Online M.Ed. in Counseling and Development
Achieve Excellence as a Counseling Professional
Online with Internships/ Practicums
3 Years (7 Semesters)
60 Credit Hours
$699 per Credit
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Complete this form to receive information about coursework, admissions, tuition, and more.
Begin a Flexible Journey to an Online M.Ed. in Counseling and Development
- Apply By: 05/15/26
- Start Class: 08/24/26
Winthrop University offers the Master of Education in Counseling and Development online, empowering you to learn at the best times for your schedule. Our experienced faculty members deliver meaningful guidance and engaging instruction to elevate your impact when providing services to clients. You’ll benefit from small class sizes that foster group discussions, case presentations and other collaborative activities, helping you build strong connections with your cohort.
Program Details
- Accredited by CACREP
- Complete 700 hours of practicum and internship experiences
- Study full time with your cohort
- Includes seven semesters (three per year)
What Online Counseling and Development Concentrations Are Offered?
Winthrop’s M.Ed. in Counseling and Development includes two concentrations to deliver in-depth knowledge that aligns with your career goals. Through impactful online instruction and client care experiences, you’ll gain competencies for your desired career path and prepare to attain licensure.*
Clinical Mental Health
- Online with Internships/Practicums
- 3 Years
- 60 Credit Hours
Prepare to empower people to address challenges to help them cultivate and lead productive lives.
View ProgramSchool Counseling
- Online with Internships/Practicums
- 3 Years
- 60 Credit Hours
Develop expertise in fostering academic, career, social and emotional growth for PK-12 students.
View ProgramMore Information About This Program
Click on each tab below to learn additional details regarding the program requirements and features.
Curriculum
Reach Your Potential Through Winthrop’s Rigorous Counseling Curriculum
60 Credit Hours
20 Courses
Winthrop’s counseling and development curriculum immerses you in essential concepts to prepare you for impactful work in the counseling field. The online courses and hands-on learning opportunities deliver skills for assisting clients with loss and grief, diagnosis and treatment planning, lifespan development and beyond. Through this online program, you can prepare to sit for the following exams, enabling you to seek licensure* in South Carolina and other states:
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- National Counselor Exam (NCE)
- National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE)
Our online M.Ed. in Counseling and Development program provides rigorous education with accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This designation demonstrates that our curriculum has been evaluated to meet strict standards for the counseling profession.
What Sets Winthrop’s Counseling and Development Curriculum Apart?
Connected Online Courses
Our small classes and cohort learning model help you build close relationships with your peers and faculty.
Two Practicum Courses
These supervised experiences prepare you to build therapeutic relationships, assess client needs, set counseling goals and apply your intervention skills.
Two Internships
Gain real-world experience in applied counseling settings with faculty support to build competencies for assisting clients.
Admissions Requirements
Begin Your Journey to a Master of Education Degree
Application Deadline 05/15/26
Start Date 08/24/26
We’re here to support your academic journey from the moment you apply. Our online M.Ed. in Counseling and Development program includes the following requirements to ensure you’re set up for success when the rigorous coursework begins. Remember that our enrollment specialists are here to help—request information to discuss financial aid, transfer credits, military benefits and other questions you may have.
| Online Application Form | Apply Now |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | One-time fee of $50, paid online |
| Degree and Minimum GPA | Bachelor’s degree with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
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| Transcripts | Official transcripts from all institutions attended for undergraduate and graduate coursework |
| Transfer Credits | Transfer up to nine credits |
| Additional Requirements |
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International Students
International students must have a course-by-course evaluation of their international coursework conducted by an independent evaluation service and have the official report sent directly to us. Accepted services include World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions. Students must also demonstrate English language proficiency with one of the following:
- A TOEFL score of at least 550 on the paper-based test or at least 79 on the internet-based test
- An IELTS score of at least 6.0
- Successful completion of level 112 of the Intensive English for Academic Purposes Program from an English Language School (ELS) center
For a full list of international admission requirements, visit the Admissions page.
Discover a Simple, Supportive Admissions Process
Winthrop understands that every student has unique needs and goals. So, we designed our Admissions Hub to provide guidance on forging your own path to an online program. Whether you want to transfer credits, have military experience or live abroad, you’ll find resources that help you take the next step. If you’d like to talk with an enrollment specialist, request information or call 833-257-1704.
AdmissionsTuition & Aid
Discover a Cost-Effective Path to a Counseling Career
Calculate your cost for attending Winthrop University Use our tuition calculator to help you estimate your total tuition costs.
