Master's in School Counseling Online Programs

Last updated: November 2020

In the past, individuals were required to teach for a few years before becoming a school counselor. While some states still adopt this for certification and licensure, the requirements for others is the completion of a master’s degree in school counseling.

As any online degree in counseling, an online school counseling graduate degree promotes the understanding of student development, developing counseling skills, and increasing one’s knowledge on academic, personal/social, and career topics.

When researching for your online school counseling degree, you should consider several factors: accreditation, student support, school internship placement assistance, class size, live discussions, and an alignment with the American School Counselor Association’s National Model.

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Insights into Online School Counseling Master’s Degrees

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Other coursework that most online master’s degree in school counseling require include: foundations in school counseling, school counseling program development, child and student developmental theories, and/or learning and behavioral disorders.

Curriculum

Although specific course titles and content may vary, CACREP-accredited Master of School Counseling programs feature curriculum that covers eight core areas required by CACREP that represent knowledge fundamental to the counseling profession:

1. Professional counseling orientation and ethical practice
2. Social and cultural diversity
3. Human growth and development
4. Career development
5. Counseling and helping relationships
6. Group counseling and group work
7. Assessment and testing
8. Research and program evaluation.

The curriculum for a Master of School Counseling program may encounter such topics as:

• Counseling theories, methods and techniques.
• Principles of human growth and psychological development.
• Social and cultural foundations.
• Group counseling in the school setting.
• Individual counseling.

To help in evaluating a graduate-level school counseling program’s curriculum, refer to the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) School Counselor Professional Standards and Competencies (PDF, 337 KB). The ASCA framework outlines the knowledge, abilities, skills and attitudes needed in order to meet the rigorous demands of the school counseling profession. These competencies are also useful in helping school counselors self-assess their own skill sets and formulate appropriate professional development plans.

Practicum and/or Internship

Online Master of School Counseling programs may include a practicum and/or internship component. In CACREP-accredited programs, this consists of a minimum of a 100-hour practicum (minimum 40 hours of direct service) and a 600-hour internship (minimum 240 hours of direct service). CACREP defines direct service as “the supervised use of counseling, consultation or related professional skills with actual clients for the purpose of fostering social, cognitive, behavioral and/or affective change.”

The practicum and internship portion of a graduate counseling program may satisfy fieldwork requirements for entry to professional practice; additional hours may be needed depending on your state’s licensure requirements.

Because the clinical experience portion of an online Master of School Counseling program is time and effort intensive, prospective students should plan accordingly before enrolling. Some questions to ask regarding the clinical component include:

• What are the practicum and/or internship requirements?
• What is the weekly expected time commitment for fieldwork?
• Does the program help identify suitable clinical sites?
• Are there any required on-campus residencies or intensives?

MS vs. MA vs. MEd in School Counseling

Online school counseling graduate programs may confer either a Master of Science (MS), Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Education (MEd) in School Counseling. The differences between MS, MA and MEd programs are minor, but it’s important that you understand these differences so you can decide which type of school counseling degree program is right for you.

• Master of Science degree programs promote mastery of counseling psychology through research projects, thesis presentations and fieldwork experiences. As a scholarly focused degree, the MS in School Counseling may be ideal for students interested in continuing their education with a doctoral degree.
• Master of Arts degrees are almost identical to MS programs in terms of coursework and practicum/internship experiences and requirements. If you have an undergraduate degree in a field other than psychology, it may be easier to be admitted to an MA program.
• Master of Education degree programs may focus more on pedagogy and educational theory than MS and MA programs. To apply to a Master of Education in School Counseling degree program, you may need an undergraduate degree in education or experience working as an educator.

Is an Online Master of School Counseling Right for You?

If you’re debating whether an online Master of School Counseling degree is right for you, it may be helpful to consider some of the traits and characteristics of online students:

• Self-motivated and able to learn outside of a classroom setting.
• Comfortable working independently.
• Good at planning ahead and meeting deadlines.
• Prefers flexible scheduling options.
• Has a computer and reliable internet access.

