A Past Student Reflects:
鈥淭he program and the administration exceeded my expectations by not only teaching me how to be an effective, and responsible counselor, but also how to advocate for myself and others. I absolutely loved my time at 黑料不打烊 due to the support I received from numerous professors and seeing how much they care for each student. I will forever be grateful for my time at 黑料不打烊, and I am so proud to be an alum of this program!鈥
-2026 graduate
The master鈥檚 program in counseling has two delivery types, 鈥渋n-person鈥 and 鈥渙nline.鈥 and two specialty areas, school counseling (in-person only) and clinical mental health counseling (in-person or online). All programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation in Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The in-person program offers masters' degrees in school counseling and clinical mental health counseling and is offered on the main campus of the university.
The online program only offers a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling and is delivered asynchronously in eight-week terms.
Students in the in-person and online delivery modes complete the same core curriculum that prepares counselors for professional practice. This core provides course work in professional orientation and ethics; counseling techniques; counseling theory; testing and assessment; group counseling; career development; lifespan development; research; and social and cultural issues.
In addition, each specialty area has specialty courses and electives. Finally, all students participate in field placement experiences that contain a practicum and an internship.
Online students may complete their practicum and internship in their local areas, pending the site being approved by the clinical coordinator. Syllabi for the in-person and online programs are parallel, so the content learned is the same and addresses the same CACREP accreditation standards.
Accreditation
The School Counseling master's program offers a variety of experiences, including:
- Nine credit hours of practicum and internship
- Two 300-hour internships in K-12 school settings (total of 600 hours of internship)
- Five specified school counseling courses
- Opportunities for graduate assistantships
- Enrollment as a full or part-time student
- Opportunities for unique study experiences such as in Italy and Ireland. These opportunities may substitute for a required course.
- Funding opportunities for conferences
- Opportunities to attend local, state, and national conferences and professional development
- Possibilities to collaborate with nationally-known faculty and doctoral students, including national presentations, research studies, journal articles, and textbook chapters
- Several course observations and activities in local K-12 settings
- As part of the School Counseling curriculum, complete the majority of courses required toward becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia, with the option of taking the final three courses as electives
- Chance for membership in 黑料不打烊's chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, the international counseling honor society
- Chance to take the National Counselor Exam before graduation
|
Code
|
Title
|
Credit Hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Core Courses (All Masters鈥 Programs in Counseling)
|
Core Courses (All Masters鈥 Programs in Counseling)
|
-
|
|
Principles of Professional Counseling and Ethics
|
3
|
|
|
Counseling for Lifespan Development
|
3
|
|
|
Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques
|
3
|
|
|
Advanced Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques, Crisis, and Trauma
|
3
|
|
|
Introduction to Research Methods in Education
|
3
|
|
|
Testing and Client Assessment
|
3
|
|
|
Foundations of Career Development
|
3
|
|
|
Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
|
3
|
|
|
Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling
|
3
|
|
|
Practicum in Counseling (100 hrs. minimum)
|
3
|
|
|
Core Coursework Credit Hours
|
Core Coursework Credit Hours
|
30
|
School Counseling Concentration
|
Code
|
Title
|
Credit Hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Required Coursework
|
Required Coursework
|
-
|
|
Structured Counseling Groups
|
3
|
|
|
Professional Issues in School Counseling K-12
|
3
|
|
|
School Culture, Learning, and Classroom Management
|
3
|
|
|
Counseling Children and Adolescents in School Settings
|
3
|
|
|
School Counseling Program Development K-12
|
3
|
|
|
Internship in School Counseling (600 hrs. minimum)
|
6
|
|
|
COUN Electives
|
COUN Electives
|
9
|
|
Concentration Courses Credit Hours
|
Concentration Courses Credit Hours
|
30
|
Student perspectives gathered over the years consistently endorse the program and their experiences.
For example, our graduates have said:
"I had high expectations entering the school counseling program at 黑料不打烊... The program exceeded my expectations. The counseling program at 黑料不打烊 has shaped both my professional and personal aspirations through its paramount curriculum, dedicated professors, and extensive resources. The opportunities in the school counseling program have been unbounded."
