Community Counseling

Program Purpose

The Master of Science degree program in Community Counseling (MSCC) is designed to prepare students to be practicing counselors in a variety of community counseling and mental health settings. The MSCC program emphasizes the role of helping relationships and the development of counseling skills throughout the curriculum. Two field experiences (practicum [100 hours] and internship [600 hours]) are required. Students are qualified to sit for the National Counseling Exam (NCE) administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) which awards National Certified Counselor (NCC) status to those students who pass the NCE and successfully complete the MSCC program. Following 3200 hours of post-master’s supervised experience by a licensed professional, individuals who have NCC status may apply for state licensure to become a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH) in the state of Delaware.

MSCC Mission Statement

The Mission for the Masters of Science Program in Community Counseling (MSCC) is to provide quality graduate education as a foundation to prepare students for professional counseling practice spanning a broad range of mental health issues and culturally diverse populations.  Consistent with the Mission Statement of Wilmington University, MSCC faculty strive to cherish the dignity of each person, value honesty and integrity in relationships, and foster an atmosphere of intellectual freedom, openness and creativity.

Program hallmarks for counselor academic and personal preparation include:

  • The teaching of scholarly-based curricular knowledge related to counseling techniques, theories, skills and research;
  • The promotion of proficiency in oral and written communication, as well as critical thinking and reflective judgment skills; and
  • Subscription to the highest standards of ethical practice and respect for clients from multi-culturally diverse backgrounds and settings.

The MSCC program, comprised of a two-year academic course sequence followed by a one-year Practicum/Internship field placement, is structured to fulfill the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards.  As such, after successful completion of the two-year academic coursework, students are prepared and permitted to sit for the National Counselor Examination (NCE).  The MSCC Program and the NCE thus serve as foundational requirements in the student's pursuit of application (pending post-master's supervised counseling experience) to become a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH).

Program Design: A Road Map to Professional Competency

The MSCC Program is designed to be completed in three years.  Following applicant screening and review, the newly-accepted student is enrolled in the first 12 credits of our program, where he/she takes the foundational courses to become a professional counselor.  Upon completion of these first four courses, the student is then eligible to become a fully accepted Candidate, and meets regularly with his/her Academic Advisor to ensure successful completion of the MSCC program’s Academic, Interpersonal, and Ethical requirements.  Successful MSCC Candidates usually complete their Academic courses during their first two years in the program, and then enter into a one-year period of Practicum and Internship service in a local community counseling agency.  The Wilmington University MSCC program enjoys relationships with a wide variety of agencies, ensuring that our Candidates are able to obtain the educational experiences they need to pursue any counseling area of particular interest.  At the end of the Practicum and Internship year our students are able to sit for Board Certification with the National Board of Certified Counselors, the first step toward obtaining licensure as a Professional Counselor.

Community Counseling Program Competencies

    Communication Skills

  1. Demonstrate advanced oral and written communication skills.

    2. Technological Skills

  2. Demonstrate a familiarity with the use of technology in the delivery of counseling services.

    3. Knowledge

  3. Demonstrate knowledge of research, theory, and application of lifespan human development with an emphasis on diversity.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of normal and abnormal behavior in the context of application to diagnosis and treatment planning.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of the history, philosophy, theory, and professional activities of the counseling profession.
  6. Demonstrate knowledge of theories, skills, and techniques related to individual, group, family, and career counseling in a multicultural society.
  7. Demonstrate an understanding of testing, measurement, research tools, and technology as applied to counseling.

    8. Personal and Professional Identity

  8. Demonstrate an understanding and application of the ethical and legal principles of the profession of counseling.
  9. Demonstrate professional and personal growth consistent with the standards of the counseling profession.

This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2008-2009 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2008 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.