Master of Science in Counseling

at National Louis University - Illinois Campus USA

National Louis University's Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Sciences (ABS) is a degree completion program designed for busy working adults who want to complete their undergraduate degree for professional advancement or personal accomplishment. Our courses equip you with the tools to effectively work with, and lead, groups of people. This interdisciplinary program combines psychology, sociology, communications and cultural and organizational studies to provide a framework for understanding human behavior, motivation and leadership. The program requires a minimum of 90 quarter hours of previous college credit for acceptance.

Program Highlights

Flexible Schedule

• Choose between fully online and campus-based class formats, including weekend and evening class options. Fit your degree around your busy schedule.

Learning Community

• Engage with your peers as you stay with the same cohort of fellow students throughout the entire program. Build connections through frequent roundtable discussions that will last beyond graduation.

Customized Degree

• Shape your degree to match your career interests and goals. Two independent study projects throughout the program allow you to explore topics interesting to you through self-guided research. You can further enhance your ABS degree with a minor or concentration, such as our new Entrepreneurship concentration.

Career Readiness

• Advance in your current position or transition to a new career with our flexible ABS degree. Human Resources, Social Work, Psychology and Non-Profit Management are just a few of the job fields you’ll be prepared for.

National Louis University's Master of Arts in Psychology at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology will introduce you to the advanced study of human behavior and prepare you for diverse career options in counseling, business and education, as well as further graduate study. The degree can be completed online or on-campus in 18 months.

Program coursework includes the opportunity to choose concentrations in General Psychology, Community Psychology, Psychological Assessment, or Teaching of Psychology.

Program Highlights

Flexible Classes

• Choose between fully online or blended (online courses with in-person meetings) formats. Fit your degree around your busy schedule.

Career Preparation

• Jumpstart your career with career planning services woven throughout the program. We’ll help you hone your interests and connect you to the right career path.

Renowned Faculty

• Learn from faculty who are not only skilled educators and respected scholars, but bring years of real-world experience to the classroom. Classes are designed according to the most current research and best practices in the field.

Customized Path

• Select one of four different concentrations and shape your degree to match your career interests and goals. You can also choose to enroll in a stand-alone Psychology certificate program that does not require enrollment in the Master’s program.

Our four-year Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration program is perfect for students with solutions-driven minds and the desire to contribute to small- and medium-sized businesses. We’ll provide you with the necessary tools to solve challenging business problems, build your confidence as an entrepreneur so you can start your own business, and give you the skill set to thrive within a variety of business-related roles.

Program Highlights

Flexible Classes

• Choose from both online and campus-based class formats, as well as weekday, evening, and weekend options, allowing you to customize your degree to your schedule and preferences.

Experienced Faculty

• Learn from faculty who are thought leaders in the industry and bring years of experience in the business world to the classroom. Their hands-on teaching practices ensure you’ll become a well-rounded business professional.

Career Preparation

• Gain real-world business experience through a required internship during your senior year, which will give you a leg up in the job market. Use our new Start-Up Incubator to grow your ideas into viable businesses under the guidance of faculty.

Practical Curriculum

• Acquire the tools necessary to solve challenging business problems through our curriculum that emphasizes hands-on learning. Apply business theories and concepts to case studies and real-world situations.

Customizable Experience

• Select from a variety of different concentrations and minors to enhance your marketability, including our new Entrepreneurship Minor, which allows you to explore the unique strategies and challenges inherent in starting your own business.

Kendall College’s Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management prepares you to excel in the business and craft of managing restaurants, resorts, hotels and events. Your training will cover all aspects of culinary and hospitality management and prepare you to lead in this fast-paced industry. Located in Chicago, a world-class culinary and tourist destination, you’ll enjoy hands-on learning experiences, the guidance of industry experts and premier work opportunities.

After completing core coursework in hospitality, you’ll specialize in one of the following concentrations:

• Hotel & Lodging Management
• Event Planning
• Food & Beverage Management
• Tourism

Like the industry itself, Kendall boasts a diverse international population. About 35% of this program’s students are international. And you have the opportunity to study abroad at a variety of resorts and restaurants here and across the globe.

