Pre-Counseling Bachelor’s Programs
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“Aspiring counselors should be taking courses relevant to helping fields, such as psychology, sociology, rehabilitation, and human services.”
Marcela Kepic, PhD, Professor of Practice, University of Arizona
While licensure as a professional counselor requires a master’s degree, the academic foundation begins during undergraduate study. There is no single required major at the bachelor’s level, but students commonly complete this preparation in one of two ways: by earning a degree in psychology, human services, or a related field; or by enrolling in a dedicated pre-counseling program. Both paths can fulfill graduate admissions requirements and provide exposure to key concepts in counseling theory, ethics, and human development.
Most pre-counseling programs are structured as bachelor’s level psychology degrees with a counseling focus that comes either through concentrations, guided electives, or particular advising tracks. These programs are designed to help students meet the prerequisites for CACREP-accredited master’s programs and to begin exploring population-specific issues and core helping skills. Others may take a more generalist approach but still provide the necessary academic background to pursue graduate-level counseling training.
At the undergraduate level, students cannot become licensed counselors, but they can lay the groundwork for a successful application to graduate school and begin developing the analytical, interpersonal, and ethical reasoning skills that the profession demands. This guide profiles online pre-counseling bachelor’s programs that serve this purpose.
Meet the Expert: Marcela Kepic, PhD
Dr. Marcela Kepic is a professor of practice at the University of Arizona, specializing in human development and wellness across the lifespan, with a focus on adults navigating trauma, grief, and loss. She serves as chair of the American Mental Health Counselors Association’s (AMHCA) Graduate Student and Emerging Professionals Committee and is the graduate student representative on the AMHCA Board of Directors.
A past president of the Association for Adult Development and Aging (AADA), Dr. Kepic currently leads AADA’s Middle Adulthood Task Force and actively contributes to advancing grief competencies in the counseling profession. She is also a counseling program liaison for CACREP and a member of ACA, ACES, WACES, AMHCA, and the Arizona Counseling Association.
Dr. Kepic contributes regularly to peer-reviewed publications, presents at national and international conferences, and serves as a reviewer for academic journals. In addition to her academic work, she maintains a private counseling practice, providing care to individuals and couples navigating life’s transitions. Her dedication to education, supervision, and mentorship underscores her commitment to the growth of the counseling profession.
CounselingSchools.com: What should aspiring counselors be looking for in an undergraduate program?
Dr. Kepic: Aspiring counselors should be taking courses relevant to helping fields, such as psychology, sociology, rehabilitation, and human services. This can help them to get further motivated, and confirm or not whether to pursue counseling.
Also, they should look into career advising services to understand their values and passions. Getting hands-on experience by signing up for volunteering, or taking an internship at mental health agencies, can also help, as will speaking with faculty in the specific field that a student desires.
CounselingSchools.com: Do you have any advice for aspiring counselors who are just beginning to plan their educational journey?
Dr. Kepic: Speak with an advisor and have a plan for grad school early. Do not leave it for the last semester of your senior year. Prioritize programs offering internships, volunteer opportunities, or service learning. Direct human services experience is valuable and often expected.
Also, work on developing soft skills like empathy, communication, and cultural awareness. Speaking with professionals, faculty, or grad students about their experience in the grad school (social work, counseling, psychology) is also valuable.
Meet the Expert: Beverly Smith, PhD
Dr. Beverly Smith is the president and Interim CEO/ED of the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA). She has professional counseling experience in various settings, including private practice, public education, corrections, community counseling, and higher education.
Dr. Smith is the owner and principal therapist of BSmith Consulting Group, LLC, and a PhD mentor at Capella University. She is a proud two-time graduate of Tuskegee University (BS-biology, MEd-counseling & higher education) and has earned counseling degrees from Troy University (EdS) as well as Amridge University (PhD). Additionally, Dr. Smith has a certificate in administration and leadership from Kennesaw State University.
CounselingSchools.com: What should aspiring counselors be looking for in an undergraduate program?
Dr. Smith: Licensed professional counselors or licensed mental health counselors are credentialed at the master’s level (graduate school level). However, undergraduate students can major in psychology and/or human services to name a couple of pathways to potential admissions into a master’s degree program in counseling.
CounselingSchools.com: Do you have any advice for aspiring counselors who are just beginning to plan their educational journey?
Dr. Smith: Ask yourself the “why” so you are clear on your reasons for wanting to be a clinical mental health counselor. Be clear about your passion and purpose. Do not take shortcuts to gaining the needed experience, educational training, and supervision.
Do your best. Do not dim your light to make others feel better about their professional insecurities, and never allow others to determine your value based on their insecurities. Be ethical and forthright, even when not popular. Help others because you genuinely feel people are valuable and have the capacity to be forward-moving.
CounselingSchools.com: What does the future of counseling and/or counseling education look like to you?
Dr. Smith: The counseling profession continues to evolve as we address access to quality care. We will see more tele-mental healthcare services evolve as we continue to combat the stigmas associated with mental healthcare.
