Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
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Master of Arts - School Counseling
The Master of Arts in counseling program at Messiah University has a degree track designed to help students to become competent school counselors capable of working with elementary and secondary school students. Graduate students will be prepared to serve others in the counseling process, develop their leadership abilities in the counseling field and seek to reconcile relationships within the counseling setting.
School Counseling overview
Messiah University’s school counseling track meets the standards for accreditation under the Council of Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The program is designed to academically prepare you to become a certified school counselor in Pennsylvania and many other states.
- 60 credits
- CACREP accredited
- Predominantly online coursework
- Eight-week courses with one-week intensive courses in January and July
- Two-, three- and four-year timelines
- Flexible start dates
- Designed to academically prepare you to become a certified school counselor in Pennsylvania and many other states
- No-fee tuition
- No application fee
- School counselor
Messiah University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education. It is the highest accrediting authority recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for degree-granting colleges and universities located in Pennsylvania, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and several other locations internationally.
All three tracks in counseling are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the national accrediting agency for graduate-level degree programs in counselor education.
2019 #4 Top 15 Most Affordable Online Master’s Degree in Counseling Programs
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Programs related to School Counseling
The curriculum for the Master of Arts in counseling is designed for busy professionals and includes both theory and field experiences.
School Counseling tuition cost
No-fee tuition
Know what you are paying for with Messiah’s no-fee tuition. With our graduate programs, the cost per credit is what you pay – there are no hidden fees for labs, courses, services or technology. We put the true cost of your program upfront so that you can accurately compare and plan for your graduate education.
Deferred billing
Deferred billing is available for students with employer reimbursement. For more information contact Student Financial Services at gradfinancialserv@messiah.edu.
2025-2026
No-fee tuition per graduate credit hour: $800
Tuition cost for the entire 60 credit-hour program at the 2025-2026 rate: $48,000
Other costs may be incurred throughout the program. Click here for further information.
M.A. in counseling students are eligible to apply for federal financial aid. Please review this link to learn more
Next steps for admissions
Applying for admission to a graduate program at Messiah University is the first step to making your personal and professional goals a reality.
Leah Smock
Associate Director of Enrollment for Graduate Studies & Adult Education
717-796-1800 Ext. 2350
Continuous accreditation
Messiah University's Graduate Program in Counseling has earned a nationally recognized reputation for delivering excellent online counselor education and has been continuously accredited by CACREP since 2012.
Faith committment
Our program effectively integrates faith commitments with academic distinction. We value each student as a unique person who deserves respect and encouragement as demonstrated by Jesus Christ. Students can expect supportive interaction from our faculty, administration and staff as a part of this commitment to gracious Christianity and our distinct Christian educational mission. In recognition of the important role faith and spirituality plays in our clients’ lives, we offer students the opportunity to be trained in Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy while in the program.
Mentoring by experienced faculty
Students in Messiah’s counseling program learn from faculty with different theological perspectives and global experiences who embrace students’ cultures, beliefs and backgrounds. Our faculty, who are experienced counselors, engaging teachers and accomplished scholars, are well equipped to mentor students as they seek to define their counseling specialties. All student advising is done by core faculty who assist students in creating a customized plan of study, which includes choosing elective courses to promote career planning.
Online and classroom delivery
We offer a flexible blend of instructional methods, ensuring personalized interaction and support along with student-paced learning. With regular synchronous sessions and optional on-campus intensives, students benefit from both virtual convenience and face-to-face skill development. This approach allows for program completion in students’ desired timelines, empowering them to achieve their academic and professional goals efficiently from wherever they are.
A national network of field placement and support
In Messiah’s counseling program, we prioritize the success of our students by fostering network of alumni and quality field experience sites, built over many years. We offer extensive placement support for field experience, with dedicated full-time and part-time staff guiding students all along the way.
Tele-mental health training
In the Graduate Program in Counseling, students from across the United States and around the world engage through meaningful virtual interaction. We offer structured tele-mental health training as a part of our program to prepare students for technological innovation that works alongside face-to-face counseling.