Study Counseling in Indiana
Indiana’s online master’s programs provide flexibility, making it possible for you to balance your studies with work and personal commitments. These programs allow you to advance your career in the field of counseling.
Indiana’s online programs are known for their quality education, blending theoretical knowledge with practical skills Whether you are aiming to become a licensed counselor or specialize in areas like school counseling or mental health, these programs equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge.
You can use this guide – which features some of the popular online counseling master’ programs in Indiana – to help narrow your focus and find the school that’s the best fit for your needs.
Online Master’s in Counseling in Indiana
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online master’s in counseling in Indiana:
- Grace College Online
- Huntington University
- Butler University
- Walsh University
- Capella University
- National University
- Arizona State University Online
- Walden University
- Southern New Hampshire University
Grace College Online
Online Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
If you are committed to making a difference in a counseling career and seeking to complete your graduate degree online, the 60-credit Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Grace College is designed for you.
The online Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree at Grace College is accredited by CACREP and leads to licensure in Indiana. The program follows a fixed schedule, where you will progress through semesters in sequence with your cohort.
By pursuing this master’s degree online, you will receive training to support and assist individuals with personal issues. The program also emphasizes your professional and interpersonal development, crucial for effective counseling. Since 1995, Grace College and Theological Seminary have been offering these graduate counseling degrees.
Some of the courses that you will take include:
- Theological Foundations in Counseling
- Marriage and Family Counseling
- Psychotherapy and Trauma
- Addictions Counseling
- Personality and Counseling Theories
- Psychopathology
- Gender & Sexuality
- Human Growth and Development
You will find that online learning offers flexibility. Your classes will be structured in weekly modules. There is a greater focus on written communication. This includes assignments like research writing and reflective writing. Additionally, you will engage in various activities such as projects, presentations, demonstrations, and group work.
You can complete most of your master’s degree online, with an annual seven-day residency at the scenic Winona Lake campus in Indiana. Attendance at this Residency is mandatory each year while you are actively enrolled and taking classes in the program. The Residency involves counselor training, skill development evaluation, and spiritual growth activities, led by both online and residential faculty. This is also a time for intensive coursework and fostering personal and professional connections.
The Practicum, your first field experience in the program, is a one-semester course. It requires a minimum of 100 hours of field experience, including at least 40 hours of direct client care, spread over the semester. On average, you will complete 8-10 hours weekly. During the Practicum, you will handle client intakes, treatment plans, and ongoing care for clients with less severe issues.
The Internship, the final field experience, spans two semesters. It involves a minimum of 300 hours per semester, with at least 120 hours in direct client care. This phase, typically involving new sites and clinical challenges, requires approximately 18-20 hours weekly. As an intern, you will have a caseload of 10-12 clients and will operate more independently, though still under supervision.
Degree completion time varies based on your start date and prerequisites. Starting in August, the quickest completion is 33 months or 8 semesters. A May start can potentially finish in two years, while a January start can complete in 2.5 years. The total program comprises 60 hours, and you may adjust the pace to manage other responsibilities, with advisors assisting in planning your study schedule.
Admission to the program requires:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- A minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA.
- Completion of the application process.
- A professional reference.
- An interview with a faculty member.
- Passing a background check.
You can transfer up to 12 credit hours of graduate-level coursework from an approved institution into the program. You must have earned a B or better in these courses, and all transfers are subject to approval by the Admissions Committee. You may need to provide course syllabi or descriptions for evaluation.
Huntington University
Online Master of Arts – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
If you aspire to support others through life’s challenges, to help them navigate complexities, maintain balanced relationships, and promote mental health, then the Master of Arts degree in clinical mental health counseling at Huntington University is for you.
At Huntington University, you will be trained as a professional counselor, equipped to work in diverse cultural contexts. This training involves developing clinical skills, critical thinking, and academic excellence.
This 60-credit-hour program fulfills and even surpasses the standards for becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Indiana. You can complete the program from any location, provided you have a computer and reliable internet. The courses are structured in seven-week periods with three synchronous sessions, held in the evenings Eastern Time, allowing you to manage full-time employment alongside your studies.
