Online Education Guide
Guide to Majors

- What is a College Major?
- Deciding to Go to College
- Assessing Your Skills
- Education vs. Experience
- Top Ten Job Trends

View College Majors

 Health & Medical

 Arts & Humanities

 Business

 Criminal Justice

 Education

 Engineering

 Science

 Social Science

 Technology

Online Education Guide

Guide to College Majors in Counseling

What is Counseling?

Those wishing to establish a career within the widely varied field of counseling must first earn a degree, but the level and type of degree necessary will depend greatly upon the career specialization that is desired. Therefore, due to the variety of career opportunities within the counseling field, Counseling degrees also come in many different shapes and sizes.

Generally speaking, a Counseling degree prepares students to apply psychological, developmental, and mental health principles using strategies that involve cognitive, affective, behavioral, and/or systemic intervention. These skills may then be used in a wide variety of employment settings, including hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, and private mental health practices.

A Counseling degree must prepare the student for the situations they may face as a professional counselor. Depending on their specialization, these situations could include helping people cope with anxiety, depression, mental disorders, emotional disorders, relationship issues, substance abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, eating disorders, career changes, job stress, athletic pressures, aging issues, the death of a loved one, suicidal tendencies, self-esteem problems, adolescent issues, or even the process of preparing for, applying to, and paying for college.

Get your degree in Counseling
	Search Type: Online    Campus Degree:  Zip: --- Select a Degree --- Associate Bachelor Master Doctoral Diploma Certificate

Preparing for a college degree program in Counseling

Obviously, a career in the field of counseling requires someone who enjoys listening to and helping people who are experiencing varied types of stress. Everyone experiences stress of some sort, which means that many very different career opportunities await students wishing to make a career out of helping people in this way. However, the abundance of career opportunities also increases the importance of figuring out a specific career direction fairly early in their educational careers.

As early as possible, students should evaluate their goals and desires, as well as their own strengths and weaknesses. Asking the following questions will be the best way to avoid ending up with the wrong type of counseling degree or on the wrong career path.

• How many years am I willing to spend on my own education?
• When I graduate, do I want to work with individuals, married couples, families, groups, or organizations?
• Would I be better at helping people with mental and/or emotional disorders, with addictions and/or eating disorders, with a history of abuse, or people dealing with career changes and job stress?
• Is my personality better suited to work with children, teenagers, the elderly, or people of middle age?
• Would I prefer to work in a clinical, corporate, or educational setting?
• If I want to work in education, do I wish to gain employment at the elementary, secondary, or college level?

These questions will help to narrow down the extensive list of possibilities that is sure to surface when a prospective student begins to plan for and research his or her educational and career opportunities in the field of counseling.

Planning Ahead

Proper preparation will improve any student's chance of success in a college degree program in Counseling, whether it is at the undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate level. The ill-prepared student may stumble into any one of a number of costly mistakes, most of which can be easily avoided with a minimal amount of research and simple planning.

Even as early as middle school or high school, students interested in pursuing a counseling career can begin to prepare themselves by doing a variety of things. For example, at most schools students can request certain counseling-friendly courses like biology, sociology, psychology, statistics, and speech communication. These students can begin to research their educational and career opportunities (and restrictions) online, while also beginning to volunteer with peer-counseling groups or teen awareness programs that promote a healthy and responsible lifestyle. Most importantly, prospective counseling students should check their state's licensure and certification requirements, then draw up a plan for meeting each and every requirement.

Since most states require a graduate degree to become licensed as a professional counselor, part of the planning process will involve the decision of what to major in during the undergraduate portion of your education. It is important to keep in mind that many professional counselors choose to earn their bachelor's degrees in something other than counseling, such as psychology, education, sociology, or social work. When planning for graduate school, consider carefully the counseling specialization you wish to pursue and be sure the school you choose supports that specialization track.

Another great tip for those planning their counseling education is to seek the advice of potential employers or someone who is currently employed in their desired career specialization. Students should ask these professionals what courses and extracurricular activities would best prepare them for employment in their desired specialization. By asking questions like this, not only will valuable information be gained, but the students will also be plugging in to the network of professionals in their chosen field, which could prove to be invaluable down the road.

Career Education in Counseling

Undergraduate and Graduate degree and certificate programs

For the prospective counseling student, the increasing number of educational options might prove to be more than a bit overwhelming. However, with some research and a decisive educational plan, the options tend to narrow substantially (see above: Preparing for a Degree in Counseling). Choosing the right level and type of degree program is extremely important and should not be underestimated or taken lightly. Since the educational requirements for licensure and certification can differ by state, be sure to do your homework prior to choosing the degree program that will help you best reach your personal career goals.

