7 Masters in Counseling Programs in Maryland

Ready to take your counseling career to the next level in Maryland? Great news! Maryland colleges and universities offer 15 Master’s in Counseling Degrees, giving you plenty of excellent programs to consider.

The state’s population brings a rich mix of counseling needs, and Maryland responds with 23 counseling degree programs that can match almost any professional interest. You’ll find specialized counseling programs aligned with your career goals, whether you lean toward mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, or substance abuse counseling. On top of that, six schools provide hybrid and online counseling degree options in Maryland, perfect if you need to balance other life commitments. Students interested in LCPC programs will find many institutions that prepare them for licensure, with counselors’ earning potential around $36,880 per year in the state.

Let’s get into some outstanding masters programs that showcase Maryland’s best offerings for future counseling professionals.

1. Washington Adventist University

Washington Adventist University creates a life-changing path for students who want to advance their education in counseling. The university sits in Takoma Park, Maryland, and welcomes approximately 968 students each year. It’s built a strong name for its counseling education programs.

Program overview

The Department of Psychology and Counseling at Washington Adventist University gives students two master’s degree choices. Students can pick a 39-credit hour Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (non-licensure track), which ranked 7th nationally for its price, accreditation, reputation, and salary potential. The other choice is a detailed 60-credit Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that leads to licensure.

Students who complete the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program can work as licensed counselors. The program gives them 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. After graduation, they can take the National Counselor Exam (NCE), which many states need for counselor licensure. Graduates can also become Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPCs) or focus on substance abuse counseling to become Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LCADCs).

The university’s Master of Education in School Counseling program runs for 48 hours and gives students advanced counseling skills for K-12 schools. Students can take classes online, face-to-face, or in hybrid format during evening sessions (one night weekly) in 8-week terms. They can finish the program in 12-18 months.

Accreditation status

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) gives Washington Adventist University its regional accreditation. The university got this accreditation renewed on March 9, 2023, and will have its next evaluation in 2029-2030. Regional accreditation helps students who want to transfer credits or join post-graduate programs.

The university’s programs also have special accreditations from the Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist Schools, Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Specializations offered

The university’s counseling programs let you choose specializations that match your career goals. The Counseling Psychology program covers key areas like:

• Cultural integration in counseling
• Individual and family therapy management
• Group treatment application
• Research evaluation
• Faith points of view in counseling practices

Main courses cover Advanced Lifespan Development, Psychopathology, Ethical Issues, Career Counseling, and Multicultural Counseling. Students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling track learn ethical and professional conduct that follows the ACA Code of Professional Conduct.

The M.Ed. program works well for future school counselors. It teaches special education counseling and covers ethical and legal issues in schools.

Practicum and internship requirements

Students do their practicum at placement settings where they counsel clients under licensed mental health professionals for 275 clock hours. They need to finish Field Experience requirements before starting practicum courses.

The practicum involves weekly supervision that includes:

• 5 hours per week of individual/group supervision with a program faculty member
• One hour per week with an onsite supervisor

Supervisors help students identify theoretical orientations, show clinical techniques, and review video or audio recordings of counseling sessions. Students must keep detailed records – case notes after seeing clients, treatment plans by the third session, termination summaries, and clinical experience hour logs.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling students need proof of five hours of personal counseling before their practicum starts. This shows the program’s steadfast dedication to training self-aware, ethical counseling professionals.

At $625 per credit hour, Washington Adventist University stands out as an available option among Maryland’s masters in counseling programs.

2. University of Maryland College Park

The University of Maryland College Park sits between Washington DC and Baltimore. It provides exceptional masters in counseling Maryland options through its shared counseling programs. This prime location gives students a chance to gain clinical experience and build professional networks in both cities.

Program overview

The university’s counseling programs work through a unique shared structure. They operate jointly between the Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education and the Department of Psychology. This partnership creates a rich learning environment where different disciplines come together to boost the educational experience.

The School Counseling Master of Education (M.Ed.) program helps you become a leader and change maker in K-12 urban educational settings. Students learn to deliver counseling services with a focus on access, equity, and social justice. The program gives you the skills to help close achievement gaps in urban schools.

The Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program uses the scientist-practitioner model. It combines research, practice, and general psychology as a behavioral science. This program is one of the oldest counseling psychology programs in the country and provides detailed training through different teaching methods.

Accreditation status

The university’s Counseling Psychology Program has impressive credentials. It has held continuous accreditation by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1953. This long-standing recognition shows the program’s quality and high standards.

The doctoral program ranks among the top counseling psychology programs in the United States. The School Counseling M.Ed. program has accreditation from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has also approved this program.

