Counselors often rely on personal experience to bring understanding and compassion to their work, seeking to inspire trust and confidence in their clients while adhering to ethical standards and maintaining confidentiality with regards to sensitive issues. However, to provide professional counseling guidance and support to groups and individuals experiencing social, personal, and psychological troubles, many individuals pursue a Master of Science in Counseling.
With a degree in counseling, a graduate can pursue a wide range of professions, such as vocational and career counselor, rehabilitation and mental health counselor, or marriage and family counselor.
What is a Master of Counseling?
A Master of Counseling prepares students for careers helping those who require guidance. In some instances, a master’s degree can also prepare students for professional licensure. The coursework is geared towards psychology and education, and instruction includes:
- Health
- Ethics
- Mental health
- Growth and development
People who have advanced interpersonal skills, empathy, a strong ethical compass, and a desire to help people improve their emotional and mental health may be a perfect fit for a Master’s Degree in Counseling.
What Can I Do With a Master’s Degree in Counseling?
With a degree in counseling, you can pursue a career in roles including:
- Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Marriage and Family therapist
- School and career counselor
- Rehabilitation counselor
For any of these careers, an ideal candidate should possess an understanding of common foundational skills along with an additional focus in a specialized area. Below is a list of potential jobs that someone studying Master of Counseling could pursue.
- Median Salary: $47,660
- Career Outlook: +23% (2020-2030)
Clinical mental health counselors provide assistance to individuals and families suffering from mental, emotional, and psychological disorders and issues. They provide treatment and support and provide career advice during life changes.
- Median Salary: $51,340
- Career Outlook: +16% (2020-2030)
Family therapists use a variety of techniques and tools to help their clients. Many apply cognitive behavioral therapy which helps clients understand harmful thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and teaches how to replace them with positive, life-enhancing ones.
- Median Salary: $58,120
- Career Outlook: +11% (2020-2030)
School counselors help students develop the academic and social skills that lead to success in school, help them explore career options or choose an educational program that will lead to a career.
- Median Salary: $37,530
- Career Outlook: +10% (2020-2030)
Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities live independently. They work with students, to develop strategies to live with their disability and transition from school to work, as well as help veterans cope with the mental or physical effects of their military service.
Source: BLS
Earning a Master’s Degree in Counseling
Students should consider a variety of factors when deciding on a college including:
- Program specializations
- Admission requirements
- Specific areas of focus (specialization vs elective courses)
Additionally, when deciding on a master’s program it is important to look at course offerings, program length, and skill development.
Courses in Counseling Graduate Programs
Since course offerings vary by school, students should review each institution’s curriculum to find the counseling degree that best suits their needs. However, certain foundational topics are common across most programs.
While the names of these courses may differ, many degrees feature courses in the following topics:
How Long Does a Master of Counseling Take To Finish?
Typically, Master’s Degrees in Counseling take 2-3 years to complete for full-time learners. However, program details may alter this time frame. For instance, many counseling programs have a practicum requirement that students must finish in order to graduate, and this can increase the time it takes to graduate.
Most counseling master’s programs require 45-60 credits, so students need to complete 18-20 credits per year to finish the degree in three years. These credits are typically divided into fall and spring semesters only, though some programs encourage students to take summer courses so that they can focus an entire semester on practicum work.
Students can also enroll part-time, taking smaller course loads but finishing in more than three years.
Skills Learned in a Master of Counseling Program
Pursuing a Master’s Degree in Counseling requires patience, empathy, and a significant amount of energy. Additionally, counseling programs build skills in:
- Mental health
- Communication
- Behavior
- De-escalation techniques
- Legal and ethical issues
By earning a master’s degree in counseling, graduates gain a competitive edge for careers in the field.
Choosing the Best Master’s Degree in Counseling Program
When choosing a counseling master’s program, students need to consider a variety of factors including:
- Online vs. on campus programs
- Program costs
- Program length
- Accreditation
- Admission requirements
A Master of Counseling takes about three years to complete, but certain factors can alter that time frame. A program with a higher credit requirement, for instance, may take longer to finish.
This section explores the many factors that students should consider when choosing a master’s program.
10 Best Counseling Schools in the US
- Northwestern University
- Boston College
- University of Chicago
- Columbia University in the City of New York
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Denver
- Lehigh University
- Northeastern University
- Fordham University
- Boston University
If you’re looking for other schools that offer Master’s in Counseling degree programs, check out the Find Your Perfect “U” tool. You can search over 6,000 colleges and universities with 11 different filters to find the perfect school for you!
Online vs. On Campus Counseling Degrees
Many counseling students have the option to choose between an online or on-campus degree. Online degree programs offer flexible schedules and allow working professionals to maintain their current employment while pursuing the degree.
On-campus programs, on the other hand, could help you form connections with the local and national counseling organizations. Furthermore, learning on-campus can lead to networking opportunities through practicums and internships, as well as symposia and other events.
