About the M.S. in Counseling: Virtual Live Classroom
National Louis University’s Master of Science in Counseling: Virtual Live Classroom program is open to students across the United States who are interested in working as a clinical mental health counselor. Combining both the intimacy of an in-person classroom and the flexibility of an online program, our Live-on-Line format combines Real-Time instruction with online coursework. You’ll learn from faculty with real-world clinical expertise and build connections with fellow students through weekly video discussions.
Program Highlights
Flexible Classes
Fit your degree around your busy schedule. The program’s Live Virtual classroom sessions are delivered once per week in the evening (usually 6pm or 8pm EST) to accommodate the lifestyles of working professionals. The live sessions are combined with online coursework to give you ultimate flexibility.
Intimate Learning
Enjoy small class sizes through our Live-On-Line interactive, distance learning format. This allows you to regularly engage with professors and fellow students for a more intimate learning experience.
Diverse Student Body
Engage with diverse student populations at a university known for its long-standing commitment to social justice and diversity. Our most recent class consisted of 50% minority students, 88% female students, and 73% students aged 30 or older.
Hands-On Experience
Apply classroom learning to the field with our 700-hour practicum/internship experience that allows you to gain counseling experience under the guidance of a team of mentors and supervisors. You’ll meet with your supervisors weekly for detailed feedback and support.
NLU's M.S. Counseling: Virtual Live Classroom program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP), the organization that accredits professional counseling programs. See link.
Completion of the master of science in counseling program fulfills the educational requirements to become a licensed mental health counselor in the State of Florida. It also fulfills the educational requirements in other states. Check your state’s requirements and speak with the Department Chair if you wish to practice outside of Florida.
In the state of Florida, licensure by examination requires:
- Master's or doctoral degree and coursework as required by the state in the content area
- Supervised clinical internship, practicum or fieldwork
- Two years of supervised clinical experience in mental health counseling
- Passing score on the national clinical exam
- Completing a board-approved 8-hour continuing laws and rules course
- Completing a 3-hour course on HIV/AIDS from an approved CE center
Laws and rules can be found at https://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/.
Program Faculty:
- Laura M. Schmuldt, Ph.D., LMHA, NCC
- Martin Cortez Wesley, PhD, LMHC, LPCC-S, NCC, LCADC, MAC, DCC
- Tremaine Leslie, PhD, LAC
- Angela Brinton, EdD, LMHC, LMFT, NCC
- Donna Kirkpatrick-Pinson, Ed.D., LCPC (IL), NCC, NCSC, PEL:SC (IL)
What You Will Learn
You’ll be immersed in the study of human behavior and development and gain applicable counseling skills that you can apply to real-world situations. The curriculum requires 60 SH for graduation, including a 600-hour internship and 100-hour practicum. Highlights of what you’ll learn include:
Clinical Skills
Interviewing skills and techniques; Establishing a counseling relationship; DSM IV; Assessment and diagnosis; Personality disorders; Clinical mental health counseling; Program development; Being client advocates.
Human Behavior and Development
Human growth, development and regression; Environmental factors; Communities and multicultural contexts; Normal and abnormal behavior; Human sexual behavior; Sexuality counseling; Societal and cultural influences; Family planning; Sexual disorders and deviancy.
Counseling Theory and Applied Skills
Career counseling; Family therapy; Psychological assessment; psychological instruments; Ethical issues within counseling and assessment; Self-awareness; Substance abuse and treatment; Crisis and trauma intervention.
Research
Methods of social research; Program evaluation and management; Research design; Reporting and analyzing findings.
Mission Statement
The mission of the NLU counseling program is to train highly competent and humane individuals who are interested in working in clinical mental health agencies in urban, suburban, small town, and rural areas. The faculty is committed to providing experiential opportunities for students that link research and theory with hands-on experiences aimed at promoting personal, scholarly, and professional development. The counseling curriculum prepares individuals to become licensed professional counselors. Students will be trained to be diversity-sensitive counselors with expertise for working in an increasingly global society.
In pursuit of this mission, the program has the following goals and outcomes:
Program Goals
The program faculty design the program and individual courses in such a way as to:
PG 1: Provide students with the academic training and professional experiences needed to develop counseling knowledge and skills, including technological competencies as a professional counselor.
PG 2: Provide students with opportunities for self-reflection, and to impress upon students the necessity of continuing education, as well as the need for ongoing personal self-awareness and growth.
PG 3: Instill in students an appreciation for the worth of each individual, a developmental perspective on human growth over the lifespan, and an awareness of the importance of context, culture, and diversity.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
At the completion of the master’s degree in counseling, students will:
- Demonstrate the ability to apply code of ethics and legal standards in the profession.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply the multicultural competencies in diversity, multiculturalism, and advocacy.
- Describe and apply theories of individual and family development across the lifespan.
- Describe and apply theories and models of career development, counseling and decision-making.
- Describe, compare, contrast and apply major counseling skills and approaches to practice.
- Demonstrate the ability to select and utilize assessments for diagnostic and intervention planning purposes.
- Describe, compare, contrast and apply major counseling theories to practice.
- Demonstrate effective group leadership through the application of theoretical foundations and techniques of group counseling, process and development.
- Demonstrate awareness of personal characteristics and behaviors that influence the counseling process and engage in ongoing personal and professional self-evaluation and implications for practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of evidence-based, ethical, and culturally relevant research in advancing the counseling profession.
Professional Conduct
Students are expected to adhere to professional standards outlined by the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics. Additionally, students are expected to demonstrate professional behavior:
- Interpersonal interactions with others
- Appropriate self-awareness and self-evaluation
- Openness to professional feedback and supervision
- Ability to resolve problems effectively and professionally
Students who fail to demonstrate professional behavior may be subject to a variety of university interventions. Outcomes may include advisement, remediation, or dismissal from the program. Students will receive feedback regarding personal, academic and professional strengths, weaknesses, and performance as they progress through the program.
Diversity Statement
The master of science in counseling program is committed to the achievement of excellence and diversity for its students, faculty, and staff. The program is committed to recruiting and educating students who reflect the diversity of the community they serve. Program curriculum is oriented to promoting an understanding and respect for multiple perspectives that are represented in today's world.
Career Outlook
With an M.S. in Counseling, you will be prepared for a number of fast-growing careers. Master’s degree holders often work in schools, private practices, mental health clinics and hospitals. Positions for Mental Health Counselors are projected to grow 25% from 2019-2029,* much faster than the average for all jobs. Numerous other job openings will occur as more individuals are willing to seek help. Numerous other job openings will occur as more individuals are willing to seek help.
Clinical mental health counselors will also see an expanded job market as insurance companies increasingly approve reimbursement to counselors as a less costly alternative to psychiatrists and psychologists.
Just a few of the career options available to you are:
- Academic counselor
- Career counselor
- Marriage and family counselor
- Mental health counselor
- School counselor (in some states)
- Substance abuse counselor
