Department of Psychology

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Department Chairperson: Alesia Richardson, PhD

Email: arichard@csu.edu

Phone: 773.995.2127

Location: HWH 328

Department Overview

The Department of Psychology and Counseling offers a Bachelor of Arts degree for students interested in the scientific study of human cognition and behavior. Our undergraduate program offers students a broad training in the science of psychology. With Core courses in development, research, abnormal, cognitive, physiology, statistics, and writing. Our students complete the Bachelor of Arts degree well versed in understanding human behavior and cognition and able to think critically about the complex issues of diversity and human functioning.

The Counseling Graduate Program in the Department of Psychology and Counseling 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.

More information about the program can be obtained in the Chicago State University Master of Arts in Counseling Student Handbook.

Mission

Our mission is to provide access to higher education for students of diverse backgrounds and educational needs. The Psychology and Counseling department seeks to recruit, retain and educate students from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, faculty are committed to using scientific methods to serve urban populations.

Admission Requirements for Counseling Masters of Arts

• Priority consideration requires the submission of an application, official transcript(s), and two reference forms (one from either a college instructor or supervisor at work) to CSU Office of Graduate Studies by March 1 for the fall semester. Applications continue to be accepted until the posted deadline for the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (currently July 15). Applications received after this date are considered for the following Spring semester.
• Completion of six credit hours of prerequisite courses, which must include three credit hours in developmental psychology and psychological statistics (with a grade of B or better in at least one). A student may be granted conditional admission until the prerequisites are met.
• A minimum GPA of 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) for the final 60 hours of undergraduate work. Applicants whose grade point average is above 2.75 and but has other deficiencies may qualify for conditional admission.
• Successful completion of a written essay and personal interview with faculty for the purpose of assessing oral communication, writing, interpersonal skills, and the applicant’s potential for the counseling field.
• Applicants for the School Counseling Track or the Endorsement in School Counseling Certificate Program must have a valid Professional Educator License (PEL) or they must take the course ED 5820 (Educational Fundamentals in School Counseling) as a program prerequisite. Students who do not have a valid Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) may be admitted conditionally pending successful completion of the education course within the first year. (Please see http://www.isbe.net/licensure/html/testing.htm for the current licensure requirements).
• Due to limited class size, not all qualified applicants may be accepted.

Degree and Program Requirements

• Completion of all required and elective courses at the graduate level, accumulating at least 60 credit hours for the School Track or 60 credit hours for the Clinical Mental Health Track, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
• Students must successfully pass Comprehensive Examinations (Part 1-Objective and Part 2-Essay).
• Acceptance into candidacy before completing clinical courses.
• Completion of all clinical courses (COUN 5790, COUN 5950, COUN 5990 or COUN 5991) with a grade of B or better. Students must successfully complete a Practicum (Field Experience) of 100 clock hours and an internship of 600 clock hours (school) or 900 clock hours (clinical mental health).
• Students in the School Counseling Program must pass the Illinois School Counselor Content-Area Test prior to internship. All degree requirements must be completed within six years

Endorsement in School Counseling

Important note about admission to the endorsement program:

Given the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) requirements for faculty-student ratios, only a limited number of students can be admitted to this program. Priority will be given to graduates from the Chicago State University Counseling Program who are seeking an endorsement in school counseling. All students interested in applying for this program must have a Master’s in counseling or a closely related field.

Summary Description of Program: The purpose of this certificate program, an 18-credit-hour graduate sequence (with 42 hours of prerequisites), is to provide a Professional Educator License with an endorsement in School Counseling for students with a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related field. Some students entering the program will already have a master’s in School Counseling and others may have a master’s in Community Counseling or a related degree. Applicants for the program must have a valid Illinois Professional Educator License, or they must take the course ED 5820 Educational Fundamentals in School Counseling as a program prerequisite within the first year of the endorsement program. Students who do not have a valid Illinois Professional Educator License may be admitted conditionally, pending successful completion of the education course within the first year. The program prerequisites and requirements will meet all the criteria necessary for endorsement in School Counseling. The program emphasizes the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) School Counseling Model, strong clinical training, and applied field practice as a school counselor in an elementary and high school setting.

The certificate must be completed in three years.

Requirements:

Other Requirements

• Proof of passing the Illinois Content Area Exam for School Counselors prior to enrollment in COUN 5990 Internship In School Counseling
• The certificate must be completed in three years.

Licensure Requirements and Information:

NCE/NCMHCE INFORMATION

A significant benefit of attending a CACREP accredited program provides you with the unique opportunity to begin the application process for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) while you are still in school. Well-advanced students can get a jump-start on earning national certification early in your professional career. Another benefit this provides is that you can choose to take either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) to fulfill the examination requirement for the NCC before you graduate from the graduate counseling program.

LPC/LCPC

• Illinois State Licensure  (LPC and LCPC) (State Applications processed through Illinois Board of Professional Regulations)
• Licensed Professional Counselor  (LPC)
• National Counseling Exam (NCE)
• No experience required 
• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor  (LCPC)
  • National Counseling Exam (NCE)
  • National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) 
  • 1680 hours of work per year x2 = 3360 hours
  • 960 hours of face-to-face counseling x 2= 1920
  • Work can be FT/PT, volunteer and can be accumulated over several years as long as it is done in no less than 2 years.
  • Supervised by a qualified supervisor (LCPC, LCSW, Licensed Psychologist or Psychiatrist - cannot be a LMFT)

***If you intend to be licensed in another state, please check for their licensure rules and regulations

***This is based on the opinion of the Department of Psychology and Counseling faculty.  It is not intended to substitute for a thorough review of Illinois current licensure law and rules.  The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and the Counselor Licensure Board have the final authority for licensure.

Programs

• Counseling, M.A.

• Alcohol and Other Drugs of Addiction Counselor Training Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

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