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Department of Counseling, Human Services, Rehabilitation, & Criminal Justice

The Department of Counseling, Human Services, Rehabilitation, & Criminal Justice equips you with the technical and professional skills to be a part of today's health care system. Using state-of-the-art technology and an experienced faculty, you'll find what you need to start an exciting career.

MayDr. Jennifer May
Department Chair 
Clarion campus
226 Harvey Hall 
Phone:  1 814 393 2325
Fax:  1 814 393 1951

Office Hours:  Call, email or stop by anytime

Welcome to the exciting and fulfilling world of the helping professions.  Our majors work an incredibly wide range of settings in public and private agencies and companies.  My own background is as diverse as our field, having worked as a Drug & Alcohol Education Specialist, Rehabilitation Counselor, Director of Vocational Rehabilitation, Psychologist, Director of Behavioral Health, and Professor.  I am also active in community, state and national professional associations and boards.  The biggest reason to consider our department's majors is that there are LOTS OF JOBS in human services, rehabilitation, criminal justice, healthcare and sports sciences.  If you are thinking about Sports Medicine, Athletic Training, Respiratory Care, Medical Imaging, or working with persons with addictions, intellectual disabilities, children, youth and families, mental health, aging, juvenile and adult offenders, or persons with physical disabilities or sports injuries, you are looking at the right major.

The newest program to our department is the Opioid Treatment Specialist certificate which aims to address the growing opioid epidemic by training human service professionals who have seen the crisis first-hand in their careers. Students of any major may also pursue this certificate to enhance their credentials.

Criminal Justice

Clarion's criminal justice programs help students understand criminal behavior, become familiar with important issues concerning the treatment and rehabilitation of criminals, apply the education to their jobs, and be aware of major policies and trends in criminal justice institutions and practices. It is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions within various federal, state and local agencies and for continuing their education in the field.

Rehabilitation and Human Services

The two-year Associate of Science Rehabilitative Services program at Venango campus prepares individuals to make a positive impact upon special needs individuals in human services settings.  Many students use this program as a stepping stone to the bachelors degree program.

Clarion's Rehabilitative Sciences program is accredited by the Council for Standards in Human Service Education and highly regarded throughout Pennsylvania as a producer of high quality entry-level rehabilitation/human service professionals. Students can enroll in one of four possible concentrations including Developmentally Disabled, Gerontology, Substance Abuse, and Court and Community Services.

The MS Mental Health Counseling Degree at Clarion University is a 60-credit hour program clinical mental health counseling program that is designed to meet the academic requirements established by the Pennsylvania state board leading to the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential in Pennsylvania.

These programs are offered on the Clarion campus, Venango campus, and Online. Please see individual program pages for location of the specific program you are interested in.

Last Updated 1/28/21