Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Counseling - Saturday Scholars Program

Program
Admissions
Curriculum
Accreditation
Outcomes

Program

With the Drexel Bachelor of Science Saturday Scholars Program, students can complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Health Counseling entirely on Saturdays. This program is specifically designed to help students balance the challenges of education, work, and family life by offering the course content in an accelerated, convenient and flexible manner. This program is for transfer students only. A minimum of 24 credits is required.

If you have earned an associate's degree or have other college credits and want to complete a Behavioral Health Counseling degree on a part-time basis, the Saturday Scholars program is an ideal option. Students complete two courses every six weeks throughout the year, allowing the accumulation of credits toward the degree at a rate comparable to full-time students.

The number of credits required to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Health Counseling is 180 quarter-credits. For Saturday Scholars, this generally includes 90 or more quarter credits distributed in general education and elective course areas, plus up to 90 credits of coursework in the Behavioral Health Counseling major.

What you'll learn

The focus of student learning in this program is on how to do a broad range of evidence-based practices associated with individual and group counseling, person-centered assessment and treatment planning, psychiatric rehabilitation, recovery-oriented treatment of substance-use disorders, child and family-focused interventions and other essential clinical skills in demand by behavioral health care employers. High achieving students earn Certificates of Advanced Study that signal specialized knowledge and skills in specific areas of behavioral health counseling.

Graduates of the Behavioral Health Counseling Program are widely acknowledged by the region's employers as being among the best prepared for jobs within the field.

What makes the Behavioral Health Counseling Saturday Scholars Program unique?

Students have access to the state-of-the-art Clinical Learning Resources Centerwhere advanced counseling skills are practiced with actors simulating behavioral health clients.
Saturday schedule is tailored for returning adult students who work during the week.
Skills-based counseling courses are specifically kept smaller in size to allow for more individualized attention to training.
Our advanced, skills-based curriculum and innovative hands-on training far exceeds that found at most other undergraduate colleges and universities.

Admissions

This program only admits transfer students.

Our transfer policies are specifically designed to accommodate students applying from other colleges. Transfer students may enter the program at any point and transfer a maximum of 90 semester credits (135 quarter credits). The courses and credit values show how many general education credits can be transferred in at the discretion of the program. (Please note: This program is offered in quarter credits, not semester credits. One semester credit is equal to 1.5 quarter credits; therefore, a bachelor's degree worth 120 semester credits is equal to 180 quarter credits.)

Detailed Instructions

To apply, please use this link.

If this is your first time applying to Drexel you will need to create an account. If you are a returning user please log in with the appropriate credentials.

After registering you will need to retrieve your temporary PIN number emailed to you. Enter your PIN in the space provided along with your birthdate. You will then create your own password.

Once complete, you will be directed to Drexel University's Admission Application. On this page you will click on the link titled Start New Application.

Next you will Select an Application Type and choose the school year for which you are applying. You will then select your student type,transfer part-time, and then Create Application.

You will be asked to review the application details you previously entered. If correct, select Open Application.

From here, follow all prompts in the application for transfer, part-time, Saturday Scholars Behavioral Health Counseling applicants. As a reminder there is no application fee for this program.

For International Students

To review transfer instructions, visit the International Instructions page.

Tuition and Fee Rates
Please visit the Tuition and Fee Rates pageon Drexel Central

COMPLIANCE

The College of Nursing and Health Professions has a compliance process that may be required for every student. Some of these steps may take significant time to complete. Please plan accordingly.

Visit the Compliance pages for more information.

Curriculum

Accreditation

MSA: Accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools

Program Level Outcomes

At Drexel University we believe that a well-formulated set of Program Level Outcomes [PLO] that support and are consistent with the institutional mission and goals are the building blocks of an effective assessment program.

Click here to view the College of Nursing and Health Professions Department of Behavioral Health Counseling Program Level Outcomes.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Saturday Scholars Behavioral Health Counseling Program easily find employment in behavioral health settings, in part because of a critical shortage of qualified applicants. Drexel graduates are widely acknowledged by the region's employers as being among the best prepared.

