Master of Science in Counseling and Human Services
Lead Positive Change for Yourself and Others With a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Services OnlineProgram Overview
As a master’s in counseling and human services student, you could develop knowledge in the areas of prevention, psychoeducation, diagnosis, therapy, assessment, and intervention. This human services counseling degree may help you gain the foundational knowledge, analytical skills, and experience necessary to assess a problem and apply a solution quickly and competently.
You could build on your passion for serving others with a solid foundation of knowledge and theory as it applies to the current landscape of counseling and human services applications. You will have the opportunity to refine this foundation with a thorough understanding of the interaction of human systems, including individual, interpersonal, group, family, organizational, community, and societal. Gain real-world experience in the delivery of appropriate services in the field. Coursework covers the conditions that promote or inhibit human functioning, as well as theories and techniques associated with multicultural competence in the field of counseling and human services to better connect classroom experience with the profession.
Curriculum
Program Requirements – 39 Total Credits
Master of Science in Counseling and Human Services Core Courses: 27 Required Credits
Master of Science in Counseling and Human Services Concentration Courses: 12 Credits
Industry-Focused Curriculum for Professional Skills
- Examine the historical foundations and evolving practices within counseling and human services.
- Review how individual, interpersonal, family, organizational, and community systems influence human behavior and well-being.
- Analyze conditions and social factors that may support or hinder human functioning across diverse populations.
- Explore multicultural perspectives and approaches that inform counseling and human services practice.
- Study service delivery methods and intervention approaches used in community and support environments.
- Consider ethical frameworks, professional values, and self-reflection practices relevant to counseling and human services professionals.
Concentrations
If you choose to pursue a master’s degree in counseling and human services at Post University, you can use the available concentrations below to tailor your focus to your career interests.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
This concentration provides the conceptual, analytical, and foundational knowledge you could use to pursue career interests in the field of professional counseling. Online courses cover a comprehensive study of the issues involved with the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of mental health challenges and conditions. The concentration also provides an understanding of the models, theories, and techniques in individual, group, and family counseling.
Alcohol and Drug Counseling
This concentration provides an understanding of the complex issues regarding alcohol and drug addiction in American society. Coursework covers the biological, psychological, and sociological effects of short and/or long-term use of substances on the individual, family, and community. It also examines how to assess, diagnose, and treat those addictions.
Sample Courses
Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan
This course will examine theories of lifespan development and human sexuality from a social, cultural, cognitive, physical, biological, and learning theories basis. Students will have the opportunity to develop a contextual understanding of how human development and human sexuality impact the field of counseling and human services.
Theories of Counseling
This course introduces counseling theories and therapies. A comparative application of various counseling theories and therapies to a case study will be explored. Students will participate in an experiential component in the development of clinical counseling skills and techniques through mock counseling sessions, peer feedback, evaluation, and videos. From intake to termination, students will be immersed in the provision of mental health services through counseling, including informed consent, identifying interventions, development of a personal model, suitability of therapies to certain issues, termination of the therapeutic relationship, and the ethics of self-care.
Clinical Field Practicum I
The clinical field practicum has a primary focus on students engaging in direct practice with clients in the field to develop their clinical counseling skills and the management of counseling sessions. Students are expected to utilize a variety of clinical skills and techniques, explore counseling theories, and conduct client interaction from intake through termination of services. This course synthesizes the knowledge, skills, and dispositions students have gained during prerequisite courses. This course also includes a required online synchronous component involving weekly participation in a two (2) hour group supervision with the instructor.
Capstone Research Project I
This course provides students with the opportunity to apply an action research model to a real-life case study. Students will develop and complete an action research project, which allows them to demonstrate their understanding of theory and practice within the field of counseling and human services. The project affords students the opportunity to apply, synthesize, and analyze the knowledge learned using their studies to a specific, reality-based case.
The sample courses listed are intended to illustrate the types of coursework included in this program. Course offerings and requirements may change. Please consult the official University Catalog for current and complete program information.
Licensing Disclosure
Licensure and Program Disclosures
While the online Master of Science in Counseling and Human Services is not designed to fulfill licensure requirements in an individual state, the program can be used to partially fulfill licensure requirements. Students will need to fulfill additional specific requirements to become credentialed counselors.
Post University assists in researching and providing information regarding licensure; however, each state has different requirements for such licensure outside of the required education. Such state requirements may include licensure exams, background checks, certain work experience, and more. It is ultimately the responsibility of each student to manage their own licensure process and to ensure that all requirements are met in order for the student to obtain licensure. Post University does not speak on behalf of any licensing board or body and does not guarantee licensure. Requirements for licensure are subject to change without notice.
The tables at the following links show whether Post University, with completion of the appropriate curriculum, does or does not fulfill the educational requirements for a specific license:
Visit the University Catalog >> for Curriculum, Course Descriptions, and Program Outcomes.
“We know that every student has different aspirations, different backgrounds, different challenges, and different learning styles, and it requires individual solutions for each and every student. Every associate, staff, and faculty member is uniquely focused on that personal interaction.”
Ready to Apply?
The admissions team is available to walk you through each step of the application process and clarify any remaining questions.
Accreditation
Institutional Accreditation
College (University) is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.). Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:
New England Commission of Higher Education
301 Edgewater Place, Suite 210, Wakefield, MA 01880
(781) 425 7785
E-Mail: [email protected]
For more information on Post University's state licensure or accreditation, please visit the Accreditation page.
Graduate Admissions Requirements
Post University maintains consistent graduate admissions standards for students enrolling online or on campus. While individual programs may include additional criteria, all applicants are evaluated using foundational requirements that support academic readiness and program alignment.
