Online and Distance Learning

Are you interested in taking a counseling psychology masters degree and possibly working as a psychology counselor?  This page contains information about the programs available and links to the schools. It is specifically for students who wish to study their masters degree online.  

Counseling psychology is the application of psychology to the solving of the problems of everyday stresses, such as career planning, learning difficulties and family difficulties.  This can be contrasted with clinical psychology, which deals wih analysis, research and treatment of severe mental health disorders, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

A masters counseling degree is required in order to practice as a professional counselor.  So what do psychology counselors do and what is involved in studying counseling at masters level?  This page will help you to find out more about these things and to locate suitable schools and programs.  If you wish to explore the on-campus psychology programs available, go to the on campus programs page.  If you want to look at doctoral programs, go to the PhD in counseling psychology page.

Where can you take a counseling psychology masters degree online?

The following are selected schools offering counseling psychology and related masters degrees:

• Walden University
  • M.S. in Forensic Psychology in Community Settings
  • M.S. in Mental Health Counseling - General
  • M.S. in Mental Health Counseling - Forensic Counseling
  • M.S. Marriage Couple and Family Counseling - General
  • M.S. Marriage Couple and Family Counseling - Forensic Counseling
  • M.S. Marriage Couple and Family Counseling - Trauma and Crisis

• Capella University
  • MS - Addiction Counseling
  • MS - Counseling Psychology
  • MS - Marriage and Family Therapy (CACREP Accredited)
  • MS - Mental Health Counseling (CACREP Accredited)
  • MS - School Counseling (CACREP Accredited)
  • MS - School Psychology

• Grand Canyon University
  • MS in Addiction Counseling
  • MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
  • MS in Professional Counseling

• University of the Rockies
  • Master of Arts in Psychology - General Psychology Specialization
  • Master of Arts in Psychology - Career Management and Counseling
  • Master of Arts in Psychology - Executive Coaching
  • Master of Arts in Psychology - Health and Wellness Psychology
  • Master of Arts in Psychology - Mediation and Conflict Resolution

• Northcentral University Online
  • Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy

• Browse more schools and programs at the foot of the page.

• Search for counseling psychology masters degree programs.

Other specializations relevant to counseling psychology

You may find it useful to consider the programs available in the following areas:

• clinical psychology;
• developmental psychology (infant, child, adolescent, adult and elderly);
• educational psychology (including school psychology);
• general psychology;
• counseling.

Other schools and programs can be found by using the search box.

What do you study in a counseling psychology degree?

Counseling psychologists use many techniques to help people to solve interpersonal problems, including one-on-one interviews, group sessions and hypnosis. A good rapport between the counselor and the patient is essential for counseling sessions to be successful, so good interpersonal and communication skills are very important.

A typical masters degree in counseling psychology might include: human growth and development, assessment, counseling theory, interpersonal communications and relationships. individual and group work, professional identity, research methods, social and cultural diversity, and counseling diagnosis.  There may be residency requirements. 

Some masters in counseling psychology degrees are designed for specific settings, e.g., in the M.S. in Forensic Psychology in Community Settings at Walden University you take counseling courses online to learn more about prevention, intervention, and consultation programs for criminal offenders in their communities, and to understand the foundations of community crime prevention and restorative justice for victims and offenders.

What jobs can a graduate of counseling psychology get?

The demand for psychology counselors seems to be increasing. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, employment of counseling professionals should grow by about 21% over the next several years.  To be licensed to practice as a counselor in the US you need to have a counseling psychology master's (or PhD) and up to 2,000 hours of supervised clinical internship, in addition to taking a state-administered exam. People who choose this specialization are often planning to pursue a doctoral degree in counseling psychology or in a counseling-related field, but may also pursue counseling, employee assistance, or research positions in social service, health care, business, or educational settings.

As a graduate of a masters degree in counseling psychology you would advise people on how to deal with problems of everyday living, including career or work problems and problems faced in different stages of life.  You might be helping people overcome addictions and substance abuse, marriage and domestic issues. Or you might work in K-12 education settings, hospitals, and  non-profit organizations.  Make sure the program you take is accredited by an accrediting body appropriate for the profession you wish to enter, such as the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), or the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE).

For more schools and programs