Masters
Part-Time or Full-Time
Fall
On-Campus
About the MEd in Community Counseling at Loyola
From inaccessibility to high-quality mental health services to discrimination, racial/ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities often suffer from poor mental health outcomes. With the MEd in Community Counseling at Loyola University Chicago, you can work to disrupt the status quo and eliminate mental health disparities.
This counseling master's degree at Loyola is led by a diverse, dedicated faculty who are nationally recognized experts in social justice. They will work with you and prepare you to confront racism, achievement gaps, and other discrimination that lead to systemic inequities.
Program Structure
The MEd in Community Counseling can be pursued full time or part time. Classes are held weekday evenings at Loyola's Water Tower Campus, conveniently located off the Red Line in the heart of Chicago, and the majority of the courses are also offered online.
This counseling master's degree is a 60-semester-hour program focused in two major areas: Clinical Mental Health or Research. This includes 700 clock hours of practicum and internship experience. You must also take and pass a comprehensive examination during your final semester of study.
Why Choose Loyola for the MEd in Community Counseling?
- Experiential learning opportunities
- Pathway to LPC and LCPC licensing
- Conduct research on pressing social issues
- Learn from social justice experts
- Finish your community counseling degree in two years
- Prepare for community counseling jobs or doctoral programs
With Chicago as your classroom, you will have firsthand experiential learning opportunities at community mental health agencies and level-one trauma centers, researching action-oriented projects that make an immediate impact on the community.
The MEd in Community Counseling program is approved by the state of Illinois as a professional counselor training program. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to sit for the state examination as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) after receiving two years of post-degree supervised counseling experience and a passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).
You will have opportunities to work alongside and collaborate with Loyola faculty in their active research labs, examining pressing social issues. You will also have opportunities to conduct your own research and apply your findings in practice.
While pursuing your community counseling degree, you will learn from dedicated Loyola counseling faculty who are experts in their fields. They will be there to support you at every stage of the MEd in Community Counseling degree program.
By taking courses on a full-time basis, you can finish the community counseling degree at Loyola in two years. If you prefer to pursue your MEd in Community Counseling on a part-time basis, you can finish in as little as three years or take up to five years.
The community counseling degree at Loyola will prepare you to be a culturally sensitive practitioner committed to social justice and being a change agent through community counseling jobs. You will also be competitive for admission into doctoral programs in counseling psychology, counselor education, and related mental health fields.
Counseling Psychology Department
The Department of Counseling Psychology recognizes the need for advocacy and innovative counseling strategies to address significant mental health, educational, and career disparities affecting marginalized communities. With this commitment, our programs focus on applied research and professional development, grounded in social justice principles. Explore more about the department and read stories featuring current students and graduates from the School of Education.
Department WebsiteMeet the Faculty
Loyola is proud to have talented and nationally-recognized scholar-teachers as part of our diverse community of exceptional faculty, students and staff. Loyola faculty are known for their commitment to teaching, the dissemination of knowledge through innovative and interdisciplinary scholarly research, and a commitment to social justice and cura personalis, or care for the whole person. Visit the School of Education faculty and staff directory to learn more about the teachers and mentors involved with the Community Counseling MEd program.
FacultyCommunity Counseling: Career Connections
The MEd in Community Counseling will prepare you for a range of community counseling jobs in a variety of settings, such as schools, health care centers, rehabilitation facilities and prisons, or private practice.
Specific job options include:
- Career counselor
- Mental health counselor
- Rehabilitation counselor
- Substance abuse counselor
- Behavioral disorders counselor
- Marriage and family therapist
Because Loyola is a member of the Jesuit network of 27 colleges and universities nationwide, our graduates can access career advising services, resume and interviewing assistance, career fairs and events, and employment listings in our Career Services center, as well as at career centers at other U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good place to start exploring the job outlook and pay potential for specific careers and fields that interest you.
Curriculum and Program Outcomes
While courses for the Community Counseling MEd program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.
Additionally, this resource will provide Community Counseling MEd learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.
2024-2025 Catalog
Browse Academic CatalogMEd in Community Counseling Results and Skills
You will understand the social-cultural contexts of human development, and apply this knowledge in an ethical, reflective, and culturally responsive manner. You will also have the skills to:
- Evaluate research
- Appreciate the contribution of empirical inquiry to the solution of applied problems
- Apply your own research findings in practice
Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your graduate and professional studies a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.
If you are a current Loyola undergraduate or recent alum, you may be eligible for a Returning Rambler discount. Learn more and see if you qualify on our Returning Rambler Scholarship page.
Tuition and Costs
The estimated tuition and fees for the Community Counseling MEd totals $61500.00, or 60 credit hours at a cost of $1,025.00 per credit hour. Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.
School of Education Financial Aid & Scholarships
Visit the School of Education Scholarships page for detailed information about eligible scholarships.
More information about financial aid opportunities can be found on the Financial Aid Office website.
Appointments and Events
Whether you’re just beginning your search, in the midst of the application process, or eager to explore our graduate and professional programs, our admissions staff is here to assist you every step of the way.
Schedule an AppointmentThe School of Education offers graduate open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.
View all EventsUpcoming Events
Visit and Connect With Us
With our visit opportunities, you can tour our beautiful Chicago campuses and learn more about Loyola's ties to one of the most prestigious cities in the world.
Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the Community Counseling MEd are listed below. Please keep in mind that both the application and the required materials must be submitted by the specified deadline.
Fall: February 1
Please note that applications are not reviewed until the deadline passes, and decisions are typically made mid-March.
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the Community Counseling MEd include:
Official transcripts from all institutions attended
2 Letters of Recommendation
3.0 Minimum GPA
Resume/CV
Statement of Purpose
Statement of Purpose Details
Your statement should be 1-3 pages and describe your academic and research interests, professional goals, and life experiences that have influenced your view of social justice.
Official Documents
Official transcripts are those that are sent directly by the college/university to Loyola University Chicago. Transcripts sent by the student to Loyola are considered unofficial documents, and while they may be utilized for initial review of your application, official transcripts are still required. Official documents should be sent by the institution to gradapp@luc.edu.
International Applicant Requirements
An official English language proficiency exam is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit an official transcript evaluation. The transcript evaluation cannot be waived.
Please visit our International Applicant Requirements page for specific information regarding the application process for international students.
Start Your Application
Applying online to the Community Counseling MEd program is a swift, uncomplicated, and cost-free process. After submission, you can proceed to send and upload any additional requirements.
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