The Department of Counseling and Human Development typically offers several 10-hour assistantships (10 hours/week of assistantship service) and a minimal number of 20-hour assistantships (20 hours/week of assistantship service). Part-time students are eligible to apply for 10-hour/week assistantships, and full-time students are eligible to apply for 10- and/or 20-hour/week assistantships.
Take Your Counseling Expertise to New Heights
Preparing for advancement in your field or changing careers to assist in a school or work with children, adolescents, and adults in a mental health setting are excellent reasons for earning a counseling degree. Individuals from various academic disciplines will also discover a growing world of compassion and possibilities.
Counseling is both a science and an art. The intersection of those perspectives will make you an excellent clinician as well as a deeper, more confident human being. Your personal development is every bit as important as your professional focus.
If you have the passion and desire to become a counselor, we've designed our programs to fit your needs. You have the option of taking your classes at either our campus in Indiana or at our Pittsburgh area campus (Penn Center East). You may already be working in the field or wish to switch careers, which is why you can choose to pursue your degree full-time or part-time.
Valued Flexibility to Maintain Full-Time Job
“Dedicated and knowledgeable professors, small class sizes, and the flexibility to maintain full-time employment while enrolled all contributed to my overwhelmingly positive experience at IUP. It was a great choice when I decided to continue my education.”
PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision
The PhD program in Counselor Education and Supervision is designed to be completed in two to three years of study beyond the 60-credit master's degree in counseling. For more information, please contact Holly Branthoover, doctoral program coordinator ( holly.branthoover@iup.edu, 412-841-9784).
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
*Applications now being accepted for summer and fall 2025!
By fulfilling your academic requirements for this CACREP-accredited program, you'll also be prepared to pass state licensure and national certification exams.MEd in School Counseling
*Applications now being accepted for summer and fall 2025!
Help shape young lives by mastering individual and group counseling methods. Your coursework puts you on the path toward certification as a preK-12 certified school counselor.School Counseling, Certification Only
*Applications accepted on a rolling basis, pending seat availability.
You may already have a master's degree in counseling or a very closely related field. In that case, allow IUP to evaluate your transcripts to determine your eligibility for this certification-only program. Contact Dr. Branthoover at hbrnthvr@iup.edu to request a transcript audit.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Licensure Only
*Applications accepted on a rolling basis, pending seat availability.
This program is ideal if you have a master's degree in counseling or a very closely related field, but need more credits to meet Pennsylvania state licensure standards. IUP will help by informally auditing your transcripts for degree requirements and assisting you in communicating with the State Licensure Board, which ultimately approves credits for this process. Contact Dr. Branthoover at hbrnthvr@iup.edu to request a transcript audit.
Recent Grad Well Prepped for Current Role as Therapist
“IUP's counseling department not only helped me turn my dreams into a reality, but also inspired me to dream bigger. As a new graduate, I felt prepared to enter the professional world of counseling, and I am so thankful for my experience at IUP.”
The IUP Difference
Evening Programming. We recognize that students are often busy with employment, family, and other responsibilities. Our evening program design at the master's level gives you even more flexibility when scheduling your full- or part-time studies.
Two Campuses. Our School Counseling (MEd), Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA), and Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD) programs are offered at both the main campus in Indiana and the Pittsburgh area campus (Pittsburgh East).
Award-Winning Faculty. IUP's Department of Counseling has three times received the Pennsylvania Counseling Association's Outstanding Counselor Education Preparation award, most recently in 2019. This honor recognizes the professional productivity and scholarship of the faculty.
Extensive Supervision. Clinical supervision at IUP is extensive. Contact with faculty is generous so that you are fully prepared for your new career or position upon graduation.
Access to Innovative Clinical Training Software. Ours was the first counseling program in the country to use the Landro technology developed for high school football play analysis for clinical supervision. It provides students with state-of-the-art clinical training software. It also encourages more in-depth student-focused supervision.