Counseling Degrees and Programs in Oregon
If you are interested in completing a counseling degree in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon is home to several colleges and universities with programs in the five major counseling areas: mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling. Choosing the right school to attend will likely be one of the first steps in your counseling career, as nearly all counseling careers in Oregon require a degree. Most schools offer counseling degrees at the graduate level, as this is the level of degree required for counseling licensure. If you are studying at the undergraduate level, you may want to research programs offered in nearby states or online or consider attending a related undergraduate degree program. There are also a few hybrid counseling programs in Oregon that combine online coursework with on-campus classes. These programs may be of interest to busy students, working professionals, or anyone who would like greater flexibility while completing their degree.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
- There are 19 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 Oregon.1,2
- Of the counseling schools in Oregon, 5 offer an associate degree, 1 offers a bachelor’s degree, 6 offer a certificate, and 12 offer a master’s or advanced degree.1,2
- 11 schools offer a degree in mental health counseling.1,2
- 5 schools offer a degree in marriage and family therapy.1,2
- 2 schools offer a degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling.1,2
- 5 schools offer a degree in school counseling.1,2
- 9 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 9 schools, 15 counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).2
- Across 2 schools, 2 counseling programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).5
Comparison of Oregon Counseling Schools and Programs
In the table below, we have compiled some interesting data that allows you to compare the public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in Oregon 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 see which schools offer any counseling programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and compare each school by program types offered, graduation rate, and net price per year. If you want to know more about how to become licensed as a counselor in Oregon, read our license requirements page.
| School Name | CACREP-Accred Program2 | MH | MF | VR | SC | SA | Grad Rate1 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bushnell University | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 60% | $20,658 |
| Central Oregon Comminity College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 23% | $11,765 |
| Chemeketa Comminity College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 20% | $7,542 |
| Corban University | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | — | 64% | $25,761 |
| George Fox University | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | 69% | $31,236 |
| Klamath Comminity College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 35% | $7,949 |
| Lewis & Clark College | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | 74% | $37,155 |
| Mt. Hood Comminity College | — | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | 24% | $7,601 |
| Oregon Institute of Technology | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | 56% | $17,532 |
| Oregon State University | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 68% | $20,318 |
| Portland Comminity College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 18% | $9,922 |
| Portland State University | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 54% | $13,015 |
| Rogue Comminity College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 9% | $8,676 |
| Southern Oregon University | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | — | 41% | $12,134 |
| Treasure Valley Comminity College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 25% | $5,489 |
| University of Oregon | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | 74% | $18,556 |
| University of Western States | — | Yes | — | — | — | — | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Western Oregon University | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | — | 48% | $15,181 |
| Western Seminary | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | N.Av. | N.Av. |
Schools in Oregon with Counseling Degrees
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Mt. Hood Community College
At Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC), undergraduate students can complete an Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) in Mental Health, Social Service, and Addiction Counseling. This program consists of 93 to 101 credits and educates students in case management, interviewing, group dynamics, and addiction counseling. The curriculum includes courses such as Pharmacology of Psychoactive Substances; Counseling Theories and Interventions I; and
Addiction Counseling: Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment. The program lasts for six terms and new students are admitted in the fall semester. After completing one year of classes students interested in entry-level positions helping youth struggling with addiction in residential care facilities or community justice programs can apply for a Youth Worker Certificate. Graduates from the AAS program are eligible to take the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) exam, but most continue to a bachelor’s degree program. They are also eligible to apply for the Behavioral Healthcare Specialist Certificate, which allows them to pursue entry-level positions in behavioral health, mental health, or social service fields.
Traditional Graduate Programs
George Fox University
George Fox University is a Christian institution offering three CACREP-accredited Master of Arts (MA) degrees in counseling, as well as counseling certificates, in Portland and Salem. The programs have a spiritual integration framework that teaches students how to incorporate a diverse range of spiritual or religious worldviews held by the client into the counseling process. The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60-credit program that meets Oregon coursework requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license. Full-time students can complete the degree in as little as two years, while part-time study enables students to complete the program in four years. The MA in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling requires 68 credits and meets the coursework requirements for both the LPC and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licenses in Oregon. The degree takes three to four years to complete. The MA in School Counseling is comprised of 60 to 63 credits depending on whether the student has teaching experience and takes two to four years to complete. Graduates will be eligible to become school counselors in Oregon. Graduate certificates in School Counseling and Trauma-Informed Care are also available to applicants who already have a master’s degree in mental health.
