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Online and On-Campus Counseling Degrees and Programs in Alabama

There are 15 schools in Alabama with programs in the five major counseling categories: mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling.1 Besides traditional, in-person programs, there are online and hybrid options to choose from. Online counseling degrees are delivered primarily or entirely through web-based platforms, while hybrid degrees combine online coursework with in-person classes. There are 11 schools in Alabama that offer hybrid and online counseling programs that can make it easier to pursue a degree for those unable to attend in-person programs.

Table of Contents

Comparison of Alabama Counseling Schools and Programs

The table below summarizes public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in Alabama with traditional and online counseling programs. Where applicable, we note schools with one or more programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), and the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).

The five major counseling degree concentrations are abbreviated as MH for mental health counseling degrees, MF for marriage and family therapy degrees, VR for vocational rehabilitation counseling degrees, SC for school counseling degrees, and SA for substance abuse counseling degrees. These correspond to the Alabama counseling licenses Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), School Counselor (SC), and Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC). Rehabilitation counselors are typically licensed as LPCs. Note that some programs offer degree tracks that can lead to credentialing in more than one specialty. Bold text indicates a program with online or hybrid options.

School NameAccreditation2-4Online/Hybrid Programs?MHMFVRSCSANet Price1
Alabama A&M University————Yes——$14,064
Alabama State UniversityYesOnlineYes—YesYesYes$12,875
Amridge University—OnlineYesYes———N.Av.
Auburn UniversityYesOnlineYesYesYesYes—$23,873
Auburn University at MontgomeryYesOnlineYesYes—Yes—$14,322
Faulkner University—OnlineYes——Yes—$19,439
Jacksonville State UniversityYesOnlineYes——Yes—$13,426
Troy UniversityYesOnlineYes—YesYesYes$21,263
University of AlabamaYesOnlineYesYesYesYesYes$21,263
University of Alabama at BirminghamYes—YesYes—Yes—$12,486
University of Mobile———Yes———$21,638
University of MontevalloYes—YesYes—Yes—$17,207
University of North AlabamaYesOnlineYesYes—Yes—$12,379
University of South AlabamaYesHybridYes——Yes—$14,984
University of West Alabama—OnlineYesYes—Yes—$15,435

Alabama Schools With Online Counseling Programs

Programs on the following lists may be online or hybrid. Check with schools for any in-person degree requirements.

Online Mental Health Counseling Degrees

Online Marriage and Family Therapy Degrees

Online Rehabilitation Counseling Degrees

Online School Counseling Degrees

Online Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees

Top-Ranked Schools With Counseling Programs in Alabama

US News & World Report’s Best Online M.Ed. Programs for Student Counseling 2022

Schools in Alabama With Counseling Degrees

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

Alabama State University

Students interested in rehabilitation counseling careers can complete an undergraduate or graduate degree at Alabama State University (ASU), a Historically Black institution in Montgomery. The Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services (BSRS) with a Concentration in Addiction Studies is comprised of 120 credits including 26 credits in rehabilitation and addiction studies. The BSRS prepares students to work in entry-level rehabilitation counseling careers with clients with a range of behavioral, cognitive, and developmental disabilities. Students in other undergraduate programs can complete an 18-credit Minor in Rehabilitation Services with a Concentration in Addiction Studies. The CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling (MRC) requires 60 credits and offers a more in-depth study of disability, case management, and rehabilitation counseling techniques. ASU also offers a Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling that are CACREP-accredited and meet state requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license and school counseling credential, respectively. Educational Specialist (EdS) degrees are also offered in both of these areas. The graduate programs are offered in face-to-face, online, and hybrid formats.

Auburn University

Auburn University is home to numerous counseling programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate students can complete a 120-credit Bachelor of Science (BS) in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies, which introduces students to the skills needed to counsel clients with disabilities or combine a 15-credit Minor in Counseling with another undergraduate major. At the graduate level, Auburn offers CACREP-accredited online and on-campus programs. The 60-credit Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling prepares students to work as certified school counselors in Alabama. M.Ed.s are also offered in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, which are both comprised of 60 to 64 credits. The MS programs require students to complete a research thesis. Graduates in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will fulfill the state educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license. An on-campus CACREP-accredited Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counselor Education is also available.

