Entry Level Education Counselor Jobs

About Sacred Heart University
As one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities and among the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. Nearly 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication, Media & the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Performing Arts; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; School of Computer Science & Engineering and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. Sacred Heart, a Laudato Si’ campus, stands out from other Catholic universities as it was established to be led by the laity. This contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts and, at the same time, cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition and Best Business Schools: 2025 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliate station, WSHU Public Radio; a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre.

The Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development (FCEHD) at Sacred Heart University (SHU) invites applications from qualified candidates for a full-time, twelve (12)-month faculty appointment (rank commensurate with experience). The successful candidate will serve as a core faculty member and program director for its CACREP accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program (CMHC). The program director is a member of the full-time faculty who is granted course release time to provide academic oversight of the CMHC program. Tenure track is possible for qualified candidates.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is housed in the department of Counselor Education. The department includes online master’s degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling, as well as an Advanced Certificate in Play Therapy.

We are seeking an innovative, self-sufficient, and critical thinker who can work within a collaborative online environment. The successful candidate will teach core courses, practicums and internships, and will support the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. While this is an online program, this position will be based on our Fairfield campus.

Sacred Heart University’s (SHU) Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is uniquely designed with the mission, vision, and values of SHU at its heart. In the spirit of whole person wellness, the philosophical tenants of counseling, as a field, align well with SHU. With careful attention to the comprehensive standards set forth by CACREP, SHU’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program focuses on integrity, respect, and the ethical care of our learners and those they serve. Building on SHU’s experience of delivering academic excellence in a low-residency, online format allows for broader outreach to diverse adult learner populations.

The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program strongly supports SHU’s Farrington College of Education & Human Development’s goal of preparing educational leaders to “personally and professionally make a difference in the global community.” Additionally, the program aligns to Sacred Heart University’s Core Values. Specifically, the program is committed to excellence by actively pursuing truth and knowledge through the teaching and scholarship of its faculty and students. The program is committed to the common good of society by addressing significant (and growing) societal issues. It explicitly recognizes the dignity and worth of every human being by focusing on prevention, resilience, and the holistic well-being of all individuals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide academic and administrative leadership for the CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, in collaboration with the department chair
• Design, develop, and teach graduate-level counseling courses in the online master’s programs, including core courses, practicum, and internship experiences as appropriate.
• Serve as the CACREP liaison and lead accreditation, assessment, reporting, and continuous improvement efforts in collaboration with the Dean’s Office, department chair, faculty, and staff.
• Maintain accurate program records, compliance documentation, assessment data, regulatory reports, and related metrics using appropriate electronic systems.
• Recruit, hire, train, support, and evaluate adjunct faculty in collaboration with the department chair.
• Support student success through advising, mentoring, engagement, retention efforts, and professional development opportunities for graduate students.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, campus leadership, and community partners to identify needs, solve problems, strengthen program quality, and advance strategic enrollment goals.
• Serve as a member of the department leadership team and contribute to departmental, college, university, and professional service in accordance with faculty handbook expectations.
• Maintain an active scholarly and professional agenda consistent with rank, appointment type, and expectations for faculty in counselor education.
• Participate in program-related events, recruitment activities, campus initiatives, and community engagement efforts that support the mission and visibility of the program.

Required Qualifications

• Earned Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from a CACREP-accredited program.
• Current state licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), or eligibility for licensure.
• Clinical supervision credential at the state or national level, such as Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), or eligibility to obtain such credential.
• Knowledge of CACREP accreditation standards, processes, assessment, and reporting expectations.
• Evidence of effective teaching, scholarship, and leadership in counselor education or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated professional counseling identity and commitment to the counseling profession.
• Active or emerging scholarly agenda appropriate to faculty rank and appointment type.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to teach in online graduate-level programs and supervise counselors-in-training using a variety of instructional technologies and platforms.
• Commitment to fostering a collegial, inclusive, and mission-centered learning and working environment in which all students, faculty, and staff can thrive.

Preferred Qualifications

• Membership in appropriate professional organizations (e.g., ACA, ACES, etc.).
• Demonstrated professional experience teaching and serving diverse populations.
• Evidence of scholarship commensurate with clinical faculty expectations at the Assistant or Associate Clinical Faculty level.

Sacred Heart University is a space that respects and embraces differences, recognizes the unique contributions that individuals can make, and creates a community that maximizes the potential of all faculty and staff. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.