Does this sound like you? If so, you may enjoy an online Master of School Counseling degree program. Other reasons to consider an online program are the flexibility and convenience of earning your degree online and the opportunity to apply to top-ranked school counseling programs throughout the country.

Accredited School Counseling Master’s Programs by State

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What Can You Do With a Master’s in School Counseling?

You may be wondering, “What can I do with a master’s in school counseling?” There are a variety of career options available once you’ve earned a master’s degree. Many school counselors choose to work in educational settings such as elementary, middle and high schools, specializing in areas such as mental health and family counseling. There are also school counselors who work at universities and colleges. In some cases, you may find school counselors working in social services, health care facilities or in workplace training centers. We’ll outline some of the career paths available.

What Does a School Counselor Do?

Depending on the age level of the students, school counselors — who are also sometimes called guidance counselors — perform different functions.

Elementary school

Elementary counselors help students with personal development, and any academic or social challenges students may be facing. They play a very important role in education whether they are working with the students themselves, parents and other school staff. They provide counseling on an individual level as well as in group settings for students. They also provide teachers with tools they need to keep their classrooms productive and safe spaces for students. Elementary school counselors may also consult with the school’s principal and other organizations to advocate for student issues, needs or problems.

The role of an elementary school counselor may include:

• Helping students set academic and social goals
• Working with those who are developmentally delayed or behaviorally challenged
• Working with teachers and the administration to adjust curriculum when needed for Particular students
• Informing parents and discussing significant issues with them
• Dealing with signs of drug or alcohol abuse
• Monitoring how marginal, lower-income, and minority students cope with daily life as students
• Counseling students who have a parent who has died or is in prison

Middle School

Middle school counselors also help students with personal, social and academic development. They may help students individually or gather a group of students together to help them work through interpersonal issues that arise in middle school, which can be a challenging time. In some cases, they redesign classrooms in order to give students the best possible learning environment or accommodate students with specific needs. Students learn in different ways, and middle school counselors address these unique needs through collaborative efforts. Middle school counselors work with parent organizations as well as other teachers to address student needs or help provide interventions.

High School

In high school, typically grades 9 or 10 through 12, those responsibilities grow to include teen life issues as well as college and career planning. Their priorities cover academic and social issues, life skills, and coordination with teachers and administrators. They may coordinate college-campus visits and help students who are applying to schools for financial support.

School counselors may teach classes on social issues, such as sex education. They may do vocational counseling, present information to the student population on bullying, and work with students and parents in mental-health situations, providing referrals to outside resources when needed. They may develop school programs to improve study habits and time management or give individual assessments to students that show promise or difficulty in specific areas.

Counselors at all levels develop written plans for their schools based on local student achievement goals and the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) School Counseling Standards. These standards include ethical guidelines, professional standards and competencies, and the ASCA’s “Mindset and Behaviors for Student Success: K-12 College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Every Student,” which lists 35 standards to assess student development and increase achievement.

FAQs

Do you need a master’s degree to become a school counselor?

Yes. Counselors must hold a master’s degree in school counseling in order to become a school counselor. Beyond graduate coursework, students also complete a certain amount of hours of supervised training in a school environment.

Can a school counselor become an LCP?

Yes, school counselors can become an LCPs, or licensed professional counselors. It’s possible to pursue a license while in graduate school, but you must obtain a master’s degree in order to become licensed. School counselors pursue licensure for a variety of reasons, and it may also help deepen their knowledge of mental health disorders.

Do you need a master’s to be a guidance counselor?

A guidance counselor is the equivalent of a school counselor; therefore, guidance counselors, or school counselors, must obtain a master’s degree in order to become a counselor. A typical pathway is earning a bachelor’s degree in a related field and then pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling.

What requirements are needed to be a school counselor?

In order to become a school counselor, you must first complete a bachelor’s degree, earn a master’s degree in school counseling, complete an internship and pass exams for licensure. You must keep your skills up to date with continuing education.

How much does a school counselor make with a master’s degree?

All school counselors must hold a master’s degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), school counselors earned a median annual wage of $57,040 per year in 2019, and the highest 10% earned more than $96,090.

See our guide to school counselor salaries.