"The most meaningful part of 黑料不打烊's school counseling graduate program was having the opportunity to bond with professors. I felt like my professors and mentors genuinely cared about my experience in the graduate program. Without them, I would not be the school counselor that I am today!"
"As a high school counselor] I know every day that I'm doing something meaningful. You can't change every student's life and you certainly cannot do it quickly. However, having a student know that you genuinely believe in them, even when they don't believe in themselves, makes a difference over time."
"I really appreciated the professors who pushed me to take on new challenges (like presenting at VSCA [the state school counseling conference]) and talking about topics outside of my comfort zone. I think 黑料不打烊 is unique in that we're exposed to a very low income population, so as a counseling student, you quickly learn what that looks like and how to handle those student circumstances. That's a very attractive quality to employers."
"[Being enrolled in this school counseling program] was worth all of the time, hard work and money spent on this program. My eyes have been opened to many issues important to me surrounding the education system, mental health, multicultural issues and advocacy. Throughout the program I have also valued the emphasis on self-awareness and reflection and in doing so I have learned much about myself- how to be an effective parent, a better listener, an effective communicator and so much more. Most importantly, I have built my confidence up and acquired the competence to help others which has always been my passion. I truly feel this program has been the perfect fit for me and I am sincerely thankful to have been accepted."
"I think my experience at 黑料不打烊 prepared me as much as possible for the real world of school counseling. School counseling is a learn-by-doing profession. My graduate experience provided a solid foundation on which to begin my career. The biggest thing I learned from this program is to never be afraid of asking questions or seeking answers because we always have room for growth."
Our School Counseling master's graduates go on to work a variety of settings, including:
- School counselors in elementary, middle, and high schools
- Directors of school counseling departments
- District-level school counseling supervisors and leaders
- Enroll in counseling doctoral programs
- Nine credit hours of practicum and internship
- 100 hours of Practicum and 600 of Internship in clinical mental health counseling settings required as part of the degree.
- Opportunities for study abroad in Italy and Ireland to count for select classes.
- Chance for membership in Chi Sigma Iota, the international counseling honor society.
- Possibilities for graduate assistantships.
- Chance to take the National Counselor Exam before you graduate.
- Opportunities for research collaboration with nationally-known counseling faculty.
Curriculum Requirements
A minimum of 60 semester credits is required for the In-Person and Online Master鈥檚 in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Toward the conclusion of the program, all students must pass a comprehensive exam. All students are required to take 30 credits of common-core course work. Additional course work in concentration areas is required. All students complete 100 hours of practicum and 600 hours of internship. Students are also required to complete the Responsible Conduct of Research Training.
|
Code
|
Title
|
Credit Hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Core Courses (All Masters鈥 Programs in Counseling)
|
Core Courses (All Masters鈥 Programs in Counseling)
|
-
|
|
Principles of Professional Counseling and Ethics
|
3
|
|
|
Counseling for Lifespan Development
|
3
|
|
|
Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques
|
3
|
|
|
Advanced Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques, Crisis, and Trauma
|
3
|
|
|
Introduction to Research Methods in Education
|
3
|
|
|
Testing and Client Assessment
|
3
|
|
|
Foundations of Career Development
|
3
|
|
|
Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
|
3
|
|
|
Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling
|
3
|
|
|
Practicum in Counseling (100 hrs. minimum)
|
3
|
|
|
Core Coursework Credit Hours
|
Core Coursework Credit Hours
|
30
|
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration
|
Code
|
Title
|
Credit Hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Required Coursework
|
Required Coursework
|
-
|
|
Group Counseling and Psychotherapy
|
3
|
|
|
Addictive Disorders
|
3
|
|
|
Introduction to Counseling Supervision
|
3
|
|
|
Mental Health Counseling
|
3
|
|
|
Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Mental Health Counseling
|
3
|
|
|
Family Systems and Family Development
|
3
|
|
|
Internship in Mental Health Counseling (600 hrs. minimum)
|
6
|
|
|
COUN Electives
|
COUN Electives
|
6
|
|
Concentration Coursework Credit Hours
|
Concentration Coursework Credit Hours
|
30
|
Our clinical mental health counseling master's graduates go on to work a variety of settings, including:
- Community Service Boards and other mental health agencies.
