Counseling Programs at Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has been a private research university since 1964, offering quality education at undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. The main campus in Florida gives students more than just a degree – they get an edge in their careers and life.
The university has 15 colleges with modern facilities. These include the 215,000-square-foot Center for Collaborative Research, the private JK-12 grade University School, the prominent NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, and the Alvin Sherman Library. Students can study at multiple Florida locations (Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Miramar, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Tampa), in San Juan, Puerto Rico, or through online programs worldwide.
NSU’s influence reaches globally with almost 200,000 alumni. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recognizes NSU for its high research activity. NSU is one of just 59 universities nationwide with Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification. It also leads as the largest private Hispanic-serving Institution in the United States, according to U.S. Department of Education criteria.
NSU’s Department of Counseling started its journey in 1974. The program’s graduates have become community leaders throughout Florida and beyond over the past five decades. Students can choose from five career-focused concentrations taught by expert faculty who are leaders in their fields.
The timing couldn’t be better for NSU’s counseling programs. The field needs trained counselors now more than ever. Florida’s growth rate for counseling occupations is expected to reach 22.7%, which is a big deal as it means that the national average of 8.5%. The Southeast region projects 20.3% growth, and Florida expects 2,910 counseling job openings yearly.
Students must complete 48-60 credits to earn their Master’s in Counseling, depending on their concentration and previous studies. The program’s prestigious accreditations include:
- An 8-year accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration
- The School Counseling concentration’s accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and national recognition through the American School Counselor Association
These accreditations show NSU’s steadfast dedication to quality education that prepares students for success in this faster-growing field.
What counseling programs does Nova Southeastern University offer?
Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology’s Department of Counseling offers a Master of Science in Counseling degree. Students can choose from three specialized concentrations that lead to specific career paths in counseling.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration is CACREP-accredited and needs 60 credit hours. Graduates can work in social agencies, mental health clinics, hospitals, or corporate HR departments. Many students become licensed mental health counselors in Florida. Students can take classes in three ways: traditional on-campus classes at Fort Lauderdale/Davie, hybrid classes at regional campuses in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa Bay, or online with a required weekend campus visit.
The School Counseling concentration needs 48 credit hours and runs completely online with two weekend campus visits. This CAEP-accredited and ASCA-Recognized School Counselor Preparation Program provides field experiences approved by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). Students who complete the program can become certified school counselors in Florida. Right now, the program accepts only Florida residents who want Florida certification.
Students in the Applied Behavior Analysis concentration complete 54-63 credit hours entirely online. They learn from professors who actively work and research in the field. The program meets current BACB academic requirements and experience needed to take the exam.
NSU also has a Non-Degree Option that lets students take specific courses without completing a full degree. This option works well for students who need to complete Florida School Counseling Certification requirements.
Each concentration builds on a shared 33-semester-hour foundation of graduate credits. Students learn to help people with stress management, self-esteem issues, mental health challenges, and relationship problems. The programs give students the ability to work with individuals, groups, and families from different backgrounds while working effectively with other healthcare professionals.
Internships/Practicum at Nova Southeastern University
Hands-on experience is the heart of Nova Southeastern University’s counseling programs. Students get supervised opportunities to apply classroom knowledge in ground settings through clinical training.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling students complete their clinical experience over three continuous semesters. The program has one semester of practicum that needs 150 hours minimum with 40 hours of direct client contact. Two semesters of internship follow this, totaling 600 hours with 240 hours of direct client contact. Students typically dedicate 10-15 hours weekly during practicum and 20 hours weekly at their assigned placement during internship.
The Applied Behavior Analysis practicum gives students several supervision options to meet BCBA requirements: supervised fieldwork (1500 hours), practicum (1000 hours), or intensive practicum (750 hours). Students can apply for practicum sites through the university or find their own after finishing the first course in the Advanced ABA concentration.
Nova Southeastern runs several distinguished internship programs:
- The South Florida Consortium Internship Program (SFCIP), an APA-accredited program that trains psychology doctoral students working with diverse populations
- The Psychology Services Center Internship Program, where doctoral candidates develop their skills in assessment and therapeutic interventions
- The Psychology Postdoctoral Residency Program, with focus areas like Autism, School Psychology, and Crisis Prevention
Students outside Florida should actively search for potential sites in their local areas. In spite of that, international students must complete their clinical training in the United States.
Students need to meet all prerequisite requirements before starting clinical experiences. Those beginning practicum/internship training might need to work with their employers to make special arrangements, maybe even take leaves of absence, to meet these essential requirements.
What makes Nova Southeastern University unique?
NSU’s counseling programs excel with their prestigious accreditations and innovative delivery formats. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration has earned an 8-year CACREP accreditation that spans online, traditional, and weekend intensive/hybrid formats at multiple campuses. The School Counseling concentration achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first program that ever received national recognition through the American School Counselor Association under CAEP.
Career prospects shine bright for NSU counseling graduates. Florida’s counseling field shows impressive growth at 22.7%—almost three times higher than the national average of 8.5%—with 2,910 new jobs predicted yearly. This strong job market extends throughout the Southeast region, where counseling careers grow at 20.3% compared to 11.1% for all occupations.
Students who choose the online format get a unique advantage through two Residential Institutes. These three-day sessions at an NSU campus provide hands-on training through direct interaction with faculty and peers.
Department of Counseling faculty members bring their extensive clinical and research expertise to classroom instruction and field experience supervision. Their guidance helps students build multicultural competence, become skilled at evidence-based practices, and exploit analytical insights in counseling practice.
Students benefit from small class sizes with direct access to professors. Campus activities include NCAA athletics, professional organizations, cultural events, and wellness programs. Students can choose between full-time and part-time study options, and full-time status requires a minimum of six credits per term.
Next steps
Want to start your counseling career at NSU? The application process starts when you complete an online application through the graduate school portal. Different start terms have specific deadlines: July 7 for August entry, November 15 for January entry, and March 29 for May entry.
A non-refundable $50 application fee kicks off your application process. You’ll need to submit these important documents:
- Official transcripts from every college/university you’ve attended (you need at least 2.5 undergraduate or 3.0 graduate GPA)
- A well-laid-out Statement of Professional Goals spanning 800 words in three paragraphs
- Two recommendations from people in evaluative roles
- Your current resume or curriculum vitae
- A signed attestation statement
School Counseling candidates need to submit a Teaching Certificate Requirement Verification Form.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling candidates who meet the requirements will get an invitation to join a group interview on Zoom. Other concentrations usually receive decisions within 10-15 business days.
After acceptance, you have 10 calendar days to confirm your enrollment. Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling students taking online classes must attend two Residential Institutes. These three-day sessions at NSU’s Fort Lauderdale/Davie or Orlando campus will boost your counselor training.
You can track your application status by logging into the Application Portal and clicking “Supplemental Items”.