Building upon the success of its in-person counselor education programming, in January of 2027, the University of Lynchburg will launch the online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Master of Science in School Counseling programs.
With the expansion, the two programs will be the first of the University’s academic programs to be offered both fully online and in-person. The 60-credit-hour programs, which are accredited by CACREP, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, can be completed in two to three years with a blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning and biannual residential intensives.
As with the in-person programming, students in the online programs will be taught by counselor education faculty who are also active in clinical practice. Students will complete 700 hours of supervised clinical experience, including a practicum and a two-semester internship, and upon graduation, will meet the educational requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor licensure in Virginia.
“The online versions of the University’s existing CACREP-accredited, in-person Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs are designed to be identical to the in-person programs in terms of quality, curriculum, and standards,” said Dr. Sara W. Bailey, associate professor and program director.
“The only substantive difference will be mode of delivery. We will offer the identical core curriculum, learning outcomes, and coursework. We will provide the same high-quality, small-by-design, person-centered programming, and our graduates will be well-equipped to enter the workforce.”
Offering the online master’s degrees eliminates the “geographical constraints” of in-person programs, Bailey said, and “will broaden our reach to prospective students outside our region, thus overcoming access barriers.
“Additionally, by expanding to online options, we will be better able to recruit faculty from a broader geographical area, thus expanding our faculty perspectives and expertise beyond our current geographical area.”
The expansion will also help diversify connections for students enrolled in the in-person programs. “These on-campus intensives will represent opportunities for collaboration and networking between online and residential students, further linking distance learners to on-campus students, faculty, and resources,” Bailey said.
Bailey believes the new online programs will tap into a “broader demographic of adult learners and career changers,” which will “diversify the student body and increase the program’s overall enrollment and influence.
“By replicating the same CACREP-accredited curriculum and using existing faculty expertise, along with the expertise of faculty specifically hired to teach in the online programs, the programs will extend our high-quality brand without compromising integrity.
“The programs will scale capacity to produce highly skilled, ethical counselors who can meet the growing demand for mental health professionals, particularly in underserved areas such as southwestern Virginia and other areas in the southeast United States and beyond.”
The online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs are currently enrolling for the Spring 2027 semester. For more information, contact Kevin Gelok, graduate coordinator, at 434.544.8387 or [email protected].