Named a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report,1 Winthrop strives to offer a cost-effective experience for the online M.Ed. in Counseling and Development program. In fact, PK-12 educators who work in South Carolina or North Carolina can receive a 30 percent tuition discount when they enroll in this master’s program. Learn more on our Professional Public Educator Rate page.
| Cost per Credit Hour | $699 |
|---|---|
| Total Number of Credit Hours | 60 |
| Total Estimated Tuition | $41,940 |
| Additional Fees |
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| Other Costs to Budget For | Costs for books and supplies are not charged directly to the student’s account. Actual student expenses will vary depending on the student’s class schedule. |
The schedule of fees is subject to change, and additional fees may apply.
Our Mission: To Empower the Success of Military Students
Winthrop University is proud to support the aspirations of active-duty service members and veterans. Here, you can make the most of your VA educational benefits and take advantage of our participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program. We’re committed to providing a welcoming and supportive learning environment for military students, which is reflected in our ranking among the Best Colleges for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report.
Explore the Tuition and Financial Aid Details
Winthrop University strives to deliver a solid return on your educational investment, and it shows. Ranked among the Best Value Schools for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report, we design online programs to provide impactful, cost-effective experiences. Visit our Tuition and Aid page to explore financial aid options, scholarships and other ways to make it more affordable to acquire a bachelor’s or master’s degree with the power to transform your career.
Tuition Details
What Careers Can I Pursue with an Online M.Ed. in Counseling and Development?
Success in the counseling field demands deep knowledge and practical experience. Our online M.Ed. in Counseling and Development delivers comprehensive instruction and practicum courses that equip you with skills for supporting PK-12 students, couples and families, individuals facing addiction and other members of your community. Demand in this field is strong, as projections show that mental health and school counselor employment will grow steadily through 2034.2,3
Explore CareersWhat You’ll Learn
Winthrop’s CACREP-accredited M.Ed. in Counseling and Development helps you become a competent and ethical mental health professional. Guided by our expert faculty, you’ll acquire a firm understanding of providing services to children, adults, families and other groups across your community. Graduate ready to pursue state certification in school counseling, national counselor certification and state licensure for professional counselors.*
Program Outcomes
Prepare to become an ethical and effective counselor with the skills to:
- Have and maintain a professional counseling identity
- Use Multicultural Counseling Competencies
- Apply human development theories as they apply to the counseling process
- Use career assessments to discover client needs and growth
- Assess the implementation of group counseling procedures
- Use qualitative and quantitative assessment in practice
- Design a research methodology that will be used to inform their practice
Expert Faculty Members. Exceptional Online Instruction.
Study online with Winthrop to learn from many of the same accomplished, experienced faculty members who teach on campus, which leads to a consistent, academically rigorous experience. Our educators receive training on virtual instructional technologies, enabling them to deliver high-quality and engaging coursework throughout your online program.
Nicholas Highe, Ph.D., Director of the Counseling and Development Program, Assistant Professor, M.Ed. in Counseling and Development
Faculty Spotlight: Nicholas Highe, Ph.D.
Dr. Nicholas Highe began his career as a Certified Professional School Counselor and has served for over 10 years in three public school districts in North Carolina. During his tenure as a school counselor, he garnered experience working as a trauma-informed and mental health-specific counselor on the elementary, middle and high school levels.
Dr. Highe has served on numerous occasions as a guest lecturer, panel discussion participant, presenter and motivational speaker. His research and passion interests include suicide awareness, advocacy and prevention among underserved populations with a focus on African American males. His research also has a strong foundation in social justice consciousness within the school counseling field.
Education
- Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision — North Carolina State University
- M.S. in Counselor Education, School Counseling — Jacksonville State University
- B.A. in Communication Studies — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Member Associations
- American Counseling Association
- Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
- Southern Association of Counselor Education and Supervision
- American School Counseling Association
- North Carolina School Counseling Association
- Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International
Related Program
Sources and Disclaimer
- U.S. News & World Report. “Winthrop University Rankings.” Retrieved October 24, 2025, from https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/winthrop-university-3456/overall-rankings.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors.” Retrieved October 24, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “School and Career Counselors and Advisors.” Retrieved October 24, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm.
*Professional Licensure Disclosure: Requirements for professional licensure in counseling vary from state to state. Winthrop’s School Counseling program is designed to meet SC and NC licensure requirements for school counseling and may not meet requirements from other states. We are unable to make a determination about whether or not our program will lead to licensure in other states. Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure, we strongly recommend you contact the state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering will meet that state’s licensing requirements.