Online Bachelors Degree in Counseling

Support services are an important part of community health, and bachelor's degrees in counseling can prepare you to join the ranks of these caring professionals. Counselors, family therapists and other social support workers help diverse groups of people in various settings as they manage issues such as disability, employment needs, mental health and trauma.

Earning bachelor's degrees in counseling

Students earning counseling degrees study the foundations of psychology alongside their core curriculum. General education classes can be helpful; math is important in the quantitative research done in the social sciences, and English or language skills are crucial for counselors. Here's a short list of some of the courses common in counseling programs:

1. Child development
2. Counseling theory
3. Health communication
4. Moral development
5. Psychological testing
6. Substance abuse counseling theory and practice

Bachelor's degrees in counseling are a first step in this field, which values high levels of academic achievement. A master's degree is usually required to become a licensed counselor, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Job outlook for graduates with bachelor's degrees in counseling

One career path open to those with bachelor's degrees is the occupation of social and human service assistant. The BLS reports that these workers earned a median annual wage of $28,200 in 2010. Social and human service assistants can expect job growth between 2010 and 2020 of 27.6 percent, nearly double the national employment growth rate for all occupations of 14.3 percent.

To become licensed counselors, graduates follow up with master's or doctoral degrees in the field. Professions that require more education typically earn more money, such as the $47,530 median salary earned by marriage and family therapists in 2010. The BLS projects the following employment growth between 2010 and 2020 for some other careers in counseling:

1. Marriage and family therapists: 41.2 percent
2. Mental health counselors: 36.3 percent
3. Rehabilitation counselors: 28.2 percent
4. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors: 27.3 percent

Education is key to advancement in the field of counseling. Students whose working lives make it difficult to commit to full-time university education might appreciate the flexibility of online degrees. Working in the virtual classroom allows you to earn an education without the time or travel obligations that come with enrollment in campus-based programs. Learn more about counseling degree programs and the many ways in which helping others can also help you.

Support services are an important part of community health, and bachelor's degrees in counseling can prepare you to join the ranks of these caring professionals. Counselors, family therapists and other social support workers help diverse groups of people in various settings as they manage issues such as disability, employment needs, mental health and trauma.

Earning bachelor's degrees in counseling

Students earning counseling degrees study the foundations of psychology alongside their core curriculum. General education classes can be helpful; math is important in the quantitative research done in the social sciences, and English or language skills are crucial for counselors. Here's a short list of some of the courses common in counseling programs:

1. Child development
2. Counseling theory
3. Health communication
4. Moral development
5. Psychological testing
6. Substance abuse counseling theory and practice

Bachelor's degrees in counseling are a …