Specializations offered

Students can choose from these specialized tracks:

• School Counseling M.Ed. – Centers on K-12 educational settings with focus on urban schools and social justice approaches
• Counseling Psychology Ph.D. – Gets students ready for academic, research, and practice careers at the doctoral level

The faculty brings varied research interests that enrich your learning experience with expertise in:

• Psychotherapy process and outcome
• Multicultural psychology
• Vocational psychology
• Interpersonal relationships

Practicum and internship requirements

Field experience plays a vital role in both programs. School Counseling M.Ed. students must finish one 100-hour practicum and two 300-hour internships in local urban school districts. These experiences offer valuable hands-on training in actual educational settings.

Doctoral students need extensive supervised fieldwork. They can work at on-campus facilities like the Counseling Center and Health Center. They also have chances to work in various school systems, colleges, universities, and mental health agencies throughout the Baltimore/Washington area.

Students typically complete their dissertation proposal before applying for an internship. The internship usually takes one full year. Many students work in university counseling centers, while others choose Veterans Affairs hospitals and community mental health centers.

Tuition and program duration

Students can complete the School Counseling M.Ed. program in about two years or seven semesters. Tuition runs about $12,540 for in-state students and $26,490 for out-of-state students.

Doctoral students spend three to four years on coursework. Most finish their dissertation in the fifth year and do their internship in the sixth year. The program takes just 10 new students each year from over 200 applicants. This keeps the student-faculty ratio small.

Graduates find success in many career paths. Recent alumni work as staff psychologists in university counseling centers, tenure-track faculty members, and practitioners in hospitals, community mental health centers, and private practice. The program gets you ready for psychologist licensure exams, making it a great choice among counseling programs in Maryland.

3. University of Baltimore

The University of Baltimore’s counseling program stands out in Maryland. It offers flexible educational paths that work well for both practitioners and research-focused students. UBalt’s counseling psychology program, part of the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences, helps you prepare for licensure or doctoral studies through science-based curriculum.

Program overview

UBalt’s M.S. in Counseling Psychology comes with two distinct tracks that match your career goals. You can pick either the 48-credit General Counseling Psychology Track or the more detailed 60-credit Practitioner Specialization. The program follows a generalist training philosophy based on the scientist-practitioner model. This prepares graduates to work in clinical settings of all types, including hospital-based mental health services, private practice, school-based mental health, and substance abuse treatment facilities.

Students learn how research and theory shape evidence-based practice, integrative theoretical treatment conceptualization, and advanced treatment interventions. The program weaves multicultural and social justice advocacy awareness into all courses. Students improve their professional skills through self-reflection exercises.

Accreditation status

UBalt’s M.S. in Counseling Psychology program’s Practitioner Specialization holds accreditation from the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) from February 2022 through February 2030. This recognition shows the program’s steadfast dedication to high educational standards and quality professional training.

The University of Baltimore also maintains broader accreditations that support its academic programs’ quality.

Specializations offered

UBalt offers these specialized options beyond the two main tracks:

• General Counseling Psychology Track (48 credits): Perfect for students who work full-time during the program. It requires 200 hours of clinical experience split between two 100-hour practicum courses.
• Practitioner Specialization (60 credits): This track helps students become Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC). It features 700 hours of clinical experience across three semesters – one 100-hour practicum and two 300-hour internships.
• Science Specialization: This track suits students who want to pursue doctoral studies or research careers.

The curriculum teaches advanced theories of personality and counseling, ethics and legal issues in psychology practice, learning and cognition, and behavior’s biological basis.

Practicum and internship requirements

Clinical experience requirements differ substantially between the two main tracks. The 48-credit General Counseling Psychology Track needs 200 hours through two 100-hour practicum courses. The 60-credit Practitioner Specialization requires 700 hours of clinical experience, which supports its MPCAC accreditation.

Practitioner Specialization students complete:

• One 100-hour practicum (APPL 703)
• Two 300-hour internships (APPL 708, taken over two semesters)[151]

General Counseling Psychology students can easily switch to the Certificate in Professional Counseling Studies (CPCS) program. This helps them earn the extra 12 credits needed for professional counselor licensure in Maryland.

The CPCS program provides remaining credits and 125 hours of field experience for the National Counselor Examination. This prepares you to work as a licensed graduate professional counselor while you complete 3,000 hours of professional experience to become a fully licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC).

4. Towson University

Towson University offers an MPCAC-accredited program that helps graduates become skilled mental health professionals. The program emphasizes clinical awareness and prepares students to work with clients from different backgrounds. TU has established itself as one of Maryland’s leading counseling programs for students who want quality training.

