Counselors help people navigate the various and complex relational and emotional challenges in their lives. While the job can be demanding, it is also a deeply rewarding career where professionals can make a difference in people's lives. Graduates of an online
master's in counseling
program can expect to join a growing field. The 电竞小游戏在线全球网址 of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the field of
school and career counselors
to increase 8% from 2019-29, while the number of
substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
is expected to increase by 25% in that same time period. While a bachelor's degree in counseling prepares graduates for entry-level careers in the field, most counseling professionals hold a master's degree in counseling and state licensure. Additionally, pursuing an
online counseling degree
allows students to study on their own time and without the commute to campus. Online programs can prove especially great for learners with other work or family responsibilities. To learn more about this degree, explore some of the best counseling master's programs online in the list below.
Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.
The Best Online Master’s in Counseling Degree Programs
SDSU
, a public university in San Diego, California, offers an
online master of science in rehabilitation counseling
. Open to students outside San Diego County, the 60-credit program typically takes three years to complete. Graduates work in a diverse collection of rehabilitation settings, from schools to community agencies. Some graduates specialize in patients with a specific type of disability, while others work with a wider range of clients.
All students take the same sequence of courses. Heavily focused on the practical applications of learned skills, the program begins fieldwork experiences in the first year. Students complete three practicum placements, followed by two internships.
Courses Include
Medical and Psychological Aspects of Disability
Theory & Process of Counseling
Case Management and Rehabilitation Services
Seminar in Rehabilitation: Organization Development
Policy & Governance in Disability & Postsecondary Systems
Unique Features
Cost: $9,570 per year (in-state) / $16,698 per year (out-of-state)
Credits Required: 60 credits
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
UA
, a public university in Tuscaloosa, offers an online
master of arts in rehabilitation counseling
. The program prepares students to help people with disabilities meet their goals, whether vocational, social, or personal.
Full-time students can graduate in two years. In addition to coursework, all students must complete both a practicum and an internship. Students must secure their own placement sites for these fieldwork experiences.
Courses Include
Professional Issues, Ethics and Advocacy in Counseling
Group: Process and Procedures
Medical, Functional, and Environmental Aspects of Disability
Vocational Rehabilitation Case Management and Placement
Research Methods in Education
Unique Features
Cost: $420 per credit
Credits Required: 60 credits
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
A public university in Greenville, North Carolina,
ECU
offers an
online master of science in clinical counseling
. With an emphasis in addictions, the program meets academic requirements for students to become both licensed clinical mental health counselors (LCMHC) and licensed clinical addictions specialists (LCAS) in North Carolina.
In addition to traditional classes, all students must participate in a group counseling course and a small personal growth group. The program strongly encourages (but does not require) individual personal counseling. Students must also complete a practicum and an internship.
Note that applicants recovering from a substance use disorder must show at least one year of sobriety before acceptance into the program.
Courses Include
Ethical and Legal Aspects in Clinical, Addictions, and Rehabilitation Counseling
Human Growth and Development in Clinical, Addictions and Rehabilitation Counseling
Multicultural Issues in Clinical, Addictions, and Rehabilitation Counseling
Career Counseling in Clinical, Addictions, and Rehabilitation Counseling
Foundations of Addictions and Clinical Counseling
Unique Features
Cost: $233 per credit (in-state) / $877 per credit (out-of-state)
Credits Required: 62 credits
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
GW
, a private university in Washington, D.C., offers an online
master of arts in rehabilitation counseling
. The program prepares students to work with people living with a wide variety of disabilities, including chronic mental health disorders, HIV/AIDS, and developmental disabilities.
The program meets academic requirements for the certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC), licensed professional counselor (LPC), and national certified counselor (NCC) credentials. All students must complete a practicum and two three-credit internship placements.
Courses Include
Professional and Ethical Orientation to Counseling
Social and Cultural Dimensions of Counseling
Disability Management and Psychosocial Rehabilitation
Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Disabilities
Introduction to Research and Evaluation in Counselor Education
Unique Features
Cost: $895 per credit
Credits Required: 48 credits
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
UNT
, a public university based in Denton, offers an online
master of science in rehabilitation counseling
through UNT Online. The program focuses on the many issues people with disabilities face, from psychosocial issues to dealing with the medical community. Students prepare for careers with employers such as Veterans Affairs (VA), addiction facilities, schools, or community-based rehabilitation centers.
