Counseling@Northwestern – Online Master of Arts in Counseling

Online MA in Counseling (clinical mental health) from The Family Institute, combining live classes and asynchronous work with two required in-person immersions in the Chicago area, a 200-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship at faculty-approved sites identified with placement specialists.

Official program name

Counseling@Northwestern – Online Master of Arts in Counseling

Awarded degree

Master of Arts in Counseling

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Degree level

Master's

Counseling specialty

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Professional purpose

Clinical counselor preparationThe institution states the program prepares students for professional counselor licensure. Licensure itself also requires post-degree supervised experience, an examination and a state application.

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

School

Northwestern University — The Family Institute at Northwestern University

Source: catalogs.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Location

Evanston, ILWhere the school is located. Coursework is online; this is not a residency requirement, does not decide whether you may enroll from your state, and is not where you complete practicum or internship.

Required credits

Online: Standard Curriculum 24 units, Bridge Curriculum 27 units (quarter units/courses)

Source: catalogs.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Duration

as few as 18 months full time or 36 months part time (full-time (18 months); part-time (36 months))A minimum under the stated conditions, not a typical length.

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Start terms

Winter

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Teaching language

English (not separately stated)

Standard Program (24 units) for applicants with a psychology or related degree; Bridge to Counseling Program (27 units) for others. Accelerated, traditional and part-time tracks.

Academic delivery

Online courseworkCoursework is delivered online. Practicum and internship are completed in person at approved sites, and some programs also require campus residencies.Coursework is delivered online. Practicum and internship are completed in person at approved sites, and some programs also require campus residencies.

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Campus attendance for coursework

Required campus residencies or visits

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Class schedule

Mixed (live + self-paced)

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Study intensity

Full-time or Part-time

Source: catalogs.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Practicum

Required200 hours. 200-hour practicum over 3 terms, 10-15 hours per week

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Internship

Required600 hours. 600-hour internship, 20-24 hours per week

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Placement arrangements and supervision

Placement assistance

Placement specialists identify sites; Clinical Training Directors approve them

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Placement arrangement

Students and the program arrange placements togetherStudents work with the placement team to secure placements

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Placement location

Sites must be in the United States; travel of up to 75 miles one way may be needed

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Other fieldwork requirement

Clinical training cannot be completed at the student's current place of work; regular business hours

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

How practicum and internship placements work

Prior degree

RequiredBachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution; psychology or human services preferred

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Statement / essay

RequiredPersonal statement and academic statement (1,000 words or less)

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Recommendation letters

Required2 letters — At least two letters from professional or academic references

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Résumé / CV

RequiredResume or CV

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Interview

RequiredGroup interview in the online classroom

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Background check

RequiredOnline background check for conditionally admitted applicants, $50

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Application fee

Required$95 — $95 application fee

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Transcripts

RequiredUnofficial and official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Other requirement

RequiredMust be a US citizen or permanent resident

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test

Not required

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

TOEFL iBT

RequiredIf postsecondary work was completed outside the United States

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.

• Other deadlineDomestic applicants

  August 21, 2026 · for Winter 2027 (January 2027)

  Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026
  Passed

• Priority deadlineDomestic applicants

  September 25, 2026 · for Winter 2027 (January 2027)

  Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026
  Passed

• Final deadlineDomestic applicants

  October 26, 2026 · for Winter 2027 (January 2027)

  Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026
  Upcoming

Other published fees

Family Institute Tech Fee

$195 per academic yearMandatory

Source: northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Admissions background check

$50 entire programMandatory

Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

• Counseling@Northwestern scholarships and partner organization benefits ScholarshipCompetitive

  Eligibility: Applicants; contact an enrollment specialist to be considered

  Source: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Institutional accreditation

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 12, 2026

Programmatic accreditation

• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)Status: Accredited · Specialty: Clinical Mental Health Counseling · Degree: M.A.Accredited since July 9, 2013 · current cycle ends March 31, 2031 · listed by the accreditor as onlineSource: cacrep.org · verified October 11, 2026

Published enrollment restrictions (state authorization)

• Authorized, exempt or not subject to approval in 50 states and DC; California residents only eligible for traditional and part-time tracks Official pageSource: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026
• Master of Arts in Counseling authorized to operate, exempt or not subject to approval in all 50 states and DC (California with track restrictions) Official pageSource: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

International applicants

• Applicants on student or temporary visas are not eligible for the online program; students must be US citizens, DACA or permanent residents living in the USSource: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

• LicensureDesigned outcome is eligibility to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois; state-by-state table (as of March 2026) Official disclosureSource: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026
• LicensureLicensure information provided as of March 2026 Official disclosureSource: counseling.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026
• LicensureApplicants are encouraged to review licensure requirements in the states where they may reside Official disclosureSource: catalogs.northwestern.edu · verified October 12, 2026

CACREP accreditation does not guarantee licensure in every state, and school counselor certification is not the same as clinical counselor licensure. LPC, LMHC and other state titles · School counselor credentials

1. catalogs.northwestern.edu/tgs/counseling/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 12, 2026
2. catalogs.northwestern.edu/tgs/counseling/counseling-ma/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 12, 2026
3. counseling.northwestern.edu/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
4. counseling.northwestern.edu/counseling/admissions/requirements/ — Official admissions page, verified October 12, 2026
5. counseling.northwestern.edu/counseling/admissions/tuition-financial-aid/ — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 12, 2026
6. counseling.northwestern.edu/counseling/clinical-training-and-placement/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
7. counseling.northwestern.edu/counseling/curriculum/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
8. counseling.northwestern.edu/counseling/faq/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
9. counseling.northwestern.edu/counseling/immersion/ — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
10. counseling.northwestern.edu/legal/licensure/counseling/ — Official disclosure page, verified October 12, 2026
11. counseling.northwestern.edu/legal/state-authorization-information/ — Official disclosure page, verified October 12, 2026
12. DAPIP — HLC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-12) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 12, 2026
13. CACREP Directory of accredited programs (CSV export downloaded 2026-10-11) — Accreditor directory, verified October 11, 2026
14. northwestern.edu/sfs/tuition/graduate/tgs.html — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 12, 2026

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