Northern State University Online Master’s in Counseling Programs
Northern State University is a public university offering two online counseling pathways: a master of science in education (MSEd) in clinical mental health counseling and a master of science in education (MSEd) in school counseling.
Both programs are built around a 60-credit master’s degree and a flexible HyFlex delivery model. Some classes are asynchronous, while others are synchronous, and the program also includes two in-person residency experiences. Students complete supervised practicum and internship work, and every student is expected to complete 700 hours of supervised field experience before graduation.
The MSEd in clinical mental health counseling prepares students for agency, private practice, and other mental health settings. It includes core courses such as human growth and development; theories of counseling and personality; multicultural counseling; professional orientation and ethics in counseling; assessment, psychopathology, and diagnosis; and trauma-informed care. The specialization includes foundations of CMH counseling and psychopharmacology, clinical supervision, training, and ethics.
The MSEd in school counseling prepares students for K-12 counseling in private, public, or parochial schools. It includes core courses such as counseling children and adolescents; group dynamics; multicultural counseling; professional orientation and ethics in counseling; assessment in counseling; and advanced counseling theories. The school counseling specialization includes introduction to school counseling, school environment, and consultation, along with school counseling program development and classroom management.
Admission to the counseling program begins every fall semester. Applicants need a completed graduate studies application, a nonrefundable application fee, two letters of recommendation, official undergraduate transcripts showing the degree awarded, a 2.75 GPA from an accredited institution, a statement of career goals, and a program interview with counseling faculty. The program also includes an in-person, synchronous experience to observe and assess counseling skills and professional dispositions at two points during the program.
Northern State University is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and both counseling master’s degrees are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
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MSEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
MSEd in School Counseling
1200 S Jay StAberdeen, South Dakota
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
No
2 – Two in-person residencies required
60
Fall
Complete in as few as 2 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.75
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$484.10
$29,046.00
$484.10
$29,046.00
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: School Counseling
No
2 – Two in-person residencies required
60
Fall
Complete in as few as 2 years
Program Admissions
No GRE required
2.75
No state restrictions
Program Tuition
60
$484.10
$29,046.00
$484.10
$29,046.00
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.