Help create a positive impact
that can last a lifetime.
As a counselor, you encounter individuals from all walks of life who rely on your expertise to overcome painful experiences or prepare for a new beginning. Today there is a growing acceptance of counseling and therapy, and an increased willingness to seek help.
Amid the trying and uncertain times that many have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic — ranging from unemployment to sickness to isolation and more — studies have shown an increase in mental health concerns across the world. In one 2020 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26% of those surveyed reported stress-related symptoms, 13% started or increased substance use, and 11% had serious thoughts of suicide.
The need for counselors who can develop treatment plans and help people in their communities navigate mental health concerns is great. To prepare you to serve clients with a wide range of concerns and make a difference in your community, the University of North Dakota offers an online Master of Arts in Counseling with four emphasis areas and a Post-Graduate Certificate in K-12 School Counseling.
This program can help you gain the knowledge and skills to confidently engage in prevention efforts, risk assessment and safety planning while helping transform lives for the better.
Transfer credits
may be accepted
Choose from 4 emphasis areas
3 start dates per year: spring, summer or fall
Earn your master’s degree or post-grad certificate
No GMAT/GRE
required
Why choose UND’s online Master of Arts in Counseling or Post-Graduate Certificate program?
The online counseling program at the University of North Dakota relies on a strenuous scientist-practitioner training model anchored in proven scientific methods of psychology and other integrated concepts. This holistic approach to human behavior emphasizes both evidence-based practices and multicultural competence that serves the needs of an increasingly diverse population.
UND offers a variety of options so you can tailor your degree to fit specific career goals and interests. Combining a broad theoretical foundation with extensive training in practitioner skills, our advanced counseling program allows you to choose from one of four online emphasis areas:
- K-12 School Counseling
- Addiction Counseling
- Community Mental Health Counseling
- Rehabilitation Counseling
Students who already possess a master’s degree in mental health counseling or community agency counseling can re-specialize their counseling career with a Post-Graduate Certificate in K-12 School Counseling.
UND is recognized for quality and chosen for excellence.
The University of North Dakota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In addition, both the K-12 School Counseling master’s and post-graduate certificate are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and approved by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board for School Counselor Competencies. Our online counseling program is also actively pursuing accreditation with the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council.
What can you do with your M.A. in Counseling or Graduate Certificate?
Between January and September 2020, the number of people who sought help for anxiety and depression skyrocketed by 93% over the previous year.* This underscores how much the COVID-19 pandemic has created a perfect storm of stress, isolation, fear, anxiety and depression that won’t necessarily go away when the virus does.
In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselor positions will increase by 25% between 2019 and 2029 — much faster than average. That means now is an important time to join the profession.
With your master’s in counseling degree or post-graduate certificate, you can:
- Earn the knowledge and skills needed to be a culturally mindful and social justice-oriented practitioner.
- Gain the academic and field experience that can help fulfill the requirements for licensure in several states.**
- Position yourself for a terminal degree, including doctoral degree programs in counseling, counseling psychology and other related fields.
Help create better outcomes for individuals and families.
As a program graduate, you can pursue opportunities to work directly with and help improve the well-being of those in your community. Counselors work in a variety of settings, including mental health centers, rehabilitation offices, addiction treatment clinics, family service organizations, schools and more.
Here are some top roles and salary ranges in the field, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
$47,660 (median)
$78,700 (top earners)
School and Career Counselor
$58,120 (median)
$97,910 (top earners)
Student Affairs Administrator
$97,500 (median)
$199,400 (top earners)
*Mental Health America
**Students may be eligible for licensure and other credentials upon graduation but are encouraged to check their state’s counseling requirements.
What can you learn?
Our master’s and post-graduate certificate programs provide you with the depth of knowledge and experience to empower others — with a focus on diverse and underserved populations — to overcome barriers in society and move forward with a resiliency.
Our curricular model is structured around evidence-based practices that are thoughtful and purposeful and is taught by an experienced faculty of industry professionals. You also will have opportunities to develop professional practice skills through community-based counseling practicum and internship experience in your area of emphasis to gain real-world experience and put what you’ve learned in your classroom studies to work.
