Counseling Programs

The faculty in counseling programs at RIC have been preparing mental health counselors in RI for over 10 years. You will enjoy our small classes and on-on-one attention from dedicated faculty members, many of whom are leaders in their field. Students who graduate from one of our counseling programs often go on to become school counselors, work in agency settings serving as advocates for people in their communities, or become licensed mental health counselors in the state of Rhode Island.

Counseling is one of the 30 fastest growing occupations in the country. Employment for mental health and substance use counselors is expected to grow much faster that the average for all occupations through 2016.

M.A. in School Counseling

• Program Description
• Course Requirements
• Certification in school counseling in Rhode Island

MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling

• Program Description
• Licensure in mental health counseling in Rhode Island

C.A.G.S. in Mental Health Counseling

• Program Description
• Course Requirements
• Licensure in mental health counseling in Rhode Island
• The Process of Becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Rhode Island

Admission requirements for all Counseling programs

Graduate applications are available here. Please see the Feinstein School of Education Graduate Programs website for a complete list of application materials. In addition to the materials listed, applicants to the counseling programs in the Counseling, Educational Leadership, and School Psychology Department must have a minimum of 6 credit hours in Psychology or a related field.

Counseling Programs Mission Statement

The Graduate Counseling Programs at Rhode Island College prepare professional counselors to provide assessment, counseling, consultation, and prevention-oriented services to individuals, families, and groups in mental health and PreK – 12 educational settings. As professional Counselor Educators, the faculty members of the Graduate Counseling Programs represent diverse training backgrounds, clinical experiences, theoretical orientations, and research interests. They model and promote evidence-based practice and the value of diversity in its many forms. The Graduate Programs prepare graduates to integrate theory, research, self-awareness, and clinical skills. Candidates graduate with the knowledge and skills to practice competently, and the ability to think critically about the systems and norms within which they work. Candidates graduate prepared to pursue licensure or certification in their respective area of counseling. Finally, graduate candidates are prepared to be reflective practitioners who hold to the highest standards of integrity and ethical practice.

Learning Objectives

1. Candidate acquires an understanding of the professional functioning of counselors (CACREP 1 - PROFESSIONAL ORIENTATION AND ETHICAL PRACTICE)
2. Candidate acquires an understanding of the cultural context of relationships, issues and trends in a multicultural society (CACREP 2- SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY)
3. Candidate acquires an understanding of the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels, and in multicultural contexts (CACREP 3 - HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT)
4. Candidate acquires an understanding of career development and related life factors (CACREP 4 - CAREER DEVELOPMENT)
5. Candidate acquires an understanding of the counseling process in a multicultural society (CACREP 5 - HELPING RELATIONSHIPS)
6. Candidate acquires both theoretical and experiential understandings of group purpose, development, dynamics, theories, methods and skills, and other group approaches in a multicultural society (CACREP 6 - GROUP WORK )
7. Candidate acquires an understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation in a multicultural society (CACREP 7 – ASSESSMENT)
8. Candidate acquires an understanding of research methods, statistical analysis, needs assessment, and program evaluation (CACREP 8 - RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION