Why Counseling at Barry?

The mission of the Counseling Program at Barry University is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform competently and successfully as professional counseling practitioners in a wide range of clinical and organizational settings. The Counseling Program seeks to prepare students to be ethical practitioners who are theoretically and technically prepared to work within multicultural environments. Respect for diversity and an emphasis on ethical practice are the guiding principles of all of the coursework and activities within the Counseling Program.

Situated in both South Florida and Central Florida, the Barry University Counseling Program serves the educational needs of students from North, Central, and South America, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and other Caribbean Islands, as well as other locations throughout the world. The Dr. Maureen Duffy Family Enrichment Center, the on-site counseling clinic of the Barry University Counseling Program, provides a clinical training center for students in the Counseling Program as well as providing clinical services and outreach to the surrounding diverse community.

The Counseling Program blends traditional didactic approaches to teaching with experiential methods. Students are encouraged to work independently as well as cooperatively on projects. The faculty work together to create an atmosphere of caring, openness, and trust. Consistent with the mission of the University, we seek to provide a learning environment that encourages students to explore and accept intellectual, personal, ethical, spiritual, and social responsibilities.

Educational Specialist in Counseling

The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Program in Counseling is designed for students who already hold a Master's degree in counseling or a related field from a regionally accredited college or university. This program is for individuals seeking to increase their education and skills beyond the Master’s degree for advanced licensure or certification requirements or other professional objectives. The educational specialist degree offers five specializations and provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform competently, ethically, and successfully as professional counseling practitioners in a wide range of settings. Students studying towards the Ed.S. degree will be allowed to apply comparable coursework from a Master’s level Counseling or related program, thereby reducing the required number of credits for completion of the Ed.S. The Ed.S. degree requires a minimum of 30 credits, including 6 hours of practicum and 6 hours of internship. The Admissions requirement of submission of the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is waived for an applicant to the Ed.S. in Counseling.