Start your journey
A master's in counselor education leads to a fulfilling career that allows you to do well by doing good
With a master's in counselor education, you’ll be qualified to counsel individuals and groups throughout their lifespan. Become a licensed school counselor and help students develop academically, personally/socially, and in their careers. Or work towards becoming a licensed mental health professional (LPC or LPCC) and work in a community setting.
The counselor education program is a two-year, full-time program. You’ll study individual, group, and family counseling, research and evaluation, counseling theory, human growth and development, diagnostic assessment, social and cultural foundations, ethics, and career development.
Visit our student intranet to find counselor education's mission, objectives, handbooks, and more.
Careers
- Licensed K-12 school counselor
- Mental health professional in a community agency or college setting (LPC, LPCC)
CACREP Annual Report
How to apply
Admissions deadline: January 15
Admissions requirements
Note: The GRE is no longer required for admission into the counselor education program.
Graduate school application
Application fee
Transcripts (Academic History)
Non–native English speakers: English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.)
Strong personal statement
Resume/CV Course Abstract (required only if you've previously taken a course for graduate credit)
Three letters of recommendation
Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE) statement
Tuition and funding
Tuition
Visit the College of Education and Human Development's tuition page for information.
Scholarships and grants
Once you enroll in the program, you will be able to apply for counselor education funding. Scholarships are competitive, and an application will be provided to enrolled students each year.
- Minnesota Department of Education Student Personnel Pathway Grant: Current students and applicants interested in enrolling for the 2026-2027 academic year may be eligible for scholarships funded through the Minnesota Department of Education Student Support Personnel Pathway Grant. This grant aims to strengthen the pathways to licensure for school counselors in the state of Minnesota, particularly for students who identify as BIPOC, are from other underrepresented backgrounds/identities, or face additional barriers to licensure. Scholarship awardees must commit to serving as licensed school counselors in Minnesota schools for at least 1 year post-graduation. These scholarships are for school counseling track students only. Additional information about this scholarship may be found here. Additional information about the MDE SSPP grant may be found here.
- The Sunny Hansen BORN FREE Scholarship Fund: focus on gender and multicultural issues in career development
- Counselor Education Fund: focus on students and special projects within the CSPP/Counselor Education Program (2022-23 research/professional development focus)
- Kay Herting Wahl Fund: focus on students planning to become licensed school counselors
- Norm Sprinthall Memorial Fellowship: focus on students planning to become licensed school counselors (preference for students in practicums/internships and who enhance diversity of the student body)
- Dirk Miller Fellowship: focus on counseling for eating disorders
This funding information is for students interested in applying for scholarships and funding. Visit our giving page for more information on donating to the funds.
As a graduate student in CEHD, you may be eligible for fellowships, grants, and scholarships from the University of Minnesota, from our college, and from your academic department. Check this link out to get more information on funding opportunities!
Visit the College of Education and Human Development's finance and funding page for more information on funding.
Financial aid
Financial aid for your graduate program works differently than financial aid at the undergraduate level. It’s important to know the differences and explore your options. Visit this One Stop link for more information on available financial aid.
Request information
Coursework
Your curriculum requirements will depend on the area of emphasis you choose:
- School counseling
- Clinical mental health
Methods of instruction
The methods of instruction in counselor education primarily includes in-person, face-to-face coursework. Some classes do integrate online technology and hybrid (i.e., both online and in-person) educational requirements.
Practicum/internship
Counselor education students must complete one (in-person) 100-hour practicum and two (in-person) 300-hour internships. Between practicum and internship, all students will attain a total of 700 hours of clinical experience during their program.
What our alumni say
Faculty
Get to know our award-winning faculty with practical and research experience in school and clinical mental health counseling.
Contact
We’re here to help. Contact us, and a member of our department will be in touch.