McDaniel College Online Master’s in Counseling Programs
McDaniel College offers two online master of science in counseling programs: clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. Both programs use a flexible online format with 8-week sessions and include in-person practicum and internship experiences.
Both programs combine research, theory, and practice to help students become reflective practitioners. They require a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship. Students complete degrees in about 36 months when enrolled full-time. The program offers deep engagement with course content, faculty, and professionals, and includes optional day-long workshops on campus each semester.
Common courses in both concentrations include introduction to counseling; counseling theories and techniques; legal and ethical issues in counseling and psychotherapy; research and program evaluation; lifestyle, career development and decision making; socially and culturally responsive counseling; group dynamics; appraisal procedures for counseling; and human growth & development throughout the life span.
The MS in clinical mental health counseling is a 60-credit program that prepares students for licensure as clinical mental health counselors in Maryland. Important courses include applied counseling problems: alcohol and drug abuse; psychology of abnormal behavior; family counseling; mental health counseling practicum; and two mental health counseling internships. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Counselor Exam administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors. Career paths include private practice, community agencies, hospitals, managed behavioral health care, employee assistance programs, and substance abuse treatment centers.
The MS in school counseling is a 51-credit program designed to meet licensure requirements set by the Maryland Department of Education (MSDE). Important courses include foundations of school counseling and curriculum development; delivery of school counseling curriculum and programming; counseling children; introduction to special education; school counseling practicum; and two school counseling internships. The program prepares students to become public or private school counselors who help all students realize their full potential.
Admission requires a completed graduate application, official transcripts showing an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0, a professional resume, a goal statement essay, and a successful in-person interview with a Counseling advisor. Students must also complete a criminal background disclosure statement and may be required to undergo a criminal background check and fingerprinting. Students with a GPA between 2.75 and 2.99 may be considered for provisional admission and must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first nine to 12 credits. Students with less than a 2.75 GPA may be considered on a case-by-case for provisional admission with additional documentation. Both programs are delivered primarily online and do not meet federal regulations for international students to study in the United States.
McDaniel College is a private liberal arts college in Westminster, Maryland, established in 1867. It is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and is a member of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). The school counseling track has initial accreditation status by AAQEP. McDaniel is an approved institutional member of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), which allows the college to deliver online programs to students in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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MS – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
MS – School Counseling
2 College HillWestminster, Maryland
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
60
Fall, Spring
Complete in as few as 36 months
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.0
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$625.00
$37,500.00
$625.00
$37,500.00
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: School Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
51
Fall, Spring
Complete in as few as 36 months
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.0
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
51
$625.00
$31,875.00
$625.00
$31,875.00
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.