CACREP-Accredited
A recognized standard for quality and licensure readiness
Dedicated Licensure Preparation
Our graduates leave prepared to pass their NCE exam
100% Online
Earn your degree without on-campus visits
Field Experience Support
A dedicated team helps you secure your placement
The Practice of Healing. The Science of Understanding.
You feel called to help people heal and grow. Walsh University's online Master of Arts in Counseling and Human Development prepares you to answer that call, with accredited coursework, real field experience, and support at every step.
Find the Path That Fits Your Calling
Walsh offers two distinct, CACREP-accredited tracks. Choose the one that matches the community you feel most drawn to serve.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Focus area: Diagnosing and treating individuals, families, and communities across a range of mental health needs.
Where you can work: Private practice, community agencies, hospitals, or behavioral health centers.
Common roles: Licensed professional counselor, behavioral health specialist, or substance abuse counselor.
School Counseling
Focus area: Supporting students' academic, social, and emotional growth in K-12 settings.
Where you can work: Elementary, middle, and high schools, plus college and career readiness programs.
Common roles: School counselor, college advisor, or career counselor.
Licensure and certification requirements vary by state. Our team is glad to help you plan.
Fast Facts
5 Start Dates Per Year
Begin when the timing is right for you
Balance Work, Life & School
A balanced courseload designed for working adults
Part-Time Coursework
Study around your job and family responsibilities
Chemical Dependency Certificate -
Add an optional specialization to expand your reach
Field Placement Near Your Community -
Gain hands-on experience close to home
Personal Enrollment Support
A dedicated advisor to guide you from application to program start
Personal Enrollment Support
A dedicated advisor to guide you from application to program start
What CACREP Accreditation Means for You
Walsh's counseling program holds accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This matters because CACREP is a recognized national standard for quality counseling education.
For you, it means your coursework aligns with professional standards, employers recognize your degree, and you graduate prepared to pursue licensure with confidence.
Field Experience and Placement Support
Confidence comes from doing the work.
That's why supervised field experience is built into your program, along with real support to help you get there.
Your field experience includes:
- 100 practicum hours to begin applying counseling skills with real clients or students
- 600 internship hours to deepen your supervised, hands-on experience
- Clinical placements completed near your community
- Experience across diverse settings that reflect real counseling work
How our placement support works:
1. We start early.
Your field experience team connects with you well before your placement begins, so nothing feels rushed.
2. We help you find sites.
The team identifies approved practicum and internship options near your area at no additional cost.
3. We handle the details.
From site agreements to supervisor coordination, we guide the process alongside you.
4. We stay with you.
You'll have a partner from your first placement hour to your final internship day.
Careers and Program Outcomes
Counseling offers a rare mix of purpose, stability, and real demand. As the need for student and mental health support grows, skilled counselors are needed in communities across the country.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment of school and career counselors and advisors is projected to grow 3% over the same period.
Career Path |
Median Annual Wage (BLS*) |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $76,960 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors & Advisors | $71,430 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $64,440 |
| Rehabilitation Counselors | $51,820 |
*Salaries reflect U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures and vary by location, experience, employer, and specialization.
Graduates can step into roles as clinical mental health counselors, school counselors, behavioral health specialists, and college advisors. The program equips students to serve the individuals, families, and students who need them most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Walsh's CACREP-accredited program stands out for its clear focus on preparing you to pass your licensure exam and thrive in a counseling career, supported by two distinct specialization paths in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling, and hands-on clinical training. Coursework is 100% online with no campus visits required, and practicum hours secured near your community.
You'll graduate career-ready, equipped to make a meaningful impact in a field facing a nationwide shortage of mental health professionals.
Choose the track that matches where you want to make an impact.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling track prepares you to work with individuals, families, and groups in settings like:
- private practices,
- hospitals,
- community agencies.
School Counseling track prepares you to support:
- students' academic,
- social,
- emotional development in K–12 school environments.
If you're unsure which path fits your goals, an enrollment advisor can help you decide.
Yes. The program is built to prepare you to pass your licensure exam and launch a meaningful counseling career. The program is CACREP-accredited, a recognized standard for quality counseling education, which means its curriculum meets the rigorous academic requirements most states expect for licensure. As of 2022, our NCE exam pass rate is 100%.
Walsh's program requires 100 practicum hours and 600 internship hours. This hands-on clinical experience is a core part of your training, giving you the confidence and real-world skills to work directly with clients under professional supervision before you graduate and satisfy the field requirements many states expect on the path to licensure.
Our field experience team works with you directly to help identify and secure approved practicum and internship sites in your area, guiding you through the process step by step.
No. You do not need a psychology background or undergraduate degree in psychology to apply. We welcome applicants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds united by a shared passion for helping others.
If you're considering a career change into counseling, this program is designed to give you the foundation and clinical training you need to succeed, regardless of your undergraduate major.
Walsh offers an optional Chemical Dependency Certificate you can add to your degree. This specialization deepens your expertise in substance use and addiction counseling, an area of growing demand, and helps you stand out to employers while expanding the populations you're prepared to serve.
The master’s degree program in counseling at Walsh University is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