- Private treatment programs and private practices.
- College Counseling centers.
- Intensive in-patient and crisis response programs
- Military and veteran-affiliated mental health care settings.
- Private Practice Counselor/Psychotherapist
The School Counseling master's program offers a variety of experiences, including:
- Nine credit hours of practicum and internship
- Two 300-hour internships in K-12 school settings (total of 600 hours of internship)
- Five specified school counseling courses
- Opportunities for graduate assistantships
- Enrollment as a full or part-time student
- Opportunities for unique study experiences such as in Italy and Ireland. These opportunities may substitute for a required course.
- Funding opportunities for conferences
- Opportunities to attend local, state, and national conferences and professional development
- Possibilities to collaborate with nationally-known faculty and doctoral students, including national presentations, research studies, journal articles, and textbook chapters
- Several course observations and activities in local K-12 settings
- As part of the School Counseling curriculum, complete the majority of courses required toward becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia, with the option of taking the final three courses as electives
- Chance for membership in 黑料不打烊's chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, the international counseling honor society
- Chance to take the National Counselor Exam before graduation
|
Code
|
Title
|
Credit Hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Core Courses (All Masters鈥 Programs in Counseling)
|
Core Courses (All Masters鈥 Programs in Counseling)
|
-
|
|
Principles of Professional Counseling and Ethics
|
3
|
|
|
Counseling for Lifespan Development
|
3
|
|
|
Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques
|
3
|
|
|
Advanced Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques, Crisis, and Trauma
|
3
|
|
|
Introduction to Research Methods in Education
|
3
|
|
|
Testing and Client Assessment
|
3
|
|
|
Foundations of Career Development
|
3
|
|
|
Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
|
3
|
|
|
Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling
|
3
|
|
|
Practicum in Counseling (100 hrs. minimum)
|
3
|
|
|
Core Coursework Credit Hours
|
Core Coursework Credit Hours
|
30
|
School Counseling Concentration
|
Code
|
Title
|
Credit Hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Required Coursework
|
Required Coursework
|
-
|
|
Structured Counseling Groups
|
3
|
|
|
Professional Issues in School Counseling K-12
|
3
|
|
|
School Culture, Learning, and Classroom Management
|
3
|
|
|
Counseling Children and Adolescents in School Settings
|
3
|
|
|
School Counseling Program Development K-12
|
3
|
|
|
Internship in School Counseling (600 hrs. minimum)
|
6
|
|
|
COUN Electives
|
COUN Electives
|
9
|
|
Concentration Courses Credit Hours
|
Concentration Courses Credit Hours
|
30
|
Student perspectives gathered over the years consistently endorse the program and their experiences.
For example, our graduates have said:
"I had high expectations entering the school counseling program at 黑料不打烊... The program exceeded my expectations. The counseling program at 黑料不打烊 has shaped both my professional and personal aspirations through its paramount curriculum, dedicated professors, and extensive resources. The opportunities in the school counseling program have been unbounded."
"The most meaningful part of 黑料不打烊's school counseling graduate program was having the opportunity to bond with professors. I felt like my professors and mentors genuinely cared about my experience in the graduate program. Without them, I would not be the school counselor that I am today!"
"As a high school counselor] I know every day that I'm doing something meaningful. You can't change every student's life and you certainly cannot do it quickly. However, having a student know that you genuinely believe in them, even when they don't believe in themselves, makes a difference over time."
"I really appreciated the professors who pushed me to take on new challenges (like presenting at VSCA [the state school counseling conference]) and talking about topics outside of my comfort zone. I think 黑料不打烊 is unique in that we're exposed to a very low income population, so as a counseling student, you quickly learn what that looks like and how to handle those student circumstances. That's a very attractive quality to employers."
