Best Online Master's in School Counseling

Founded in 1834, Wake Forest moved from its initial location in Wake Forest, North Carolina, to its current home in Durham in 1956. Wake Forest hosts undergraduate and graduate programs in Durham, Reynolda, Bowman Gray, Charlotte, and online. The university serves more than 8,000 learners each year through six colleges and schools, boasting an 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.

The school's online master's degree in school counseling holds accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Learners complete 60 credits of coursework, exploring topics like human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, helping relationships, and group work. Students also build knowledge of counseling theories, models, research, and analysis through 12 credits of foundation coursework. Eighteen credits of core classes in basic counseling techniques, group and family counseling, and cultures and counseling prepare students for school counseling concentration coursework.

During 22 credits of advanced practice courses, learners participate in two internships while studying appraisal procedures, issues in school counseling, ethical and legal counseling, and addictions counseling.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and submit GRE scores, a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts. They must also complete phone and virtual interviews.

Founded in 1878, Creighton holds membership with the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. With a main campus in Omaha, Nebraska, Creighton delivers educational programs through nine schools and colleges, providing more than 8,000 learners with undergraduate and graduate programs infused with Jesuit traditions and the Catholic faith.

Creighton's online master of science in school counseling and preventive mental health includes 36-39 credits that full-time students can complete in two years. Learners choose from concentrations in elementary school counseling, secondary school counseling, and preK-12 guidance counseling.

All learners complete coursework in line with standards set by the American School Counselor Association. Core classes include ethical guidelines for school counselors, action research in school counseling, and data-driven perspectives in school counseling. Learners also study group counseling approaches for children and adolescents in various settings while learning about diagnostic practices and mental health challenges.

Each concentration includes coursework that emphasizes issues specific to that subset of school counseling, as well as two internships. Through internships, learners complete the 600 hours of practical experience required for certification as a school counselor in Nebraska. Students without a teaching certificate must complete additional curriculum and instruction coursework to meet requirements put forth by the Nebraska Board of Education.

To apply to this online school counseling program, candidates must submit transcript information, a resume and personal statement, three letters of recommendation, and a background check. They may also need to complete an interview and submit standardized test scores.

Located in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, GMercyU has a main campus near Philadelphia. As one of 17 Sisters of Mercy colleges and universities, GMercyU provides academic programs rooted in Catholic values and faith. GMercyU is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The online master's in school counseling degree at GMercyU combines 30 core credits with 30 school counseling certification credits. The program aligns with the American School Counseling Association's National Model. This program prepares students for licensure as a K-12 school counselor in Pennsylvania.

School counseling classes explore topics like disabilities in school counseling settings, the needs of English language learners, intervention techniques, and group counseling and facilitation skills in school counseling. Learners also participate in three internships. During their first internship, students complete 100 hours of practical experience. The remaining two internships include an additional 600 hours of supervised experience. Students must also complete two weekend residencies during the program.

Designed for part-time learners, students can complete their school counseling master's degree in 3.5 years. GMercyU also offers a 24-credit, post-master's certificate option for students with a master's in counseling who want to work as school counselors.

Applicants to this online master's in school counseling program need an accredited bachelor's degree, and they must have completed coursework in psychology, research methods, and statistics. Applicants also submit two letters of recommendation and a personal statement and complete an interview. Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 must submit GRE scores, as well.

Founded by Congregationalists leaders and funded by the Ford Foundation, Prescott College began offering educational programs in 1966. Located in Prescott, Arizona, the school offers undergraduate and graduate programs to over 800 learners and holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

Prescott College's online master of education in school counseling program includes 36 credits of coursework, several on-campus residencies, and practical experience requirements. Learners study topics like foundations of school counseling, counseling theories, and research practices for school counselors. The program also includes a supervised school counseling practicum.

Prescott College's program builds knowledge and skills applicable to school counseling positions at the preK-12 level. The school counseling curriculum prepares students for licensure in Arizona. Out-of-state residents should consult their state's requirements for certification and licensure.

On-campus residencies include weekend colloquia. During colloquia, learners attend workshops and seminars, discuss research, and participate in interactive peer learning activities.

Applicants to this online master's program must submit two letters of recommendation, a personal statement about educational goals and readiness for the program, a resume, and transcripts. Learners can transfer up to 15 credits into this program.

CUW is an affiliate member of the nine-institution Concordia University System and embraces the Lutheran faith within its educational community. Founded in 1881, CUW offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 8,000 learners each year.

The online master of science in education in professional and school counseling includes 45-60 credits. Students can complete professional or school counseling licensure tracks. The professional counseling concentration is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services and prepares students for professional counselor licensure. The school counseling track is approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and prepares students for school counseling licensure in Wisconsin.

School counseling coursework emphasizes social and cultural foundations, group work, and human growth and development. Students participate in a 200-hour supervised practicum and produce a portfolio to demonstrate expertise in service standards put forth by Wisconsin. The professional counseling program includes coursework in comparable fields while emphasizing core counseling competencies. Professional counseling students complete a 600-hour internship -- including 240 hours of direct client contact -- and a portfolio.

