effect of people and human systems. We believe there is a need for social science translators—people who are in touch with the best in theory and research—who can translate this knowledge into effective programs and who can evaluate these programs. Because we believe that counselors should experience personal growth and development as persons and as professionals, all courses are designed to provide both cognitive and experiential learning.

The program utilizes a Screening Process and Retention Policy to assist in determining the suitability of an individual for a career in counseling as well as monitoring progress through the program. A detailed description of the Screening Process and Retention Policy is available in the Counseling Handbook. Continuance in the program is reviewed when a student fails to demonstrate appropriate professional behaviors, or when other circumstances occur which would make a counseling degree candidate ineligible to be certified or licensed as a professional counselor.

Areas of specialization are offered in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Professional School Counseling. These specialties should be consistent with and support activities in the student’s proposed internship placement. Other areas unique to a student’s interests may be designed in consultation with members of the department.

The program prepares the students for the exam for certification as a National Certified Counselor. It also prepares students who are Illinois residents for Illinois Professional Educator License as a Professional School Counselor. The counseling concentrations are CACREP accredited as Professional School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) has authorized online delivery of these counseling concentrations' academic curricula. In addition, courses of continuing professional education are offered to practicing counselors who wish to increase competencies to meet emerging needs of the profession.