Husson University

Located in Bangor, Maine, Husson University has the largest physical footprint of any private college in the state. Founded in 1898, Husson enrolls approximately 3,500 students, including 750 graduate students. The university has two schools and four colleges and operates campuses in Presque Isle and Westbrook. Notable alumni include former Governor of Maine Paul LePage, a number of former Maine state legislators, country music songwriter James R. Flynn and George Hasay, a former Pennsylvania state legislator.

Husson University Accreditation Details

Husson University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. In addition, the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree is approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors.

Husson University Application Requirements

Interested students can choose between completing the Common Application or the Husson online or printable application. Undergraduate applicants must pay the $40 application fee and send copies of their high school transcripts to the Admissions Office as soon as possible. Students are also required to submit their ACT and/or SAT scores as well as official transcripts from any previously attended colleges. Two letters of recommendations from non-family members, employers, teachers and/or counselors are also required.

Graduate students must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Applicants are required to submit a graduate application as well as recommendation forms. Depending on the department in which the student is seeking admission, supplemental documentation may also be required such as proof of professional licenses, exam scores, official sealed transcripts and additional recommendations.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Regular undergraduate tuition that is based off of a typical 16-credit load costs $551 per credit hour or $17,081 for a full 31-credit load. The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the Master of Science in School Counseling degrees costs $577 per credit hour. Husson University offers a number of financial aid options depending on each student’s financial circumstances and academic standing. Legacy scholarships and need-based scholarships are available as well as several loans such as SALT, Opportunity Maine, and the Direct PLUS Loan. To determine eligibility, students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Psychology and Counseling Degrees Available

Husson University offers a number of psychology and counseling degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students who choose to pursue an undergraduate degree in psychology may choose the most appropriate academic path that prepares them for entry-level employment in the growing field of mental health services or for graduate study. In addition to earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, students work with their advisors to choose courses that meet qualifications for the Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Certification. This state-granted credential is required for most entry-level mental health careers in Maine. Alternatively, students may pursue a more traditional degree that is geared to their specific interests and prepares them for graduate study in a sub-field of psychology such as experimental psychology, developmental psychology, sport psychology, forensic psychology and clinical or counseling psychology.

The 120-credit-hour curriculum includes both experiential and academic opportunities and exposes students to foundational content that allows them to develop a foundational understanding of human behavior. Students are required to take professional courses in field placement, seminar in psychology, research methods, social psychology, general psychology and human growth and development. In addition, the undergraduate program supports a dual degree in criminal justice and psychology. This five-year program awards the student with both a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree as well as a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree.

The dual degree provides students with an opportunity to achieve a foundation in the theoretical and practical aspects of both psychology and criminal justice, allowing students to appreciate the important relationship between psychological factors and criminality. During the fourth and fifth year, students must complete a psychology practicum experience and have the opportunity to complete an internship in a criminal justice setting. After completing core psychology classes, students may also choose to apply for certification as a Mental Health Rehabilitation Community Level.

The dual degree also gives students the option to attend the pre-service training program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, where students can earn six additional credits and become eligible to seek part-time employment as a law enforcement officer in Maine. During the fifth year, students may also attend the Academy’s basic law enforcement training program, where they will become eligible to seek full-time employment as a law enforcement officer upon completion of fifteen additional college credits.

The 63-credit-hour Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. This degree prepares professionals for state licensure and national certification as a clinical mental health counselor. Students take courses in ethics, clinical practice, theories, individual and group counseling and cultural and social competency. They also study research applications, crisis intervention, addictions and treatment and diagnosis planning. Field experience includes a 900-hour internship in a clinical counseling setting and a 100-hour practicum. Students must also complete 63 credit hours. The course content and sequence are guided by the licensing requirements of Maine, the National Board of Certified Counselors and the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

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Husson also offers a 60-credit-hour Master of Science in School Counseling degree. This program prepares students for certification in K-12 school settings as a professional school counselor. Students are prepared to work in classrooms, in groups and with individual children within social/emotional, college-ready, career and academic situations. A 600-hour internship and a 100-hour practicum further prepare professionals for consulting, leadership and counseling along with school counseling program evaluation and development in schools. The Master of Science in School Counseling degree is accredited by the CACREP. Courses are offered in evenings and late afternoons to accommodate students who have full-time family or work responsibilities. Although the program may be completed on a part-time or full-time basis, students must complete all graduate work within five years, and students must take an approved course for Teaching Exceptional Students in the Classroom in order to receive certification as a school counselor. Students pursuing the Master of Science in School Counseling degree from Husson University will cover topics such as counseling techniques, cultural and social diversity, career development and counseling, practices in counseling adolescents and young children, theories of counseling, crisis intervention and addictions counseling.