Earn Your Counseling Degree at Your Convenience
Make a meaningful impact in the lives of others with a graduate degree in counseling from Mercer University. Our CACREP-accredited programs are offered in a flexible blend of online and in-person classes, with multiple start dates throughout the year.
Why Choose Mercer
Recognized as one of the “Best Colleges for Veterans” by U.S. News & World Report
Ranked as a 2025–2026 No. 1 Military Friendly® School
94% pass rate achieved by Mercer counseling graduates on their first attempt of the national Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) in the 2023-2024 academic year
What's your goal?
Mercer University offers graduate counseling programs that prepare students to empower others in a variety of settings and life stages.
Choose the Counseling Program That's Right for You.
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Mental health counselors help children, adolescents, and adults deal with a variety of life stresses and challenges including addiction/substance abuse; family or marital problems; and other emotional or behavioral disorders.
Program Format: Blended combination of online and in-person classes on Mercer’s Atlanta campus
Field Experience:
- Three semesters of clinical practice completed at a clinical site, 15-20 hours per week
- Total: 700 hours
Licensure or Certification Eligibility:
- Associate Professional Counselor (APC) (Provisional License)
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
Clinical rehabilitation counselors serve as advocates for people with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities to help them become self-sufficient and achieve their goals in work and life.
Program Format: Blended combination of online and in-person classes on Mercer’s Atlanta campus
Field Experience:
- Three semesters of clinical practice completed at a clinical site, 15-20 hours per week
- Total: 700 hours
Licensure or Certification Eligibility:
- Associate Professional Counselor (APC) (Provisional License)
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Master of Science in School Counseling
School counselors facilitate academic achievement, personal and social growth, and career development for students of all ages and abilities.
Field Experience:
- Three semesters of clinical practice, totaling 750 hours of work in P-12 schools
Licensure or Certification Eligibility:
- Associate Professional Counselor (APC) (Provisional License)
- AND Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) if eligible coursework is taken
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision
Mercer’s Ph.D. in Counselor Ed and supervision will challenge and prepare you for roles as counselor advocate, counselor supervisor, counselor educator, and researcher, as well as being an advanced counseling practitioner.
Program Format: In-person classes on Mercer’s Atlanta campus or a blended combination of in-person and online classes
Residency Requirement: One year
*Our counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
If you’re seeking a bachelor’s degree program to prepare for master’s-level coursework in counseling, learn more about Mercer’s flexible B.S. in Psychology.
Explore career paths for graduates
95% of the graduating class of 2024 were employed or in graduate school six months after earning a Mercer degree*
*See methodology at mercer.edu/post-graduate.
Take Your Experiences Global
Mercer counseling students can take their education beyond the classroom through Mercer On Mission and study abroad opportunities.
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Travel to Holland and Bali to complete a Narrative Theory course alongside faculty
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Join Mercer On Mission in Rwanda to conduct trauma assessments and support treatment efforts for widows and orphans affected by the 1994 genocide
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Gain hands-on experience while expanding your cultural perspective and deepening your impact as a future counselor
Get the most from your Counseling degree.
At Mercer, we offer program features that make your educational experience more effective, efficient, convenient, and affordable.
Classes designed for your schedule. Programs are offered in a blended combination of in-person and online classes.
No test scores required. Apply to Mercer’s graduate counseling programs and be considered for admission without submitting MAT or GRE test scores.
Learn from exceptional faculty. Each graduate program is taught by highly-credentialed and accessible faculty that genuinely care about the success of every student.
Enjoy small class sizes. Get to know your professors and classmates and increase your learning opportunities with Mercer’s small classroom settings.
Receive continuous support. Students enjoy a personalized, supportive environment from orientation to graduation.
Begin class at your convenience. With multiple start dates for most programs, choose to start classes when it works best for you.
Apply for veteran benefits. Professional staff assistance is available for military-connected students and their families.
Reach a higher potential. Earning a Mercer degree is a recognition of achieving academic excellence and advanced career capabilities.
Contact Our Admissions Team to Get Started!
Why Mercer?
Mercer University is one of America’s oldest and most distinctive institutions of higher learning, with more than 9,000 students enrolled across 12 schools and colleges. We are ranked among the top tier of national research universities and have earned consistent recognition for our academic programs and educational opportunities.
For more than three decades, Mercer has led the way in helping students of all ages—with all different backgrounds from all over Georgia and beyond—find the personalized support and flexibility needed to make a Mercer education a reality. Because no matter who you are, what you’re looking to study, or wherever you want to go, Mercer is for you.
What are Mercer graduates saying?
“Mercer provided quality education and learning experiences that have prepared me to be successful in my career as a mental health counselor. I have been able to find meaningful employment opportunities and I am excited about what opportunities will emerge in the future.”
“We learn all of the theoretical knowledge we need for school counseling at Mercer and it’s great to actually get into schools and spend time with practicing school counselors, so we can learn what the profession is really like. We have the chance to take our knowledge into the world, practice, learn, and grow before we even finish the degree. That has made this degree so worthwhile and so meaningful.”