Program overview

The Counseling Psychology concentration within Towson’s Master of Arts in Psychology helps students become therapists and researchers who can improve mental health in different settings. Students learn to demonstrate clinical awareness, knowledge, and skills needed to work with clients from all backgrounds. Most graduates work in community mental health agencies, group homes, university career and counseling centers, rehabilitation programs, substance abuse treatment centers, and psychiatric hospitals.

The curriculum meets Maryland’s requirements for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) licensure. Students can complete up to 1,000 of the 3,000 supervised hours needed for licensure during their program. Faculty members help students meet clinical requirements through carefully selected practicum agencies.

Accreditation status

The Counseling Psychology concentration has earned MPCAC accreditation from February 2016 through February 2026. This recognition confirms the program’s high educational standards and steadfast dedication to professional excellence. Towson University also holds accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Specializations offered

Students can choose between two tracks:

• Practitioner Track – Prepares students to work as counselors and therapists at the master’s level, with courses that match Maryland’s licensure requirements
• Research Track – Provides research training and mentorship in methodology, statistics, and design through a master’s thesis with faculty supervision

Both tracks require 60 units to graduate, meeting MPCAC accreditation standards and state licensing requirements.

Practicum and internship requirements

Second-year students complete a 300-hour practicum in fall semester. This requires 20-24 weekly hours at a clinical placement site under licensed supervision. Students then complete a 300-hour supervised internship in spring semester. Both experiences include weekly meetings with faculty supervisors.

Students pick their practicum placements in January of their first year with guidance from faculty advisers. They must continue seeing clients during the minimester term (first three weeks in January) to meet direct service hour requirements.

Tuition and program duration

Students who attend full-time can finish their degree in two calendar years. Most courses meet once weekly for 2.5 hours. The schedule helps minimize campus visits for working students. The program welcomes both full-time and part-time students.

Maryland residents pay about $739 per unit for graduate courses, while out-of-state students pay around $1,335 per unit. Other sources report average in-state graduate tuition at $9,108, with out-of-state tuition at $18,846.

Licensure preparation (LCPC)

The curriculum really prepares students for the National Counselor Examination (NCE), which most states require for licensure. The program’s success shows in its results – all alumni who graduated in the past three years have passed the NCE.

Maryland LCPC licensure requires applicants to complete 3 years with at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience under an approved supervisor. Two years must be post-graduate clinical supervision hours, though students can earn one year through practicum and internship before graduating.

The program covers every area needed for LCPC licensure. This includes human growth and development, social and cultural foundations of counseling, counseling theory, techniques, group dynamics, career development, appraisal and diagnosis, research, ethics, psychopathology, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

5. University of Maryland Global Campus

UMGC has developed an innovative online Master of Science in Clinical Professional Counseling program to address the nationwide shortage of mental health professionals. The program starts in fall 2024. Students in Maryland now have a new option that focuses on accessibility and career readiness.

Program overview

Students must complete 60 credits in the MS in Clinical Professional Counseling at UMGC. The program starts with an Onboarding Program Orientation before students head over to their coursework. Students learn about ethics and develop personal, theoretical, and professional skills that mental health practitioners need.

The program stands out because of its unique structure. Students advance through specialized coursework in significant clinical mental health counseling areas. They also complete 700 hours of supervised practicum and internship experiences. These supervised field placements give students a chance to do counseling work under experienced practitioners. This helps build confidence and real-life capabilities.

UMGC created this program to meet educational and clinical practice requirements for licensure in several places:

• Maryland: Graduates can apply to become Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors after completing 2,000 post-graduation clinical hours toward the state-required 3,000 total
• Virginia: The program satisfies educational requirements with verification of coursework and pre-graduation supervised field experience
• District of Columbia: Similar to Virginia’s requirements
• New Mexico: Meets minimum educational and clinical practice requirements

Students will be ready for the National Counselor Examination (NCE), which Maryland and many other states require for licensure.

Accreditation status

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) has accredited UMGC. The U.S. Secretary of Education recognizes MSCHE to conduct accreditation for institutions throughout the United States. The USM Board of Regents governs UMGC as part of the University System of Maryland.

UMGC plans to get accreditation from the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC). This can happen once four students graduate within a two-year period.

Specializations offered

The masters in counseling at UMGC lets students pick from several focus areas:

• Substance use, dependency and addictions
• Marriage and family counseling
• Child and adolescent counseling
• Military culture and family dynamics
• Gerontological counseling
• Sex therapy

Students can take elective courses that line up with their professional interests after choosing a focus area.

The program prepares graduates for the changing counseling field. It covers telehealth integration, trauma-informed care, equity and diversity practices, mindfulness approaches, and integrated healthcare delivery. These forward-looking elements give you the tools you need in modern counseling practice.

