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College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Online master’s in counseling degrees 

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Online master’s behavioral sciences degrees 

Help change lives with a master’s in counseling

With our online master’s behavioral sciences degrees, you can enhance your job opportunities in the counseling profession and help empower people to improve their well-being. As you gain a deeper understanding of human behavior, you’ll learn how to help clients achieve their goals or treat clients coping with mental health conditions. Gain skills to integrate a variety of behavioral sciences principles and theories into your counseling practice in various clinical environments.  

The best part? You can choose a graduate-level counseling program that’s 100% online or an on-campus option where you’ll physically attend class one day a week. Earn your master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling or marriage, family and child therapy when it fits your life and learn from accomplished professionals who bring a hands-on perspective and practical knowledge to the classroom.  

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Find the counseling master's degree for you

Up to 5

The number of times a year you can start your degree based on your schedule.

60

The number of credits required to complete a master’s behavioral sciences degree with UOPX.

35-37

months

The program length for a master’s behavioral sciences degree with UOPX.

months

Watch our Master's Q&A Webinar

University of Phoenix understands that life happens and that schedules are fluid. But no worries, because we recorded the Master’s Q&A Webinar so you can watch it when it fits your busy life. We encourage you to check it out and learn about important topics and commonly asked questions that many potential master’s students have. 

woman in front of computer

Gain valuable skills in core master’s counseling degrees courses

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COUNSELING/CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING (ONLINE) 

  • Human development
  • Psychotherapy
  • Professionalism
  • Diversity
  • Research
  • Clinical assessments
  • Career counseling
  • Group dynamics 

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COUNSELING/CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING (PHOENIX CAMPUS)

  • Human development
  • Psychotherapy
  • Professionalism
  • Diversity
  • Research
  • Clinical assessments
  • Career counseling
  • Group dynamics

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COUNSELING/MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND CHILD THERAPY (CA ONLINE ONLY)

  • Professionalism
  • Diversity
  • Human development
  • Career counseling
  • Psychotherapy
  • Group dynamics
  • Clinical assessments
  • Research
  • Marriage and family therapy

Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years

Get value from your education before you even graduate. Update your resumé and LinkedIn profile with learned skills when you complete every 5- or 6-week course in our associate, bachelor's and master's programs.

Build skills on your way to your degree

Job outlook for master’s counseling degrees graduates

BLS CATEGORY: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors

JOB GROWTH: 18%

Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors is projected to be much faster than the average between 2022 and 2032.

JOB TITLES:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor
  • Mental Health Counselor
  • Counselor 

BLS CATEGORY: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors

JOB GROWTH: 18%

Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors is projected to be much faster than the average between 2022 and 2032.

JOB TITLES:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor
  • Mental Health Counselor
  • Counselor

BLS CATEGORY: Marriage and Family Therapists

JOB GROWTH: 15%

Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth for marriage and family therapists is projected to be much faster than the average between 2022 and 2032.

JOB TITLES:

  • Counselor
  • Clinical Therapist 
  • Family Therapist
  • Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

Curriculum for our master’s counseling degrees 

Master of Science in Counseling/Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Online) 

You’ll take 22 core courses with program-specific knowledge to help you gain confidence and skills needed in a clinical mental health environment. The coursework includes topics like: individual and family development, personality theories, multicultural issues in mental health counseling, psychometrics, clinical assessment, individual counseling, group counseling and psychopharmacology. 

Master of Science in Counseling/Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Phoenix campus)

You’ll take 22 core courses with program-specific knowledge to help you gain confidence and skills needed in a clinical mental health environment. The coursework includes topics like: individual and family development, personality theories, multicultural issues in mental health counseling, psychometrics, clinical assessment, individual counseling, group counseling and psychopharmacology. 

Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family and Child Therapy (CA online only)

You’ll take 22 core courses with program-specific knowledge to help you gain confidence and skills needed in a clinical mental health environment. The coursework includes topics like: family systems theory and intervention, human sexuality and couples counseling, child and adolescent counseling, and marriage and family counseling. Courses are aligned to California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) educational requirements.

Tuition and financial aid

Affordable, locked-in tuition

Tuition guarantee
Compare tuition costs and see how affordable a degree can be

Ways to pay — and save. Explore your options.

From scholarships to transfer credits and federal financial aid for those who qualify, there are a variety of ways to pay for school and save on tuition. 

Financial Aid

Federal Financial Aid is money from the U.S. Department of Education to help you pay for your college tuition and expenses.

Financial Aid

Military or Veteran Benefits

See if you qualify to use veterans’ education benefits or tuition assistance to help pay for school.

Military or Veteran Benefits

Scholarships

Starting with your first course, every new qualifying student will be awarded one of our scholarships.

Scholarships

Employer Tuition Discounts

Check if your employer provides tuition assistance, benefits, or reimbursement programs toward your degree.

Employer Tuition Discounts

Student experience

Over 1 million alumni have earned their degrees while balancing work, school and life. So can you. 

Manage Time with Flexible Courses

Manage Time with Flexible Courses

Use Robust Student Resources

Use Robust Student Resources

Learn Online

Learn Online

How to apply for your master’s behavioral sciences degree program

Once you’ve selected your degree program in clinical mental health counseling or marriage, family and child therapy, choose your start date from our calendar, apply for free and register before the deadline (usually one week before the program starts). Then you’ll speak to an enrollment representative to begin class. To be admitted into our master’s in counseling programs, you must successfully complete a Graduate Portfolio course (not eligible for financial aid).

  • No application fee — no obligation!
  • No SAT, GMAT or essay required
Apply for your master's degree online

Meet your college deans

Our college deans focus on developing a career-relevant curriculum. They bring industry experience to the classroom and lead a faculty of academic professionals with one goal in mind—to help you earn the skills you need to pursue your career.

Christina Neider, Dean

Christina Neider, EdD

Dean, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Sheila Babendir, Associate Dean

Sheila Babendir, EdD, LPC

Associate Dean, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Counseling/Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP™) at the Phoenix campus.

C A C R E P accredited

Master's behavioral science degree FAQs

The program length for our master’s in counseling degrees ranges from 36-37 months. However, your time to completion will be impacted by other factors, including any breaks you may take in your studies at the University. 

 

A master’s degree in counseling can prepare you for a range of employment opportunities in various clinical mental health environments, such as private practices, hospitals, schools, non-profit organizations, and public or private mental health agencies. Potential job titles you can pursue with a master’s in counseling degree include licensed professional counselor, mental health counselor, clinical therapist, marriage and family therapist, and licensed marriage and family therapist. 

University of Phoenix is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Our master’s degrees in counseling/clinical mental health prepares students for licensure as a professional counselor in jurisdictions where it is offered. 

You may be able to transfer eligible credits to our traditional online master’s degree in counseling program if the university or college you attended is accredited. Speak with an enrollment representative to start the process of evaluation by the University to see if your prior college credits can apply to your program and to request your transcripts.

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