Clinical Counseling Master's Degree

Our master's degree in clinical counseling combines coursework in traditional counseling with opportunities for advanced training in evidence-supported holistic and systems perspectives and clinical rehabilitation counseling. You may take up to 12 credits before choosing a specialization in clinical rehabilitation counseling or holistic clinical mental health counseling. 

You will learn to provide services to a diverse group of individuals with varying levels of support needs - working with clients across the lifespan to address life and relationship transitions, severe and persistent mental health issues, cultural and systemic marginalization and oppression, substance abuse and other disabilities or chronic illnesses.

See course requirements and degree plan.

The specialization in clinical rehabilitation counseling prepares you to perform vital roles for clients with mental health issues and co-occurring disabilities. We draw on fields such as counseling, psychology, medicine, psychiatry, sociology, social work, education and law to prepare clinically skilled, knowledgeable and committed rehabilitation counseling professionals. Our program emphasizes the successful functioning of the whole person within a variety of systems, not just a person dealing with a diagnosis or disability.

You will develop the ability to serve people with a wide array of disability-related and/or mental health problems impacting the individual, the family and society. In this program, you will receive training and work in a variety of clinical settings to develop competencies and cultural humility to better understand the influences of factors such as culture and bias.

By completing this 60-credit program specializing in clinical rehabilitation, you become eligible for licensure as mental health counselors in the state of Rhode Island and other states. You must look at individual state licensure laws for the most current qualifications. With the appropriate supervision, you can also apply to become Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.

Classes for this specialization are fully online in a synchronous format.

See course requirements and degree plan.

The specialization in holistic clinical mental health counseling prepares students to understand clients from a body/mind/spirit and systems perspective.

Our program is drawn from wisdom in many fields, including counseling, psychology, neuroscience, holistic foundations, multicultural and anti-oppressive studies, and transformative and constructivist theory. The specialization creates a foundational perspective to mental health, focusing on self-awareness around issues of intersectionality, privilege and oppression, with the purpose of helping students understand their impact on clients and the larger system.

You will receive training and work in a variety of clinical settings, incrementally increasing your ability to serve individuals and groups. Through training, you will better understand clients from a developmental perspective and consider multicultural factors such as ethnicity, race, religion, gender, disability, size, socioeconomic status, and sexual and affectional orientation.

By completing this 60-credit program specializing in holistic clinical mental health counseling, you become eligible for licensure as a mental health counselor in the state of Rhode Island and other states. You must look at individual state licensure laws for the most current qualification requirements.

Classes for this specialization are offered in a hybrid format, or held in-person on our Newport, Rhode Island campus.

See course requirements and degree plan.