Lewis & Clark College
Lewis & Clark College offers several graduate-level counseling degrees. The Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS) in Professional Mental Health Counseling (PMHC) is accredited by CACREP and comprises 60 to 66 credits. The MS version of the degree requires additional coursework in psychological research. New students are admitted in the fall and the degree takes seven semesters to complete. The degree is also offered with a Specialization in Addictions (PMHCA), which consists of 62 credits and takes nine semesters to complete. Both tracks meet Oregon coursework requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license, while the Addictions track also meets the academic requirements to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor I (CADC I) in Oregon. The college also offers a 45-credit Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling that takes 21 to 24 months to complete and meets state educational requirements to become a school counselor, as well as a three-year, 60-credit MA and MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy (MCFT) that fulfills the educational requirements to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Oregon. Lewis & Clark also offers a two-year, 40-credit School Counseling Preliminary License Only Program for those who have already earned a master’s degree in a counseling- or education-related field and need to complete the academic requirements to become licensed as school counselors in Oregon.
Portland State University
Portland State University (PSU) offers prospective counselors a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS) in Counselor Education with CACREP-accredited tracks in four of the five major areas of counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; and School Counseling. Each track requires the completion of 90 quarter credits and begins in the fall term. Students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling tracks will meet state educational requirements to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), while graduates of the Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling track will meet LPC and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) coursework requirements. The School Counseling track is open to students with or without teaching experience, although those without teaching experience will be required to complete a teaching internship as part of the degree requirements. A Licensure Only track is available for prospective school counselors who already have a master’s degree in counseling or a related field and need to complete coursework to be eligible for licensure. This program is comprised of 27 to 33 credits and admits new students in the fall, winter, and summer terms. Both versions of the school counseling program meet the academic requirements to become a school counselor in Oregon.
Southern Oregon University
At Southern Oregon University (SOU), students can complete a CACREP-accredited Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC). Applicants must meet SOU’s admission prerequisites in psychology, research, and statistics. The MA and MS versions of the degree differ in the foreign language requirement. Students in the MA program must demonstrate proficiency in a second language, such as two years of college or university study. In both programs, students learn about the professional counseling role, ethics, and counseling techniques before completing an internship and a graduate seminar. Graduates of the CMHC program may find employment in mental health clinics, government facilities, hospitals, and community organizations. Both versions of the degree meet the coursework requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oregon.
University of Oregon
Prospective marriage and family therapists may be interested in the Master of Science (MS) in Couples and Family Therapy (CFT) offered at the University of Oregon (UO) with an optional Spanish Language Specialization. UO does not have any degree-specific prerequisites for admission to their MS in CFT program, so individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any field are welcome to apply. In the MS program, students learn to provide counseling services to individuals, couples, and families in individual and group settings. The program has a cohort structure and takes two years of full-time study to complete, including the summer term. Students must complete 90 quarter credits in counseling skills, systems theories, and mental health diagnosis, while the Spanish Language Specialization requires 16 credits including a practicum with a Spanish-speaking population. The degree fulfills state coursework requirements for the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) license.
Online and Hybrid Programs
Oregon State University
Oregon State University (OSU) offers a Master of Counseling (MCoun) with CACREP-accredited tracks in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Both degrees are offered on a full-time or part-time, hybrid basis and admit new students in the summer term. Students must attend classes at the Corvallis campus two Fridays and Saturdays each term in addition to completing online coursework. The MCoun in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 90-credit degree that meets Oregon coursework requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). The MCoun in School Counseling requires 90 credit hours and meets state academic requirements to become a school counselor. OSU also offers a hybrid Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counseling accredited by CACREP that combines online coursework with on-campus classes twice each quarter on weekends. Applicants must have a master’s degree in counseling. In-person versions of the MCoun in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling programs are also available at the OSU-Cascades campus.
Western Oregon University
At Western Oregon University (WOU), graduate students can complete a CACREP-accredited Master of Science (MS) in Rehabilitation Counseling with two tracks: a two-year, on-campus Rehabilitation Counseling and Mental Health Counseling (RH/MHC) track or a three-year, hybrid Rehabilitation Counseling for the Deaf (RH/MHCD) track. Both tracks admit new students in the fall and require 90 quarter credits. Courses include Counseling and Helping Relationships; Group Counseling and Group Work; and Trauma and Crisis Intervention in Counseling. The RCD/MHCD program combines fully online classes with courses that students must attend in-person one or two Saturdays per month at the Salem campus. Students can complete the RCD/MHCD track in as little as two years on a full-time basis or up to three years if they require more flexibility. Both tracks meet the coursework requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license in Oregon.
Western Seminary
Western Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary with a campus in Portland. The school offers a CACREP-accredited, hybrid format Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling with a specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and an optional 13-credit-hour emphasis in Child and Youth Counseling offered at the Portland campus only. Most courses are held on Mondays at the Portland campus with some online course offerings. The degree combines studies in mental health assessment and diagnosis, counseling skills, and crisis interventions with theological and biblical studies requirements. Students in the general degree track complete 68 credits, while those in the Child and Youth Counseling emphasis program complete 81 credits. The degree takes at least three years of full-time study to complete, although up to eight credits may be waived for students with a demonstrated understanding of theology or scripture. Graduates of this degree program will meet the educational requirements to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in Oregon.
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