Emporia State University Online MS in School Counseling
Emporia State University (ESU) is a public university that offers online master of science (MS) in school counseling. ESU draws on its long history in teacher preparation and counseling education to support working professionals and full-time students.
ESU emphasizes flexible formats, strong professional preparation, and clear pathways to licensure and certification. The school counseling program is a 60-credit CACREP-accredited degree offered fully online with synchronous and asynchronous classes in the evenings across fall, spring, and summer semesters.
The MS in school counseling prepares graduates to provide support services to PreK–12 students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. This fully online program is designed for both candidates with and without a teaching license, including licensed Kansas teachers, applicants entering through restricted licensure, and direct-entry students with a bachelor’s degree in another discipline. Coursework includes multicultural counseling; substance abuse in counseling; lifespan development; counseling microskills; counseling theories; group processes; diagnosis and treatment; ethical issues in counseling; and specialized courses such as high school counseling; middle or elementary counseling; assessment in school; and a supervised practicum.
The program can lead to school counseling licensure through the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and also meets requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license through the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (KBSRB).
Applicants must complete a graduate school application, provide official transcripts showing a completed BS, BA, BFA, or BSE degree, and meet GPA requirements, such as an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or a 3.25 on the last 60 semester hours, or a graduate GPA of 3.0. Both programs require applicants to document education and employment history, submit three references, and participate in an interview with faculty. Additional materials include a writing sample.
Students also must complete degree candidacy requirements after six to 12 hours of coursework, maintain at least a B average with no grades lower than B in core courses, pass a written comprehensive examination or complete a thesis, and file an intent to graduate form to finish their degree.
Emporia State University is located in Emporia, Kansas, United States, and is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The university has more than 22 years of experience in online learning and over 30 years in distance learning, supporting flexible access to its counseling programs for students across locations. Both programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
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MS – School Counseling
1 Kellogg CirEmporia, Kansas
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: School Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
60
Spring, Summer, Fall
Can be completed in 2 1/2 – 3 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.0 or higher
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$390.20
$23,412.20
$390.20
$23,412.20
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.