Post University Online Counseling Programs (Master’s, Grad Cert)
Post University offers online graduate programs in counseling and human services through the John P. Burke School of Public Service and Education, focusing on diversity, social justice, inclusion, and equity. The programs include an 18-credit graduate certificate in alcohol and drug counseling, a 24-credit graduate certificate in professional counseling, a 60-credit MS in clinical mental health counseling, and a 39-credit MS in counseling and human services with concentrations in alcohol and drug counseling or clinical mental health counseling.
These flexible online options, with some synchronous elements, prepare students for careers in mental health, addiction recovery, and community service through practical coursework and field experiences.
All programs emphasize real-world application, ethical practice, and multicultural competence, taught by industry-experienced faculty in engaging online communities that encourage critical thinking and group discussion. Students receive personal support from academic advisors and field placement coordinators, with field experiences like practicums and internships required to build hands-on skills.
The graduate certificate in alcohol and drug counseling helps students understand addiction’s psychological, social, and biological effects on individuals, families, and communities. Key courses include biology of addiction; theories of alcohol & drug counseling; psychopathology of addiction; group and family treatments in addictions; clinical field practicum I and II, and a counseling internship. This 18-credit program, designed to be completed in about one year, includes two field placements and suits those seeking personal growth or partial credentialing toward alcohol and drug counseling roles.
The graduate certificate in professional counseling covers diagnosis, treatment, and assessment of behavioral and mental disorders, plus models for individual, group, and family counseling. Courses include human growth and development across the lifespan; theories of counseling; psychopathology, diagnosis, and treatment; group therapy; and professional counselor identity and ethical practices. This 24-credit online program, taking about 16 months, helps students build skills for mental health and substance abuse work, with partial licensure applicability.
The MS in clinical mental health counseling explores prevention, intervention, and treatment for mental health issues across human systems, with a focus on evidence-based practices and multicultural competence. Core courses include an introduction to the clinical counseling professions; advanced theory and techniques of counseling; family systems theory; group therapy; and psychopathology, diagnosis, and treatment, plus a clinical field practicum and a counseling internship, along with 12 elective credits. This 60-credit program, designed to be completed in 40 months, requires a 3.0 GPA for field entry and prepares students for therapeutic roles, with synchronous components for enhanced learning.
The MS in counseling and human services builds foundational skills in prevention, diagnosis, therapy, assessment, and intervention across human systems, with concentrations for specialization. Core courses include human growth and development across the lifespan; theories of counseling; professional counselor identity and ethical practices; testing, appraisal, and assessment; a clinical field practicum, a counseling internship, and a capstone research project. This 39-credit program, taking 26 months, includes concentrations in alcohol and drug counseling and clinical mental health counseling.
The alcohol and drug counseling concentration focuses on addiction issues with courses like biology of addiction; theories of alcohol & drug counseling; psychopathology of addiction; and group and family treatments in addictions. The clinical mental health counseling concentration covers mental health challenges through courses such as advanced theory and techniques of counseling; family systems theory; group therapy; and psychopathology, diagnosis, and treatment.
General graduate admissions require a graduate application, official transcripts showing a bachelor’s degree, and a professional college advisory session or interview. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 need a personal statement and Dean’s permission. MS in counseling and human services and MS in clinical mental health counseling programs also require one to five years of work/volunteer experience based on GPA. Graduate certificates follow similar criteria, but professional counseling requires 21 prior graduate credits, and no transfers are allowed.
Post University is a private for-profit university located in Waterbury, Connecticut. It is institutionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
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Graduate Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling
Graduate Certificate in Professional Counseling
MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
MS in Counseling and Human Services – Alcohol and Drug Counseling
MS in Counseling and Human Services – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
800 Country Club Road, P.O. Box 2540Waterbury, Connecticut
Program Essentials
Post-Bachelor's Certificate
Counseling: Substance Abuse & Addiction
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
18
Spring, Spring II, Summer, Summer II, Fall, Fall II
Complete in as little as 1 year
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.0 or higher
CA
Program Tuition
18
$629.00
$11,322.00
$629.00
$11,322.00
Program Essentials
Post-Master's Certificate
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
24
Spring, Spring II, Summer, Summer II, Fall, Fall II
Complete in as little as 16 months
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.0 or higher
CA
Program Tuition
24
$629.00
$15,096.00
$629.00
$15,096.00
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
60
Spring, Spring II, Summer, Summer II, Fall, Fall II
Complete in as few as 40 months
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.0 or higher
CA
Program Tuition
60
$629.00
$37,740.00
$629.00
$37,740.00
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Substance Abuse & Addiction
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
45
Spring, Spring II, Summer, Summer II, Fall, Fall II
Complete in as few as 26 months
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.0 or higher
CA
Program Tuition
45
$629.00
$28,305.00
$629.00
$28,305.00
Program Essentials
Master's Degree
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Yes
0 – No required campus visits
45
Spring, Spring II, Summer, Summer II, Fall, Fall II
Complete in as few as 26 months
Program Admissions
No GRE required
3.0 or higher
CA
Program Tuition
45
$629.00
$28,305.00
$629.00
$28,305.00
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.