Counseling Programs at DePaul University

DePaul University’s Counseling Program ranks as one of the largest in Illinois. The program offers a CACREP-accredited educational experience while maintaining high academic and professional standards. Students learn theoretical frameworks and gain competencies that help them provide counseling services in different settings.

The Department of Counseling and Special Education (CSE) runs the program. CSE prepares professionals to become socially responsible leaders who support those without a strong voice. This mission lines up with DePaul’s Vincentian values – a person-centered, integrated approach that combines values, diversity, and respect.

DePaul’s masters in counseling program features three specialty areas:

• Clinical Mental Health Counseling (90 credit hours)
• School Counseling (72 credit hours)
• College Counseling and Student Affairs (72 credit hours)

Each specialty area meets Illinois state requirements for licensure and national standards for professional practice. Students must complete a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship to gain clinical experience.

This school’s masters programs stand out because of their hands-on learning approach. Students start applying their knowledge and skills before graduation through extensive fieldwork opportunities. The Education & Counseling Center (ECC) serves as a learning laboratory where students help diverse populations in the Chicago area.

DePaul’s Counseling program achieved a significant milestone as the first in Illinois and 24th in the United States to join Education Trust’s National Center for Transforming School Counseling. This partnership shows the program’s steadfast dedication to excellence and state-of-the-art counselor education.

The program’s success speaks through its outcomes. About 91% of Counseling graduates found employment, continued their education, or pursued other goals within six months of graduation. Graduates join DePaul’s community of more than 195,500 alumni, with 122,500 in the Chicago area.

Leadership, advocacy, and social justice form the foundation of all specialty areas. Graduates become change agents in their professional roles and help children and adults improve their learning and life experiences.

Research-minded students can complete a thesis as part of their MA degree in Counseling. This experience benefits those who plan to pursue doctoral programs or research-oriented careers.

What counseling programs does DePaul University offer?

DePaul’s graduate counseling program features three specialty areas. Each area targets a specific career path.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling helps practitioners work in community mental health centers, hospitals, correctional facilities, foster care agencies, and private practices. Students need to complete 90 quarter hours over approximately three years. The program’s coursework aligns with Illinois requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) credentials. Students learn to help clients overcome personal, familial, and social concerns that prevent them from meeting their life goals.

The School Counseling specialty guides students toward professional school counselor licensure through the Illinois State Board of Education. This 72-credit hour program gives you a strong background in informed counseling practices for public and private K-12 school systems. You can pursue an initial teaching license with a School Counselor endorsement. Licensed teachers can add the School Counselor endorsement to their Professional Educator License.

The College Counseling and Student Affairs program requires 72 credit hours and prepares graduates to take on counseling roles in higher education settings.

These specialty areas share common elements:

• Mandatory 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship experiences
• CACREP accreditation ensuring highest academic standards
• Focus on leadership, advocacy, and social justice
• Evening and Saturday classes offered in various formats (in-person, hybrid, asynchronous, and synchronous)

Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling students must pay a one-time fee of approximately $220 for Tevera. This online platform helps students complete evaluations and log hours for practicum and internship classes.

Students typically complete their coursework and practicum during the first two years. Specialty coursework and field practice follow in subsequent terms. The programs meet Illinois licensure requirements and often satisfy requirements in other states. Students should verify specific state requirements for eligibility.

Research-oriented students can complete a master’s thesis. The MA track requires enrollment in CSL 559 and an oral defense.

Internships/Practicum at DePaul

DePaul’s counseling program has professional practice experiences as its foundation. Students can apply their classroom knowledge through ground application. The program includes three sequential courses: Practicum in Counseling, Internship in Counseling I, and Internship in Counseling II.

Students must complete 100 clock hours with 40 hours of direct client service in practicum. Each internship course requires 300 clock hours and 120 hours of direct service. The program’s 700 hours of supervised clinical experience is nowhere near the state’s licensure requirements.

DePaul’s own facilities give clinical mental health students specialized placement opportunities. The University Counseling and Psychological Services (UCAPS) trains students extensively in time-limited individual and group psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and integrated assessment. DePaul Family and Community Services welcomes third-year students who want to work with children, adolescents, and families.

The program’s strong supervision includes:

• Site supervisors provide one hour of weekly individual supervision
• DePaul faculty offers one hour of weekly triadic supervision
• Students attend mandatory Wednesday evening classes for group supervision

Students must attend a mandatory orientation about a year before starting their professional practice. The Experiential Learning Cloud (ELC) platform helps students complete site applications and documentation. Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling students need to pay approximately $220 for Tevera—a platform that tracks hours and evaluations.

Students develop cognitive problem-solving, interpersonal communication, affective understanding, personal awareness, and organizational skills during these experiences. Theory and practice come together in actual counseling settings as students shape their professional identity as counselors.

UCAPS positions are highly competitive and applications usually open in January for the next academic year.

What sets DePaul University apart?

DePaul University’s counseling program stands out with its state-of-the-art Education and Counseling Center. Students get real-world experience by applying their theoretical knowledge in this unique training facility. This practical approach has made DePaul one of the best programs in the Chicago region.

The program’s excellence shows in its students’ achievements. Counseling students regularly perform better than their national peers on the National Counselor Examination. The spring 2020 results were remarkable – School Counseling students achieved a 100% pass rate on the NCE, while Clinical Mental Health hit 83% and College Counseling reached 75%.

The success continues after graduation. The class of 2019 showed strong results – 77% found jobs within six months and 10% pursued further education.

The masters in counseling program focuses on social justice and multiculturalism. It shapes culturally competent practitioners who support diverse communities. These professionals work with LGBTQ clients, people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, and economically disadvantaged groups.

Strategic collaborations with Chicago Survivors, Cara Collective, and Chicago Public Schools create valuable service-learning opportunities. Students put their classroom knowledge to work while helping under-resourced communities through these partnerships.

The DePaul masters programs stay true to core Vincentian values of justice, service, and leadership. This person-centered, comprehensive approach combines values, diversity, and respect. Graduates become change agents in their professional roles.

Next steps

DePaul University’s counseling program welcomes new applications. The program accepts students only for fall quarters. Prospective students should note the priority deadline of February 15 and final deadline of June 15.

Application requirements include:

• Graduate admission application with $40 application fee
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
• Resume
• Three recommendation letters (from professors or work supervisors)
• Personal statement (1,500 words maximum) that addresses five specific questions

The program schedules in-person interviews in March after application submission. Students who cannot attend physically can opt for Zoom interviews.

Admitted students in Clinical Mental Health or School Counseling programs need a Tevera student account. This account costs approximately $220 and helps manage evaluations and track hours for practicum and internship classes.

Students must apply for degree conferral through Campus Connection. This application indicates their plan to complete degree requirements by the term’s end. DePaul awards degrees after each academic term but holds one annual commencement ceremony in June.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduates meet Illinois’s educational requirements to become Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors.