Messiah College

Master of Arts in Counseling

Messiah College offers a Master of Arts in counseling program through online learning. Degree tracks are offered in clinical mental health, marriage, couple, and family, and school counseling. All three programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation on Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and offered online to allow students to simultaneously pursue their career and education.

In addition to a 60-credit coursework completion, students are expected to attend two week-long intensive courses at Messiah College's campus in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Three models to complete the coursework are offered at Messiah: two-, three-, and four-year track. The two-year track offers accelerated completion of the degree program. Students, however, do have up to six years to complete the program if needed.

Admission to the Master of Arts in Counseling program does not require applicants to decide upon a major until after nine credits are completed.

Program Information

School Name: Messiah College

Program Name: Master of Arts in Counseling

Program Length: Two to four years

Enrollment Type: Full-Time or Part-Time

Instruction Methods: Asynchronous

Social Media: Messiah College on Twitter

Phone Number: (717) 796-5061

Program Requirements:

  • 60 Credits
  • Maintain a 3.0 GPA
  • Recommendation of graduation from advisor
  • Six credit internship and one practicum
  • Attend at least one professional counseling conference
  • Attend two one-week, one campus sessions

Concentrations:

  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • School Counseling
  • Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy

Admission Requirements:

  • Official transcripts verifying baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
  • Completed application with $30 fee
  • Minimum cumulative undergraduate 3.0 GPA
  • Personal statement of purpose, 300-500 words describing:
    • Preparation for graduate work
    • Reasons for applying to this specific program
    • How this program can help the student reach his or her goals
  • Two recommendations
  • Resume or curriculum vitae
  • 150 word answers to four essay questions:
    • Interpersonal and professional competence
    • Self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-evolution
    • Written and oral communication
    • Quality of work
  • State Authorization (Messiah can NOT accept online graduate students taking classes while living in Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, or Wisconsin)
  • A live interview

Application Deadlines: Rolling admissions

Messiah College’s program information was last updated in April of 2020. For more information, visit the university's website above.