UMass Global Online Counseling Programs

• BA in Psychology – Prep for Advanced Study in Counseling
• MA – Educational Counseling (PPSC with CWA Auth)
• MA – Marriage & Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling
• MA – Professional Clinical Counseling

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University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global) is a private, nonprofit affiliate of the University of Massachusetts, founded in 1958. The university focuses on flexible, high-quality online education for working adults, offering more than 55 fully online, career-focused programs. 

UMass Global offers an online BA in psychology with an advanced study in counseling concentration, an online MA in educational counseling with the PPSC in school counseling and child welfare and attendance (CWA) authorization, an online MA in marriage & family therapy with professional clinical counseling emphasis, and an online MA in professional clinical counseling.

Across these programs, students learn in an instructor-led, session-based format with eight-week courses, multiple start dates per year, and the option to pause between sessions without penalty. Coursework is employer-aligned and designed “backwards” from job requirements, with input from working professionals and scholar-practitioner faculty. Students receive extensive personalized support from enrollment through career services.

The online BA in psychology with an advanced study in counseling concentration is a 120-credit program that builds broad skills in psychology, critical thinking, research, and scientific writing with flexible online delivery. Within the counseling concentration, students explore counseling practice and clinical mental health issues through courses such as introduction to counseling; family systems and dynamics; community mental health; and issues in aging, creating a strong academic foundation for graduate programs like UMass Global’s MA in marriage and family therapy and MA in professional clinical counseling. Graduates are positioned for pathways toward roles such as clinical and counseling psychologist, substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor, or mental health counselor.

The online MA in educational counseling with the pupil personnel services credential in school counseling (PPSC) and CWA authorization is a 48-credit program preparing K-12 school counselors who act as mental health supporters, career coaches, and liaisons among schools, parents, and students. Students learn counseling strategies for social-emotional challenges and college and career readiness through courses such as introduction to counseling and interpersonal relations: concepts and skills; advanced counseling and intervention; group leadership and intervention; and practicum and supervision in school counseling, along with 100 hours of practicum and at least 800 hours of post-practicum fieldwork. All candidates complete embedded CWA requirements across coursework and field experiences, and graduate eligible for the California PPSC in school counseling as well as CWA authorization.

The online MA in marriage & family therapy with professional clinical counseling emphasis is a 69-credit dual-emphasis program that prepares graduates to work as practicing therapists with individuals, couples, and families. Through six practicum courses totaling 400 hours, students gain clinical experience while taking courses such as community and environmental mental health; crisis and trauma counseling; clinical issues in human diversity; and assessment and treatment of substance abuse. The program is designed to meet education requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist and, in many states, as a professional clinical counselor, supporting dual licensure and careers in settings such as community clinics, child welfare systems, court mediation, schools, or private practice.

The online MA in professional clinical counseling is a 63-credit program designed to prepare culturally responsive professional clinical counselors. Students learn to assess, diagnose, and treat diverse client populations, emphasizing ethical practice, research-informed care, and individualized treatment planning that accounts for cultural and environmental factors. Representative courses include history and foundations of therapeutic practices; ethical & professional issues; psychopathology & diagnosis; assessment and treatment of substance abuse; child/adolescent psychopathology and child abuse reporting; and crisis and trauma counseling, and all students complete 339 practicum hours while enrolled in practicum. Graduates are prepared for roles such as substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors or mental health counselors.

Admission to the MA in educational counseling, MA in marriage & family therapy with PCC emphasis, and MA in professional clinical counseling requires a completed application, a minimum 2.75 GPA, and official transcripts from all institutionally accredited institutions where bachelor’s or post-bachelor’s work was completed or attempted. Counseling master’s applicants also submit an autobiographical essay, a signed ethical and responsibility statement, acknowledgments of the program and clinical handbooks, and an acknowledgment of the licensure limitation policy. GRE scores are not required for admission.

UMass Global’s administrative office is based in Aliso Viejo, California, and is regionally accredited by the WSCUC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). UMass Global’s School of Education is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).