Graduates who choose to enter the behavioral health workforce instead of continuing in graduate school typically 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
Case management and services coordination
Forensic mental health services
Individual and group counseling
Crisis intervention

Starting salaries with a bachelor's degree range from $34,000 to $45,000 per year.

The behavioral healthcare field is tremendously diverse and encompasses far more career opportunities than listed. Career choices exist at all levels of service—from direct care to administration and policy-making. Students will find tremendous benefit both in the employment listings and outreach offered by Drexel's Steinbright Career Development Center and in the diverse professional career experience our faculty brings to our students.

News & Events

01/20/23

Veronica Carey, PhD, assistant dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (seated on the left) and Marybeth Gasman, PhD, author of Doing the Right Thing: How Colleges and Universities Can Undo Systemic Racism in Faculty Hiring (seated on the right) having a discussion about Gasman's book. On Thursday, January 12th assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion Veronica Carey, PhD, hosted Marybeth Gasman, PhD, author of Doing the Right Thing: How Colleges and Universities Can Undo Systemic Racism in Faculty Hiring. The 90-minute event welcomed more than 70 faculty, professional staff and students from across Drexel University. This frank discussion, held in the College of Nursing and Health Professions' new Health Sciences Building, focused on what CNHP can do to support the hiring and retention of faculty of color. Gasman, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair and a distinguished professor in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University, noted, " the reason why hiring faculty of color is an issue at most academies is because excuses have been made for the hiring of white faculty who may not have been as qualified as candidates of color."

In an interview format, Carey's first question, "why this book now?" Gasman responded, "I was angry enough to know academies should not continue like this." A historian by education, Gasman continued by sharing that she wanted to research how long this practice has been happening. Gasman stated that if an academy wants to do something it gets done. "My initial response to why this book now is also because academies do not want to hire faculty of color and I am tired of them stating we just can't find diverse faculty." She passionately answered Carey's follow-up questions — "why don't academies do more when they know the problem exists?", "what can leaders do to ensure equity in hiring?" and "how did you conduct research for this book?" Then, in and open Q&A, attendees asked Gasman to address concerns stemming from quality vs. pedigree and the excuses given for not doing the right thing.

Attendee Denise Way, DNP, an assistant clinical professor in Undergraduate Nursing, stated, "This was so wonderful to have an opportunity to be in a room where this topic was addressed. So proud to hear peers' comments and suggestions to correct this issue." Board of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion student members Alexis Robinson, Charlise Williams, and Seleena Jacob celebrated being at an event targeted to support diverse educational opportunities while they matriculate at CNHP.

Written by Veronica Carey, PhD, assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion and associate clinical professor

06/21/22

Stack of graduation programs for Drexel University The weeks leading up to the Drexel’s 134th Commencement were full of celebrations. Undergraduate, graduate and doctoral candidates from across the College of Nursing and Health Professions attended a host of CNHP and Drexel University events to recognize their accomplishments. Our nursing co-op students held their pinning ceremony, the Nutrition Sciences Department, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Graduate Nursing hosted celebrations, the Macy Undergraduate Leadership Fellows met virtually to recognize those who completed the year-long program and the Creative Arts Therapies held their day-long Colloquia where student presented of their work.

Graduates wearing Drexel University caps and gowns at the College of Nursing and Health Professions graduation ceremony On the morning of June 9 at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts and with a focus on equity and purpose, Dean Laura Gitlin, PhD, welcomed graduating students, faculty, families, friends and guests to the first in-person graduation since 2019 saying, “We have all chosen lives that are, and will continue to be, motivated by an innate desire to make life better–to heal, a responsibility to serve and an obligation to advocate for those whose voices are not always heard or who do not receive equitable access to care throughout their life course.”

Gitlin asked for graduates to see their callings as a continuation or the College’s core values. “You have the obligation, opportunity and privilege to change the lives of individuals as well as systems of care—to develop new strategies, practices and policies in your respective fields and to address health inequities,” she asserted. She encouraged them to strive to provide person-centric care and to address what matters most to those for whom they care.

