Counseling Degrees and Programs in Alaska
Individuals hoping to pursue a counseling career in Alaska will find there are few counseling programs offered in the state. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is the only public or not-for-profit college and university that offers programs in counseling. Currently, programs are available in mental health counseling and school counseling. However, most types of counseling careers in Alaska require a degree and most require graduate education. If you are interested in becoming a professional counselor, you will need to complete a degree in your desired area of practice. Only graduate degrees are available in Alaska so if you are an undergraduate student, you may need to explore online programs or programs in other states. The degrees available in Alaska do have online study options, which may be desirable for students who do not live near campus. Online programs offer a more flexible learning environment while providing students with the same curriculum and opportunity to meet state licensure requirements.
Quick Facts
- There is 1 not-for-profit four-year college or university that offers a program in marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, school counseling, substance abuse counseling, and/or vocational rehabilitation counseling in Alaska.1,2
- Of the counseling schools in Alaska, 0 offer an associate’s degree, 0 offer a bachelor’s degree, 0 offer a certificate, and 1 offers a master’s or advanced degree.1,2
- No schools offer a degree in marriage and family therapy.1,2
- 1 school offers a degree in mental health counseling.1,2
- No schools offer a degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling.1,2
- 1 school offers a degree in school counseling.1,2
- No schools offer a degree in substance abuse counseling.1,2
- No counseling schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019.3
- No schools ranked in US News Best Student Counseling Programs 2019.4
- No schools ranked in US News Best Rehabilitation Counseling Programs 2019.5
- At 1 school, 2 counseling programs are accredited by CACREP.2
Comparison of Alaska Counseling Schools and Programs
We have created the table below to show you the public and not-for-profit four-year colleges and universities in Alaska offering counseling programs in the following five major areas: mental health counseling (MH), marriage and family therapy (MFT), vocational rehabilitation counseling (VR), school counseling (SC), and substance abuse counseling (SA). The table indicates the schools that offer programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); CACREP-accredited programs are denoted with an asterisk (*). You can also review the program type offered, graduation rate, and net price per year. If you are interested in reading more about how to become a counselor in Alaska, have a look at our license requirements page.
| School Name | CACREP- Accred Program2 | MH | MF | VR | SC | SA | Grad Rate1 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | Yes | Yes* | — | — | Yes* | — | 32% | $10,458 |
Schools in Alaska with Counseling Degrees
Traditional Graduate Programs
University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is home to a CACREP-accredited Master of Education (M.Ed.) with concentrations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. The program can be completed either on campus or as a hybrid program that combines synchronous online video conferencing courses with an intensive on-campus course in group counseling during the summer term. Both programs require 42 credits of core counseling coursework and include required courses such as Appraisal for Counselors; Counseling Theories and Applications I; and Research in Counseling and Educational Settings. Students in the M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling must complete additional clinical coursework for a total of 60 credits. In this program, students learn to provide psychotherapeutic support to individuals, groups, and families struggling with mental health and behavioral challenges. Upon completion of the program, students will meet Alaska’s educational requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Students in the M.Ed. in School Counseling complete three additional credits of internship for a total of 48 credits and will meet state requirements to become a K-12 school counselor in Alaska. It is also possible to complete a combined degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling that meets the state educational requirements for both types of licensure. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in a human service field and relevant experience or who have a master’s degree in a counseling-related subject, such as psychology, can apply to the School Counseling Certification program. This program comprises 39-45 credits and enables students to fulfill the state coursework requirements for either elementary or secondary school counseling. Students who wish to fulfill the requirements for K-12 counseling should apply to the M.Ed. program.
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), Accredited Programs: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
3. Kiplinger’s Best College Values, 2019: https://www.kiplinger.com/fronts/special-report/college-rankings/index.html
4. US News & World Report Best Student Counseling Programs, 2019: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/student-counseling-rankings
5. US News & World Report Best Rehabilitation Counseling Programs, 2019: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/rehabilitation-counseling-rankings