Some factors to consider when choosing a program are its faculty, philosophy, specialty areas, accreditation, and location. Most of these factors can be researched on the program's website or by talking with faculty and students. Don't be afraid to ask questions because you will be paying good money for your education. Find out if the faculty is more of a teaching or researching faculty. Does the faculty work well together as a unit? Is the program's philosophy based on competency or experience? Is the program tailored to the licensure requirements of a particular state? Is the program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), or by another appropriate accrediting body, such as the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), or the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)? Asking questions like these will reduce the likelihood of making a poor decision due to a lack of information.

One of the first decisions facing a prospective counseling student involves the level of training that they wish to pursue. The following summary will discuss some of the characteristics inherent to each level.

Undergraduate degrees

Since most states and employers require counselors to have a graduate degree in their specialized field, the prospective counseling student has many options for undergraduate degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Counseling, Psychology, Education, Sociology, or Social Work. With required courses like psychology, sociology, biology, statistics, and human development, a four-year B.A. or B.S. degree serves as an educational foundation, which a more specialized graduate degree can then build upon. Graduates of bachelor's degree programs (and sometimes even two-year associate's degree programs) may be able to gain employment as social workers or substance abuse counselors, but a higher degree is usually required for certification in most mental health fields.

Graduate degrees

Graduate degrees in counseling are for students with an undergraduate degree who wish to further their education and increase their career options. As a general rule, these degrees are more specialized than their undergraduate counterparts, so it becomes increasingly important to research and decide upon a career specialization before choosing a graduate program. With full-time study, it usually takes at least two years to complete a degree at the graduate level. Although a written thesis is sometimes required (usually for an M.A.), non-thesis degree options are often available as well. Upon completion of the degree, students receive a Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.S.), or Master of Education (M.Ed.) in their chosen discipline.

Doctoral Degrees

The most prestigious counseling degrees are at the doctoral level. They usually require two to four years of additional education, and may or may not require a doctoral dissertation (like a Master's thesis, but usually more extensive and of publishable quality). Doctoral degrees are extremely specialized in areas like counseling psychology, clinical psychology, or counselor education. Counseling psychology and clinical psychology doctoral programs are categorized as either Ph.D. or Psy.D. programs, while counselor education programs are only offered as either Ed.D. or Ph.D. programs. The main difference between Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs is the amount of research conducted. Although the application of research is stressed in both, Ph.D. programs emphasize conducting research, while Psy.D. programs tend to focus more on consuming research.

What About Online Degrees?

At the graduate level, many online opportunities exist for counseling students who wish to earn their Master's or doctoral degrees in a distance learning, e-learning, or low-residency program. Although few undergraduate degree programs in counseling are currently offered online, many universities offer online undergraduate degrees in related fields, such as psychology, education, sociology, human services, and social work. Therefore, it would behoove the prospective e-learner to consider researching and possibly pursuing one of these related undergraduate degrees before continuing in a counseling specialization at the graduate level.

Universities offering online counseling degree programs:

Capella University - Online Counseling Degrees
University of West Alabama - Online Degrees in Counseling

What can you do with a College Degree in Counseling?

Career options for aspiring counselors

A career education in Counseling can lead to a wide variety of employment opportunities within the fields of human development, mental health, and psychotherapy, and in settings as diverse as schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and departments of social services, not to mention privately owned individual or group practices. Due to overlapping content, related degrees like psychology, social work, and education should also be examined before choosing a degree in counseling, since specific (and sometimes overlapping) educational requirements must be met for different specializations.

• Mental Health Counselor
  Together with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and school counselors, mental health counselors emphasize the need for people to work toward optimum mental health by helping individuals and groups deal with a variety of issues, including addiction, substance abuse, suicidal tendencies, aging issues, job stress, and self-esteem issues. In a study performed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the year 2000, full-time mental health counselors reported earning between $22,220 and $36,150 annually.
  
  
• School Counselor
  At every level of our education system, school counselors perform a variety of different functions. In an elementary school, a counselor might work with teachers and parents to evaluate a student's strengths, weaknesses, and special needs. High school counselors, sometimes called guidance counselors, assist students with various issues common to teenagers. They may advise students about anything from self-esteem or behavioral issues to college and/or career planning. A day as a guidance counselor might include listening to and advising a student who is upset, performing tests on and evaluating a different student who is struggling academically, helping another student plan their course schedule, and giving yet another student information about college majors, admission requirements, and financial aid or internship opportunities. All states require school counselors to be certified by the state as a school counselor. Depending on the state, certification may require a Master's degree, a teaching license, and/or two to five years of teaching experience.
  
  According to a 2000 study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual earnings of educational and vocational counselors was $42,110, but these salaries ranged from below $24,000 to above $67,000 annually, depending on a variety of factors, including the degrees required for the position, the level of educational setting (elementary, secondary, or college), the stringency of state certification requirements, and the geographic location.
  
