Professional Counselors practice the prevention and treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral disorders and associated stresses that interfere with mental health. The Master of Science in Community and Trauma Counseling Program provides graduates with the knowledge and skills for trauma-informed practice as community mental health counselors across a breadth of settings including agency and institutional settings, professional private practice, and other environments influenced by traumatic events and extreme stress.

The MS in CTC program of studies provides a comprehensive 60-credit CACREP accredited curriculum in a traditional weekday and evening model. This delivery method is a lock-step 20-course curriculum that is designed to be completed by full-time students in two years (seven semesters including an intensive pre-fall in each year of the program and the summer session between years one and two). Either delivery method is designed for working students and can be taken on a half-time basis. Courses are delivered through a hybrid-learning format that combines on-campus classes and online instruction. Graduates from either progression will have met the coursework and practice requirements for state licensure (in Pennsylvania and many other states) and national certification in professional counseling (LPC/NCC).

In addition to the classroom and online learning components of this program, students are required to engage in two clinical fieldwork experiences. In the first year, students will complete a practicum, where they will spend a minimum of 100 hours developing skills and knowledge within a mental health or school setting. Students then progress into the advanced clinical experience, the internship, where they complete a minimum of 600 hours within their community or school placement. Program faculty and staff will help to facilitate student placements in practicum and internship.