All students take the same basic sequence of courses, along with one elective based on their personal interests and goals. The program includes 700 contact hours of fieldwork experiences, as well as a comprehensive exam.
Courses Include
Rehabilitation in a Multicultural Society
Advanced Counseling Techniques in Rehabilitation Counseling
Group Work and the Rehabilitation Process
Principles of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery
Psychopathology in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
Unique Features
Cost: $22,568 per year (in-state) / $30,164 per year (out-of-state)
Credits Required: 60 credits
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
A private, evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia,
Liberty
offers an online
master of arts in clinical mental health counseling
with two mandatory on-campus intensives. All students must also complete a practicum and two internship semesters at sites in their local area.
The program blends a biblical worldview with the latest evidence-based theories and techniques of counseling. It meets all academic requirements for Virginia state licensure, including a comprehensive final exam. Students from other states should check with their state licensing board for more information.
Courses Include
Orientation to Counselor Profession Identity & Function
A public university based in Lexington,
UK
offers an online
master of arts in counseling
, counselor education. Students may specialize in either rehabilitation counseling or clinical mental health counseling. The program, designed for working students, meets all academic requirements for Kentucky licensure. Out-of-state students should check with their state licensing board for more information.
In addition to traditional core and specialization-based coursework, all students must also complete a three-credit practicum and a nine-credit internship and either a comprehensive final exam or the certification exam in their specialty (Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination or Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination).
Courses Include
Medical & Psychosocial Aspects of Disabilities: Psychiatric Disabilities
An evangelical Christian college located in Winona Lake, Indiana,
Grace
offers an online
master of clinical mental health counseling
designed for Christian counselors. Though all courses are taught online, all students must attend an annual seven-day residency on campus. The curriculum also demands a site-based practicum and two internship experiences. Applicants must submit a background check.
The program focuses on the intersection between faith and science, challenging students to ask tough questions. In addition to the techniques needed to care for others, students' own personal and professional development forms a cornerstone of the program.
A historically Black university (HBCU) in Durham,
NCCU
offers an
online master of arts in clinical mental health counseling
designed to ready students for state licensure in professional counseling. Students may opt to take an additional three courses to prepare for licensure as a clinical addictions specialist. Those living in another state should check their state licensing requirements for more information.
In addition to traditional coursework, all students must participate in a three-credit practicum and a six-credit internship. All students take the same series of courses, divided into Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III. The program does not offer any electives.
Courses Include
Ethical and Professional Orientation to Counseling
Crisis, Trauma & Grief Counseling
Vocational Theory & Career Development
Introduction to Addiction Counseling
Diagnosis, Assessment & Psychopathology
Unique Features
Cost: $298 per credit (in-state) / $902 per credit (out-of-state)
Credits Required: 60 credits
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
In the full-time combined cohort program, on-campus and online students work together in real-time shared learning. In the part-time online-only model, students attend a two-day virtual real-time orientation and then complete weekly assignments at their leisure. Applicants for the online-only program must demonstrate two years of related work experience (not required for the combined cohort model).
Students must arrange for their own field-based activities, including site visits and projects. All students must also procure a site for their practicum and internship experiences. The program concludes with either a comprehensive exam or a thesis.
Courses Include
Psychological Testing and Assessment in Rehab and Counseling
Neurodevelopmental, Neurocognitive and Psychiatric Conditions
Rehabilitation Counseling Assessment and Planning
Research in Rehabilitation and Counseling
Foundations of Evaluation Research
Unique Features
Cost: $398 per credit (combined cohort, in-state) / $859 per credit (combined cohort, out-of-state) / $598 per credit (online-only)
CUI
, located in Irvine, California, and part of the Lutheran church's Concordia system, offers a
master of arts in counseling
: clinical mental health. The program blends evidence-based treatment approaches such as attachment theory, cognitive behavioral therapy, and family systems theory with a strong Christian perspective on relationships.
Though coursework is presented entirely online, students must attend a four-day kickoff conference on campus hosted by Dr. John Townsend, namesake of the university's Townsend Institute. Also, all students must participate in one three-credit practicum placement and two three-credit internships.
Courses Include
Foundations of Crisis and Trauma Counseling
Methods and Practice of Research and Evaluation
Foundations and Contextual Dimensions of Mental Health Counseling
Foundations of Spiritual Formation and Direction
Executive Coaching and Character Development
Unique Features
Cost: $670 per credit
Credits Required: 60 credits
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
Based in Mequon and part of the national Lutheran Concordia system,
CUW
offers an online
master of science in education
- school and professional counseling. Students choose one of the two tracks and may also add a substance abuse counselor-in-training (SAC-IT) credential and/or a certificate in Christian counseling while completing their degree.
