University of Montana Transitions Master’s in School Counseling to Online Format to Address Rural Needs
The University of Montana (UM) has taken a significant step forward in expanding access to education by transitioning its master’s degree in school counseling to a fully online format. This change is aimed at reaching rural populations across the state, where the need for mental health support is particularly acute.
With this shift, UM becomes the only institution in Montana offering an accredited online school counseling program. The university reported that the inaugural cohort of online students has already doubled the number of those previously attending in-person classes.
This transition is poised to benefit individuals residing and working in remote areas, facilitating degree completion in a region grappling with mental health challenges. School counselors play a vital role in supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally, as well as preparing them for future careers.
Montana faces a pressing mental health crisis, holding the highest suicide rate in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 29 out of every 100,000 individuals died by suicide in the state in 2022, almost double the national average of 14 per 100,000.
Additionally, the 2023 Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that 26% of high school students had seriously contemplated suicide within the past year, highlighting fluctuating trends over recent decades.
UM’s strategic move aligns with efforts by Montana State University to increase the number of licensed mental health professionals in rural school districts, with support from U.S. Department of Education grants.
Recently, UM secured a $3 million Rural School Mental Health Prepare grant. This funding will assist in recruiting and covering the educational expenses for eight school counselors based in Montana over the next five years.
A few years ago, UM and MSU found that most of their school counseling graduates remained in urban areas like Missoula and Bozeman, with those who ventured into rural communities leaving after short stints. In response, UM adapted its program to engage with prospective counselors already residing in rural zones.
“What we’ve decided to do with this grant is leverage the online program to reach people who are living and working in rural Montana who want to become school counselors in their communities,” stated UM counseling professor Kristen Murray in a news release. “The idea is that these are people who have likely already built their lives in a place, in that community and school. By getting access to this level of training, they can stay and sustain mental health support in their communities for many years to come — and then we can start to close the gap in school counselors in the state.”
Currently, almost 24% of Montana schools are without a licensed counselor, as per the 2023 Montana Critical Quality Educator Report. In contrast, UM reports that all of its counseling master’s students secure employment within 18 months of completing their degrees.