Zainab During, a master’s nursing student in Quality, Safety and Risk Management and a member of the Board of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, gave the student address. Born and raised in Sierra Leone, During used her own experience of civil war in her country to demonstrate what ambition and purpose will help one accomplish. “It is with that same mindset that I was able to thrive when I immigrated to the United States 13 years ago, with the goal of one day living the American dream,” she shared. “While this goal was abstract, it gave me hope and allowed me to continue nurturing my purpose,” During continued.

A group wearing Drexel University caps and gowns She closed by stating what an honor it is to be graduating with the class of 2022 who she knows will do great things. “My fellow graduates, as a result of the knowledge, skills, and aptitudes acquired during the courses of our different programs, it is a privilege to follow our purpose and be given the opportunity to shine in our respective career paths.”

Gitlin introduced Melanie Cataldi, BS ’98, CNHP’s keynote speaker. Cataldi is a committed leader and collaborator for social justice with over 21 years of experience at Philabundance including founding the Philabundance Community Kitchen (PCK), a culinary arts workforce development training and employment program for adults who qualify for public assistance.

An experienced community impact strategist and a member of the 2022 People of Purpose, Cataldi began her address by referencing author and “unshakable optimist” Simon Sinek who talks a lot about “Finding Your Why.” “Your why is the thing that you give to the world, the thing that makes you who you are; it’s the fundamental core of what inspires you. My “why” is that I’m a Defender of People,” she shared. She has a superpower—seeing the big picture with the ability to develop, protect, motivate and move people forward toward a common goal.

Two females wearing blue and gold caps and gowns Following the themes spoken of by Gitlin and During, Cataldi talked about how interprofessional collaboration is the only way she sees to achieving both food and health equity. “The causes of health inequity are complex and interwoven. Anti-hunger organizations and affordable housing builders, public and private entities and academic institutions are all part of the solution,” Cataldi argued.

Acknowledging the structural and social determinants of health, like housing, education, transportation, and food, Cataldi stated that most people would argue that food and shelter are key among those because they represent the most basic of essential needs. From Cataldi’s perspective, food equity is part of the struggle of overall health equity. Looking at the last two years, what touches one affects all with long-lasting and pervasive repercussions, and what we have done to alleviate these wide-reaching problems isn’t working.

Two people wearing Drexel University caps and gowns Because this work will neither be easy nor quick, Cataldi challenged our graduates to find their why. “I bet if I sat down with each of you, whether your focus is research or direct service, whether you studied nursing, health administration, health sciences, nutrition, hospitality management, culinary arts and food science, creative art therapies, counseling, physician assistance or physical therapy and rehabilitation science, we would find something that is congruent with making things better—for people, for families, for communities. It’s been my experience that really understanding your “why”, your superpower, and then leveraging that in collaboration with others, is the key to success in just about everything be it family dynamics, relationships in the workplace or reaching organizational goals,” concluded Cataldi.

Below is a list of award winners from around the College.

Dean's Awards

Nicholas Eltman, Dean’s Achievement Award
Melissa Fairfield, Dean’s Social Justice Award
June Maloney, Dean’s Clinical Service Award
Shel Myers, Dean’s Award

RN-BSN and Graduate Nursing Departments

Outstanding Graduate Award
Amy C. Plotts
Adriana Ava Banks
Kaitlin Balbo
Jillian Labatch
Anne Anderson
Vicki Zahos
Pam Hughes
Joncornel Kearney
Sarah Kendall
Stephanie Pileggi
Theodore A. Klitus
Erika Lockhart
Jessa Adiletto Lassor
Ashley Olszewski
Amy Elisabeth Elliott
Melissa Fairfield
Jordan Troxell
Amy Elizabeth Fafard

Thia Jackson Baugh, Online Student Recognition (RN-BSN)
Molly Laina Scott, Outstanding Achievement (RN-BSN)