  
• Vocational (Career) Counselor
  Because of the diverse demand for career counseling, counselors can either work within or outside of an educational setting. Either way, employment counselors help people make possibly life-changing career choices by evaluating their interests, skills, and experience, including those at the academic, professional, and volunteer levels. They also help people find employment opportunities and develop their job searching skills by teaching them techniques for interviewing and writing a resume. Although career counselors may be able to find employment with only a bachelor's degree in vocational counseling, a Master's degree is typically required, especially within an educational setting. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics combined the fields of vocational and educational counseling when conducting its study of salary ranges in the year 2000. Please refer to the previous paragraph for an explanation of their findings.
  
  
• Substance Abuse or Behavioral Disorder Counselor
  The specialty of a substance abuse counselor or behavioral disorder counselor is to help people overcome destructive behavior patterns, such as drug or gambling addictions, substance abuse problems, or eating disorders. Substance abuse counselors may sometimes be allowed to practice with as little as an associate's degree, but national certification as a Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) still requires a Master's degree in counseling, certification as an NCC, and three years of clinical experience. According to a 2000 study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors earned a median annual income of $28,510.
  
  
• Counseling Psychologist
  Using a variety of techniques, including tests and personal interviews, counseling psychologists give people advice on dealing with everyday problems. Counseling psychologists work in a variety of venues, including universities, hospitals, and private practices, although most states require a doctoral degree (PsyD. Or PhD.) in Psychology for private practice. Prospective students of this field should look closely at all state licensure requirements before committing to a particular program of study. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics combined the fields of counseling psychologist, clinical psychologist, and school psychologist when conducting its 2000 study of salary ranges. According to this study, psychologists earned a median annual salary of $51,170.
  
  
• Rehabilitation Counselor
  Professionals who obtain Master's degrees in rehabilitation counseling can be employed in a variety of settings, including private rehabilitation agencies, hospitals, and departments of social services. They work to personally, socially, and vocationally rehabilitate people who are dealing with a physical disability or a behavioral disorder like substance abuse. According to a study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual income for rehabilitation counselors in the year 2000 was $24,450.
  
  
• Marriage and Family Counselor
  The specialization of marriage and family counseling is within the fields of human development and interpersonal relationships, so these counselors work to help people with the sensitive issues that evolve within the home. Using non-medical psychotherapy techniques, marriage and family counselors participate in pre-marital or couple's counseling, conflict resolution, divorce mediation, sexual counseling, and child or spousal abuse counseling. A Master's degree in marriage and family counseling is required for national certification, but not all states require certification to practice. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual income for marriage and family counselors in the year 2000 was $34,660.

Related Careers
Because all counseling career specializations focuses on common themes like interpersonal communication, mental health, human development, and conflict resolution, students of counseling may find their degree useful in many other careers that focus on helping people. It common for students in Counseling degree programs to pursue careers as teachers, social workers, registered nurses, clergy-members, sports psychologists, and occupational therapists. Some students with an undergraduate or graduate degree in Counseling may choose to pursue a Master's or doctoral degree in clinical or educational psychology in order to become a clinical or school psychologist, while other students may choose to become psychiatrists by obtaining their M.D. in psychiatric medicine.

Certification and Licensure

Although forty-six states and the District of Columbia have established certification or licensure programs for counseling professions, all of them are slightly different, and not all of them are mandatory. This means that the prospective counselor must be diligent to research their particular state's requirements before making a potentially costly mistake by neglecting to choose the proper educational path for their desired license. It is mandatory in all states, though, for school counselors to obtain state certification as a school counselor. However, certification requirements vary by state, so the importance of research cannot be overstated. For example, some states even require public school counselors to have both counseling and teaching certificates and two to five years of teaching experience.

On a national level, the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) grants a general certification of National Certified Counselor (NCC) to those counselors who earn a graduate degree, complete two years of field work (graduates from CACREP accredited programs in counselor education are exempt from this requirement), and pass the NBCC's National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE). Although this certification is voluntary, some states exempt NCC's from taking their state's mandatory certification exam. Some other general mental health counseling certifications through national organizations include Certified Mental Health Counselor (CMHC), Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (NACCMHC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).

The NBCC and other organizations, like the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), also offer specialized certifications in fields like school counseling, addictions counseling, clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family counseling, and rehabilitation counseling.

To maintain their certification, NCC's must complete at least 100 hours of acceptable continuing education credit every five years (or retake and pass the NCE). State certifications also require continuing education, but the required amounts may differ by state.

Related Associations and links:

• National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
• Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC)

Explore Related Degree Programs

- Online Degrees in Counseling
- Online Degrees in Psychology
- Online Degrees in Public Health
- Online Degrees in Social Work

Copyright 2005 World Wide Learn