Counseling Programs at Rollins College
Rollins College’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program has been essential for aspiring mental health professionals. The program builds counselors who help their clients live more freely through its core values of academic excellence, social justice, advocacy, diversity, ethical practice, and leadership.
The program holds full accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Students complete a 63-semester-hour curriculum that meets Florida’s requirements for mental health counselor licensure. They gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills through a mix of classroom learning, seminars, lab work, and field experience—everything needed to become well-rounded counseling professionals.
Small class sizes at Rollins College create an ideal learning environment. Classes average just 12 students with a remarkable 9:1 student-faculty ratio. Students receive individual attention from nationally recognized professors who are committed to their success. The program’s results speak for themselves—92% of graduates from the combined 2023 and 2024 classes landed jobs in the field within 180 days after graduation.
The program believes that great counselors grow through personal development. Professional excellence comes from personal growth, strong communication skills, professional behavior, dedication, and academic preparation. This complete approach helps students develop both professionally and personally.
U.S. News & World Report ranks Rollins College as the No. 1 private regional university in the South. This ranking reflects the quality and prestige of your future degree. Forbes magazine also lists Rollins among America’s top colleges for student outcomes and financial accessibility.
Students can choose from three-year, four-year, and sometimes five-year completion tracks. The program offers specializations in Family and Relationship Therapy or Applied Neuroscience for Clinical Practice. These options let students shape their education around their career goals.
The program thrives on its diverse community of learners. Students from different racial/ethnic/cultural backgrounds, spiritual traditions, sexual orientations, gender identities, social classes, abilities, ages, and worldviews enrich the learning experience. This inclusive environment helps prepare counselors to work effectively in our diverse society.
What counseling programs does Rollins College offer?
Rollins College has a strong lineup of counseling programs that prepare you for various career paths in mental health services. The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is the cornerstone—a complete 63-semester-hour curriculum that meets Florida’s requirements for licensure as a mental health counselor. You’ll develop essential counseling skills through a mix of classroom learning, seminars, lab work, and hands-on training.
The program follows the high standards set by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). You’ll build expertise in key areas such as counseling theories, psychopathology, human development, multicultural counseling, and crisis intervention.
Rollins also offers these specialized certificates and concentrations:
The Certificate Program in Family and Relationship Therapy teaches you to work with families and couples using a systemic approach. This optional track meets Florida’s curricular requirements for marriage and family therapist licensure and enhances your core clinical mental health counseling education.
Students interested in college populations can pursue the Certificate in College and University Counseling. This 24-semester-hour program focuses on counseling and student development in higher education. The curriculum has 5 credit hours of college counseling core courses, 9 credit hours of related counseling courses, and 10 credit hours of practical experience at approved college or university counseling centers.
The college has introduced an innovative Applied Neuroscience in Counseling and Therapy concentration. This program explores how brain structure, function, and evolutionary history shape emotion, behavior, and healing. The concentration stands out from similar programs by connecting evolutionary neuroscience, affective neurobiology, and counselor training—making it one of the first to blend this level of neuroscience into clinical-training curriculum.
Students get valuable real-world experience through required practicum and internship placements. The curriculum builds your expertise step by step, starting with basic counseling theories and moving to advanced clinical applications. This progression readies you for licensure exams and professional practice.
Internships/Practicum at Rollins
Hands-on field experience is the heart of Rollins’ counseling programs. Students get direct exposure to professional practice. Clinical Mental Health Counseling students must complete both practicum and internship sequences that build their clinical skills step by step.
Your clinical trip starts with 200 hours of field experience, which includes 40 hours of direct client service. You then move to internship phases to complete the remaining hours needed for the 1,000-hour clinical requirement for Florida licensure. These experiences let you take part in various clinical activities:
- Counseling individual and group clients
- Participating in case management and documentation
- Attending staff meetings and in-service training
- Receiving supervision and consultation
The program goes beyond standard clinical work. You will complete 100 hours of social justice advocacy fieldwork that focuses on social change. This unique feature sets Rollins’ program apart by highlighting counseling’s impact on community change.
Multiple layers of guidance form the foundations of your growth. Licensed professionals at your site and Rollins faculty provide weekly individual supervision. You will also join weekly group sessions to present cases and get valuable feedback from peers.
Applied Behavior Analysis students benefit from Rollins’ Behavior Services Center, an exceptional on-campus training facility. Here, you can practice classroom concepts under faculty guidance. This resource helps build your professional confidence and marketable skills.
The program offers flexibility with three-year, four-year, or five-year track options. Students who need extra time to complete clinical requirements find this adaptability helpful.
Specialized tracking software helps you document your growth during practicum and internship experiences. This creates a complete record of your development as a counselor.
What sets Rollins College apart?
Rollins College offers exceptional counseling education in multiple ways. The program stands among a select few master’s programs nationwide with the highest CACREP accreditation. This recognition proves the outstanding quality of education students receive.
The numbers tell a compelling story – 92% of MAC graduates from the combined 2023 and 2024 classes landed jobs in their field within 180 days after graduation. This placement rate is a big deal as it means that national averages, showing how well the program prepares job-ready professionals.
Small class sizes at Rollins create an ideal learning environment. Students benefit from an average class size of just 12 and a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, getting personal attention that bigger programs can’t match. The cohort model strengthens this close community as students complete their studies together, building supportive relationships and sharing learning experiences.
Rollins launched an innovative Applied Neuroscience in Counseling and Therapy concentration that sets itself apart through depth and scope. This concentration uniquely combines evolutionary neuroscience, affective neurobiology, and counselor training—making it one of the first programs to bring this level of neuroscience directly into clinical training.
The program’s dedication to social justice makes it special. Students complete 100 hours of social justice advocacy fieldwork aimed at social change, beyond their clinical work. This requirement shows how the program prepares counselors to tackle systemic issues affecting mental health.
Rollins’ excellence goes beyond its counseling program. Its position as the No. 1 private regional university in the South shows the value and prestige a Rollins degree carries throughout Florida and nationwide.
Next steps
Looking to start your journey with the Rollins counseling program? The application process follows three simple steps. Start by submitting the Application for Graduate Admission along with a $50 non-refundable fee. Your next step involves sending official transcripts from your bachelor’s or master’s degree-granting institution. Students with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher have better chances. The final step requires you to submit a current resume and two recommendation letters through the online portal.
You’ll need to include a personal statement that spans three to five pages. This statement should explain why Rollins’ program aligns with your career goals and describe your interpersonal style from others’ perspective. The program offers two deadlines – a Priority Decision deadline on January 15 and a Regular Decision deadline on March 15.
Rollins College strives to make education costs manageable. Students should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to learn about their eligibility options. The program offers five graduate assistantship positions that help cover course expenses.
A phone call or video chat with an expert counselor can help you understand the financial aid process better before you submit your application. Admitted students receive access to complete support services. These include the Wellness Center that caters to mental health needs and career planning resources that boost your professional growth.