For times when classes aren’t held synchronously, you will engage in online asynchronous discussions and learning activities. Your practicum and internship courses will have weekly meetings for one and a half hours across three 14-week semesters, with no synchronous requirements.
The program aims to provide you with both experiential and didactic learning to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and dispositions for working with clients in a multicultural and diverse society. Your objectives will include:
- Applying ethical codes accurately to various counseling dilemmas, clients, and contexts.
- Demonstrating awareness of the social and cultural foundations of individuals, families, and groups, and applying effective cross-cultural counseling skills.
- Applying concepts and theories of cognitive, personality, and moral development across the human lifespan.
- Understanding and implementing theories and assessments for career development.
- Understanding counseling theories and applying them effectively to a broad range of clients.
- Understanding group dynamics and effectively applying counselor leadership skills in groups.
- Applying principles of measurement and assessment in client evaluations.
- Utilizing research methods to improve counselor effectiveness.
To graduate and meet licensure educational requirements, you must complete:
- 45 credit hours of foundational coursework.
- 6 credit hours focused on mental health.
- 9 credit hours of clinical training.
- Submission of a graduation application by December 1 of your graduating year.
- Attendance at commencement exercises.
This totals 60 credit hours, including 700 hours of clinical experience, with half being direct client contact. You must complete all graduate programs within seven years. Not completing within this time frame may require retaking classes.
Admission requirements for the program include:
- A completed application for the graduate program.
- Two recommendation forms, with at least one academic reference preferred.
- A professional resume outlining your life and work experiences.
- Official transcripts from the college or university where you earned your highest degree, sent directly from the institution.
- Completion of prerequisite coursework with a minimum grade of C or better. You may be conditionally accepted if you haven’t met these prerequisites, provided you complete them within the first year of your graduate study. Prerequisites include 3 credit hours in Psychology from courses like Intro or General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or Personality Theories/Theories of Counseling.
Butler University
Online Master’s in School Counseling
In the 60-credit Master of Science in School Counseling program at Butler University, you will engage in online coursework and practical experiences, preparing you to seek licensure as a professional school counselor in Indiana. Experienced faculty will guide you through a rigorous curriculum, focusing on success at the K-12 level and emphasizing diversity and inclusion.
This program offers training and a path to licensure in professional school counseling, with additional courses available for dual-licensure in mental health counseling. The program, tailored for licensure in Indiana, includes 20 courses, encompassing a practicum course and two semesters of internship.
Designed to fit the schedules of full-time professionals, the program can be taken part-time, allowing you to balance work, school, and personal life. You have up to seven years to complete the program.
Some of the core courses that you will take include:
- Human Development Over the Lifespan
- Fundamental Counseling Theory & Techniques
- Career & Life Planning
- Trauma & Crisis: Prevention & Response
- Advanced Counseling Theories & Techniques
- Group Procedures
- Postsecondary Planning for School Counseling
- Topics & Issues in School Counseling
The cohort model of the program facilitates building strong relationships with peers and faculty, enhancing your network and support system. The 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship are conducted at schools convenient for you, and you will graduate ready to pursue school counselor licensure. Six elective credits offer a chance to study abroad or delve into a specific area of interest. For dual-licensure as a mental health counselor, an additional three-credit elective course is available.
The program’s coursework covers legal and ethical issues, human development, diversity, career and life planning, and more, with a strong emphasis on diversity/equity/inclusion (DEI), child mental health, and trauma impacts.
Program outcomes include the ability to use data in practice, work ethically and culturally responsively, demonstrate knowledge in various counseling aspects, and understand the importance of leadership and systemic change for positive school climates.
Some of the skills you will gain include:
- Career and life planning
- Human development
- Leadership
- Counseling techniques
- Guidance services
- Trauma and crisis response
Graduates from this program are successful in K-12 school roles, such as counselors and career advisors. The program mirrors the on-campus version, known for its high job placement rate.
