Online Counseling Degrees
Support Mental and Behavioral Health in Your Community
Grand Canyon University’s online counseling degrees can prepare you to counsel clients from diverse backgrounds. Designed to ensure you are academically prepared to meet the requirements for licensure, our programs from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences can provide a pathway toward pursuing a career that enables you to make a positive difference in the lives of others who are struggling with behavioral and mental health issues.
Estimated number of new jobs to open for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors from 2022 to 2032(See disclaimer 1)
Empower Your Clients To Overcome Life Challenges
As a counselor, you will work with clients who are impacted by psychological, social, behavioral and emotional issues. Your mission is to help your clients understand their issues better, acquire effective coping skills and overcome the challenges that may be holding them back in life. Thorough academic preparation for the field may help you to better help your clients.
Explore Online Counseling Programs at GCU
We are pleased to educate the next generation of counselors. If you have a passion for helping others achieve better wellness, you can find your purpose at GCU.
Choose from a variety of online programs at GCU, from our Bachelor of Science in Counseling non-licensure degree to our master’s in counseling degrees, which include the clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, addiction counseling and Christian-focused counseling emphasis areas.
Undergraduate Counseling Majors
GCU invites you to begin your academic journey by joining our supportive online learning community. Our undergraduate counseling programs include:
BS in Addiction Counseling
BS in BHS Degrees
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Find an Online Master’s in Counseling That Fits Your Goals
If you’ve already completed your undergraduate education, GCU can help you continue to pursue your goals with our master’s degree programs. A variety of degree options and emphases are available so you can choose the program that best fits your aspirations.
Addiction Counseling
MS in CMHC
MEd in School Counseling
Mental Health and Wellness
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Explore All Online Counseling Degrees
40 Matching Degrees
Minors for Undergraduate Counseling Students
Embrace further opportunities to develop transferable skills and subject-area understanding across various fields and disciplines by enrolling in a minor. Choose from minors in psychology, foreign language and cultural studies, family and social services, communications and more. Explore insights into the populations you may serve in your professional practice.
Career Opportunities in the Counseling Field
A career in counseling can be a great choice for those who want to help people achieve mental health wellness. Furthermore, counseling is a career worth considering if you’re interested in a field that demonstrates job growth. According to the BLS, job growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors is projected to grow by an estimated 18% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than average, accounting for an estimated increase of 71,500 jobs in the field.(See disclaimer 2)
Counselors are needed in a wide range of fields and settings, including:(See disclaimer 4)
Residential mental health treatment facilities
Hospitals
Correctional facilities, including juvenile detention facilities
Outpatient clinics
Doctor’s offices
Frequently Asked Questions
Before applying to a counseling program, it can be helpful to learn more about the field and your career and degree options. GCU has compiled the following information to assist you in your decision-making process.
Are online counseling degrees respected?
Can I get a counseling degree online?
Can I be a counselor with a bachelor’s degree?
Can you start a private practice after earning a counselor degree online?
Are online counseling programs worth it?
Discover Online Counseling Programs at GCU
Online Coursework and Curriculum
Earn Your Degree From an Accredited University
Admission Requirements
Requirements To Become a Counselor
Online Student Resources and Support
GCU strives to promote critical thinking with applied practice to help prepare you for today’s evolving workforce. All our students, including our online learning community, receive support services designed to facilitate their academic progress. To that end, our online students have access to a robust menu of student resources at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Find the counseling program that fits your career goals and apply online today.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors, retrieved May 23, 2024.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April 17). How To Become a Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, or Mental Health Counselor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors as of May 2023, retrieved June 10, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc., against a pool of candidates.