Northwestern University, which is ranked highly, offers an online graduate program in counseling that follows the same demanding, superior curriculum as is offered on campus. Learning-by-doing will provide you with the skills necessary for self-reflective counseling in the real world. You will participate in intensely collaborative in-person experiences that push you to think critically about your identity and how it influences how you approach counseling, in addition to taking classes and assignments online.
We want all prospective counselors to succeed, which is why the online master’s program in counseling accepts applicants with varying degrees of professional experience. You will either complete our Standard Program or our Bridge to Counseling Program, which offers required training in clinical interviewing and practice, depending on your educational and professional history.
Online Counseling Degree Northwestern
Are you prepared to begin your online master’s program in counseling? Whether you are new to the field or have experience in psychology, we strongly encourage you to apply. To apply, you must have a bachelor’s degree; GRE results are not necessary.
The Standard and Bridge to Counseling Programs for the online master’s in counseling have four start dates every year: January, April, June, and September. You have 18–36 months to finish the program, depending on the path you select.
In order to provide you with an admissions decision as soon as possible, our admissions committee evaluates applications on a rolling basis.
Counselors who are competent and compassionate are necessary to provide developmentally appropriate treatment to children and adolescents with mental health issues. You can pursue the Child and Adolescent Specialization while obtaining your graduate degree in online counseling from Northwestern if you want to change the lives of young people in your neighborhood.
The specialization thoroughly prepares you to work with adults while teaching you how to treat youth effectively. You will take two specialized courses in your second year of the online counseling master’s program that offer a thorough examination of child and adolescent development and treatment strategies for prevalent mental health issues in today’s youngsters. The total number of credits needed to earn a master’s degree in counseling includes both specialization in the online programs.
Clinical Training and Placement
One of the main components of the training we offer students in the master’s program in clinical mental health counseling is hands-on clinical experience. You will complete an internship and a practicum during your enrollment, totaling 800 hours of hands-on learning.
Our placement team will assist you in finding Northwestern-approved locations where you can work with clients when it comes time for you to begin your clinical training. As you work toward your online counseling graduate degree, you will finish your clinical placements over the course of six consecutive terms, progressively honing your skills. A certified clinician oversees each placement and offers continuous feedback. During weekly classes, you will have the opportunity to reflect on your clinical experiences and receive insightful feedback from your professors and classmates.
Immersion Experiences
You will visit our Chicagoland facilities for two immersion experiences as part of the online master’s program in counseling. These experiences will give you in-depth training and allow you to form in-person bonds with your professors and peers. There will be one online immersion experience as well.
New Student Immersion
The goal of the New Student Immersion (NSI) program is to familiarize incoming students with Counseling@Northwestern. Pupils will learn about the various resources that are available to help them succeed. Students will also have the chance to tour the Northwestern University campus and engage with program staff, core faculty, and one another.
Group Dynamics Immersion
The experiential part of the Group Counseling Theory and Practice course is called the Group Dynamics Immersion. Over the course of a long weekend, you will put the lessons you have learned in the classroom into practice by leading and participating in groups.
Facilitated by Counseling@Northwestern faculty and selected supervisors, this immersion helps you:
- define your group leadership style;
- examine any biases you may have in group settings; and
- understand the roles you take on in groups.
After the immersion, you will spend the remainder of the Group Dynamics course integrating your theoretical and experiential knowledge.