Classes are taught by experienced mental health and school counselors, all experts in their fields, nationally recognized, and dedicated to supporting your educational journey.
Admission requirements are:
- A completed application, free of charge.
- A 3.0 GPA.
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Transcripts from all attended institutions.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- A personal statement.
For active military members and veterans, Butler University ensures accessible, affordable education, offering flexibility for deployed students to continue their studies online.
Walsh University
Online Master of Arts in Counseling and Human Development
In Walsh University’s online Master of Arts in Counseling and Human Development program, you will learn advanced methods to address mental health issues across diverse populations. You have the opportunity to become an empathetic and proficient clinical mental health counselor, aiding communities, or a school counselor adept at addressing the mental health challenges of youth in today’s complex environment.
You can choose from these specialized practice options:
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- School Counseling
- Dual Mental Health and School Counseling degree, completing both in 78 credits.
The program is entirely online, requiring no campus visits. It offers a flexible approach, teaching core competencies, focusing on counseling in practice, and covering ethical, legal, and professional foundations. It also explores diverse cultures and communities. Through practicum and internship experiences within your community, you will obtain hours necessary for licensure and prepare to support others effectively.
You will take one course at a time, allowing you to balance the program with your current job or other responsibilities. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs can be completed in just over three years at this pace, while the Dual Mental Health and School Counseling program can be completed in about 4.3 years.
This online program, tailored for working professionals, remains flexible, though you may need to adjust your work schedule for practicum and internship hours. Expect to dedicate a minimum of 20 hours per week to these experiences. If working full-time, you must accommodate these requirements in your schedule. Internship and practicum courses occur later in the program, giving you time to plan accordingly.
In this program, you will engage with classmates and faculty through group work, discussion boards, and peer feedback sessions, ensuring a collaborative and interactive online environment. Instructors also offer one-on-one office hours to keep you connected with your coursework and the Walsh community.
Practicum and internship components provide hands-on experience within your community, focusing on therapeutic relationships, counseling procedures, ethical practice, and applying counseling theories to various client concerns.
Program outcomes include:
- Demonstrating core knowledge competencies in counseling.
- Combining counseling skills in practice and field experiences.
- Integrating knowledge and competencies required for Mental Health Counselors and/or School Counselors.
- Demonstrating specialized counseling skills.
- Complying with ethical, legal, and professional responsibilities.
- Effectively working with diverse populations.
Walsh offers field experience support resources at no additional cost. You will receive guidance through the field experience process and assistance in securing approved internship and practicum sites. A dedicated Student Support Advisor will guide you from enrollment to graduation.
Admission requirements include:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- A preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (GRE is not required with a 3.0 GPA).
- Completion of an online application and supporting materials.
Do you Have to Write a Thesis for a Masters in Counseling?
Whether you need to write a thesis for a master’s in counseling often depends on the specific program and institution. Here are some common scenarios:
- Thesis and Non-Thesis Options: Many counseling programs offer both thesis and non-thesis tracks. The thesis option typically involves conducting a research study and writing a detailed paper about the findings. This option is often chosen by students who are interested in pursuing doctoral studies or who have a strong interest in research.
- Non-Thesis Options: Many master’s in counseling programs, especially those that are more practice-oriented, do not require a thesis. Instead, these programs may require more clinical hours, practicum experiences, or a comprehensive exam. The focus in these programs is more on developing practical skills for counseling rather than conducting research.
- Capstone Projects or Comprehensive Exams: Instead of a thesis, some programs might require a capstone project or a comprehensive exam. A capstone project can be a research project, a literature review, or a practical project in the field of counseling. It is generally less intensive than a traditional thesis. Comprehensive exams test the knowledge you have gained throughout the program.
How Much Do Licensed Mental Health Counselors Make in Indiana?
As of December 2023, the average annual salary for a licensed mental health counselor working in Indiana is $70,543. More experienced and top earning licensed mental health counselors working in Indiana make over $100,000 per year.