About this Program
Old Dominion University's M.S.Ed. in Counseling is a CACREP-accredited graduate program that prepares counselors for professional practice across clinical, school, and community settings. The program is offered on-campus in Norfolk, Virginia through the Department of Counseling & Human Services in the Darden College of Education & Professional Studies. Students complete a shared core in counseling theory, ethics, assessment, lifespan development, and multicultural-social justice principles, then choose one of two specialization tracks: Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling.
Specializations
The M.S.Ed. in Counseling offers two specialization tracks on-campus, each leading to a different professional credential. Both share the core counseling curriculum; the specialization determines the field placement, advanced coursework, and licensure pathway.
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Track |
Prepares You For |
Where Graduates Work |
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Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential. Eligible students may sit for the National Counselor Examination before graduation. |
Community mental health centers, hospital and integrated behavioral health programs, school-based mental health programs, military and first responder support, and private clinical practices. |
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Virginia Licensed School Counselor credential. Students who complete electives in diagnosis, addictions, and family dynamics can also meet the requirements for the LPC credential, opening both clinical and school career paths. |
Public school divisions (elementary, middle, and high school), private schools, charter schools, and post-secondary student services. |
Choose Your Path: Which Specialization Is Right For You?
ODU offers two on-campus counseling specializations: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed for those who want to provide therapy in clinical, community, or private practice settings. School Counseling those interested in supporting K-12 students inside a school building. Both lead to professional licensure in Virginia, and School Counseling students can complete elective coursework to earn both credentials.
Which counseling specialization should I choose if I want to do therapy?
Clinical Mental Health Counseling is the track for therapy work. Graduates earn the Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential and go on to diagnose and treat mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use disorders. LPCs work in community mental health centers, hospitals, integrated behavioral health programs, private practice, and military and first responder support settings.
Which specialization should I choose if I want to work in schools?
School Counseling is the track for K-12 school settings. Graduates earn the Virginia Licensed School Counselor credential and work in elementary, middle, and high schools providing academic, college, and career planning support. School counselors also deliver social-emotional learning, crisis intervention, and individual and group counseling within the school environment.
Can I earn both credentials in ODU's M.S.Ed. in Counseling?
Yes. School Counseling students who complete elective coursework in diagnosis, addictions, and family dynamics can graduate eligible for both the Virginia Licensed School Counselor credential and the Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential. This dual-credential pathway opens both K-12 school positions and clinical counseling roles after licensure.
What's the difference between an LPC and a Licensed School Counselor in Virginia?
The Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) is a clinical license issued by the Virginia Board of Counseling that authorizes independent clinical practice, including diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. The Virginia Licensed School Counselor is an education license issued by the Virginia Department of Education that authorizes practice as a school counselor in Virginia public schools. The two credentials serve different settings; ODU students completing the School Counseling specialization can complete additional electives to earn both
Specializations
The M.S.Ed. in Counseling offers two specialization tracks on-campus, each leading to a different professional credential. Both share the core counseling curriculum; the specialization determines the field placement, advanced coursework, and licensure pathway.
|
Track |
Prepares You For |
Where Graduates Work |
|
Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential. Eligible students may sit for the National Counselor Examination before graduation. |
Community mental health centers, hospital and integrated behavioral health programs, school-based mental health programs, military and first responder support, and private clinical practices. |
|
|
Virginia Licensed School Counselor credential. Students who complete electives in diagnosis, addictions, and family dynamics can also meet the requirements for the LPC credential, opening both clinical and school career paths. |
Public school divisions (elementary, middle, and high school), private schools, charter schools, and post-secondary student services. |
Choose Your Path: Which Specialization Is Right For You?
ODU offers two on-campus counseling specializations: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed for those who want to provide therapy in clinical, community, or private practice settings. School Counseling those interested in supporting K-12 students inside a school building. Both lead to professional licensure in Virginia, and School Counseling students can complete elective coursework to earn both credentials.
Which counseling specialization should I choose if I want to do therapy?
Clinical Mental Health Counseling is the track for therapy work. Graduates earn the Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential and go on to diagnose and treat mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use disorders. LPCs work in community mental health centers, hospitals, integrated behavioral health programs, private practice, and military and first responder support settings.
Which specialization should I choose if I want to work in schools?
School Counseling is the track for K-12 school settings. Graduates earn the Virginia Licensed School Counselor credential and work in elementary, middle, and high schools providing academic, college, and career planning support. School counselors also deliver social-emotional learning, crisis intervention, and individual and group counseling within the school environment.
