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Counseling Degrees and Programs in Hawaii

Hawaii is made up of numerous islands spread across the Pacific Ocean, making it more challenging for students to attend college and university through traditional methods. If you are interested in starting a counseling career in Hawaii, you will find that the only counseling-related degree is offered in Laie, which is located on the island of Oahu. As many types of professional counseling careers require a counseling-related degree in Hawaii, prospective counselors may need to consider programs in other states or choose an online program. Those studying at the undergraduate level may be interested in counseling-related programs that introduce students to the profession, while those interested in graduate studies should ensure the program meets Hawaii coursework requirements for licensure.

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Quick Facts

  • There is 1 not-for-profit university that offers a program in marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, school counseling, substance abuse counseling, and/or vocational rehabilitation counseling in Hawaii.1,2
  • Of the counseling schools in Hawaii, 0 offer an associate degree, 1 offers a bachelor’s degree, 0 offer a certificate, and 0 offer a master’s or advanced degree.1,2
  • 1 school offers a degree in mental health counseling.1,2
  • No schools offer a degree in marriage and family therapy.1,2
  • No schools offer a degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling.1,2
  • No schools offer a degree in school counseling.1,2
  • No schools offer a degree in substance abuse counseling.1,2
  • No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Student Counseling Programs 2022.4
  • No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online M.Ed. Programs for Student Counseling 2022.4
  • No counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).2
  • No counseling programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).5

Comparison of Hawaii Counseling Schools and Programs

We have provided some information in the table below about the public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in Hawaii offering counseling programs in the following five areas: mental health counseling (MH), marriage and family therapy (MF), vocational rehabilitation counseling (VR), school counseling (SC), and substance abuse counseling (SA). Use the table to compare each school by program type offered, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation status, graduation rate, and net price per year. To learn more about how to become licensed as a professional counselor in Hawaii, have a look at our license requirements page.

School NameCACREP-
Accred
Program2		MHMFVRSCSAGrad Rate1Net Price1
Brigham Young University-Hawaii—Yes————71%$13,585

Schools in Hawaii with Counseling Degrees

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

Brigham Young University-Hawaii

Brigham Young University-Hawaii (BYUH) is located on the island of Oahu and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. BYUH integrates faith-based courses into its curriculum for all degree programs and students are required to take classes in math, writing, and religious education. BYUH offers a 120-credit Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology with a Clinical/Counseling Emphasis. In addition to the core classes required for all undergraduate majors, the BS in Psychology with a Clinical/Counseling Emphasis consists of 42 credits and includes courses such as Developmental Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Community Mental Health. Students also have the option to complete an internship as part of the nine credits of required Clinical/Counseling Emphasis electives. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to pursue an entry-level job or to pursue a graduate degree in a counseling-related field, as many counseling professions in Hawaii require a master’s or doctorate degree.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, Accredited Programs: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
3. US News & World Report Best Student Counseling Programs 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/student-counseling-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Online Master’s in Education Programs Offering Student Counseling and Personnel Services 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/student-counseling-rankings
5. Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, Directory of COAMFTE Accredited Programs: https://coamfte.org/COAMFTE/Directory_of_Accredited_Programs/MFT_Training_Programs.aspx