Kristin Feightner, Kathleen Jennings-Dozier Memorial Award
Lindsey Ho, Joyce Lazzaro Lifelong Achievement Award
Emily Shaw, Hahnemann Hospital Nurse Alumnae Association Award

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences Department

Dominic DeLaurentis, Clinical Education Award
June Maloney, Dragon Service Award
Brianna Wagner, Leadership Award
Natalia Oliveira, Health Equity and Social Impact Award
Drew Petersen, Scholarly Excellence Award
Kerri Yacovelli, PT, MSPT, OCS, Clinical Instructor Award

Creative Arts Therapies Department

Ming Yuan Low, PhD, PhD Program in Creative Arts Therapies Teaching Promise Award and Leadership Promise Awards
Brigette K. Schneible, PhD Program in Creative Arts Therapies Research Promise Award
Natalia Alvarez-Figueroa, Rachel Haimovich, Jonathon Jenkins and Cynthia Jones, Clinical Supervisors Award Lana Sommers, MA Leadership Award
James Lavino and Lydia Patselas, MA Artistry Award
Zevi B. Koretz, MA Service Award
Rachel Chang, Tahsina Miah and Carolina Millard, MA Clinical Excellence Award
Elizabeth Allen, MA Culminating Project
Briana Marsh, Nitasha Kang And Jennifer Willbanks, Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award (JEDI)
Angela Kodokian, Lana Sommers and Taylor A. Sparks, MA Overall Achievement Award
Hayley Beck, The Dianne Dulicai Award for Dance/Movement Therapy

Alpha Eta Honor Society, the National Honor Society for the Allied Health Professions
Hayley Beck
Angela Kodokian
James Lavino
Ming Yuan Low
Tahsina Miah
Brigette Schneible
Lana Sommers
Taylor A. Sparks

Written by Roberta S. Perry

04/08/22

Click to enlarge photos

April 2022

February 2022

January 2022

The Health Sciences Building is going strong. The steel stud framing is beginning on level 12, the final floor! Drywall is completed up through level 8 with the medical gas systems installed and tested on levels 7 and 8.

The service elevators (cars 11 and 12) will be up and running for construction use within the next six weeks.

Tower cranes have been removed, and they will begin removing the hoist and closing up the curtain wall panels immediately after the elevators start up.

Carpet install is to begin February 1. Resinous flooring on level 12 (anatomy spaces) will begin March 11, and the finishes trades are scheduled to begin once space is temperature controlled.

Click to enlarge photos.

December 2021

The Health Science Building now has permanent power, and it is watertight with curtain wall (exterior) completed. The service elevators should be operational by early March, and the passenger cars up and running by end of March. The flooring installation should be starting on the second floor within three weeks. The HVAC system chilled beam has been installed up to the fourth level. Things are moving along!

Click to enlarge photos.

October 2021

Construction on our future home is moving along! The building perimeter is almost complete and should be “zippered up” by the end of November.

Core and shell work (elevators, toilet rooms and stairs) are really taking shape. The HVAC work is in place, metal stud installation is up to the 12th floor and drywall work is underway on the lower floors. Visible spaces and rooms are replacing the big empty floors. Interior photos to come soon.

Click to enlarge photos.

June 2021

Photo of Drexel Academic Tower construction

May 2021

Cement trucks ready to start pouring concrete floors of the new building.

March 2021

Six cement trucks lined up to pour the concrete floors.

Click images to magnify

January 2021

December 2020

When the announcement about a new home for the College of Nursing and Health Professions was made in May 2019, no one could have imagined that construction would be delayed by a global pandemic. It was expected that groundbreaking would be in spring 2020 with a substantial completion delivery of mid-2022. Beginning in late July, it is still the hope to maintain the same timeline.

With CNHP being the first occupants of the new facility, some of the College of Medicine’s administrative functions, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies and its first- and second-year medical program will join the College in phases. President Fry, in a message to the University in late 2019, said “at the new academic building, many of Drexel’s health-related programs will be under one roof, enhancing opportunities for interdisciplinary education in a facility that affords health sciences students, faculty and professional staff the best possible environment for continued development and growth.”

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