Department of Counseling

 

School of Education UNC Pembroke
UNCP Counseling empowers students through two CACREP‑accredited Master of Arts in Education programs: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Professional School Counseling. Designed for both full and part‑time learners, the hybrid curriculum blends on‑campus and online instruction, bringing your career goals within reach.

Mission & Objectives

The mission of the Department of Counseling is to improve the mental health and well-being of individuals across the region and beyond through innovative, interdisciplinary and effective research, service and teaching that prepares culturally-responsive clinical mental health counselors and professional school counselors.
  1. Demonstrate knowledge in the core areas of professional counseling for the purposes of conceptualizing the self, the counselor and diverse clients. Students will analyze major psychological concepts, theoretical perspectives, evidence-based practices and historical trends in counseling, including those associated with the following common core areas.
     
  2. Develop specialized knowledge and skills in either professional school counseling or clinical mental health counseling and apply this knowledge and skills to professional practice.
     
  3. Provide evidence of ongoing and progressive commitment to personal and professional growth, self-reflection and self-evaluation.
Young man speaking with counselor

Programs

With 60 credit hours, 700 hours of supervised field placement and a comprehensive exam, our graduates gain the academic and practical preparation needed for licensure as Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associates and/or Professional School Counselors in North Carolina.
Counseling two women

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Study in a supportive, flexible environment that helps you grow professionally. Hybrid and evening classes allow flexibility for classes and life to happen. And personal faculty mentorship, paired with hands-on field experience, gives you the skills to support others through life’s challenges. Whatever your next step is, UNCP will help you get there.
School Counseling

Professional School Counseling

Discover your path to making a lasting impact in schools and communities through UNC Pembroke’s Professional School Counseling programs. Whether you're seeking a master’s degree or certification, our CACREP-accredited programs prepare you to become a compassionate, effective school counselor in K-12 settings.
Cape Fear Community College

The Wilmington Initiative

Through a partnership with Cape Fear Community College - North Campus, students can earn a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or Professional School Counseling. Designed for working professionals, both programs feature hybrid/online coursework with in-person practicum and internship experiences based in the Wilmington area.

FAQs

Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education and career goals.

Counseling was born from the field of education when Frank Parsons matched individuals with jobs that best utilized their strengths. Counseling is a strengths-based, developmental profession that uses therapy in order to promote wellness and help diverse individuals achieve their unique goals.  Psychology operates within a medical model in which a specific problem is identified and addressed (although positive psychology and counseling psychology incorporate some strengths-based practices). Social work, in general, focuses on harnessing resources and providing systemic therapy. 

The program is 60 credit hours and can be completed in 3 years. 

Typically, 5:30-8:30 p.m. during the semester and 5:30-9:30 p.m. during summer sessions. 

At this time, you cannot complete your master’s degree in counseling at UNCP fully online.  Most classes meet in a hybrid format (half on campus, half online) and other classes meet fully online. 
Courses taught in a hybrid format are approximately ½ online and ½ on-campus. Typically, a hybrid course will meet on campus every other week. 
Professional School Counseling students can earn a provisional school counseling license after completing 24 credit hours (i.e., 8 classes) in the program and can work full time as school counselors while completing field placement. It is difficult, albeit not impossible, for students to work full time in other positions (e.g., teachers, qualified professionals) while completing the field placement requirements.  Dedication, motivation, organization and family/employer support are key to successfully completing field placement while working full time. 
Students are eligible to begin practicum after they have completed 8 of the 9 core courses.  Students should apply for practicum the semester before they wish to begin on site.  The Professional School Counseling Field Placement Coordinator will ask in the application in which county/school students wish to serve and will coordinate that process with human resources. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Field Placement Coordinator will send applicants a list of potential sites, and students are required to contact these sites, or others, in order to secure a field placement site.
All counseling students must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE) in order to progress to internship. Students should compile resources from all core courses in preparation for this exam.  Clinical Mental Health students may choose to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) in order to earn an LCMHCA (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate). Professional School Counseling students may choose to take the Praxis II in order to earn an LSC (Licensed School Counselor, K-12). 
The Department of Counseling typically hires 4-5 student workers each academic year.  These assistantships offer faculty mentoring, research opportunities and other professional development opportunities. A number of our counseling students also work across campus in various positions with offices such as the The Graduate School and the Center for Student Success. 
Flowers on UNC Pembroke campus

Resources


Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) is an international honor society for counseling students and professionals. At UNCP, the Phi Sigma chapter connects you with a network of future counselors who are committed to excellence, wellness and making a difference. If you're passionate about helping others and growing in the field, CSI may be for you. It's a great way to get involved, build leadership skills and strengthen your professional identity.

Check Out CSI

Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) is an international honor society for counseling students and professionals. At UNCP, the Phi Sigma chapter connects you with a network of future counselors who are committed to excellence, wellness and making a difference. If you're passionate about helping others and growing in the field, CSI may be for you. It's a great way to get involved, build leadership skills and strengthen your professional identity.

Check Out CSI

Program Outcomes & Student Profile Data

The Department of Counseling engages in continual program evaluation and revision to maintain alignment with the state and national professional standards and the aims and mission of the School of Education and the university. 
  Professional School Counseling Clinical Mental Health Counseling Total
Fall 2013 79 72 151
Fall 2014 74 82 156
Fall 2015 91 86 177
Fall 2016 81 89 170
Fall 2017 102 90 192
Fall 2018 96 92 188
Fall 2019 96 101 197
Fall 2020 87 102 189
Fall 2021 76 101 187
Fall 2022 62 111 173
Fall 2023 65 99 164
  Professional School Counseling Clinical Mental Health Counseling Total
2013-2014 17 10 27
2014-2015 16 15 31
2015-2016 31 20 51
2016-2017 14 35 46
2017-2018 22 21 43
2018-2019 18 20 38
2019-2020 24 25 49
2020-2021 23 29 52
2021-2022 26 29 55
2022-2023 25 34 59
2023-2024 12 29 41
  Professional School Counseling Clinical Mental Health Counseling Total
2011-2012* 83% 78% 80%
2012-2013* 80% 51% 66%
2013-2014 79% 76% 77%
2014-2015 79% 76% 77%
2015-2016 54% 68% 61%
2016-2017 72% 95% 82%
2017-2018 74.2% 76.9% 75.4%
2018-2019 80.8% 82.1% 86.3%

* Term is prior to CACREP accreditation. Both programs were accredited by CACREP in 2013.

100%

*results based on 2022-2023 Alumni Student Survey (n=10)

  Total Testers Pass Pass Rate
2023-2024 48 40 83%
  Total Testers Pass Pass Rate
2023-2024 33 32 97%
  Total Testers Pass Pass Rate
2023-2024 14 14 100%

Contact Us

Nicole Stargell, headshot

Nicole Stargell

Chair and Professor of Counseling


910.521.6898
headshot of Whitney Akers

Whitney Akers

Associate Professor


910.775.4293
All Faculty & Staff

CACREP logo

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Professional School Counseling programs earned accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) in 2013 and re-accreditation in 2021. CACREP accreditation indicates that the graduate counseling programs meet the quality and rigor of professionally approved standards. In addition, the Counseling programs were one of three programs nationwide to earn the National Board of Certified Counselors Professional Identity Award in 2013.