Informed by a strong Christian worldview, the program teaches students to be ethical servant leaders, respectful of diversity, and compassionate in pursuing social justice. The program meets Wisconsin academic requirements for state licensure. Students from other states should consult their state authorities for more information.
A private Christian polytechnic university in Longview, Texas,
LETU
offers an
online master of arts in clinical mental health counseling
focused on how science and faith intersect. Students learn both the dynamics of spirituality and the latest evidence-based practices in mental health counseling.
The flexible program meets all Texas state licensure academic requirements. Graduates may also sit for the National Counseling Exam (NCE). Students must complete both a 100-contact-hour counseling practicum and two 300-contact-hour internship placements in addition to their online coursework.
Courses Include
Psychopathology: Diagnosis & Treatment of Mental Disorders
Counseling Theories and Family Therapies for Professional Counselors
Psychological Testing, Clinical Appraisal and Diagnostic Evaluation in Counseling
Integrative Theology for Counselors I, II, and III
Trauma and Theology in the Developmental Context
Unique Features
Cost: $615 per credit
Credits Required: 66 credits
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Assumption
, a private Catholic university in Worcester, Massachusetts, offers an online
master of arts in rehabilitation counseling
. The part-time online program takes under three years to complete. Student-centered and asynchronous, the program prepares students to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam.
Though all courses are delivered online, students must attend two five-day campus-based summer residencies. Students must also participate in a portfolio review, a 100-contact-hour site-based practicum, and a 600-contact-hour site-based internship.
Courses Include
Substance Abuse and Addictive Disorders in Rehabilitation
Introduction to Assessment and Appraisal of Individuals with Disabilities
Occupational Analysis, Career Development Theory and Job Placement Strategies
Human Growth, Development and Disability Across the Life Span
The Effective Use of Technology in Rehabilitation Counseling Practice
Unique Features
Cost: $762 per credit
Credits Required: 60 credits
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
CBU
, a private Christian university in Riverside, California, offers a fully online
master of science in counseling psychology
. Blending a Christian worldview with the latest evidence-based practices, the program prepares students for California licensure as either a professional clinical counselor (with six additional credits) or a marriage and family therapist.
The program requires all students to undergo 50 hours of group psychotherapy or 24 hours of individual psychotherapy. Other requirements include a comprehensive written case-report examination and two three-credit practicum experiences.
Courses Include
Diversity Issues in Counseling Psychology Seminar
Couples Therapy and Intimate Partner Violence
Human Communications in Group Process
MFT Counseling: Child and Adolescent
Christian Perspective on Professional Counseling
Unique Features
Cost: $745 per credit
Credits Required: 60-66 credits
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
Applying to an Online Master's in Counseling Program
Admission requirements for online and on-campus counseling master's programs are similar. Prospective students must usually hold a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field. Schools may consider applicants with an undergraduate degree unrelated to counseling, although incoming students may need to take prerequisite courses. Applicants should submit their undergraduate transcripts to prove they meet the minimum GPA requirement, which schools usually set between 2.5 and 3.0. Most schools require applicants to meet a minimum score on the GRE or MAT. Prospective students usually also submit personal essays and recommendation letters. Finally, schools may require candidates to participate in an interview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do counselors work?
Counselors work in many different environments, depending on their specialization. School counselors work in elementary, middle, and high school settings. Other counselors work at outpatient mental health centers, residential mental health facilities, individual and family services, hospitals, prisons, or juvenile detention facilities.
What is accreditation and why is it important?
Accreditation assures that programs provide students a quality education that adequately prepares them for their careers. Counseling students should look for regionally accredited schools and programs with accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
Is an online master's in counseling a good degree?
A counseling degree is a great option for any student who hopes to pursue a career in professional counseling. As long as you pursue a master's in counseling online from an accredited program, your degree will hold the same value as a traditional, on-campus program.
What can I do with a master's in counseling degree?
An online master's in counseling prepares graduates to become counselors within many different specialties. Some go on to become school and career counselors, while others pursue focus areas in substance abuse, behavioral disorder, or mental health counseling. A master's degree can also serve as a stepping stone for students to receive a doctoral degree in the field and work in research or academia.
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