Study Master’s in Counseling in Oklahoma
Oklahoma might not be the biggest state, but it has a robust higher education system. In fact, the Sooner State has dozens of public colleges and universities. There are dozens more private, independent, and religious institutions as well. Needless to say, there is a college campus not far from you, no matter where you are in the state.
But, then again, not everyone wants to get a traditional in-person degree. That’s where online learning has become such a boon for higher education. With numerous online master’s programs in counseling in Oklahoma, you can have your pick of which degree best fits your needs and complete it without stepping foot on campus.
Below is a list of some of the popular counseling program options in Oklahoma. Explore each one, compare and contrast them, and determine which degree aligns best with your career goals.
Online Master’s in Counseling in Oklahoma
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online master’s in counseling programs in Oklahoma:
- Oklahoma City University
- Southeast Oklahoma State University
- Mid-America Christian University
- University of Oklahoma
- Northwestern University
- Pepperdine University
- Lamar University
- National University
- Purdue Global
Oklahoma City University
Online Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
At Oklahoma City University, you can complete a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that prepares you for state licensure as a counselor in Oklahoma. This program adheres to the practitioner-wellness model and explores both the art and science of counseling. You’ll gain crucial counseling skills as well as insights into behavioral pathology, all the while becoming more self-aware.
This program requires the completion of 60 semester credits to graduate. You’ll need two years of full-time studies to complete this program. Part-time options, which take 3-4 years, are also available. Whatever the case, you’ll complete all your coursework online in a flexible yet stimulating learning environment.
You’ll begin your studies with core courses that address fundamental topics in counseling. Some of these classes include the following:
- Biological Bases of Behavior and Health
- Assessment I
- Family and Group Interventions
- Social and Community Behavior
- Behavior Pathology
Other core courses focus on counseling theories and techniques. For example, Evidence-Based Counseling Theories explores the theoretical bases of individual and group counseling. Furthermore, you’ll learn essential counseling techniques and interventions that address all manner of mental health issues.
The Advanced Evidence-Based Techniques class builds on the theory course by offering a more detailed examination of counseling theories and techniques. You’ll especially focus on structured and systematic counseling techniques that can be used as interventions with clients who have a behavioral, emotional, and mental disorder.
Another specific area of counseling you’ll be trained in is Career Development. This class covers a variety of work-related issues, such as vocational choices, interest inventories, and the role of work in one’s overall mental health. Moreover, you’ll discuss the relationship between work and life, and how to help others achieve a better work-life balance.
Additional coursework is required in the following areas:
- Assessment II
- Multiculturalism and Diversity
- Personality and Human Development
- Research Methods
- Professional Identity and Ethics
A six-credit practicum is your first taste of fieldwork. This experience revolves around your preparation to provide counseling services to clients in a mental health setting. Your work will be closely supervised by an on-site supervisor. You must also regularly meet with your professors online to get further support and supervision. All told, you must accumulate at least 150 hours of clock time during the practicum.
Meanwhile, the nine-credit internship offers an advanced opportunity to acquire on-the-job experience. Like the practicum, you’ll complete the internship in a mental health setting under the close supervision of a licensed counselor. Furthermore, regular supervision with your professors is required. During the internship, you’ll have enhanced responsibilities, particularly as you move forward in the internship. This may include leading group therapy sessions, handling client intake and assessment, and providing individual counseling services.
You can start your application to Oklahoma City University online. The following requirements must be met to be eligible for admission:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- Have a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Provide a statement of purpose that describes your goals, research interests, and related topics.
- Provide two letters of recommendation from past college instructors.
- Have the ability to communicate effectively in English.
- Participate in an interview if requested to do so.
Southeast Oklahoma State University
Online Master of Education in School Counseling
The Master of Education in School Counseling from Southeast Oklahoma State University is designed for classroom teachers who wish to supplement their experience and knowledge with training in school counseling. This 42-credit program can be completed in as little as 16 months. With online coursework and field experiences near where you live, this program also provides the level of flexibility you need to continue teaching while you get your master’s degree.
This program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP). As such, this program focuses not just on training you as a counselor, but also as an advanced educator with the capability of developing individualized and school-wide programs that benefit all students. Additionally, you’ll acquire the following:
- Clinical skills required to provide counseling services to K-12 students.
- Research experience that enables you to stay current with the latest trends in school counseling.
- The ability to work with students of all ages, as well as their parents/guardians and teachers.
- An understanding of counseling theories and interventions that you can use to improve the school environment.
- The ability to develop and implement a school counseling program.
You’ll gain these and other skills by completing a rigorous school counseling curriculum. Your studies begin with a School Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice course, which discusses the historical development of school counseling and its contemporary iteration. You’ll also learn about the essential roles and responsibilities of counselors, the requirements for state and national credentialing, and the importance of self-care.
