Counseling — The Program
It is the mission of the Counseling Program to train individuals in the theory and practice of the profession of counseling such that they become thoughtful and responsive practitioners. The profession of counseling is grounded in the view that counselors facilitate and maximize the development and potential of all persons. Counseling is concerned with the development of appropriate repertoires of adaptive behavior within the environmental context in which the person resides. The counselor respects the ethnic background and diversity of each individual and attempts to promote development congruent with the person’s beliefs, values, and personal background.
The University of Massachusetts Boston Counseling Program prepares its graduates to be professional practitioners in a variety of community settings and institutions: hospitals, schools, rehabilitation agencies, career planning centers, employee assistance programs, clinics, residential treatment facilities, and other mental health agencies. Students choose to focus on a particular area within the counseling profession. Options are:
- Family Therapy
- Mental Health Counseling
- Mental Health Counseling
- Mental Health Counseling, Forensic Services Concentration
- Mental Health Counseling, School Adjustment Concentration
- Rehabilitation Counseling
- School Counseling
The curriculum includes courses and field-based experiences critical to professional development. Field-based practica and internships are supervised onsite by professionals who meet specific licensure qualifications.
Full-time students can complete the degree in four semesters and two summer sessions (two full years). Part-time students may progress at their own pace but must complete the degree in six years.
In order to accommodate students with full-time jobs, courses meet once a week and are offered in the late afternoon and evening.
Several courses are available online as well as onsite. These include COUNSL 601, COUNSL 602, COUNSL 604, COUNSL 605, COUNSL 606, COUNSL 608, COUNSL 613, COUNSL 615, COUNSL 620, COUNSL 622, COUNSL 626, COUNSL 630, COUNSL 653, COUNSL 670, COUNSL 672, COUNSL 688M, COUNSL 688S, COUNSL 698M, and COUNSL 698S.