Program Overview
Athabasca University’s online Master of Counselling (MC) is designed to meet the graduate academic requirements for professional counsellors or counselling psychologists.
In addition to core courses in the fundamentals of counselling psychology, you will choose a specialization from one of three areas:
- Art Therapy
- Counselling Psychology
- School Counselling
Program details
The Master of Counselling is a 36-credit online graduate program. You must complete at least 24 credits through Athabasca University.
There is only one MC intake each year. The application deadline is in February. Credit classes in all three specializations start in September. All courses are online grouped study, with defined start and end dates. The program includes a 3-week face-to-face summer institute in Calgary and two long weekend practicum seminars in Alberta.
Routes and options
We offer 3 areas of specialization in the MC program.
Master of Counselling in Art Therapy
Art Therapy lets individuals explore personal problems and potentials through painting, sculpture or drawing.
This specialization is offered in partnership with the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute. If you choose this route, you must attend an additional 2 summer institutes in Vancouver.
Master of Counselling in Counselling Psychology
The courses in the Counselling Psychology specialization meet the graduate course requirements for licensing with the College of Alberta Psychologists. If you are from another province, you should check with your provincial regulatory body for course and program requirements.
Master of Counselling in School Counselling
The School Counselling specialization prepares you to be an educational leader with the capacity to support the well-being of school communities.
Graduates from this stream may also be eligible for counsellor certification or licensure. Please check with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association or the College of Counselling Therapists in provinces where counsellors are regulated.
Completion times
Finish this program in as little as 3.5 years of full-time study. You can take up to 7 years to complete all requirements.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements include an undergraduate degree with a minimum grade point average (GPA), and a minimum number of credits in psychology or educational psychology.
Tuition and fees
The MC has:
- an application fee
- a program admission fee
- a per-semester program fee
Tuition is then paid on a course-by-course basis. Students in the Art Therapy specialization will also have additional costs.