East Carolina University Online MS in Counselor Education Programs
East Carolina University offers an online master of science in counselor education with three specialization areas: clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, and student affairs and college counseling. The program is designed for students who want to prepare for counseling roles in schools, colleges, and community and human service settings through flexible online study.
The program is built around a 60-credit curriculum that includes 45 credits of core coursework and 15 credits of electives. Students complete a supervised counseling practicum and two counseling internships, with classes offered online in synchronous or asynchronous formats. The program emphasizes counseling theory, human development, group work, career development, multicultural counseling, ethics, research, assessment, crisis intervention, and professional identity. Students may also complete a primary and secondary specialization for added flexibility, and many opportunities exist for community engagement, service learning, collaborative research, and professional service.
The clinical mental health counseling specialization prepares students for professional counseling roles in mental health settings and supports licensure pathways in North Carolina. Students develop skills in counseling theory, diagnosis, treatment, crisis intervention, and multicultural practice while learning to work with individuals, families, and groups. The track is intended for students interested in becoming clinical mental health counselors.
The school counseling specialization prepares students for school counselor licensure and work in elementary, middle, and high school settings. It focuses on school counseling roles, student development, collaboration, and support for academic, career, and social-emotional growth. Students also gain the knowledge needed for school-based counseling practice.
The student affairs and college counseling specialization prepares students for counseling and student support roles in higher education settings. It combines counseling foundations with student development, career counseling, group procedures, and professional ethics. Students who choose this path develop skills for working with college students and supporting them in academic and personal growth environments.
The core curriculum includes courses such as research methods and design in counseling; introduction to counseling and human services; counseling theory and techniques; counseling skills and techniques; career counseling and development; social and cultural issues in counseling; family approaches in professional counseling; professional, legal, and ethical issues in counseling; supervised counseling practicum; and two counseling internships. Elective options may include creativity in counseling; diagnosis and psychopathology; counseling children and adolescents; foundations of addictions; military and trauma counseling; and positive behavior intervention and support.
Applicants must apply through the ECU Graduate School online application and submit a statement of intent and three letters of reference. Admission requires at least a 2.75 undergraduate grade point average, and all undergraduate majors are considered. Candidates should also show leadership or significant work experience, and selected applicants will be invited to an interview stage. The program admits students for summer and fall terms.
East Carolina University is a public research university in Greenville, North Carolina, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Counselor Education Program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and the program of study is approved by the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction. The master’s program also meets the educational requirements for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and for licensure with the North Carolina Board of LCMHC.
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Online MS in Counselor Education – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Online MS in Counselor Education – School Counseling
Online MS in Counselor Education – Student Affairs and College Counseling
E 5th SGreenville, North Carolina
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
No
2 – Two campus residencies required
60
Summer, Fall
Can be completed in 2 to 2.5 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.75
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$277.06
$16,623.60
$1,044.06
$62,643.60
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: School Counseling
No
2 – Two campus residencies required
60
Summer, Fall
Can be completed in 2 to 2.5 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.75
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$277.06
$16,623.60
$1,044.06
$62,643.60
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: School Counseling
No
2 – Two campus residencies required
60
Summer, Fall
Can be completed in 2 to 2.5 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.75
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$277.06
$16,623.60
$1,044.06
$62,643.60
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.