Central Michigan University Online Counseling & MFT Programs
Central Michigan University offers three concentrations within its master of arts in counseling program: addiction counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and school counseling. Each is a 60-credit program available in hybrid on-campus or fully online formats, designed to build practical skills through real-world client interactions for immediate career impact in counseling roles.
All concentrations share core training in areas like multicultural issues, professional ethics, assessment, group counseling techniques, counseling theories, crisis and trauma, psychopathology, practicum, research, and diagnosis with treatment planning, plus a 600-hour internship and elective options approved by an advisor. The hybrid Mount Pleasant program mixes 40 percent face-to-face and 60 percent online courses, while the fully online version uses 55 percent synchronous live sessions and 45 percent asynchronous classes, with no residency requirements.
Faculty are licensed counselors with doctorates, and students gain hands-on experience at the on-campus Center for Community Counseling and Development or at community sites, while maintaining a B average and meeting professional standards for progression.
The addiction counseling concentration prepares students for Michigan Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) status and addiction certification, focusing on diverse populations facing substance use, eating disorders, gambling, or trauma in settings like hospitals, outpatient centers, correctional facilities, schools, and private practice. Key courses include neuropsychopharmacology; etiology of addiction; addiction oriented systems and methods of care; and family counseling and therapy. A 600-hour internship is completed at approved sites with supervisors holding LPC, LMSW, LMFT, LLP, LP, CAADC, or equivalent credentials, with an emphasis on rural and marginalized communities.
Students in the clinical mental health counseling concentration gain skills to address anxiety, depression, stress, grief, relationships, and suicidal or homicidal ideations for LLC licensure in Michigan and entry-level roles elsewhere, working in private practice, clinics, agencies, corporate settings, K-12 contracts, jails, or hospitals. Unique courses cover an introduction to clinical mental health counseling and family counseling and therapy, with six hours of electives such as neuropsychopharmacology or counseling children and adolescents. The 600-hour internship takes place in social services, hospice, outpatient clinics, hospitals, private practice, or community health agencies.
The school counseling track supports K-12 students’ social-emotional, academic, and career growth in public, private, or charter schools, offering school counseling endorsement on a Michigan teaching certificate or standalone licensure, plus a preliminary credential option before full graduation. Required courses include introduction to school counseling; postsecondary planning for school counselors; school counseling seminar; and counseling children and adolescents. The 600-hour internship provides mentorship in leading groups and classroom lessons.
Admission to all concentrations requires a graduate application, transcripts from the undergraduate degree-granting institution and any graduate work, a resume or statement of relevant work or volunteer experience, two letters of recommendation, and a written statement of purpose with general plans for graduate study. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8 is preferred, but lower GPAs receive consideration. Selected applicants must attend a mandatory virtual group interview. Application deadlines are February 1 for fall starts and September 1 for spring starts across all tracks.
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It has held regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1915, and the entire MA in counseling program, including all three concentrations, is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
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MA in Counseling – Addiction Counseling
MA in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
MA in Counseling – School Counseling
1200 S Franklin StMt Pleasant, Michigan
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Substance Abuse & Addiction
No
2 – Two required campus visits
60
Fall, Spring
Complete in as few as 2.5 years full-time or 3.5 years part-time
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.8
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$829.00
$49,740.00
$829.00
$49,740.00
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
No
2 – Two required campus visits
60
Fall, Spring
Complete in as few as 2.5 years full-time or 3.5 years part-time
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.8
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$829.00
$49,740.00
$829.00
$49,740.00
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: School Counseling
No
2 – Two required campus visits
60
Fall, Spring
Complete in as few as 2.5 years full-time or 3.5 years part-time
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.8
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$829.00
$49,740.00
$829.00
$49,740.00
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.