Capella University Online Pre-Counseling & Counseling Programs
Capella University offers online counseling programs, including a 180-quarter-credit bachelor of science in psychology (pre-counseling), a 90-quarter-credit master of science in clinical mental health counseling, a 72-quarter-credit master of science in marriage and family therapy, and a 90-quarter-credit master of science in school counseling. These programs build skills for clinical practice, licensure preparation, and leadership in counseling through competency-based learning.
All programs feature online coursework with in-person residencies, practicum, and internships for hands-on experience, led by scholar-practitioner faculty focused on ethical practice, cultural competence, and real-world application. They align with professional standards like those from ACA, AAMFT, and ASCA, emphasizing theory, research, assessment, intervention, and multicultural awareness. General education options include no-cost self-paced courses through Sophia Learning, and GRE or GMAT scores are not required.
The BS in psychology pre-counseling provides foundational psychology knowledge with three master’s-level courses applicable toward Capella graduate programs, plus specializations in clinical mental health/school counseling or marriage and family therapy. Key courses include research methods in psychology; child development; statistics for psychology; introduction to counseling and psychotherapy; and psychology capstone project.
The MS in clinical mental health counseling offers specializations like addiction treatment and recovery (with courses such as theories of addiction treatment and interventions for substance-related and addictive disorders), child and adolescent counseling (lifespan development for the counseling professions and child and adolescent psychopathology), and general clinical mental health counseling (ethical and legal issues in professional counseling and group counseling and psychotherapy). It includes two residencies, a practicum, and two internships for licensure preparation.
The MS in marriage and family therapy focuses on systems-based theory for individuals, couples, and families, with two residencies, a practicum, and four internships. Representative courses include psychopathology: diagnosis and treatment of behavior disorders; systemic interventions for grief, loss, and trauma; and the impact of addiction and addictive behavior on family systems.
The MS in school counseling has specializations including addiction treatment and recovery (psychopharmacology and medication management, and group therapy and the treatment of substance-related and addictive behavior), child and adolescent counseling (theories and skills of play therapy and the history and systems of play therapy), and general school counseling (crisis assessment and intervention and life planning and career development). It requires two residencies, a practicum, and two internships aligned with ASCA standards for P-12 settings.
Admission to the BS requires a high school diploma or equivalent, transcripts, and a photo ID. MS clinical mental health counseling and MS school counseling require a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of over 2.7 or 3.0, official transcripts from all previous educational institutions, a resume or CV, a goal statement with short answers, and a photo ID. The MS in marriage and family therapy requires a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited with a minimum GPA of 2.7 or higher, official transcripts, a resume or CV, a six-question essay, and a photo ID.
Capella University is a private for-profit online university headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It has held institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1997. The MS in marriage and family therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), the MS in clinical mental health counseling and the MS in school counseling programs are both accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), while the MS in school counseling program holds extra accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
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BS – Psychology Pre-Counseling
MS – Clinical Mental Health Counseling: General
MS – Marriage and Family Therapy
MS – School Counseling
225 South 6th StMinneapolis, Minnesota
Program Essentials
Bachelor's Degree
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Counseling: School Counseling, Psychology & Behavioral Health, Counseling: Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling: Rehabilitation Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
180
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Finish in as few as 11 months or up to 30 months
Program Admissions
No GRE required
Not specified
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
180
$415.00
$74,700.00
$415.00
$74,700.00
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Counseling: No GRE
No
2 – Two in-person residencies required
90
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Complete in as few as 3 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.7
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
90
$512.00
$46,080.00
$512.00
$46,080.00
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Family & Human Development, Counseling: Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling: No GRE
No
2 – Two in-person residencies required
72
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Complete in as few as 3 to 4 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.7
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
72
$512.00
$36,864.00
$512.00
$36,864.00
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: School Counseling, Counseling: No GRE
No
2 – Two in-person residencies required
90
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Complete in as few as 45 months
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.0
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
90
$512.00
$46,080.00
$512.00
$46,080.00
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.