Program Highlights

Internship Experience

• Go beyond the classroom with two internship opportunities built into the program, totaling over 500 hours of work experience. Work at a local business under the guidance of industry mentors and faculty and gain real-world skills and knowledge to apply to your future career.

Customizable Degree

• Shape your degree to match your career interests and goals with four different concentrations and a variety of electives to mix and match. Enhance your degree by adding a minor or a second concentration, such as our new Entrepreneurship Concentration.

Professional Development

• Prepare yourself for the job market by taking advantage of career workshops, internships and guest speakers, as well as a culminating Senior Integrative Project, wherein you collaborate with students from across the college on a complex project within multidisciplinary teams.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

• Apply your classroom knowledge to real-world situations by hosting and serving multi-course meals in Kendal College’s fine dining restaurant, the Dining Room. Event Management students will plan baquets, business meetings and parties on campus, and students will also get to organize events and serve guests in our elegant Wine Room.

A Complete Education

• Gain comprehensive skills and knowledge that will serve you no matter which career you pursue after graduation. Receive training in financial management, marketing, leadership, technology, communication and more.

The Master of Science in Counseling degree program at National Louis University prepares you to work as a counselor in a variety of settings, including schools, private practices and mental health clinics. You’ll delve into the study of human behavior and development, acquire professional counseling skills and engage with scholarly research. The program fulfills the educational requirements necessary to sit for both the National Board for Certified Counselors exam to become a Nationally Certified Counselor and the State of Illinois’ exam to become a Licensed Professional Counselor.

You’ll be able to customize your degree by choosing a concentration in Addictions, School or Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Our Illinois program is CACREP accredited and campus-based.

Program Highlights

Professional Licensure

• Become a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCP), a Licensed Professional Counselor (LCP) or a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), as the program fulfills the educational requirements to sit for all of these exams. For those wishing to become a licensed school counselor in Illinois, the program also prepares you to receive your Professional Educator License (PEL).

Hands-On Experience

• Apply your classroom knowledge to the field with a 600-hour internship that allows you to gain counseling experience under the supervision of a qualified mentor. You’ll receive weekly feedback from your supervisor and be able to hone your counseling skills before you graduate.

Customized Degree

• Choose between concentrations in Addictions, School Counseling, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, as well as different licensure options. Shape your degree to match your career interests and goals.

Expert Faculty

• Learn from faculty who bring years of real-world counseling experience to the classroom and who are also active researchers in the field. You’ll be learning the most current theories and best practices so you can meet the needs of today’s employers.

Our Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education degree program prepares you to work with children from birth through grade 2. In this program, you will do coursework aligned to meet the new Illinois Professional Teaching Standards (IL-PTS). Upon successful completion of all required coursework, you will earn a Professional Educator License (PEL) endorsed for early childhood and self-contained general education (birth to 2nd grade).

Program Highlights

In-Demand Credentials

• Not only will you achieve your Professional Educator License on the way to your degree, but you’ll also have the option to obtain Special Education and ELL endorsements, highly sought-after credentials in the job market.

Hands-On Experience

• Build your knowledge and expertise with two consecutive terms of student teaching in a primary school setting (grades K-2) under the guidance of an experienced teacher, totaling over 680 hours of field experience.

A History of Excellence

• Join a program with 130 years of experience preparing teachers to make a difference and that has graduated more Golden Apple Award winners than any other school in Illinois.

Flexible Class Schedule

• Choose from online, campus-based, and blended class formats that allow you to structure your degree around the demands of your everyday life.

Expert Faculty

• Learn from real-world practitioners who currently work as teachers, administrators, and leaders in early childhood education. They come to the classroom with a wealth of knowledge, contacts, and resources to shape the next generation of teachers.

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Design Thinking and Entrepreneurship graduate program prepares you to create your own entrepreneurial business opportunities or innovate from within an organization as a corporate entrepreneur. Focusing on women’s entrepreneurship, you’ll learn human-centered approaches to innovation that will encourage you to develop a deep understanding of users, think broadly about problems, and recognize the value in the contributions of others. You’ll cultivate your own unique leadership style and learn how to overcome barriers facing women entrepreneurs today, such as earning funding from investors. Additionally, you’ll grow your business network in Chicago, a city with the highest concentration of women-owned startups and women-focused investors in the country.

