Counseling Programs Available at Bradley University
Your counseling education will start with Bradley University’s Department of Counseling. This program creates compassionate and competent professional leaders who promote social justice and global community relationships. The department builds a socially just learning community of educators, counselors, administrators, and leaders to advance multicultural competence.
Bradley University offers two main CACREP-accredited Master’s in Counseling programs: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Professional School Counseling. Students must complete 60-61 semester hours of graduate work. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program prepares students for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and gives them a chance to change lives. The Professional School Counseling track helps students inspire and support the next generation while preparing them for state and national licensure exams.
Bradley University’s counseling program is known for its educational approach. The counselor education faculty believes professional counselors should promote their clients’ positive growth and development. This belief shapes course design that combines cognitive and experiential learning to promote personal and professional growth.
The program sees counselors as social science translators who connect with the best in theory and research. These professionals turn this knowledge into effective programs. This view acknowledges how deeply people and human systems affect each other.
Bradley offers both campus-based and online learning options. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs has accredited the program since 1993. The Higher Learning Commission authorized online delivery in 2015. Both methods follow the same academic curriculum and lead to identical degrees and transcripts.
Clinical training and real-life counseling experiences help students develop skills to support individuals, couples, and communities. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling track prepares students to work with various populations facing trauma, substance abuse, and family dynamics. The Professional School Counseling concentration teaches students how to help school-aged children with academic, social, and emotional challenges.
The program uses a comprehensive Screening Process and Retention Policy to assess counseling career suitability and track progress. Students must demonstrate appropriate professional behaviors to continue in the program. This ensures all graduates maintain the profession’s highest standards.
What counseling programs does Bradley University offer?
Bradley University’s counseling program features two CACREP-accredited tracks that lead to rewarding careers in many settings. Students experience hands-on learning while meeting high academic standards.
Students need 60 semester hours of graduate work to earn Bradley’s Master of Arts in Counseling degree. The program needs 51 semester core hours and 9-10 semester hours in your specialty area. Students also complete one practicum and two internships to gain ground experience.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling track will give you the skills to help clients dealing with trauma, substance abuse, and family issues. Once you complete this program, you’ll be ready for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and qualified to work in:
- Community mental health agencies and psychiatric hospitals
- University student counseling centers
- School-based mental health programs
- Private practice and partial hospitalization programs
- Administrative positions in mental health agencies
The Professional School Counseling track prepares counselors specifically for educational settings. You’ll learn to support school-aged children with their academic, social, and emotional challenges. Graduates can work in:
- PreK-12 schools and hospital-based schools
- Juvenile detention centers with schools
- School-based mental health (with additional licensing)
- University student counseling centers (with additional licensing)
Bradley’s programs come in both campus-based and online formats. The Higher Learning Commission approved online delivery of this accredited counseling curriculum in 2015. Online students get the same curriculum as campus students, leading to similar academic degrees and transcripts.
Bradley’s counseling approach combines cognitive and experiential learning through classroom instruction and hands-on internships and supervised practicum. This complete approach helps graduates build both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Online students attend two virtual residencies – one in their first term and another in their eighth term. Students who meet their academic and professional development requirements can take the National Counselor Examination in their final year.
Internships/Practicum at Bradley University
Practical experience is the substance of the Bradley University counseling program through complete internships and practicums. Students in both Clinical Mental Health and Professional School Counseling tracks must complete 750 hours in supervised practicums and internships. This hands-on training will give a graduate both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Students start with a 100-hour practicum that includes at least 40 hours of direct counseling interactions with clients. My experience will include one hour of weekly supervision with my site supervisor, one hour with my university supervisor, and two-and-a-half hours of weekly group supervision during class. The direct service hours must include 10 hours of group counseling to develop skills in a variety of counseling settings.
The internship comes after the practicum and requires 600 clock hours with 240 hours focused on direct service work. Bradley’s counseling approach connects academic learning to field experience and provides realistic opportunities to apply classroom concepts.
Practicums serve as forums to demonstrate mastery of counseling principles, while internships test work task execution. Bradley gives students the flexibility to select internship sites and supervisors (with approval), which helps them line up placements with their professional goals.
Students can choose from these internship settings:
- Addiction treatment centers and drug court programs
- School counseling departments
- Youth centers and group homes
- Human resource offices in corporate settings
The Bradley University counseling program stands out especially when you have to develop both individual and group interaction skills. These experiences are a great way to get feedback on my knowledge, attitudes, and skills with specific client populations. The experience without doubt prepares me to meet licensure requirements, as all but one of these U.S. states require supervised practice hours.
Students must complete prerequisite courses before starting their practicum: Human Development Counseling, Pre-Practicum in Counseling, Theories and Techniques of Counseling, and Principles of Group Counseling. This well-laid-out approach ensures students are ready before they work with clients directly.
What sets Bradley apart?
Bradley University has several distinctive elements that improve the counseling education experience. The university’s curriculum includes neurocounseling—a groundbreaking approach that combines biology and counseling by understanding how counseling strategies directly affect brain function. Bradley’s pioneering counseling approach uses innovative neurocounseling techniques and neuroscientific treatment methods that can revolutionize futures.
Bradley’s counseling program creates an immersive learning environment that stays highly collaborative whatever the delivery method. The program goes beyond static content for online students and promotes a rich culture of support and shared values that pushes me to grow both personally and professionally.
There’s another reason that makes this program special – its faculty composition. Expert clinicians and experienced counselors update course content regularly to give students top-notch education and valuable practical skills. These talented faculty members bring their rich field experience to the classroom.
The program’s flexibility is one of Bradley’s biggest advantages. Working professionals can pursue advanced expertise without relocating through this online counseling program. Students can complete required practicum and internships locally, which removes the need for long-distance travel.
Bradley University’s counseling program graduates are eligible for licensing. Clinical Mental Health Counseling students can take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) in their final year. Professional School Counseling graduates qualify for state and national licensure exams.
This detailed program will give graduates the ability to make a difference in their chosen field. They can help people through mental health challenges or support school-aged children’s academic and emotional development.
Next steps
Are you ready to pursue a counseling program at Bradley University? Start by talking to an Enrollment Advisor at (888) 896-7602. They will help you understand admission requirements and deadlines. This conversation will help you learn about what to expect as a prospective student.
The application process includes several essential steps after you decide to apply:
- Access the online graduate school application
- Upload your business resume and two admissions essays (250-500 words)
- Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended
- Request three letters of recommendation
- Pay the non-refundable $40 application fee
- Complete a virtual interview
Students nearing completion of their Bradley counseling degree can take the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification during their final semester. This early preparation shows your professional readiness.
Research experience can strengthen your application as a first-time applicant. This experience demonstrates your preparation for the scientist-practitioner model in the counseling field.
The admissions team welcomes your questions. You can contact them or schedule an appointment that works best for you. Students outside Illinois should verify Bradley’s authorization to offer online courses in their state.