Review Your CoursesTo help you meet the needs of a diverse range of families and communities, coursework addresses various counseling disciplines that help broaden your opportunities — and your impact. Concentrate your studies in one of the following:
K-12 School Counseling
Prepare to address the changing needs of students from kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as provide guidance to their families during these formative years. You’ll explore subjects including crisis counseling, career counseling, diagnostics and prevention, lifespan development, multicultural counseling and more. You will complete an internship where you can practice your new skills in the field.
Addiction Counseling
Focus on providing treatment options that can help clients manage addictions and substance abuse concerns throughout their lifespan. You also will participate in an internship, where you can apply evidence-based theories and develop practical experience working with individuals, families and groups.
Community Mental Health Counseling
Learn to help individuals, couples and families in your area work through factors that may be impeding their growth. You can prepare for licensure in mental health counseling at the community level as you develop advanced skills for addressing personality disorders, age-specific concerns, post-traumatic stress and more with a multicultural perspective. You also will participate in an internship program that can help you apply your education toward assisting those in your area.
Rehabilitation Counseling
Designed for those wanting to pursue positions as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor or Licensed Professional Counselor (requirements vary by state, territory and province), the curriculum focuses on vocational counseling, mental health, school-age transition, multicultural counseling, gerontology and veteran care for individuals, couples and families. An internship is also incorporated to help you apply your growing skills in the field of your choice.
“The UND counseling program is dedicated to ensuring students gain applied experience in the field of counseling, with a particular focus on serving historically underserved communities. Our scientist practitioner model prepares students to address a variety of professional challenges with multicultural competence, empirically based practices and critical thinking skills.”
— Melissa Quincer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Master’s Admission Requirements
To qualify for the online Master of Arts in Counseling program, you must meet the following criteria:
- A bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Completion of Abnormal Psychology and Developmental Psychology courses (or their equivalencies) at the undergraduate level. Applicants who have not completed these courses upon application can be accepted without provision and will need to either complete UND’s Foundations in Counseling course through the master’s in counseling degree program or these two courses prior to beginning their first term.
- An overall grade point average of 2.75 or higher (based on 4.00 scale) in an undergraduate degree program or at least 3.00 for the last two years of undergraduate work (confirmed via official transcripts).
In addition, you must provide the following:
- Two- to three-page personal statement outlining your goals and objectives for seeking the Master of Arts in Counseling (and specific track), including your academic or professional accomplishments as well as your career goals.
- Written responses to interview questions on application forms.
- Three letters of recommendation (professional letters — not from personal relationships or therapists) from those who can comment on your academic abilities.
- A professional resume.
- An online interview with program faculty (via web conferencing) may be required as a means of clarifying your relevant experiences and/or academic background.
- $35 nonrefundable application fee.
Post-Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements
To qualify for the online K-12 School Counseling Post-Graduate Certificate program, you must meet the following criteria:
- A master’s degree in counseling.
- An overall grade point average of 2.75 or higher (based on 4.00 scale) in an undergraduate degree program or at least 3.00 for the last two years of undergraduate work (confirmed via official transcripts).
- If you intend to apply for a school counseling credential in North Dakota but do not have a North Dakota state teaching license (regardless of the field in which you earned your master’s degree), you must complete undergraduate coursework in the following three content areas*:
- Educational psychology
- Classroom management
- Instruction methods
*Note: These requirements can be waived if an admitted student does not intend to apply for School Counseling credentialing in North Dakota.
In addition, you must provide the following:
- School Counseling Supplemental Application Form (part of the UND admissions application).
- Two- to three-page personal statement outlining your goals and objectives for seeking the K-12 School Counseling postgraduate certificate, including your academic or professional accomplishments as well as your career goals. Additionally, clearly identify the roles of a school counselor and how your experiences and interests relate to this role.
- Written responses to interview questions on application forms.
- Three letters of recommendation (professional letters — not from personal relationships or therapists) from those who can comment on your academic abilities.
- A professional resume.
- A copy of your state’s school counselor credential or licensure requirements (if you intend to be eligible for a School Counselor credential in any state other than North Dakota).
- An online interview with program faculty (via web conferencing) may be required as a means of clarifying your relevant experiences and/or academic background.
- $35 nonrefundable application fee. Ask your enrollment advisor about an application fee waiver.
Important Dates
Application Deadline | Start Date | |
Spring 2024 | 12/1/2023 | 1/15/2024 |