A degree in counseling can set you on a rewarding path toward a career that actively helps others. It has never been easier to take advantage of the boom in online education and earn your counseling degree from home. The strongest online counseling degree programs offer expert professors, residences, and relevant experience that will be crucial when it comes time to get your licensure. When you're searching for the right program, here are some great places to start.
- Capella University
Capella University offers master's, doctoral, and certificate programs in various areas of psychology and counseling through its Harold Abel School of Social and Behavioral Science. Capella is consistently rated to have one of the best counseling programs in the country. If you enroll in the university's online counseling classes, you'll learn about human development, psychotherapy, and psychopathology. Capella can also help you find residency and field work in your area of interest. - Walden University
Walden University offers an online Master of Science in mental health counseling that is accredited by the Counsel for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs. Students are drawn to the variation in specializations, which include forensic counseling and trauma and crisis counseling, as well as the opportunity to interact with professional counselors who can help them with residencies and research. - Wake Forest University
There are two different online counseling tracks at Wake Forest University: school counseling and clinical mental health. The school has a reputation for its challenging academic environment, and it is consistently ranked among the best online universities in the country. As a student at Wake Forest University, you will learn guidance and problem-solving skills for dealing with patients of all ages. - Grand Canyon University
This Phoenix-based online university is a great option for students who are primarily interested in addiction and substance-abuse counseling. GCU offers comprehensive courses on chemical dependency that will prepare you for a rewarding position as a rehabilitation counselor. The school's less-common psychology emphases include Christian counseling.
