Behavioral Health Counseling

Students apply their knowledge and practice the skills learned during the program via community-based learning and using Drexel University's state of the art Center for Inter-professional Clinical Simulation and Practice. Students then select from a broad variety of electives based on their career interests. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice principles are incorporated across the rigorous curriculum. The major also offers a co-op experience in a clinical setting that greatly enhances the student's preparation for employment after graduation and for graduate study.

Drexel University has long been known for its cooperative education program, through which students mix periods of full-time, career-related employment with their studies. The Behavioral Health Counseling curriculum includes one co-op option that exposes students to the varied work environments of behavioral health professionals. Co-op provides students with an opportunity to assess their personal strengths and interests for a career in behavioral health by observing successful mental health and addictions professionals in action. Co-op students work for six months in paid or unpaid positions consistent with their interests, abilities, and aptitudes.

After Graduation

Graduates of the Behavioral Health Counseling program are widely acknowledged by regional employers as being among their best prepared new employees. This reputation helps graduates easily find preferred employment in a variety of behavioral health care settings. Many graduates elect to continue their education in graduate and doctoral programs at Drexel or leading universities across the nation. Within Drexel, students may select excellent graduate programs preparing them for licensure as behavioral health clinicians and/or administrative, research, and behavioral health policy-making positions.

Career Opportunities

Behavioral health counseling professionals are employed in a wide range of venues. Counselors are needed in social service agencies, schools, health care facilities, and inpatient and residential treatment settings. Counselors work with children, adolescents, adults, and elderly individuals who experience disability due to mental illnesses or substance use disorders. Graduates who choose to enter the behavioral health workforce find immediate employment in areas such as psychiatric rehabilitation; family and child support services; addictions counseling; case management and services coordination; forensic mental health services; individual and group counseling; and crisis intervention.
The behavioral health care field is tremendously diverse and encompasses far more career opportunities than are listed here. There are career choices to be made at all levels of service – from direct care to administration and policy making. In this regard, students will find tremendous benefit both in the listings and outreach offered by Drexel's Steinbright Career Development Center and in the diverse professional career experience our faculty bring to our students.

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center webpage for more detailed information on post-graduate opportunities.