• Do you want to develop a deep understanding of users, think broadly about problems, and recognize the value in the contributions of others?
• Do you want to learn design thinking and business acumen to hone creative thinking, problem-solving, and analytical thinking skills and build a viable opportunity for today's emerging markets?
• Do you want to learn more about the opportunities and challenges facing women entrepreneurs and how to overcome these common barriers?
• Do you value one-on-one guidance from a business mentor and opportunities to grow your business network and relationships with funders?
• Are you looking for a flexible degree program schedule in an executive format, meeting one Saturday a month?

National Louis University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education is for students who would like to earn their elementary education degree in order to attain an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) endorsed for self-contained general education (grades 1-6).

• Choose our Teaching Degree in Elementary Education if you:
• Want to teach 1st through 6th grade
• Are looking for a well-established and highly regarded program
• Would like to study with a group of students who will work together and support one another throughout the program
• Need flexible learning options

NLU has a long-standing reputation for its education and teacher training programs, and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Since 1886, we’ve trained thousands of educators and continue to graduate the majority of winners honored by Illinois’ two Golden Apple Foundations with one of the most prestigious teaching and leadership honors in the state. Our instructors bring both academic skills and practical experience to the classroom, offering the best in elementary education. As a result, we're well known for preparing educators who can meet the demands of today’s diverse classrooms and become leaders in the education profession.

Our Bachelor of Arts in Human Services degree program prepares you to support the needs of individuals, families, and communities. You’ll develop the capacity to understand and assess the functioning of individuals and the dynamics of families, groups, and communities and train to be a successful employee in organizations that provide support, service, and other general human services related activities for individuals, families, and communities in need. The B.A. in Human Services offers an array of internship experiences that will give you a taste of working in the field, and the B.A. in Human Services/Psychology combines human services coursework with classes in behavioral sciences to give you a stronger understanding of human behavior and motivation. This degree prepares you for entry-level positions at social service agencies, community health centers, health clinics, and more.

Program Highlights

Real-World Internship Experience

• Explore what it’s like to work in the human services field with over 300 hours of internship experience built into your coursework, allowing you to hone your career interests and gain work expeirience in a professional setting.

Expert Faculty

• Learn from professors who have real-world experience in the human services field and bring their hands-on teaching practices to the classroom.

Customizable Degree

• Enhance your degree with a variety of concentrations and minors, including our Entrepreneurship Concentration, which will give you the knowledge and skills you need to start your own business or organization after you graduate.

Flexible Classes

• Choose from online, campus-based, and blended class formats, including evening class options, which allow you to fit your degree around your busy schedule.

National Louis University’s Bachelor of Arts in Infant-Toddler Studies program is designed for students who want a well-rounded knowledge base and skill set for working as leaders in the field of infant and toddler care and education, but who do not wish to be licensed teachers.

Coursework includes advanced topics such as trauma-informed practice, ECE mental health and specialized focus on infant/toddler early brain development and responsive caregiving. All courses lead to the ECE and Infant/Toddler Gateways Credentials, with additional options to obtain the Illinois Director Level II and the Illinois Early Intervention/Developmental Therapy (EI/DT) Credentials.

Choose Our Infant-Toddler Studies Bachelor's Degree if You:

• Want to work in child care, infant/toddler care, early childhood social service or other settings that do not require state licensure.
• Want to obtain up to three statewide, widely-recognized Gateways to Professional Opportunity credentials, including the ECE Level5, Infant Toddler Care Level 5 and the Family Child Care Level 5, and/or the Illinois Director Credential Level II.
• Are looking for a well-established and highly regarded program with a history of preparing excellent education professionals.
• Would like to study with a group of students who will work together and support one another throughout the program.

National Louis has a 130-year-old reputation for its teacher training programs, and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). In addition, this program is aligned with the standards determined by the State of Illinois’ Professional Development System, the Gateways to Opportunity Credentialing system, which is, in effect, aligned with National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards, to foster the ongoing professional development of teachers.