Pursue Excellence

Counseling, M.A.


Transform your future. Make a difference in the lives of others.

The CACREP-accredited Master of Arts in Counseling program offers you a rich and diverse learning experience that prepares you for opportunities in a wide array of professional counseling settings.

Lenoir-Rhyne offers two CACREP-accredited 61-credit hour programs of study in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling. Students in the degree program have the opportunity to take additional coursework from the two programs of study to meet the educational requirements for state licensure in North Carolina as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor or School Counselor. Applicants should note that this is not considered a dual-degree program and does not take the place of the educational and clinical experiences of a full program of study, but provides some additional educational opportunities. 

Lenoir-Rhyne sustains longstanding clinical community partnerships in both programs, providing you with vibrant internship and practicum experiences. Our counseling faculty bring years of real-world experience to students seeking to become clinical mental health or school counselors.

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Take the next step toward completing your Masters in Counseling degree at Lenoir-Rhyne University.

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Designed for Working Professionals


A student talks to gathered group during class

You may take classes at your own pace as a full-time or part-time student. Classes are offered through our Hickory and Asheville campuses. Some classes may also be offered in an online or hybrid format.

You may begin program studies any semester—summer, fall or spring term.

Experience Professional & Personal Growth


The journey toward becoming a professional counselor is a rewarding one, ripe with opportunities for personal growth and professional development. Most graduates of counseling programs find that the training process transforms their own lives even as they are learning to be change agents in the lives of others.

Challenge Yourself


You will be introduced to new theoretical frameworks and ways of understanding human behavior. You will be challenged to examine your biases and reflect upon how your life experiences affect your work with clients. You will be asked to step outside your comfort zone as you practice new skills and explore new perspectives. And throughout the program, you will be supported as you develop your personal style of counseling.

In counseling, a master’s degree is the terminal degree to practice independently. Our program prepares students with a strong foundation in clinical skills training. Lenoir-Rhyne offers several skills-based classes, including advanced techniques, practicum and two semesters of internship.

Teena Brooks

My internship experience at local non-profits provided valuable hands-on experience and helped me grow both personally and professionally.

Teena Brooks, LCMHC, BC-TMH

Program Overview

  • Program Mission, Purpose and Diversity Statement

    Program Mission

    The faculty of the Counseling Degree Program is dedicated to educating and training counseling professionals to function in culturally diverse settings. We recognize the need to address the economic, educational, and social inequalities that prevail in our communities.

    The program acknowledges a commitment both to the students who will pursue preparation as professional counselors and to the larger public served by our graduates, for whom we all share a responsibility. It is due to this commitment that the faculty members hold high standards in the process of training professional counselors in school and community settings.

    The programs are designed to provide a challenging, yet supportive environment that promotes professional orientation, development of a counseling identity, ethical practice, commitment to inquiry, and self-awareness. As a result, we expect our students to develop a commitment of service to others, and to the pursuit of excellence in the counseling profession.

    Purpose

    The Master of Arts degree in counseling is designed to prepare individuals for positions as professional counselors in agencies and/or school settings. The counseling program places primary emphasis on the development of strong ethical clinical skills.

    Upon receiving the Master of Arts degree in counseling, students will meet course work requirements for eligibility to take the examination to become a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and apply to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHC-A) in the state of North Carolina and a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A) in the state of South Carolina.

    Students satisfactorily completing the School Counseling program requirements and receiving a passing score on the PRAXIS specialty examination will be eligible for licensure as a school counselor in North Carolina.

    Diversity Statement

    The Counseling faculty of Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to diversity in all areas of the program. The goal of the Counseling program is to recruit students from diverse backgrounds and those from traditionally under-represented groups in the counseling profession. As such, in policy and practice, the Counseling faculty seek to recruit, admit, and retain a diverse student body. The Counseling faculty is dedicated to educating and training counseling professionals to function in culturally diverse settings and embody the Multicultural Counseling Competencies of the American Counseling Association.

    The curriculum is designed to challenge students to reflect on the ways in which personal bias, privilege, and culture impact the therapeutic relationship and process. The faculty have made a commitment to integrate issues related to multicultural counseling (awareness, knowledge, and skills) and diversity throughout the curriculum, and syllabi are reviewed routinely to ensure that this commitment is being met.