Accreditation
Accreditation indicates that a higher education institution meets the educational and professional standards of a national or regional organization. Students can trust that accredited institutions’ academics feature rigorous, relevant courses and acceptable learning outcomes.
Additionally, counseling job requirements vary and many agencies require counselors to attend a regionally accredited school. These agencies receive a charter from the Department of Education to evaluate schools’ academic quality.
Programmatic accreditation assesses certain programs and departments within a school. For instance, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) grants programmatic accreditation to only the best online Master of School Counseling programs.
Master of Counseling Admission Requirements
When applying to counseling master’s programs, you should thoroughly review the prerequisites and admission requirements. Admission requirements typically vary by institution and program.
Prerequisites & Admission Material
Many of the best Master of Counseling programs use prerequisites to select applicants who have the best chance of making a positive impact in the counseling field. Generally, anyone applying to an online counseling master’s program must hold a bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, or a related field.
Other common prerequisites and admission materials for counseling programs include:
Paying for a Counseling Degree
The cost of a counseling degree varies based on numerous factors. For example, if you plan on attending a public school then state residency is an important consideration. Many colleges and universities charge out-of-state students up to 400% more in tuition than what in-state residents pay.
Another factor that impacts tuition rates is whether the program is online or in person. Online students avoid commuting costs or other costs associated with living on campus but may be charged a higher tuition rate. In some instances, schools extend in-state tuition rates to all online students regardless of residency.
Applying to available financial aid, scholarships, and grants can significantly alleviate some of the financial burdens that comes with a master’s program.
How Much Does a Master’s Degree in Counseling Cost?
Tuition rates differ among colleges and universities, and certain factors may impact the cost of a counseling degree. For instance, private universities usually charge higher tuition rates than public colleges because private institutions depend more heavily on tuition money and private donors.
Along with tuition, counseling students may have to pay program fees. Possible costs include:
- Technology fees
- Student services fees
- Practicum fees
- Health fees
- Housing fees
Students must also consider textbook costs and commuting expenses like gasoline and parking permits.
Scholarships for Master of Counseling Students
Counseling scholarships are competitive but abundant in comparison to other program scholarships. There are often specific counseling scholarships for groups like women, minorities, and disabled individuals.
Some examples of scholarships available to individuals pursuing a Master’s Degree in Counseling include:
- National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation (NBCFF) Minority Fellowship Program
- Pride Foundation Scholarship
- David H. and Beverly A. Barlow Grant
- Violet and Cyril Franks Scholarship
- American Addiction Centers (AAC) Behavioral Health Academic Scholarship Program
- Betty W Robbins Endowed Scholarship
Master of Counseling Career Resources
One of the best ways for counseling graduate students to stay abreast of changes and advances in the counseling profession is through active engagement in professional counseling organizations.
Membership in professional organizations helps ensure that counselors have regular exposure to the latest research and clinical innovation along with regular opportunities to share their own successes and challenges with professional colleagues. Professional organizations often serve as the voice of the counseling profession on regulatory and legislative issues, and they have had a major role in shaping the profession into what it has become today.
Below are five relevant organizations that counseling graduates students should explore and get connected with.
| Organizations | Descriptions |
| American Counseling Association (ACA) | ACA is a non-profit professional and educational organization dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. As the world’s largest association exclusively representing professional counselors in various practice settings, membership provides individuals with such benefits as free continuing education credits, updates on legislation affecting counseling, and access to current research and practice innovation through training programs, scholarly and practice publications, as well as an annual national conference. |
| National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) | NBCC is dedicated to maintaining a register of counselors. The NBCC’s certification program recognizes counselors who have met predetermined standards in their training, experience and performance on the National Counselor Examination (NCE). Students who attend CACREP-accredited programs are eligible to take the NCE and/or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselors Examination (NCMHCE) in their final semester and, if they pass, will become a National Certified Counselor (NCC) upon graduation. |
| American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) | AMHCA is the only professional organization dedicated solely to the work of clinical mental health counselors. It provides support services for clinical mental health counselors in the forms of advocacy, research, standards for ethical practice and continuing education. |
| Chi Sigma Iota | Chi Sigma Iota is a counseling honorary society that is open to counseling students who have maintained a 3.5 average or better in their graduate program. The organization promotes scholarship, research, and advocacy in professional counseling. |
| National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) | NAADAC is dedicated to supporting the work of addiction counselors, educators and other addiction-focused healthcare professionals who specialize in addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery support. It provides support for research, training, legislative advocacy, and an annual international conference. |
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Sources:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
- https://www.apa.org/apf/funding/barlow?tab=2
- https://www.apa.org/apf/funding/franks?tab=1
- https://americanaddictioncenters.org/behavioral-health-academic-scholarship
- https://www.amhca.org/home
- https://www.csi-net.org/
- https://www.naadac.org/about
- https://www.nbcc.org/
- https://www.counseling.org/
- https://www.ulm.edu/counseling/
- https://www.harding.edu/academics/colleges-departments/education/graduate-programs/mental-health-wellness-programs/clinical-mental-health-counseling