Graduates can work in many settings. These include mental health centers, drug and alcohol treatment programs, correctional institutions, healthcare facilities, social service agencies, private practice, and corporate environments.

6. Notre Dame of Maryland University

Notre Dame of Maryland University distinguishes itself from other Maryland masters in counseling programs through its small classes and specialized offerings. Students benefit from practical experience and thorough academic preparation as they work toward becoming counseling professionals.

Program overview

Notre Dame of Maryland University provides counseling education through focused programs that meet specific career needs. The MA in Art Therapy program accepts just 16 students each year to ensure individual attention and excellent instruction. The Alcohol and Drug Counseling post-baccalaureate certificate program helps students complete the coursework they need beyond a bachelor’s degree to become certified Maryland alcohol and drug counselors. These programs demonstrate NDMU’s steadfast dedication to preparing skilled practitioners who can make an immediate difference in their fields.

Accreditation status

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) has granted accreditation to Notre Dame of Maryland University. The university’s last reaffirmation came on June 22, 2017, and its next evaluation will take place in 2025-2026. The Art Therapy (MA) program has earned specialized accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. This came upon recommendation of The Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education and extends through 2030.

Specializations offered

NDMU provides several options for students who want to pursue counseling degrees with specific focus areas in Maryland:

• The Art Therapy MA program uses a unique approach that combines art-centered learning with community participation
• The Alcohol and Drug Counseling program follows the State of Maryland’s curriculum guidelines for the Certificate Associated Counselor-Alcohol and Drug (CAC-AD)
• Students learn about women-specific issues including trauma and pregnancy related to addiction

Practicum and internship requirements

Practical experience serves as the background of NDMU’s counseling programs. Students work under professional supervision in field experiences that match their career goals. These practicums help students apply theory, science, and practice in real-life settings. Each placement requires students to meet specific academic and background requirements while attending academic seminars.

NDMU students gain experience at prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins Hospital, Catholic Charities, Head Start Programs, House of Ruth Legal Clinic, Kennedy Krieger Institute, and Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital. These placements expose students to different patient populations of all ages, which prepares them for various counseling careers in Maryland.

7. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary blends faith with professional counseling through its programs at campuses in Massachusetts and North Carolina. The seminary focuses on students who want to combine counseling expertise with theological foundations.

Program overview

Students can choose between two counseling paths at Gordon-Conwell. The Master of Arts in Counseling (MACO) is available at the Hamilton campus, while the Charlotte campus offers the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling — Clinical Mental Health (MACC-CMH). These programs equip students for counseling careers in both faith-based and secular environments. The MACO program requires 60 counseling credit hours and weaves Christian faith into its complete clinical training curriculum. This balanced academic and clinical approach helps students provide complete care to clients, whatever their faith background.

Accreditation status

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has accredited both counseling programs. The seminary also maintains strong institutional credentials through accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) and the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Specializations offered

Graduates can pursue careers in various settings:

• Agency and private practice settings
• Schools, hospitals, and group homes
• Churches and para-church ministries
• Substance abuse treatment centers
• Behavioral health organizations

Tuition and program duration

Base tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year stands at $875 per credit hour. The Trustee Scholarship reduces this cost to $655 per credit hour for all current students. Ministry staff members can get an extra 40% tuition discount through partnership arrangements. Full-time students can complete the Hamilton program in 3 years with 81 credit hours, while the Charlotte program takes 2 years with 66 credit hours. Part-time students need 3-8 years to graduate, based on their campus and program choice. Students who build prayer and financial support teams can access full-tuition scholarships through the Partnership Program.

Find Your Maryland Master’s in Counseling Today

Maryland shines as a destination for future counseling professionals with its rich educational opportunities. Eight outstanding programs showcase their unique strengths. Washington Adventist provides adaptable formats while the University of Maryland delivers prestigious doctoral training. Towson excels at licensure preparation and UMGC leads with its groundbreaking online approach.

Students can shape their education path through various specializations these programs offer. Career goals range from clinical mental health counseling to school counseling, substance abuse treatment, and faith-integrated practice. Credit requirements vary between 48-60 credits, which lets students choose based on their career plans and schedule.

Hands-on experience is crucial to these featured programs. Students gain 200 to 1,000 supervised clinical hours that are a great way to get real-life skills while meeting Maryland’s licensing requirements.

Program accreditation should be a key factor in your decision. Many schools have earned specialized recognition from MPCAC, CACREP, or APA. These credentials prove educational excellence and make the licensing process easier.

Your choice among these Maryland masters in counseling programs should line up with your career goals, study preferences, and practical needs like location and cost. These programs will give you the knowledge, skills, and credentials you need. You can make a lasting impact in Maryland’s communities of all sizes as a counseling professional.