Typical Admissions Requirements for Pre-Counseling Bachelor’s Programs
The admissions requirements for online pre-counseling bachelor’s programs vary from institution to institution. In addition, because licensing requirements vary by state and specialization, prospective students should thoroughly research admission requirements and reflect upon their desired career focus when making application decisions. Prospective students may need to submit a variety of application materials including, but not limited to, the following:
- Official transcripts from previous institutions of study that document meeting or exceeding a minimum GPA as well as satisfactory completion of varied coursework
- A writing sample which may be a statement of purpose, essay or another suitable document
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Letter(s) of recommendation SAT/ACT scores
- Proof of valid, government-issued form of photo identification
- Application fee
- Registration acknowledgment form
Many programs will also require an interview with a faculty member or similar individual. Such interviews can be held in person, by phone, or by other remote communications technology to accommodate the needs of both interviewer and prospective student.
Courses in Pre-Counseling Bachelor’s Programs
While the online pre-counseling curriculum may vary widely among available programs, many programs incorporate several elements, including general education coursework, psychology courses, electives, a capstone, and graduate-level counseling or therapy courses designed for completion in the student’s final year of undergraduate studies. General education courses focus on English composition, ethics, statistics, and human biology.
Core coursework tends to encompass a standardized collection of topics and often aligns with the standards set forth by accrediting agencies such CACREP. The following is a listing of coursework often featured in a pre-counseling program:
- Introduction to Counseling and Psychotherapy
- Abnormal Psychology
- Lifespan Development
- Theories of Personality
- Research Methods in Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Multicultural Counseling and Research Issues
- Trauma and Crisis Intervention
- Professional Ethics
Program Accreditation for Pre-Counseling Bachelor’s Programs
Accreditation is a voluntary process by which universities demonstrate that their degree programs meet certain standards of quality and practicality. Standards that undergird accreditation often evolve over time as counseling, psychology, and related disciplines continue to advance. These standards also tend to vary somewhat according to the specialization a mental health professional chooses.
Accreditation is valuable for students, institutions of higher education and employers. Accreditation benefits students because students are more likely to find comprehensive, effective training in accredited programs. Accreditation thus helps students make informed professional development choices. Accreditation benefits higher education institutions by enhancing their reputations, making them more attractive to prospective students. Accreditation standards are often also used by unaccredited programs to design their curricula. Curricula designed in alignment with such standards increase the likelihood of accreditation.
Finally, accreditation benefits employers by reducing risk when hiring decisions as graduates of accredited programs are more likely to have received the training and guidance necessary to become effective, reliable, ethical, and dedicated mental health professionals.
Accreditation also enhances the prospect of professional advancement as many master’s- or doctoral-level programs have admissions requirements that require incoming students to graduate from accredited programs. As licensure is often necessary for professional practice and requires graduation from an accredited program, it is a wise choice for aspiring mental health professionals to enroll in accredited programs early in their education.
Students should be aware of the two common types of educational accreditation. As noted on the U.S. Department of Education website, these two types are institutional and programmatic accreditation. Institutional accreditation typically applies to an entire educational institution and indicates that each and every part of that institution is directly contributing to the fulfillment of the institution’s objectives. Regional and national accrediting entities may both offer institutional accreditation.
Programmatic accreditation, sometimes called specialized accreditation, is typically held by a program, department, or college within an educational institution. The accredited unit within the institution can be as large as a college or department or no larger than a particular curriculum within an individual discipline. It is possible for pre-counseling programs not to be accredited while the educational institution hosting the program is accredited.
Featured Online Pre-Counseling Bachelor’s Programs
Arizona State University offers a bachelor of science degree in counseling and applied psychological science. This 120-credit program consists of 40 courses and can typically be completed within four calendar years. The program, noteworthy for being at a major research university, features a curriculum focused on counseling theory, addiction, trauma, lifespan development, cultural sensitivity, active listening, and training in skills to promote psychological well-being.
The program is also distinctive due to its comprehensive focus on issues related to age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and socioeconomic status. Students must also complete a 135-hour supervised, hands-on capstone course to graduate. Graduates find employment in varied settings, including community agencies, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers.
In addition to a high school diploma featuring successful completion of major subjects, including mathematics, English, lab sciences, and social sciences, applicants must demonstrate competency by meeting at least one of three criteria. These criteria are being in the top 25 percent of their high school graduating class, having a minimum GPA of 3.00, and having a satisfactory ACT score (22 for Arizona residents and 24 for non-residents) or a satisfactory SAT Reasoning score (1,120 for Arizona residents and 1,180 for non-residents).
- Location: Tempe, AZ
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Capella University offers an online bachelor of science degree in psychology pre-counseling. Coursework consists of ten to 13 general education courses, nine core courses, three master’s degree-level courses, and a selection of elective courses. The three master’s level courses focus on a specific professional specialization, such as clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, or marriage and family therapy. Students can transfer a good number of credits towards fulfillment of the degree requirements (check with the school for details).
