Online Social Science Degrees in Counseling |
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Online graduate degree programs in counseling with concentrations in marriage and family therapy, school counseling, pastoral care, school guidance, mental health counseling, rehabilitation counseling, and more.
Online Counseling Degree Programs
Counseling professionals help people cope with emotional problems in personal, family, social, and educational relationships. You can find counseling professionals in elementary and high schools as well as the professional and medical fields. For example, vocational counselors (also called career counselors) help professionals make career decisions or find jobs that better suit their interests. Marriage counselors help guide couples--married or not--toward a more fulfilling relationship. Other counseling professionals may work with the disabled, the mentally ill, or those overcoming drug or alcohol addiction. In general, counseling professionals help people grow, mature, and thrive as independent, happy individuals.
If your goal is to pursue a counseling career, your educational requirements will depend on a complex matrix of variables, including state licensure requirements, work environment, chosen occupation, specialty, and employer. Check with state and local governments, prospective employers, or volunteer organizations in order to get specific information about the appropriate counseling degree program.
College Degrees in Counseling
Generally speaking, most states and employers require counselors to become licensed. Licensure typically requires completion of a master's degree program followed by up to 2,000 hours of supervised clinical internship, qualifying scores on state-administered examinations, and the fulfillment of continuing career education requirements once you've established a counseling career.
Although most counseling careers require a master's degree, certain states and employers may allow you to begin a career with a bachelor's degree and approved counseling courses. You can find counseling coursework administered through degree programs in psychology or education, where the material is grouped into eight core areas:
- Human growth and development
- Social and cultural diversity
- Relationships
- Group work
- Career development
- Assessment
- Research and program evaluation
- Professional identity
Counseling Career Outlook
The future looks bright for those pursuing college degrees in counseling. According to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of counseling professionals is expected to grow 21 percent by 2016. Employment of behavioral disorder counselors is expected to increase by 34 percent, while vocational and school counselors should see an employment increase of 13 percent. According to the BLS, the rapid growth in school counseling careers may stem from greater enrollment in secondary schools and increased demands on school counselors. The increased reliance of insurance companies and managed care systems on mental health counselors (who are often more cost-effective than psychologists) has spurred growth in the field.
In terms of earnings potential, counseling careers are most lucrative for self-employed counseling professionals with established private practices. The highest 10 percent of mental health counselors pulled in annual earnings of $59,700 in May 2006. Median annual earnings for educational, school, and career counselors were $47,530 the same year. Median annual earnings for marriage counselors and family therapists were $43,210.
Pursue your Counseling degree today.
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Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is offering Bachelor and Master degrees through our College of Education, Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Nursing, and College of Liberal Arts.
Learn more about programs at Grand Canyon University.
The Bachelor of Science in Addiction Counseling is designed to train practitioners in the field of addiction counseling and substance abuse treatment. The program includes courses designed to provide students with knowledge of the field through focusing on the development of counseling skills specific to the needs of chemically dependent clientele as identified by appropriate agencies. Students/applicants are responsible for contacting their state counseling certification agency for certification requirements and program approval. Check the University Catalog for requirements for Institutional Recommendation.
The Master of Science in Addiction Counseling degree is designed to meet the needs of learners who wish to pursue careers an addiction counseling professional. This degree prepares students to treat substance abuse/dependency disorders. The demand for licensed addiction counselors is expected to grow in both the public and private sectors in the foreseeable future. A Masters degree is a required step for individuals seeking the highest level of licensing and/or certification in many states. Graduates from the GCU program of study are prepared to meet the academic requirements for licensure in Arizona as a: Licensed Associate Substance Abuse Counselor (LASAC) and Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor (LISAC). Additional, program graduates from most other states will be academically prepared to begin the process of seeking certification and/or licensure in their home state. Licensing and/or certification requirements may vary from state-to-state. It is the students' responsibility to check the licensing/certification requirements in their respective states.
The Masters of Science in Professional Counseling Degree requires 60 credit hours. The program's courses were chosen to meet the academic requirements established by the National Board for Certified Counselors for the National Certified Counselor credential (NCC) and by Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. A Masters Degree in Counseling is a required step in 48 states including Arizona for individuals seeking to become licensed as a counselor. Graduates from this program of study are prepared to meet the academic requirements for licensure in Arizona as a: Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Associate Substance Abuse Counselor (LASAC), and Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor (LISAC). Additionally, graduates from most other states will be academically prepared to begin the process of seeking certification and/or licensure in their home state. Licensing and/or certification requirements may vary from state-to-state. It is the students' responsibility to check the licensing/certification requirements in their respective states.
Grand Canyon University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. This is a regional accrediting body as mentioned above. (30 N. LaSalle St. Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504 tel. 800-621-7440; http://www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org/.)
Grand Canyon University, through its Ken Blanchard College of Business, is nationally accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs to offer the following business degrees:
- The Bachelor of Science (BS) with majors in Accounting, Business Administration, and Marketing
- The Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Grand Canyon University is the only university in Arizona to hold this accreditation. (7007 College Boulevard, Suite 420, Overland Park, KS 66211, (913) 339-9336)
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530, Washington DC 20036, (202) 887-6791 and the Arizona State Board of Nursing accredit the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program.
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