Frequency Full-time, part-time
Location In-person
Completion Time 3 to 5 years
Credits 60

Empower and advocate for others as an ethical, culturally responsive, and effective counseling professional, in today’s high-demand schools or in clinical mental health settings.

Whether you’re inspired to help today’s youth navigate school challenges or to support mental health for people of all ages, the Johns Hopkins Master of Science in Counseling can help you achieve your goals. 

Led by a distinguished faculty and supported by a network of partner school districts and mental health organizations, our CACREP-accredited M.S. in Counseling program offers two distinct concentrations, each leading to specific state licensure opportunities: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Both concentrations offer a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum aligned with national and state standards. 

Questions? Please reach out and we’ll be in touch soon.

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Upcoming Admissions Events

Have questions about our degree programs, the application, or financial aid and costs? Join us for an inside look at a graduate experience defined by innovation and driven by evidence-based research. Learn more about your area of interest or career path, meet some of our faculty, and connect to the Johns Hopkins School of Education community. Check out our admissions events and register for a virtual information session today.

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Counseling Student Panel

Core Faculty

  • Matthew Bonner, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Faculty Lead, Counseling Program

    Affiliation

    Counseling & Educational Studies

    Expertise

    Counseling & Human Development

    Headshot of Matthew  Bonner, PhD
  • Nathaniel Brown, PhD

    Assistant Professor
    Clinical Director of Field Experience Placement

    Affiliation

    Counseling & Educational Studies

    Expertise

    Counseling & Human Development

    Headshot of Nathaniel  Brown, PhD
  • Isaac Burt, PhD

    Associate Professor

    Affiliation

    Counseling & Educational Studies

    Expertise

    Counseling & Human Development

  • Affiliation

    Counseling & Educational Studies

    Expertise

    Counseling & Human Development

    Headshot of Brenda  Dorsch , PhD
  • Justin Lauka, PhD

    Assistant Professor

    Affiliation

    Counseling & Educational Studies

    Expertise

    Counseling & Human Development

    Headshot of Justin  Lauka, PhD
  • Affiliation

    Counseling & Educational Studies

    Expertise

    Counseling & Human Development

    Headshot of Michelle  Muratori, PhD
  • Sean Newhart, PhD, LCPC

    Assistant Professor

    Affiliation

    Counseling & Educational Studies

    Expertise

    Counseling & Human Development

    Headshot of Sean  Newhart,  PhD, LCPC
  • Hsin-Ya Tang, PhD

    Assistant Professor

    Affiliation

    Counseling & Educational Studies

    Expertise

    Counseling & Human Development

  • Sterling P. Travis, PhD

    Assistant Professor

    Affiliation

    Counseling & Educational Studies

    Expertise

    Counseling & Human Development

    Headshot of Sterling P. Travis, PhD
  • Yiying Xiong, PhD

    Associate Professor

    Affiliation

    Counseling & Educational Studies

    Expertise

    Counseling & Human Development

    Headshot of Yiying  Xiong, PhD
  • Anita Young, PhD

    Associate Professor

    Affiliation

    Counseling & Educational Studies

    Expertise

    Counseling & Human Development

    Headshot of Anita  Young, PhD

Program Overview

Led by a distinguished faculty and supported by a network of partner school districts and mental health organizations, the program’s content includes professional orientation and ethical practice, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, career development, helping relationships, group work, assessment, and research/program evaluation. Students learn through didactic experiences, small-group projects, and applied learning at community- or school-based sites. The Master of Science in Counseling degree program is accredited by CACREP.

Our M.S. in Counseling program offers two distinct concentrations, each leading to specific state licensure opportunities: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Both concentrations offer a comprehensive, evidence-based curriculum aligned with national and state standards.

View Curriculum

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration

Prepare for a career in a range of clinical, community, and human service settings. Through coursework and fieldwork, you’ll gain the skills, knowledge, and academic credentials needed to begin the licensure process in Maryland and many other states. ​​With full-time and part-time program sequences, students have a maximum of five years to complete the program. Students must complete their practicum and internship in a clinical mental health setting.

22% Increase

Mental health counselor positions are expected to grow in demand by 22% through 2031, which is much higher than the average occupations

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School Counseling Concentration

Prepare to serve and guide students in a variety of K-12 settings. With an emphasis on urban school settings, our curriculum includes practicum and fieldwork experience. The program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), and graduates are eligible for MSDE certification as school counselors. With full-time and part-time program sequences, students have a maximum of five years to complete the program. Students must complete their practicum and internship in a school setting.

Recruit, Educate, Support, Evaluate, and Train (RESET) Initiative

The Recruit, Educate, Support, Evaluate, and Train (RESET) Initiative prepares students in the School Counseling concentration of the MS in Counseling program to address mental health issues in high-need urban, rural, and suburban school districts.

An adult and a child walking down a hallway in a school.

10% Increase

Demand for school and career counselors is predicted to grow by 10% over the next decade, which is faster than the average growth for all occupations

Field Experience Prospective Site Application, State Licensure Verification Request, and Professional Associations

State Licensure Verification Request Steps and Contact Information

  1. Current and former students need to view the state regulatory board to learn the requirements to practice clinical or professional mental health counseling in their chosen state before submitting a state licensure verification request to the Office of Field Experience or your request may be delayed.
     
  2. Current and former students can request state licensure verification by contacting the Office of Field Experience via e-mail at [email protected]. Sending your request to another office or department may delay processing time. 
     
  3. State licensure verification request processing time is 5-15 days.

After SOE

Our graduates use their skills and compassion to make a difference in public and private schools, behavioral health agencies, private practice, and other facilities and programs across the greater Baltimore-Washington, D.C., area—and beyond.

Clinical Mental Health Careers

  • Clinical Mental Health Counselor
  • Clinical Psychotherapist
  • Mental Health Therapist
  • Mental Health Clinician
  • Clinical Research Associate
  • Resident Counselor
  • Director, Outpatient Services

School Counseling Careers

  • High School Counselor
  • Middle School Counselor
  • Counseling Department Chair
  • College and Career Support Counselor
  • Transfer Student Adviser
  • Assistant Director, Student Affairs
  • Senior Program Manager
  • Children and Adolescent Therapist