The Human Growth and Development in Counseling class is important for your growth as a counselor. You’ll develop an understanding of the developmental changes that children and adolescents go through. This includes an examination of the milestones relating to the cognitive, physical, psychosocial, and moral development of children.
Assessment is an important part of a school counselor’s job. As such, you’ll take an Assessment in Counseling class that explores essential assessment concepts, including assessment instruments, the concepts of validity and reliability, and test interpretation. You’ll also learn about measures of personality, aptitude, intelligence, and interest, to name a few.
Additional coursework is required in the following areas:
- Career Counseling and Development
- Theories of Counseling
- Social and Cultural Diversity Issues in Counseling
- Research in Counseling
- Developmental School Counseling
Learning how to work with groups is an important part of this program, given the commonality of group work for school counselors. The Group Counseling class examines the theoretical underpinnings of group counseling as well as the experiential components of working with groups. You’ll learn specific group counseling skills grounded in research-based methods and theories, as well as explore ethical issues that may arise in group counseling settings. This class also includes a 10-hour lab experience in which you participate in small group counseling sessions as a group member.
Of course, you must also develop your skills for working with children, so you are required to take Counseling Children and Adolescents. This class offers insights into the specific techniques you can use to facilitate positive change in students. You’ll learn how to conceptualize cases, develop wellness-based interventions, and explore developmentally appropriate approaches to working with children with cognitive, emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs.
The final aspect of this program is an on-site practicum experience. Many students complete this part of the program at the school where they currently teach. You must accrue at least 100 clock hours during your practicum, of which 40 must be in direct contact with students. Direct contact can be individual or group counseling, assessment, academic advising, or guidance counseling, to name a few.
During the practicum, you’ll learn how to apply what you’ve learned in the school environment. You’ll be supervised by a certified school counselor who can provide insights and feedback about your performance. Some of the activities you might undertake during the practicum include school counseling program development and implementation, testing students, career counseling, and advocacy.
You can apply online if Southeastern Oklahoma State’s program sounds like a good fit. The admissions requirements are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher or a 3.0 GPA or higher in the last 60 credits of undergraduate work.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Have a valid teaching certificate.
Mid-America Christian University
Online Master of Science in Counseling
If your dream is to become a licensed professional counselor in Oklahoma, Mid-America Christian University’s Master of Science in Counseling can help you achieve that goal. This degree emphasizes clinical mental health counseling, which means you’ll get a broad-based education that enables you to work effectively with clients with varying mental health needs.
This program offers a flexible option for completing your degree. In fact, the program was designed from the ground up with working professionals in mind. All classes are entirely online and last just six weeks each. And since you take just one class at a time, you avoid the burden of working on multiple classes at once. By completing this degree, you can pursue any number of careers, including the following:
- Mental Health Counselor
- Rehabilitation Counselor
- Behavioral Health Specialist
- Grief Counselor
- Substance Abuse Counselor
Your training begins with a 36-credit counseling core sequence of classes that gives you the foundational knowledge to be a competent counselor. One of the first classes you’ll take is Psychopathology, which focuses on mental illness, its causes, and various treatments that can help reduce or eliminate symptoms. Furthermore, this class typically encompasses a study of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to familiarize you with the primary diagnostic system used in the U.S.
You’re required to take an Ethics and Professional Studies class as well. On the one hand, this course examines the many different ethical considerations you have to be aware of as a counselor, not the least of which is the requirement that you behave professionally and with the utmost respect for your clients. On the other hand, you’ll explore topics regarding licensure, credentialing, and continuing education, all of which are critical aspects of working as a professional counselor.
Yet another foundational course you’ll take is Group Dynamics and Counseling. This class analyzes the counselor’s role as a facilitator in group situations. You’ll discuss group dynamics, the developmental phases of group work, and leadership elements as well. Furthermore, you’ll become familiar with specific techniques and interventions common to working with groups of people.
Additional core coursework focuses on areas like the following:
- Human Development
- Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
- Career Counseling and Development
- Marriage and Family Systems and Treatment
- Individual Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques
The clinical mental health counseling portion of the program begins with studies in Clinical Psychopharmacology in Counseling. Though master’s-level counselors cannot prescribe medication in most states, it’s still important for you to understand the role of psychotropic medications in a comprehensive treatment plan. You’ll learn about all manner of drug therapies, including antidepressants, anxiolytics, and antipsychotics, to name a few. You’ll also learn about the importance of working closely with medical professionals to devise a treatment plan that includes proper medication and therapy.
The emphasis on clinical mental health further requires you to gain skills in working with families. The Marital and Family Treatment Techniques course fulfills this requirement by exploring the unique approaches used when working with couples and families. You’ll learn about systems theory and its application in family therapy, as well as cognitive-behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and other types of psychotherapy that are effective for treating families.
