The counseling degree requirements are similar for on-campus and online master's degree programs. Programs vary slightly by credit hour requirements, types of credits offered (quarter-credits versus semester credits) and the amount of clinical experience required. For instance, some programs require quarter credits in courses such as counseling theory, couples therapy, tests and measurements, and introduction to psychological testing. Other programs require semester credits in similar fields of study. Specific fields of master's degree programs require their own courses, such as in marriage and family counseling. Internships and practicums also make up a significant portion of many master's degree programs in the counseling field. For example, the program at Capella University requires a sequential two-course practicum. Because of the need for practical experience in the field, master's programs generally take two to three years to complete. Students who enter the program without a background in psychology may need to take longer in order to meet prerequisite requirements. Typically a bachelor's degree in any field is enough to enter a master's program, but students should complete courses in statistics, quantitative research, calculus and perhaps as many psychology electives as possible.
At the doctoral level, students can expect to take even more advanced courses. Students can expect the amount to vary according to the emphases within the program. For instance, some doctoral programs emphasize subspecialties such as marriage and family therapy. Courses in this field of study differ from those in more general counseling psychology doctoral programs. The number of credit hours required by each university can vary. Generally, a doctoral degree will require more than 80 credit hours, of which about 20-30 come from core courses, approximately 15 from dissertation hours and the remainder from elective courses. Many of the core courses required by doctoral programs include quantitative research, statistics, and clinical diagnosis and assessment.
The degree requirements of each counseling psychology program may not provide students with what's necessary to meet licensure requirements in some states. Students will have to seek licensure after graduating. On the other hand, some doctoral programs are designed to prepare students for licensure through coursework, but students should be aware of the fact that even programs that prepare students for licensing requirements may not be accredited by the American Psychological Association.