The curriculum surveys the science of psychology and introduces students to counseling theory, professions, and practices. The curriculum is designed to align with the knowledge, skills, and values of the American Psychological Association (APA). Students develop the analytical, quantitative, and communication skills necessary to comprehend human behavior deeply.
Graduates hold the skills necessary to pursue advanced graduate study or work in entry-level careers in the public and private sectors. Common employment settings include hospitals, government agencies, educational institutions, nursing care facilities, and family and individual service providers.
- Location: Minneapolis, MN
- Duration: Varies
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Lesley University offers a 120-credit bachelor of arts degree in psychology. The curriculum consists of general education courses, 30 credits of core psychology coursework, a three-credit lab course, and six credits of elective coursework. Six core psychology course credits are derived from two required internship experiences. Elective courses feature such topics as child psychology, child homelessness, and the psychology of women.
Students entering the program with substantial work and academic experience may be able to reduce the total time investment for the degree through one of two options. Students can transfer up to 90 credits from previous college coursework. Students can also register for a prior learning assessment (PLA). The PLA determines if a student has gained applicable college-level knowledge through work experience, volunteer service, military service or professional development. Students can earn up to 45 of their transfer credits from prior learning.
- Location: Cambridge, MA
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Liberty University offers an online 120-credit bachelor of science degree in psychology. Courses are eight weeks in duration, and, due to the asynchronous format, students can log on to complete their coursework at their convenience. This format allows working professionals and others with busy schedules to complete this degree program concurrently. Tuition discounts for military personnel and first responders further enhance program accessibility to those supporting public safety and security.
Given the variety of available courses, graduates may pursue a range of professions beyond clinical psychology practice. Examples of such professions include advertising, forensics, and the industrial-organizational sector. For those interested in clinical practice, the curriculum helps students meet graduate-level prerequisites through coursework in statistics and research.
Additionally, students can further customize their training by selecting a specialization that aligns with their career interests. Available specializations include addictions and recovery, Christian counseling, criminal psychology, crisis counseling, developmental psychology, life coaching, and military resilience. Students have the added option of pursuing more than one specialization.
Graduates pleased with this bachelor’s program may go on to complete Liberty University’s CACREP-accredited advanced degrees in marriage and family counseling, clinical mental health counseling and school counseling.
- Location: Lynchburg, VA
- Duration: Three and a half years
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Nicholls State University offers a 120-credit-hour bachelor of science degree in psychology with a concentration in pre-counseling. This concentration is designed for those interested in building a bachelor-level career in counseling and those seeking to pursue a master’s degree in a counseling field such as clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, and social work.
Nicholls State is also noteworthy for its Title IV-E Child Welfare Scholar Stipend Program. Established in 2022, this program aims to train and prepare undergraduate pre-counseling students for careers in child welfare and family services. The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services provides placements and direct supervision of students selected for this program. Students wishing to pursue a career in public child welfare are encouraged to learn about this program and apply in their junior year of studies.
- Location: Thibodaux, LA
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
William Paterson University offers a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. Successful graduates apply their career-ready skills in collaboration, research, and writing in various roles, including caseworker, child development specialist, psychiatric aide, psychiatric technician, and social services aide. The curriculum is also designed to prepare students for further study at the graduate level as well as accommodate the needs of working adults. The school’s credit transfer policy allows students to transfer up to 90 credit hours toward their degree requirements.
William Paterson also has a reputation for preparing economically disadvantaged students for well-paying jobs. According to the 2021 Social Mobility Index created by CollegeNET, the school ranked in the top 3 percent of institutions in the country regarding its efforts to foster student social mobility.
- Location: Wayne, NJ
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
What Can I Do With a Pre-Counseling Bachelor’s Degree?
A pre-counseling bachelor’s degree is an important first step toward becoming a licensed professional counselor, but it is not a terminal qualification. All states require their counselors to hold a master’s degree, typically from a CACREP-accredited program, along with supervised clinical experience and a passing score on a licensing exam (ACA Licensure Requirements).
That said, a pre-counseling or counseling-focused bachelor’s degree can lead to several career paths beyond that of a mental health counselor or school counselor. The foundational elements of the pre-counseling degree program also apply to the career tracks of social workers and marriage and family therapists — though graduate-level study will still be required.
And, even if a graduate of a pre-counseling bachelor’s program chooses not to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree, there are still career options available to them in their field of study. The foundational education in psychology and human development provided at the bachelor’s level prepares one to pursue work as a behavioral health technician or community outreach specialist.
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].
Matt Zbrog
WriterMatt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2020, he’s written extensively about how counselors and other behavioral health professionals are working to address the nation’s mental health and substance use crises, with a particular focus on community-driven and interdisciplinary approaches. His articles have included detailed interviews with leaders and subject matter experts from the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American Mental Health Counselor Association (AMHCA), the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).