Master of Arts in Counseling

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.

Two 61-credit hour tracks are offered in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling. You can also take the required classes in the other track in order to be eligible for licensure in both settings (clinical and school). Combining the tracks requires six additional credits for a total of 67 credits.

Lenoir-Rhyne sustains longstanding clinical community partnerships in both programs, providing you with vibrant internship and practicum experiences.

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 techniques, advanced techniques, practicum, and two semesters of internship.

Exceptional & Dynamic Faculty

The faculty of the CACREP-accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling are 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.

Meet the Counseling Faculty →

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

• 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 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. 

Student Outcomes

The following table provides a snapshot of student outcomes during the 2019-2020 academic year for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling program tracks.