Common graduate admissions requirements include:
- Completion of a graduate admissions application
- Submission of official transcripts from all previously attended postsecondary institutions
- Documentation of a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or an approved equivalent
- Participation in an admissions interview or advisory session, if recommended
- Submission of a personal statement, when requested, which may be required for applicants below a specified cumulative grade point average threshold
- Verification of all admissions materials
Graduate admissions requirements may vary by program and learning format. For complete and program-specific requirements, please review:
Why Students Choose Post University
“Post University has been of immense value to my life through its distance education.”
Tuition & Ways to Save
An education at Post University is designed to provide long-term value. Tuition is competitively structured, and financial aid opportunities are available for those who qualify. Admissions and financial aid teams work with you to review available options and explain each step of the process clearly.
With multiple funding opportunities available, you may qualify for more than you expect.
Tuition Reductions →
Tuition reductions are available for eligible active-duty military service members, veterans, public safety professionals, education partners, alumni, and others who qualify.
Scholarships →
Post University offers a variety of institutional scholarships. Dedicated scholarship advisors assist students in identifying both institutional and relevant external scholarship opportunities.
Financial Aid →
Federal financial aid programs are available for many degree programs for students who qualify.
Transfer Credits →
Post University will evaluate course credit completed at eligible institutions, as well as credit earned through approved examinations or prior learning experiences, for potential transfer.
Military Benefits →
Military education benefits extend to active-duty service members, reservists, veterans, their families, and eligible Department of Defense civilian employees.
Student Loans →
Federal and private loan programs may be available to students who qualify.
Tuition Reductions →
Tuition reductions are available for eligible active-duty military service members, veterans, public safety professionals, education partners, alumni, and others who qualify.
Scholarships →
Post University offers a variety of institutional scholarships. Dedicated scholarship advisors assist students in identifying both institutional and relevant external scholarship opportunities.
Financial Aid →
Federal financial aid programs are available for many degree programs for students who qualify.
Transfer Credits →
Post University will evaluate course credit completed at eligible institutions, as well as credit earned through approved examinations or prior learning experiences, for potential transfer.
Military Benefits →
Military education benefits extend to active-duty service members, reservists, veterans, their families, and eligible Department of Defense civilian employees.
Student Loans →
Federal and private loan programs may be available to students who qualify.
Ready to take the next steps?
Admissions advisors are available to answer your questions, explain the application process, and help you explore which program aligns with your interests and experience.
If you are considering Post University, we invite you to begin the conversation.
Why Post University?
At Post University, you are not an anonymous face in a crowded lecture hall. You are known and supported from your first conversation through program completion. That is the meaning behind Post Makes It Personal®.
Our approach is grounded in three commitments: career focus, value, and personalization. Whether you are beginning your undergraduate journey, returning to continue your education, or pursuing a graduate degree, Post University offers programs developed with professional practice in mind, led by industry-experienced faculty, and delivered in formats designed to fit into your life.
Post people come from many different backgrounds and life stages. Some are stepping onto campus for the first time, while others are learning online while balancing work, family, military service, or community commitments. Across every format, students are part of a community built on connection, structure, and shared purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can I Do with a Human Services Counseling Degree?
This Master of Science in Counseling and Human Services offers the insights and fundamental skills that you could use in serving individuals and communities in a wide range of areas.
At Post University, we strive to make your learning experience practical and meaningful. We have fostered an engaging online community that encourages critical thinking and real-world application of theory. Each course is taught by professionals with relevant industry experience, many with experience in the fields of counseling, human services, and mental health.
From the moment you enroll in the online master’s in counseling and human services at Post University, you will be supported by a personal academic advisor. They are available to answer questions you may have, support you through challenges you may face, and guide you to concentration options to pursue your career interests.
What Is a Master of Science in Counseling and Human Services?
A master’s degree in counseling and human services can help you gain the operational knowledge, analytical skills, and experience necessary to assess a problem and apply a solution quickly and competently. You can build on your passion for serving others with a solid foundation of knowledge and theory as it applies to the current landscape of counseling and human services applications, while gaining a real-world perspective on the delivery of appropriate services in the field.
You will enhance this approach by having the opportunity to gain the knowledge of the conditions of human growth and development, as well as various counseling theories and techniques that support multicultural competence in the field of counseling and human services. All of which can provide the opportunity to better connect classroom experience with career interest in professional counseling.
Is a Master's Degree in Counseling and Human Services Worth It?
If helping people is your calling, a career in counseling and human services is ideal for people who want to make a difference in the lives of others while simultaneously enjoying a personally rewarding profession.
With an online master’s in counseling and human services, you can continue to provide valuable services to those in need in your current position while you work to develop the additional knowledge and skills needed to advance and grow as a counseling professional.
What GPA Do You Need for a Master’s in Counseling?
For applicants with an undergraduate CGPA of 3.00 or higher: one year of full-time work and/or volunteer experience. For applicants with an undergraduate CGPA of 2.50-2.99: three years or more of full-time experience. For applicants with an undergraduate CGPA of 2.00-2.49: five years or more of full-time experience.
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Services?
The typical program completion time for a Master of Science in Counseling and Human Services is 26 Months.
Can I Attend an Online Master’s in Counseling Program?
Yes! Our master’s in counseling and human services is offered online, so you can generally study on your schedule and apply what you have learned to your career in real-time. With Post’s online platform, those working in the industry can maintain their current obligations while broadening their understanding of the counseling and human services.
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