You are required to take the following courses as part of the clinical mental health component of the program, too:
- Advanced Counseling and Psychotherapy Techniques
- Human Sexuality in Counseling
- Community Counseling
- Psychopathology, Diagnostics, and Treatment Design
Like other counseling graduate degrees, this program requires you to complete two field experiences: a practicum and an internship. The practicum comes first and is an introductory experience in which you learn the basics of being a counselor. Initially, you’ll work closely with your supervisor and spend a good deal of time simply learning the ropes. But, as time passes, you’ll gain more independence and responsibilities, such as providing basic counseling services to individuals, families, and groups.
Throughout the practicum, you are required to participate in supervision, both with your on-site supervisor and with your professors. Supervision is a crucial part of learning how to be a counselor; it enables you to debrief cases, conceptualize your approach, and get critical feedback on your performance.
Once the practicum is complete, you’ll move on to an internship, which gives you more advanced opportunities for professional growth. Your work will still be supervised, but you’ll have more independence to operate as a professional counselor. You’ll have a caseload of clients and will be responsible for intake and assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and providing counseling services, to name a few tasks.
You must meet the following requirements to apply:
- Have an undergraduate degree.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher for the most recent 60 credits of coursework. Your GPA can be 2.75 if you have at least nine credits of psychology coursework.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit other materials as requested (e.g., resume or curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, or essays)
- Be a resident of Oklahoma.
University of Oklahoma
Online Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The University of Oklahoma’s Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is a 60-credit, 20-course degree that requires as few as 30 months to complete. Once you graduate, you’ll have the educational qualifications to pursue licensure as a professional counselor in the state of Oklahoma. With rolling admissions, you can apply at any time. However, terms start in the fall and spring only.
The curriculum focuses on numerous domains, including:
- Establishing a professional identity
- Mastery of ethical practice
- Mastery of counseling ethics
- Understanding empirical foundations of counseling
- Integrating theoretical foundations into practice
You’ll take a wide variety of classes to help you achieve the above characteristics. For example, the Counseling Theories in Clinical Mental Health Counseling course offers a broad overview of modern approaches to counseling. You’ll learn about behavior therapy, existentialism, and the systemic approach. Likewise, you’ll explore psychodynamic theory, humanism, and person-centered theory as well.
You’ll also take Introduction to the Counseling Profession, which focuses on the professional issues you’ll face in your career. The course explores ethics, credentialing issues, and continuing education. Likewise, you’ll learn about the ins and outs of working in a mental health setting, including topics like insurance, case consultations, and maintaining confidentiality.
This program also requires you to complete a Crisis Intervention and Trauma Counseling course. As the name indicates, this class discusses the special techniques required to address the needs of people who have experienced trauma or are in a current crisis. You’ll learn how to provide immediate and specific care to people in crisis. Likewise, you’ll explore effective methods for helping clients work through their trauma and heal.
Other core classes that are required to graduate include the following:
- Human Growth and Development
- Diagnosis in Human Relations Counseling
- Ethical Issues in Human Relations Counseling
- Multicultural Counseling
- Assessment and Evaluation in Counseling
A number of courses focus on specific applications of counseling. For example, Psychopathology explores mental illnesses, their potential causes, and the diagnostic procedures necessary to provide an accurate diagnosis. As another example, Addictions Counseling focuses specifically on working with people who have a substance abuse problem or a behavioral addiction, such as gambling.
Furthermore, you’ll take a Career Counseling course, which equips you to assist clients who are dissatisfied or experiencing instability in their careers. You’ll learn how to provide career coaching, conduct career-related assessments (e.g., interest inventories), and assist clients with transitions from one career to another.
A Children and Adolescents class is required as well. This course focuses on the unique needs of young clients and the developmental milestones of childhood and adolescence. You’ll explore counseling techniques that are effective with young people, learn how to lead group counseling sessions with teens, and develop an appreciation for involving parents and guardians in the counseling process as appropriate.
You’ll learn how to apply what you learn in your online classes in real-world settings during the clinical experience phase of this program. The first component of the clinical experience is a 100-hour, one-semester practicum at a supervised mental health site. During the practicum, you’ll learn the essentials of what it means to be a professional counselor through observation, and, later, guided practice.
The two-semester internship offers greater opportunities to develop as a counselor. You’ll have a caseload of clients to work with on a weekly basis. You’ll also be responsible for non-client contact time activities, such as maintaining case notes, submitting paperwork for billing purposes, and participating in supervision. You must complete at least 600 hours of practice during the internship, 240 of which must be in direct service to clients.
The admissions requirements are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher or a graduate GPA of 2.8 or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit a current resume.
- Submit a personal statement.
- Submit two letters of recommendation.
How Much Do Licensed Mental Health Counselors Make in Oklahoma?
As of February 2025, the average annual salary for a licensed mental health counselor working in Oklahoma is $123,251. More experienced and top earning licensed mental health counselors working in Oklahoma make over $150,000 per year.