Counseling Degrees and Programs in Delaware
In the small northeastern state of Delaware, there are a few colleges and universities offering programs in counseling in the following categories: mental health counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling. To start your counseling career in Delaware, you will need to complete the right training and education for the area you’d like to practice. Nearly all professional counseling careers require a degree and most require a graduate degree with specific coursework and supervised work experience. In Delaware, you can complete undergraduate studies in the field of substance abuse counseling or you may wish to complete a program in a closely-related subject to decide if counseling is the right profession for you. At the graduate level, master’s degrees are available that meet state coursework requirements for clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. Few online counseling programs are offered in Delaware, so students interested in online or hybrid programs may need to explore counseling programs offered in other states.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
- There are 3 not-for-profit colleges and universities that offer a program in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, school counseling, substance abuse counseling, and/or vocational rehabilitation counseling in Delaware.1,2
- Of the counseling schools in Delaware, 1 offers an associate degree, 0 offer a bachelor’s degree, 3 offer a certificate, and 1 offers 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
- 1 school offers a degree in school counseling.1,2
- 2 schools offer a degree in substance abuse counseling.1,2
- No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Student Counseling Programs 2022.3
- No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online M.Ed. Programs for Student Counseling 2022.4
- Across 1 school, 1 counseling program is 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 Delaware Counseling Schools and Programs
Below, we have provided a table with useful information that allows you to compare the public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in Delaware offering counseling programs in these five primary 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. More information about how to become a licensed counselor in Delaware can be found on our license requirements page.
| School Name | CACREP- Accred Program2 | MH | MF | VR | SC | SA | Grad Rate1 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware State University | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 47% | $11,610 |
| Delaware Technical Community College-Terry | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 20% | $8,121 |
| Wilmington University | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 23% | $13,780 |
Schools in Delaware with Counseling Degrees
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Delaware State University
Delaware State University (DSU) is one of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) offering a 21-credit Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling (CADC). This program comprises elective courses that are offered as part of DSU’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology degree. These courses may be taken by students in the BS or certificate programs, as standalone continuing education courses, or by Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADCs) who require additional coursework to recertify in Delaware. Courses are offered in an accelerated, eight-week format either at the Dover campus or online. Students may complete the courses in any order and may take a full- or part-time course load. Examples of required courses include Introduction to Drug and Alcohol Counseling; Assessment of Alcohol and Drug Addiction; and Treatment Planning and Relapse Prevention for Alcohol and Drug Addiction. Students must also complete at least 200 hours of supervised work experience that provides at least 10 hours of training in the following areas: screening; assessment; treatment planning and referral; counseling techniques; and professional and ethical duties. This coursework can be applied to the state educational requirements to become a CADC.
Delaware Technical Community College
Delaware Technical Community College (DTCC) offers addiction counseling programs at the Dover and Wilmington campuses. The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Drug and Alcohol Counseling requires 67 credits, including coursework in human services, psychology, and addiction studies. Students will learn to provide substance abuse counseling to clients impacted by addiction as well as related skills, such as assessment, prevention, and community education. Full-time students can typically complete the degree in two years and, upon completion, may look for work in entry-level addiction counseling careers or continue their studies in a bachelor’s degree program. A Certificate in Drug and Alcohol Counseling is also offered to students who have or are working towards an associate degree in a related field. The certificate requires at least 18 credits depending on the student’s prior coursework and plan of study. Both programs include a supervised work experience that provides students with hands-on learning opportunities in a related organization. Coursework from both the AAS and the certificate program can be applied to Delaware’s educational requirements for the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) credential.
Traditional Graduate Programs
Wilmington University
Wilmington University (WilmU) offers Delaware’s only graduate programs in counseling. The CACREP-accredited, 60-credit Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) takes three years of full-time study to complete, including two years of coursework and one year of supervised clinical experience. The curriculum includes 44 credits in the counseling core curriculum, 12 credits of field experience, and four credits of electives. Examples of required courses include Theories of Counseling and Tools, Techniques, and Strategies of Counseling. The degree is a hybrid program that includes both online and in-person learning and meets state coursework requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH). WilmU also offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling. This degree is available at the campuses in Dover, New Castle, Georgetown, Brandywine, and Gloucester. The program is offered with a 51-credit certification track that meets the requirements to become a K-12 school counselor in Delaware and a 39-credit non-certification track for students planning to work in settings outside the school system. Students learn how to provide counseling and support to children and youth and must take courses in group counseling, child development, and research. A Graduate Certificate in Advanced Study in School Counseling is offered in Dover, New Castle, Georgetown, and online. This program teaches students about new trends and issues in school counseling but does not lead to certification, though courses may be used to meet recertification requirements.
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