    As a faculty, we are committed to an inclusive and anti-racist learning environment. The coursework in this program includes materials and discussions that will challenge personal ideas on oppressive and unjust forces that exist in our communities. As an anti-racist community, we will strive to identify, discuss, and challenge issues of race, color, ethnicity, and the impacts they have on students, faculty, and staff members.

    It is expected that all students engage in these difficult and sometimes uncomfortable conversations with respect, courage, and compassion. It is expected that we treat each other with kindness and respect when differences of belief, values, or experiences arise within classroom discussions, group work, or learning materials. As we navigate difficult and uncomfortable topics, disrespect for others’ background and their experiences will not be tolerated within the Counseling Program.

  • Program Objectives

    Lenoir-Rhyne University Counseling Program Objectives

    • Students will develop strong professional identities as counselors. Students will gain foundational knowledge related to legal and ethical principles, codes, and decision-making processes.
    • Students will gain awareness of their own cultural identity, including privilege, oppression, and biases, and how it influences counseling relationships. Students will gain knowledge of multicultural theories and counseling practices in order to be culturally competent counselors.
    • Students will learn various theories of human development in order to integrate a developmentally and culturally appropriate approach to working with a wide range of diverse clients.
    • Students will understand various career counseling theories in order to conceptualize career development across the lifespan, including how career concerns influence mental health concerns. Students will integrate knowledge related to cultural and ethical competencies to provide effective career counseling strategies.
    • Students will learn the foundational elements of counseling theories and techniques that are needed to foster movement towards clients' goals through effective use of helping skills, theoretical conceptualizations, and related interventions.
    • Students will attain the foundational knowledge and skills required for effective facilitation of group counseling.
    • Students will learn to utilize assessment and testing throughout the counseling relationship. Students will gain an understanding of the assessment process in order to integrate assessment results into client conceptualization and treatment.
    • Students will gain knowledge related to the principles of ethical and effective research methods for counselors; in particular, an understanding of how to use counseling research to inform counseling practice and direct future research for the field at large.

    Clinical Mental Health:

    • Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of clinical mental health counseling practices, including advocacy, prevention, and treatment for a broad range of mental health concerns.

    School Counseling:

    • Students will gain an understanding of the various roles and responsibilities of school counselors, including leadership, advocacy, and consultation necessary to develop and implement a comprehensive school counseling program.

Counselor Examination & Licensure


We are committed to developing professional counselors to work effectively and ethically with diverse clients in a variety of settings, including PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, community mental health centers, hospitals, as well as private practice and social services agencies.

Upon receiving a Master of Arts in Counseling degree, students meet coursework requirements for eligibility to take the examination to become a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina and South Carolina. Students satisfactorily completing the School Counseling program requirements and receiving a passing score on the PRAXIS specialty examination are eligible for licensure as a school counselor in North Carolina.

Career Paths


Clinical Mental Health Counselors

  • Counselor work settings may include: community agencies, hospitals, private practice, residential treatment centers, government agencies, VA, and faith-based organizations.
  • Trained to work with individuals, families, couples, and groups.
  • Trained in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders as well as helping clients struggling with normal, developmental issues, and life transitions. Help clients work toward personal goals and holistic wellness.

School Counselors

  • School counselors work in either elementary, middle, or high school settings. School counselors develop and implement comprehensive school counseling programs (through the ASCA National Model) to support students in their academic, social/emotional, and vocational career development. School counselors wear many different hats and serve as liaisons between students, teachers, administrators, and parents.

Program & Student Outcomes


From summer 2021 to spring 2022, 93% of alumni respondents were employed as a licensed counselor within six months of graduation and more than 95% were licensed as either a school counselor or clinical mental health counselor.

View Annual Statistics
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The Bear community came together for the seventh-annual Bears Give Back event and raised a record-setting $847,320 to support current and future students.

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Carly Godfrey

As a child, Carly Godfrey '23, MBA '24, learned to swim at LR. Years later, a spot on the swim team would bring her back to learn so much more and make way for a bright future.

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