Social and Behavioral Sciences, Counseling Concentration, B.A.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Counseling Concentration is available to SBS majors. While the SBS general degree is offered fully online, the counseling concentration requires some face-to-face coursework.

A concentration is simply a way for students to organize their six required SBS electives at the 300-level or above level for the major. This concentration offers the options of an adult focus, a child-youth focus, or a combination of both. SBS students in this concentration may take specific courses to qualify them for the Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Community (MHRT/C) certification, a valuable state-level credential issued through the Muskie School’s Center of Learning. The MHRT/C credential is for students with a focus or interest in adult mental health.

The Counseling Concentration provides students with an introduction to theory, topics, and skill areas relevant to professional applications in counseling. Organizing the choice of SBS electives through this concentration strengthens students’ preparation for entry into a variety of positions related to the helping professions, as well as for the pursuit of graduate study.

Embedded in the interdisciplinary SBS major, the counseling concentration provides perspectives and critical thinking skills related to the multiple layers of influence - individual, social, and cultural - that shape human behavior. Students gain foundational knowledge and familiarity with:

developmental trajectories and the roots of personality;
issues of diversity, gender, and culture;
biopsychosocial approaches to diagnosis;
the broad array of available counseling and psychotherapy techniques;
social services and factors that impact access to treatment.

**Students should complete the necessary paperwork so that the counseling concentration appears on their MaineStreet academic plan.**

Graduate School Options:

Accelerated undergraduate to graduate pathways from the SBS Counseling Concentration to USM graduate degree programs in Counseling and Social Work are available. The Social Work accelerated pathway requires the SBS internship and the Counseling pathway strongly suggests it to bolster the student’s application. Visit the Accelerated Pathways webpage, check with your advisor, and visit the Office of Admissions for application information.

Program Requirements

To complete the Counseling Concentration, students select their six SBS electives by taking two required foundational courses, plus one course chosen from each of the four categories below. Any substitutions must be approved by a faculty adviser. In addition, the internship required for the SBS BA degree must be in a counseling/clinical setting (broadly defined). A minimum grade of C- in each SBS course is required to complete the counseling concentration.

Foundational courses (both are required for the concentration):

SBS 311 - Theories of Personality Credits: 3 *
SBS 411 - Counseling and Psychotherapy Credits: 3 *

Plus one course selected from each of the following four categories:

MHRT/C subtrack:

Specific SBS courses meet necessary credential competencies and must be taken to be eligible for this certification. Seven courses are identified by the * symbol in the list of courses above, with an additional eighth course selected from the developmental context courses (SBS 305 ; SBS 341 ; SBS 375 ; PSY 325 or GRN 318 ).

Students who wish to earn Maine MHRT/C (Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician - Community) certification should inform their academic and faculty advisors as early as possible. This state-level credential is now issued through the Muskie School’s Center for Learning (CFL); more information is available at http://cfl-muskie.org/.

USM Core Requirements

The USM Core Curriculum is a coherent, integrative, and rigorous liberal education that enables our graduates to be world-minded, intentional, life-long learners and captures your general education degree requirements.

Please Note: Core requirements may be part of your major and/or minor, and Core may have been fulfilled with transfer credit. Please consult your MaineStreet Degree Progress Report (DPR) and review your degree progress with your Advisor. For additional information, access the USM Core webpage.

Social and Behavioral Sciences, Counseling Concentration, B.A.

Graduate School Options:

Program Requirements

Foundational courses (both are required for the concentration):

Plus one course selected from each of the following four categories:

Psychosocial Disorders and Services:

Diversity and Multiculturalism:

Developmental Contexts:

Applied Topics:

MHRT/C subtrack:

USM Core Requirements