Applicants to this program must submit a personal essay, a resume, two letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. Learners need a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA.

Part of the University of North Carolina System, NC State is a land-, sea-, and space-grant institution. Located in Raleigh, NC State is one of three schools that constitute the Research Triangle, serving more than 35,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year. NC State holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The school's online master of education in college counseling and student development prepares students to work as counselors in higher education, providing academic and career services. Learners also develop the knowledge and skills needed to assume advisor roles in student service agencies.

This online master's degree comprises 36-42 credits. Students study topics like career counseling and development, multicultural counseling, and strategies for clinical assessment in counseling. Additional coursework in group counseling, multicultural lifespan development, and special problems in guidance accompany a practicum in counseling and an internship in college counseling and student development.

During their practicum, learners participate in individual and group counseling and consultation at a school, college, or agency. The 600-hour internship builds on coursework and practical experience, placing students in a student affairs department to work as a counselor, student development educator, or administrator alongside qualified professionals.

Applicants must live in North Carolina and submit three letters of recommendation, transcripts, and GRE or MAT scores. They must also complete a formal interview.

Based in Dobbs Ferry, New York, Mercy also hosts programs in Manhattan, the Bronx, Yorktown Heights, and online. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1950, Mercy continues to hold true to its Catholic origins, providing 90 degrees and certificates through five academic schools. Mercy is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The school's online master of science in counseling includes a specialization in school counseling with an optional extension in bilingual education. Students pursuing this 54-credit degree earn provisional certification as a school counselor. Learners can complete their online educational counseling degree in three years.

The curriculum includes core counseling classes, two internships, six credits of bilingual and bicultural coursework, and three credits of college and career counseling classes. Learners study counseling ethics, human development, and research methods during the first year of the program. The second year emphasizes multicultural perspectives, career development, and group counseling in addition to a practicum.

The third year covers assessment in counseling and college planning and preparation counseling. During this time, students also complete two internships in school settings. Students who add the bilingual extension take classes in bilingual education theory and complete their internships at bilingual school locations.

Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation, a personal essay, and transcript information. Applicants need a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA for full admission. Provisional admittees must demonstrate a 3.0 GPA or higher over the first 18 credits of the program.

Opened as an extension of Hannibal-LaGrange College in 1957, MBU grew through the support of the Missouri Baptist Convention and opened its St. Louis campus in 1968. MBU provides undergraduate and graduate programs grounded in the Baptist faith.

The 51-60-credit online master of arts in school counseling prepares students to work as elementary and secondary school guidance counselors and meets the requirements for certification in MIssouri.

MBU's program emphasizes foundations of school counseling, counseling techniques, and counseling theories. Students study ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling in addition to human development, substance abuse counseling, and career counseling.

During a practicum, learners engage in clinical mental health counseling practice under the supervision of a counseling professional. The practicum incorporates 100 hours, including 40 hours of direct client contact. Students also complete a 600-hour supervised internship in elementary and secondary school settings. Students attend bi-montly internship classes to discuss and critique their counseling sessions.

To become a certified school counselor in Missouri, students must hold a valid educator's certificate. Students with teaching credentials are exempt from classes in methods of teaching and inclusion, classroom and behavior management, and integration of literacy in concentration areas.

Established in 1947, UST currently offers nearly 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees that blend Catholic faith and educational excellence. With over 3,000 students, UST boasts an 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio and holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

UST offers a fully online master of education degree alongside a hybrid program that combines online and on-campus courses. Students can specialize in six areas, including counselor education.

Counselor education students complete 36 credits. Required classes in educational research design and data analysis and educational research and scholarship accompany 30 credits of core classes. Learners study topics like guidance services, multicultural populations, and human growth development.

The program also includes a practicum requirement that serves as part of a two-semester capstone. The practicum comprises at least 100 hours, including 40 hours dedicated to direct client service.

Applicants need two years of experience in an approved counseling-related area for admission. They must also submit transcript information and a personal essay. Learners with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 must submit GRE or MAT scores, as well.

The flagship institution in the University of Alaska System, UAF traces its origins to 1917. The land-, sea-, and space-grant university first operated as an agricultural college and school of mining. UAF now offers nearly 200 certificates and degrees through nine schools and colleges. The school serves over 8,000 students on its main campus in Fairbanks; at locations in Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue, and Dillingham; and online.

UAF offers an online master of education in counseling that prepares students for counseling roles in school and community settings. The 48-57-credit curriculum emphasizes the role school counselors play in career guidance, along with the developmental processes and changes that children and adolescents experience. Students also build the skills needed to serve as college preparatory counselors and graduation success coaches.

Required classes include foundations of counseling, counseling theories and applications, and child and adolescent development. Learners also study topics like appraisal practices, career development, and developmental interventions. Students can specialize in elementary and secondary education or K-12 education. All students complete two internships -- each of which includes 20 hours per week of field work -- and a non-thesis research project or a thesis at the end of the program.

UAF's online master of education in counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Educational Programs. UAF is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.