Can I earn both credentials in ODU's M.S.Ed. in Counseling?
Yes. School Counseling students who complete elective coursework in diagnosis, addictions, and family dynamics can graduate eligible for both the Virginia Licensed School Counselor credential and the Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential. This dual-credential pathway opens both K-12 school positions and clinical counseling roles after licensure.
What's the difference between an LPC and a Licensed School Counselor in Virginia?
The Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) is a clinical license issued by the Virginia Board of Counseling that authorizes independent clinical practice, including diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. The Virginia Licensed School Counselor is an education license issued by the Virginia Department of Education that authorizes practice as a school counselor in Virginia public schools. The two credentials serve different settings; ODU students completing the School Counseling specialization can complete additional electives to earn both
Program Highlights
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CACREP-accredited. The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs is the recognized accreditor for counseling master's programs. CACREP accreditation is the standard credential state licensure boards and employers look for first.
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Two specialization tracks, one shared core. Students complete the same core counseling curriculum before specializing in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling, ensuring shared professional foundation across both career paths.
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Combined credential pathway. School Counseling specialization students who complete elective coursework in diagnosis, addictions, and family dynamics can graduate eligible for both the Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential and the Licensed School Counselor credential — a dual-credential pathway not offered by most counseling programs in the region.
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Two start terms per year. New students can begin the program in fall (February 1 deadline) or spring (October 1 deadline).
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Bachelor's in any field. Applicants may hold a bachelor's degree in any field; psychology, education, or counseling-related undergraduate study is not a prerequisite.
Featured Courses
Requirements
Applicants may hold a bachelor’s degree in any field and must submit the following:
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Online application at the Office of Graduate Admissions website
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Current resume
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Essay
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Official Transcripts
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Two Letters of Recommendation
For Admission to the Counseling Program
Deadlines
New students can begin the program in the fall or spring semester.
Fall Semester deadline: February 1
Spring Semester deadline: October 1
Transfer
At ODU, we understand that as a transfer student you have unique needs that require a wide array of campus resources. The Center for Advising Administration and Academic Partnerships aims to create a transfer inclusive culture that supports the successful...
Careers
Check out these ideas from ODU's Center for Career & Leadership Development and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is a midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.
Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
Counsel individuals and provide group educational and vocational guidance services.
Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. May counsel individuals, families, or groups or engage in prevention programs.
Counsel with emphasis on prevention. Work with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse; family, parenting, and marital problems; stress management; self-esteem; and aging.
Alumni Careers
Cost of Attendance
Tuition is charged per credit hour. Amounts shown are tuition only and do not include mandatory fees, technology-delivered course fees, course-specific fees, books, housing, meal plans, or other costs. Campus-based students may take technology-delivered or online courses. Tuition is based on student classification. Fees for technology-delivered courses and other costs are listed on the ODU tuition and fees page.
Ways to Fund Your Degree
There are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending Old Dominion University, including scholarships, assistantships, and student loans. For more details about financial aid at Old Dominion, visit the Financial Aid Office page.
Assistantships
Counseling master’s degree students are sometimes awarded assistantships in various ODU offices including Academic Skills, Financial Aid, Office of Intercultural Relations, Resident Life, Student Activities, Student Development, Student Health Services, Student Life, and Vice President of Student Services. Students interesting in obtaining an assistantship should apply directly to offices on campus that have assistantships.
What is ODU's M.S.Ed. in Counseling?
ODU's M.S.Ed. in Counseling is a CACREP-accredited graduate program offered through the Department of Counseling & Human Services in the Darden College of Education & Professional Studies. Students complete a shared core curriculum and then specialize in either Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling. The program is delivered on-campus in Norfolk, Virginia.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares graduates for the Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential and clinical practice in community mental health, hospitals, and private practice. School Counseling prepares graduates for the Virginia Licensed School Counselor credential and work in K-12 schools. School Counseling students can add electives to earn both credentials.
Yes — ODU offers a separate online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program through ODUGlobal. The online program offers only the Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization; School Counseling is available on-campus only. For online program details and admission requirements, visit the online clinical mental health counseling program page.
Yes. Both specializations are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP accreditation is the standard quality credential for graduate programs in counseling and is required or strongly preferred by most state licensure boards.
No. Applicants may hold a bachelor's degree in any field. The program is designed to bring students with diverse undergraduate backgrounds into counseling practice. The full admission requirements are listed in the Requirements section above.
Yes. International applicants follow ODU's standard graduate admissions process, including English language proficiency requirements. International Admissions can support applicants through the application process and provide guidance on visa documentation for the on-campus program.
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