"[Being enrolled in this school counseling program] was worth all of the time, hard work and money spent on this program. My eyes have been opened to many issues important to me surrounding the education system, mental health, multicultural issues and advocacy. Throughout the program I have also valued the emphasis on self-awareness and reflection and in doing so I have learned much about myself- how to be an effective parent, a better listener, an effective communicator and so much more. Most importantly, I have built my confidence up and acquired the competence to help others which has always been my passion. I truly feel this program has been the perfect fit for me and I am sincerely thankful to have been accepted."
"I think my experience at 黑料不打烊 prepared me as much as possible for the real world of school counseling. School counseling is a learn-by-doing profession. My graduate experience provided a solid foundation on which to begin my career. The biggest thing I learned from this program is to never be afraid of asking questions or seeking answers because we always have room for growth."
Our School Counseling master's graduates go on to work a variety of settings, including:
- School counselors in elementary, middle, and high schools
- Directors of school counseling departments
- District-level school counseling supervisors and leaders
- Enroll in counseling doctoral programs
- Nine credit hours of practicum and internship
- 100 hours of Practicum and 600 of Internship in clinical mental health counseling settings required as part of the degree.
- Opportunities for study abroad in Italy and Ireland to count for select classes.
- Chance for membership in Chi Sigma Iota, the international counseling honor society.
- Possibilities for graduate assistantships.
- Chance to take the National Counselor Exam before you graduate.
- Opportunities for research collaboration with nationally-known counseling faculty.
Curriculum Requirements
A minimum of 60 semester credits is required for the In-Person and Online Master鈥檚 in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Toward the conclusion of the program, all students must pass a comprehensive exam. All students are required to take 30 credits of common-core course work. Additional course work in concentration areas is required. All students complete 100 hours of practicum and 600 hours of internship. Students are also required to complete the Responsible Conduct of Research Training.
|
Code
|
Title
|
Credit Hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Core Courses (All Masters鈥 Programs in Counseling)
|
Core Courses (All Masters鈥 Programs in Counseling)
|
-
|
|
Principles of Professional Counseling and Ethics
|
3
|
|
|
Counseling for Lifespan Development
|
3
|
|
|
Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques
|
3
|
|
|
Advanced Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques, Crisis, and Trauma
|
3
|
|
|
Introduction to Research Methods in Education
|
3
|
|
|
Testing and Client Assessment
|
3
|
|
|
Foundations of Career Development
|
3
|
|
|
Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
|
3
|
|
|
Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling
|
3
|
|
|
Practicum in Counseling (100 hrs. minimum)
|
3
|
|
|
Core Coursework Credit Hours
|
Core Coursework Credit Hours
|
30
|
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration
|
Code
|
Title
|
Credit Hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
Required Coursework
|
Required Coursework
|
-
|
|
Group Counseling and Psychotherapy
|
3
|
|
|
Addictive Disorders
|
3
|
|
|
Introduction to Counseling Supervision
|
3
|
|
|
Mental Health Counseling
|
3
|
|
|
Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Mental Health Counseling
|
3
|
|
|
Family Systems and Family Development
|
3
|
|
|
Internship in Mental Health Counseling (600 hrs. minimum)
|
6
|
|
|
COUN Electives
|
COUN Electives
|
6
|
|
Concentration Coursework Credit Hours
|
Concentration Coursework Credit Hours
|
30
|
Our clinical mental health counseling master's graduates go on to work a variety of settings, including:
- Community Service Boards and other mental health agencies.
- Private treatment programs and private practices.
- College Counseling centers.
- Intensive in-patient and crisis response programs
- Military and veteran-affiliated mental health care settings.
- Private Practice Counselor/Psychotherapist
In compliance with federal disclosure regulations, The 黑料不打烊 Counseling master's program provides all prospective students with information in the online handbook regarding licensure. As licensure can vary state-to-state, prospective and current students must check with the Boards of Counseling and Department of Education for specific educational requirements in the respective state(s) in which they desire to practice.
More information is available at the and the .