Clinical Mental Health Counseling (EdS)
The education field needs professionals who can meet client concerns from diverse cultural perspectives. The EdS degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares professionals who are knowledgeable about cultural influences on human development.
As of Fall 2023, students who wish to pursue this degree should apply to the M.Ed. in Community Counseling.
Curriculum
Completion of the EdS degree program requires 60 semester hours of graduate study focused in two major areas: (1) counseling core and (2) specialty area. This includes 1,000 clock hours of practicum and internship experience (taken for nine semester hours of credit). Students must also take and pass a written comprehensive examination during their final semester of study. There is no thesis requirement.
For more information about the following items, please refer to the Counseling Student Handbook 2022-2023
Program Length
Full-time students can complete the program in two years, including summers. Part-time study is also available. Students have five years from acceptance to complete the program.
Continuous Enrollments
Specialist students in Clinical Mental Health Counseling are required to maintain the status of continuous enrollment during their program of studies. This means that during each semester of each academic year (excluding Summer Sessions), each student must enroll in at least one course. A formal leave of absence may be granted upon request and the approval of the School of Education’s Assistant Dean of Student Academic Affairs.
Degree Requirements
Undergraduate Prerequisites
Students should present transcript evidence of successful completion ("B" or better) of the course listed below, or its equivalent. Ideally students will have completed this course prior to the start of the program.
- Introductory Statistics course
Coursework
(60 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Counseling Core | ||
| CPSY 420 | Counseling Skills | 3 |
| CPSY 421 | Professional Issues Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 423 | Theory Couns & Psychotherapy | 3 |
| CPSY 424 | Career Devel & Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 425 | Assessment in Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 426 | Group Counseling: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| CPSY 433 | Multicultural Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 454 | Hum Dev: Cog, Aff & Phys Bases | 3 |
| RMTD 400 | Introduction to Research Methodology | 3 |
| Specialty Area | ||
| CPSY 427 | Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 437 | Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 444 | Family Therapy I | 3 |
| CPSY 527 | Prevention, Advocacy, and Outreach: Community-Based | 3 |
| CPSY 528 | Clinical Appraisal and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| CPSY 532 | Adv Theories in Psychotherapy | 3 |
| CPSY 535 | Seminar in Supervision & Consultation | 3 |
| Clinical Experiences | ||
| CPSY 440 | Practicum | 3 |
| CPSY 441 | Internship | 3 |
| Elective | ||
| See program handbook for suggested courses. 1 | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 57 | |
Comprehensive Assessment
Comprehensive proctored examination is required. See program handbook for details. Comprehensive examination deadlines for the Spring Exam is December 1. See School of Education Academic Calendar for comprehensive exam dates.
Licensure
Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for licensing as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Illinois upon graduation. Graduates are then subsequently eligible to apply for licensing as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois after receiving two years of post-degree supervised experience.
The curriculum of the EdS program meets current requirements for licensure in the State of Illinois. Licensure is handled by individual states, and portability of licensure across state lines differs according to each state. The EdS may meet requirements for states whose licensure requires 60 hours.
The Department of Professional Regulation in the State of Illinois has adopted the certification exam developed and administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors. Many states use this exam for licensure purposes, so scores from the exam may be transferred. Coursework, including the number of hours required, differ across states. Students interested in completing licensure or certification in another state are must consult the professional regulation boards of other states to determine the appropriate course work required. Students should also stay apprised of licensure requirements throughout the program.
Practicum Sites
The Chicagoland area provides a wealth of clinical training opportunities for the students in community, school, and clinical mental health counseling programs. Students receive generalist training but through site selection can begin to acquire population-specific competencies in working with children, adolescents, families, gay/lesbian/bisexual clients, and other groups of individuals. Many of the practicum sites also contain APA-approved internship programs where trainees are provided with rigorous supervision and on-site seminars.
To discuss typical practicum settings and sites in Chicago and its suburbs, please contact Rufus Gonzales, Practicum Coordinator, at 312.915.6378
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supercede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the knowledge bases of the counseling professions.
- Capable of applying the knowledge base of their disciplines in an ethical, reflective, and culturally-responsive manner.
- Evaluate research, appreciate the contribution of empirical inquiry to the solution of applied problems, and apply research findings to their practices.
- Knowledgeable of the social-cultural contexts of human development.
- Evaluate the outcomes of their interventions with empirically sound methods
- Participate in continuing professional education and supervision in their future professional lives and who involve themselves in activities of their professional associations.
- Committed to social justice in scientific and practice settings.
Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for licensing as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Illinois upon graduation. Graduates are then subsequently eligible to apply for licensing as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois after receiving two years of post-degree supervised experience.