This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. We may add courses that expose our students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning. We may also add content to the general education program that focuses on racial literacy and a racial literacy graduation requirement, and may receive notification of additional program approvals after the launch. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

Program goals

The post-master’s certificate program in professional counseling is designed for persons who hold the Master of Science or Master of Arts degree in counseling from VCU or other accredited institutions. The intent is to assist students in meeting the educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor, the Licensed Substance Abuse Practitioner and the Certified Substance Abuse Counselor credentials in Virginia and other states.

The certificate program also may be pursued to fulfill preservice or continuing education requirements for various national certifications, such as National Certified Counselor or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Specialization requirements may exceed the minimum number of required credit hours for the certificate program as a whole.

Courses are selected from course offerings of the Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling program based on individualized need and in conjunction with a faculty adviser.

Specific goals include but are not limited to:

  1. The encouragement of advanced graduate education in counseling
  2. The facilitation of the professional counselor’s career development efforts and goals
  3. The facilitation of the acquisition or maintenance of professional state licenses or national certificates
    1. The expansion of the student’s awareness and expertise in specialized counselor roles and functions

Student learning outcomes

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be able to:

  1. Develop and maintain confidential counseling relationships with individuals using established skills and techniques
  2. Establish, in collaboration with the consumer, individual counseling goals and objectives
  3. Apply advanced counseling and interviewing skills
  4. Employ consultation skills with and on behalf of the consumer

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.