Online Master of Counseling

Offered through the School of Counseling and Counseling Psychology, the Master of Counseling online will prepare you to provide culturally responsive, clinical mental health services to clients across the lifespan. With a combination of coursework and supervised field experiences, you’ll graduate prepared to take the next steps to become a licensed professional counselor.

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Quick facts

Next start date:

Next start date: 01/13/2025


Total classes:

Total classes: 20

Weeks per class:

Weeks per class: 7.5–15

Total credit hours:

Total credit hours: 60

Degree questions, answered

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Prepare for a career as a licensed counselor

This Master of Counseling online will prepare you to become a licensed professional counselor in Arizona and other states with comparable licensure requirements. Upon graduation, you can work in a range of settings from small clinical private practices to large agencies and hospitals.

In this program, you’ll focus on growing your ability to counsel clients of all ages and backgrounds. You’ll learn how to promote mental health within individuals, families, groups and organizations in a multicultural society. Additionally, you’ll gain clinical and non-clinical skills to apply in your counseling practice, such as:

  • Assessment (intake, crisis, personality and diagnostic).
  • Basic trauma response.
  • Case management.
  • Clinical counseling (individual and group counseling, couples counseling, family therapy and counseling children and adolescents).
  • Clinical documentation.
  • Cultural responsiveness.
  • Research.

Who’s a good candidate for this Master of Counseling?

Candidates from a variety of educational and occupational backgrounds are encouraged to pursue this program. To succeed, you should have an interest in providing clinical counseling services to diverse client populations, as well as managing a range of psycho-social-emotional challenges. You must also demonstrate your commitment to personal growth and reflection, multicultural awareness and an openness to supervisory feedback.

Additionally, this counseling master’s program is designed for those looking for opportunities to learn hands-on. You’ll complete three semesters of in-person, supervised field experiences in your geographic region. As a required component of the field experiences and state licensure, you’ll also participate in a live, virtual group supervision session weekly. These opportunities will allow you to develop your skills in providing counseling services, case management, crisis and risk assessment, clinical documentation and diagnosis.

Learn from expert faculty who are active in the field

In this Master of Counseling online, you’ll learn from faculty who are also leading professionals in a variety of areas of the field from research to direct practice. In addition to teaching, a majority of faculty are licensed in their respective fields, hold leadership positions and engage in scholarly work. Many also are fellows of the American Psychological Association and hold specialized credentials. Key areas of focus for program faculty include:

  • Children and adolescents/play therapy.
  • Counseling process and outcome.
  • Couple and family relationships.
  • Crisis assessment.
  • Culturally responsive treatment.
  • Mental health disparities.
  • Nonbinary stress and resilience.
  • Social justice and advocacy.

Professional Licensure

ASU academic programs are designed to prepare students to apply for applicable licensure or certification in Arizona. Completing an ASU program may not meet the education requirements for licensure or certification in another state. If you’re planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Arizona, we strongly recommend you visit our professional licensure page for the contact information for the appropriate licensing entity to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements.

Will my diploma say ‘online’?

No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”

Online counseling master’s courses

This program covers a range of topics from multicultural counseling and psychotherapy to human development across the lifespan and psychological tests. You’ll also have the opportunity to take elective courses in your interest areas such as neuropsychology, substance abuse and addiction, personality assessment and more.

Additionally, you’ll participate in three semesters of field-based clinical practice, which will provide you with a foundation for success during the licensure process. You’ll complete a practicum and two internships at a site you identify and that is approved by the program. This, combined with weekly live, virtual group supervision experiences, will allow you to practice providing clinical services in an array of mental health settings.


Become a licensed professional counselor (LPC)

After gaining licensure, you can seek clinical roles in settings from community agencies and hospitals to private practice and university counseling centers. As a graduate of the online Master of Counseling program, you’ll also be prepared to continue to doctoral-level studies in areas such as clinical and counseling psychology. Types of practice you may pursue include, but aren’t limited to:

Learn from leading counseling practitioners in the field

Faculty in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts are committed to research and exploration in their fields of work. Many of our faculty and staff are recognized nationally and internationally for their achievements from psychology to writing.

  • American Educational Research.
  • Association Fellows.
  • American Psychological Association fellows.
  • Fulbright scholars.

Learn from leading counseling practitioners in the field

Faculty in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts are committed to research and exploration in their fields of work. Many of our faculty and staff are recognized nationally and internationally for their achievements from psychology to writing.

  • American Educational Research.
  • Association Fellows.
  • American Psychological Association fellows.
  • Fulbright scholars.

How to apply

Applicants to the Master of Counseling program must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts.

This program has a highly competitive admission process.

Study at a globally recognized university

ASU is a global university recognized for its commitment to innovation, research and high-quality academic programs. Our university is repeatedly awarded peer-reviewed honors from U.S. News & World Report and other respected organizations.

#1


in innovation for 10 consecutive years, ahead of Stanford and MIT.

Top 5


best online bachelor’s programs.

Top 10%


best global universities.

80%


of graduates reported their experiences at ASU inspired them to explore new career opportunities.

Tuition calculator

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs. Learn more.

Tuition calculator

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs. Learn more.

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