Traditional Graduate Programs

Troy University

Troy University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in counseling at campuses across Alabama and the surrounding states. The graduate degree options include three CACREP-accredited programs: a 60-credit Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that meets state educational requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a 48-credit Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in School Counseling that meets school counselor requirements, and a 48-credit MS in Rehabilitation Counseling. Two additional 48-hour MS programs are offered in Substance Abuse Counseling and Student Affairs Counseling. Troy also offers Education Specialist (Ed.S.) programs in School Counseling and General Counseling, as well as Certificates in Addictions Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Counseling; and Counseling Military Populations that enable students to deepen their professional skills and knowledge. A 120-credit Bachelor of Science (BS) in Rehabilitation Studies and an 18-credit Minor in Rehabilitation Studies are offered at the undergraduate level at the main campus.

University of Montevallo

The University of Montevallo offers prospective counselors a Master of Education (M.Ed.) with three CACREP-accredited tracks in Clinical Mental Health Counseling; School Counseling; and Couples and Family Counseling. All three tracks include 39 credits of core counseling courses, such as Assessment in Counseling and Advanced Human Growth and Development. The M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling requires the completion of an additional 21 specialized credits and prepares students to work as professional counselors in hospitals, mental health facilities, and community agencies. The M.Ed. in School Counseling requires 21 additional credits and prepares students to work in both elementary and secondary school settings. Students in the M.Ed. in Couples and Family Counseling must complete 21 additional credits focused on family system theories and group counseling techniques. Each track meets Alabama educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license.

University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is home to two CACREP-accredited graduate counseling degrees. The Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60-credit degree that prepares students to provide professional counseling services in a variety of mental health settings, such as mental health facilities, social service organizations, and private practice. Upon graduation, students will meet the state coursework requirements to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in Alabama. The Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) in School Counseling requires students to complete 48-51 credits, including a practicum and two internships. Graduates of this degree program are eligible to become certified as school counselors in Alabama and work with students at the elementary, middle, and secondary school levels.

Online and Hybrid Programs

Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville State University (JSU) offers two CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Counselor Education degrees with a hybrid format. The MSE in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is comprised of 60 credits, while the MSE in School Counseling is a 45-48 credit degree. Both concentrations share a 24-credit counseling core with additional courses in the area of specialization. Graduates of the MSE in Clinical Mental Health Counseling meet Alabama educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license. Students in the MSE in School Counseling program will meet all state requirements to become a P-12 school counselor. Individuals who already have a master’s degree in counseling can complete a CACREP-accredited Educational Specialist (EdS) degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling completely online. The EdS programs require 30 semester hours and enable students to meet the educational requirements for an additional area of counseling practice or develop in-depth expertise in one area.

University of Alabama

The University of Alabama, often referred to as “Bama,” offers several counseling programs, including online degrees. The Master of Arts (MA) in Rehabilitation Counseling is an online program that combines asynchronous coursework with live classes via videoconference and a supervised field experience. The degree is also offered on-campus along with an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and an MA in School Counseling. All versions of the MA are accredited by CACREP and require 60 credits. The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling meets state coursework requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license, while the MA in School Counseling enables graduates to become certified school counselors in Alabama. The university also offers an online Educational Specialist (EdS) in Counselor Education (School Counselor Certification) designed to help professional counselors deepen their knowledge in a particular aspect of counseling. A CACREP-accredited Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counselor Education is also available to experienced counselors. At the undergraduate level, the University of Alabama offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Addiction and Recovery Studies that prepares students for entry-level careers in the addiction field. Coursework from the degree may be used to meet state requirements for the Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) credential. A minoir in Addiction and Recovery Studies is also available.

University of West Alabama

The University of West Alabama (UWA) offers prospective counselors several online degree options. The Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60-credit program that takes at least two years to complete and meets state requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license. The MS in Family Counseling is a 33-credit program that takes one to two years of full-time study. Several start dates are available throughout the year with courses offered in eight-week blocks. Other online options include a 60-credit Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling that requires a valid teaching certificate and meets state requirements to become a school counselor; and a 33-credit advanced Educational Specialist (EdS) degree in School Counseling leading to licensure for students who already have a graduate degree in school counseling; an MS in Adult Continuing Education: Counseling and Psychology for licensed counselors; and an MS in Guidance and Counseling, which is a replica of the M.Ed. in School Counseling, but for students not eligible since they do not have a teaching certificate.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, Accredited Programs: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
3. Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, Directory of COAMFTE Accredited Programs: https://coamfte.org/COAMFTE/Directory_of_Accredited_Programs/MFT_Training_Programs.aspx
4. Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council Accredited Programs: https://mpcacaccreditation.org/accredited-programs/
5. US News & World Report Best Student Counseling Programs 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/student-counseling-rankings
6. US News & World Report Best Online Master’s in Education Programs Offering Student Counseling and Personnel Services 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/student-counseling-rankings