Marshall University Online Counseling Programs: MA & Grad Cert
Marshall University offers three online counseling programs through its College of Education and Professional Development: a graduate certificate in violence, loss, and trauma counseling (VoLT), a master of arts (MA) in counseling with a clinical mental health counseling emphasis, and a master of arts (MA) in counseling with a school counseling emphasis.
All programs are offered through Marshall Online with flexible, high-quality course delivery. The master’s programs are 60 credits and use a hybrid format that combines synchronous live video classes with asynchronous online courses. Both master’s tracks include core counseling coursework, practicum, and internship, and they prepare students for licensure or certification. The graduate certificate builds on a master’s degree and focuses on trauma-informed care.
The graduate certificate in violence, loss, and trauma counseling is designed for professionals seeking expertise in trauma-informed care. It requires 18 credits and includes courses such as crisis intervention and conflict resolution; family violence; trauma and suffering; death and grief counseling; and treating complex trauma and loss. The certificate prepares clinicians for creative, expressive, and experiential interventions that promote healing, resilience, and self-care. Career paths include behavioral health clinician, crisis intervention specialist, grief and loss counselor, trauma recovery coordinator, and victim advocate.
The MA in counseling, clinical mental health counseling emphasis, meets West Virginia licensure standards for professional counselors. In addition to the 45-credit core, students complete emphasis courses including crisis intervention and conflict resolution, and legal and ethical issues for counselors. Graduates are eligible to apply for West Virginia licensure after completing postgraduate supervision and passing a comprehensive licensure examination.
The MA in counseling, school counseling emphasis, meets West Virginia Department of Education certification standards and also satisfies education requirements for the licensed professional counselor credential in West Virginia. Emphasis courses include current practice in school counseling; counseling children, adolescents, and parents; and legal and ethical issues for counselors. School counseling students must pass the Praxis II specialty area in school counseling prior to internship and are eligible to become certified school counselors and licensed professional counselors in West Virginia after meeting all requirements.
Core courses in the MA in counseling program include prevention and treatment of addiction; human development and adjustment; counseling theories; group counseling and techniques; theory and practice in human approaches; counseling techniques and human relations; diagnosis and treatment planning; introduction to marriage, couple, and family counseling; and career and lifestyle development.
Admission to the master’s programs requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a completed curriculum vitae or resume, evidence of academic aptitude such as a 2.75 undergraduate GPA or higher or a 3.0 graduate GPA or significant professional and life experiences, a personal statement, and two completed recommendation forms from professionals who know the applicant’s suitability for graduate work in helping professions. Admission is selective and competitive, with rolling admissions for Fall, Spring, and Summer starts.
The VoLT certificate requires concurrent enrollment or a master’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related field, a graduate GPA of at least 3.5 based on at least 12 semester credits, and departmental approval. Students already in Marshall’s counseling program can add the VoLT certificate through a secondary program request form without an application fee or transcripts.
Marshall University is a public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, founded in 1837. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and the master of arts in counseling with school and mental health emphases is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
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Graduate Certificate in Violence, Loss, and Trauma (VoLT) Counseling
MA in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
MA in Counseling – School Counseling
1 John Marshall DrHuntington, West Virginia
Program Essentials
Post-Master's Certificate
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
18
Fall, Spring, Summer
Complete in as few as 1.5 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.5
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
18
$534.75
$9,625.50
$534.75
$9,625.50
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
60
Fall, Spring, Summer
Complete in as few as 2-3 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.75 undergraduate GPA, 3.0 graduate GPA
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$534.75
$32,085.00
$534.75
$32,085.00
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: School Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
60
Fall, Spring, Summer
Complete in as few as 2-3 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.75 undergraduate GPA, 3.0 graduate GPA
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$534.75
$32,085.00
$534.75
$32,085.00
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. Rates may change, so please check here for the latest tuition information. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. “Resident” and “non-resident” refer to the student’s school-recognized state residency status. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees.
Farheen Gani
WriterFarheen Gani has researched degree programs and salaries in counseling since 2020. She has written about topics such as genetic counselor salaries and family and human development bachelor’s degrees. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.