Description

The Counselor Education program offers a Master of Arts degree with three possible concentrations: Clinical Mental Health; Marriage, Couples, and Family; and School Counseling. Admission requirements are the same for all three concentrations. The Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling concentrations are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and meet the academic and field experience requirements established by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling (ABEC) for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC). Properly credentialed counselors provide mental health services to individuals, families, and groups to treat mental, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders.

This concentration prepares students to work with clients in mental health agencies, private and group practice, substance abuse rehabilitation facilities, crisis centers, women’s counseling centers, child advocacy and family services facilities, and other domains. Mental health counselors work with clients suffering from emotional or mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, grief, poor self-esteem, and addiction. Students are required to participate in supervised field experiences and counseling internships and are strongly encouraged to become members of and to attend the local, state, and national conferences of relevant professional organizations.