Divine Mercy University Online Counseling Programs (MS & PhD)
Divine Mercy University offers a master of science program in counseling with a concentration in clinical mental health counseling and a PhD in counselor education and supervision. Both programs are built around a Catholic Christian vision of the person and prepare students for professional counseling, leadership, clinical practice, supervision, teaching, research, and service.
The School of Counseling emphasizes a global and respectful learning community where student voices are heard and where counseling is used as a path to healing and flourishing. The programs combine online learning with synchronous interaction, weekend residencies, and supervised clinical training. Students learn in a format that values both academic rigor and personal formation, with attention to ethics, diversity, social justice, and the dignity of every person. The MS program includes practicum and internship experience, while the PhD program adds advanced internships, research work, and dissertation study.
The MS in clinical mental health counseling is a 66-credit program that prepares students to become competent community counselors who can diagnose and treat mental disorders while supporting human flourishing. The curriculum includes courses such as counseling advisement; theories and models of counseling and personality; human growth and development across the lifespan; social and cultural diversity; clinical diagnosis and treatment planning; crisis & trauma-prevention and treatment; addictions counseling; and marriage, couple, and family counseling. Students also complete a 100-hour practicum, a 600-hour internship, and three extended weekend residencies.
The PhD in counselor education and supervision is a 90-credit doctoral program that prepares professionals for careers in counselor education, supervision, research, leadership, and advocacy. Students study advanced counseling theory, clinical supervision, research design, multicultural counseling, and teaching while also completing internships and a dissertation. Key courses include advanced seminar in professional identity; clinical supervision and consultation; advanced quantitative methods; adult learning theory and application; and scholarship, advocacy, and grant writing in counselor education.
Applicants to the MS in counseling must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and meet the GPA requirement of at least 3.0 overall, in the major field, or in the last 60 undergraduate credits. They must also submit the full application, academic reference, transcripts, essays, curriculum vitae or resume, GRE scores, unless waived, application fee, and complete individual and group video interviews.
Applicants to the PhD program must hold a master’s degree in counseling or a related mental health field, have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0, hold or be eligible for professional counseling licensure, submit the full application with transcripts, essays, clinical and teaching video samples, resume, and interview materials, and meet any additional requirements for international applicants. Both programs expect students to meet the location and state distance education rules before enrollment.
Divine Mercy University is a private Catholic graduate university in Sterling, Virginia. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and the clinical mental health counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The PhD in counselor education and supervision is aligned with CACREP standards and is designed to advance the School of Counseling’s mission to train transformational leaders and social justice advocates.
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MS in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
45154 Underwood LaneSterling, Virginia
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
No
3 – Students are required to travel to complete three extended weekend residencies over the duration of the program.
66
Fall, Spring, Summer
Complete in as few as 3 years
Program Admissions
Yes – GRE required; Waiver available
3.0
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
66
$980.00
$64,680.00
$980.00
$64,680.00
Program Essentials
Doctoral Degree
Counseling: Education & Supervision
No
3 – Students are required to travel to complete three extended weekend residencies over the duration of the program.
90 (with 30 credits transferred from the Masters program)
Fall
Complete in as few as 3 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.0
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
90 (with 30 credits transferred from the Masters program)
$1,000.00
$60,000.00
$1,000.00
$60,000.00
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.