FAQ

• Those who have graduated from an accredited undergraduate institution;
• Those who wish to become competent counselors who are capable of working within a variety of professional settings;
• Those who wish to serve others in the counseling process, develop their leadership abilities in the counseling field, and seek to reconcile relationships within the counseling setting;
• Those who are interested in exploring how faith is related to the counseling profession;
• Those who wish to be trained by faculty members from a faith-based institution;
• Those who wish to be academically prepared to become a licensed professional counselor, a licensed marriage and family therapist, or a certified school counselor in Pennsylvania and/or many other states.

The clinical mental health counseling track meets the standards for accreditation under the Council of Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and academically  prepares you to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania as well as many other states.

The school counseling track meets the regulations by the Council of Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The program academically prepares you to become a certified school counselor in Pennsylvania as well as many other states.

The marriage, couple and family counseling track meets the standards for accreditation under the Council of Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and academically prepares you to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Pennsylvania as well as many other states.

The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in counseling is designed for students who already have a master’s degree in an appropriate counseling-related field, who desire to want to take continuing education often to meet the state requirements for sate licensure or certification. The particular courses (a minimum of 12 credits) for students in the CAGS program will be tailored to the specific needs of each student.

All three tracks of Messiah University's master's in counseling program are accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP is the national accrediting agency for graduate-level degree programs in counselor education that demonstrate prescribed levels of academic and professional excellence. In addition Messiah University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education. For more information visit our page on accreditation.

You are permitted to take up to nine credits in the program without declaring a particular track. Students who need particular courses to prepare them for licensure will also be allowed to take the courses they need with permission from the director of the program.

When accepted into the program, you will be asked to declare whether you intend to complete the program in two, three, or four years. Once you have declared your intention, your advisor will work with you on scheduling your courses. You do have the ability to change the length of time it will take you to complete the program and you will be able to change your academic plan once admitted.

The two-year model would be considered an accelerated model, requiring students to take four courses over 16 weeks throughout most of the program. The three-year model would follow the same time frame as the two-year model, except the internships are taken in year three. The four-year model is a relatively evenly paced, four-year distribution of the courses.

Students are recommended to consider the two, three, or four year model, but you may take up to six years to complete the program if that is the option that works best for you. Students are expected to be continuously enrolled from the time they begin their program.

Admissions requirements can be found on our Admission Information Page.

Once your file is complete, your application will be reviewed. You will be contacted for scheduling an interview. Once an admission decision has been made, you will be notified via email.

Please visit our tuition and fees page for more details.

Yes; in addition to the deferred billing for employer reimbursement option, there are other financial aid options available. Visit our financial aid page for more details.

Yes. Read our transfer credit policy to learn more.

All of the courses, whether online or in the classroom, are taught by experienced Messiah University faculty, who are active educators and accomplished scholars. Messiah's faculty will mentor you to and encourage growth in your faith and your profession. Visit our faculty profile page to learn more about the individual professors who teach in the graduate program in counseling.