Forensic and Correctional Counseling Area of Emphasis

Forensic and Correctional Counseling

Examine the relationship between counseling and correctional settings

Students enrolled in the counseling masters program with an area of emphasis in forensics are trained to work as mental health counselors with individuals, families and systems that interface with the legal and criminal justice arena. Our aim is to prepare clinicians who will be able to assess, treat, consult and apply a full array of counseling services in forensic and correctional settings.

---

Curriculum Overview

The core curriculum for the Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is augmented by coursework specific to forensics and counseling within the criminal justice system.

Time to completion is two years full time or three years part time. The following links are to PDF documents that provide the course sequence. Individual course descriptions are available in our course catalog.

Full-time Course Sequence (2 years)
Part-time Course Sequence (3 years - no summers)
Part-time Course Sequence (3 years - with summers)

---

How Does the Masters in Counseling Differ from a Doctoral Degree in Forensic Psychology?

Our degree is a Counseling degree that qualifies graduates (after following the appropriate post-masters requirements by the state licensing board) to obtain a license as a Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Massachusetts. You may pursue a license as a mental health counselor (LMHC) or professional counselor (LPC) in other states if you comply with their licensing requirements. Our graduates are trained to provide counseling services and to perform basic assessment services (not including psychological testing) for individuals involved with the criminal justice system. On the other hand, Forensic Psychologists have a doctoral degree and are licensed as psychologists or clinical psychologists.

---

Forensic Counseling Program Careers

Our graduates work in settings that utilize the study and practice of forensic and correctional counseling including correctional facilities, juvenile detention centers, substance abuse assessment and treatment facilities, court clinics, secured forensic units, community settings, and child advocacy centers. Additionally, our graduates are prepared to work in general counseling settings. Over the past several years the majority of students in the forensic and correctional counseling area of emphasis secured employment prior to graduation.