The Master of Arts in Counseling (M.A.) program at Marshall University prepares professional counselors to impact their communities.
Our fully online program can be completed in 60 credit hours and offers two specialties to choose from: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling.
Additionally, the department facilitates one graduate certificate program: Violence, Loss, and Trauma (VoLT) Counseling, which is available to students inside and outside of the program.
Classes take place in a blend of asynchronous and synchronous formats, so students who work full time can participate. Evening classes have live sessions so students maintain regular engagement with core faculty.
The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Both specialties (60 hours) satisfy the curricular requirements for professional counselor licensure (LPC) in the State of West Virginia.
West Virginia is one of 29 states participating in the U.S. National Counseling Compact, making it easier to obtain practice privileges in other states. Our counselor education program meets the rigorous criteria to participate in the licensure compact.
Established in 1961, our department has big influence in the counseling field and is small enough to care about each of our students.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 18 percent from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
Substance abuse counselors & behavioral disorder counselors provide care to those struggling with substance use disorder and behavior disorders in individual or group settings. They skillfully help clients cope in productive ways towards recovery. Substance abuse counselors & behavior disorder counselors can work in inpatient or outpatient settings, correctional facilities, hospitals and more.
Mental health counselors offer comprehensive care to patients in individual, couple, family or group settings. Their expertise help treat clients with anxiety, depression, grief, stress and more. Mental health counselors work in inpatient or outpatient settings, private practice, hospitals, universities, and more.
- Receive messages from our counseling department staff.
- Find out if our academic program is right for you.
- Meet some of our current students and hear about their favorite Marshall moments.
- Receive invitations to special events for future students.
- Get help with the application and enrollment process.