Albertus Magnus College’s 60-credit Master of Science in Clinical Counseling program is designed to be completed in 3 years, including 2 summer classes after the first year. Classes are offered in the evening so as to facilitate employment during the first 2 years and completion of the internship in the 3rd year. Some classes, particularly in the summer, follow an 8-week, accelerated, modular format. Most classes are fully on-ground, though some are offered in a blended/hybrid format.

The program is designed to lead to eligibility as a Licensed Professional Counselor (L.P.C.) in the State of Connecticut. (In addition to the master’s degree, candidates for licensure must obtain postgraduate supervised work experience and pass an examination.) Most professional positions in behavioral health require or strongly prefer that applicants possess or be eligible for licensure. Note that each state sets its own standards for licensure. Our program is likely to meet the standards set elsewhere, but it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that this is the case and to make up any deficiencies.

We offer two specialty tracks: mental health counseling and addiction counseling. Students apply for admission to one or the other. The mental health counseling track includes advanced coursework on assessment, psychotherapy, and case conceptualization. The addiction counseling track includes specialized coursework on psychopharmacology, addictive behaviors, and addiction counseling. Students completing the addiction counseling track will be eligible to apply for licensure as alcohol and drug counselors (L.A.D.C.) in addition to the L.P.C. Again, this will require appropriate experience and passage of an examination as well as the degree.

Our M.S. in Clinical Counseling has three distinct features:

  • The ability to choose between two specialty tracks—Mental Health Counseling or Addiction Counseling. The Addiction Counseling track is distinctive in that, so far as we are aware, no other counseling program in the State of Connecticut features a complete menu of courses leading to Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) credential.
  • An emphasis on evidence-based practice (also known as empirically supported treatments). This is emphasized throughout the program, and especially by the advanced courses in contemporary modes of psychotherapy (or addiction counseling) as well as assessment, case formulation, and treatment planning.
  • The integrated experiences in the final year of the program: a supervised internship (typical in most counseling programs) is combined with seminars in ethical issues and case formulation as well as the empirical thesis, which typically will involve client assessment and/or treatment effectiveness research conducted at the internship site.

The Curriculum

Year One

Fall Term

PY 528 Life-Span Human Development

PY 530 Theories of Counseling

PY 533 Psychopathology

Summer Term

PY 535 Career Counseling

PY 544 Group Dynamics and Counseling

Spring Term

PY 537 Counseling Techniques

PY 538 Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling

PY 551 Clinical Assessment I: Selecting and Utilizing Appropriate Instruments

Year Two

Fall Term

PY 534 Research Methods and Quantitative Analysis [all students]

PY 553 Clinical Assessment II: Personality Dynamics [mental health track]

PY 554 Advanced Counseling & Psychotherapy I: Cognitive-Behavioral Methods [mental health track]

PY 583 Drugs and Behavior I: Basic Science [addictions track]

PY 584 Drugs and Behavior II: Applications [addictions track]

Spring Term

PY 570 Counseling Practicum [all students]

PY 552 Clinical Assessment III: Cognitive Functioning [mental health track]

PY 555 Advanced Counseling & Psychotherapy II: Affect-Centered Methods [mental health track]

PY 587 Addiction Counseling I: Core Concepts and Competencies [addictions track]

PY 589 Addiction Counseling II: Advanced Techniques [addictions track]

Year Three

Fall Term

PY 579 Counseling Internship I [all students]

PY 545 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Issues Seminar, Part I (1.5 credits) [all students]

PY 597 Thesis Project I (1.5 credits) [all students]

PY 577 Advanced Seminar in Case Conceptualization [mental health track]

PY 588 Clinical Assessment of Substance Use Disorders (1.5 credits) [addictions track]

PY 591 Treatment Planning and Evaluation in Addiction Counseling (1.5 credits) [addictions track]

Spring Term

PY 580 Counseling Internship II [all students]

PY 546 Professional, Ethical & Legal Issues Seminar, Part II (1.5 credits) [all students]

PY 597 Spiritual Issues in Counseling [all students]

PY 598 Thesis Project II (1.5 credits) [all students]

Do you want to make a difference in people’s lives?

Do you want to understand people more deeply?

To be skilled at helping them to make changes and develop into better versions of themselves?

Are you comfortable with close relationships, strong emotions, and self-reflection?

If you answered “yesâ€