Counseling Degree Online Programs

A counseling degree online or one earned on campus mean that you be able to assist your clients with their personal, family, educational, mental health, and career related issues.

Some areas of practice with a counseling degree online are as helping people overcome addictions and substance abuse, marriage and domestic issues. To be successful, having good interpersonal and communication skills is important for example with a mental health counseling degree. You would also need to have an advanced degree, i.e. online masters degree counseling or online PhD degree in counseling as well as professional experience. Counseling professionals, i.e. counselors have the task of helping people cope with emotional issues in their personal, family, social, and educational life and relationships. Many counselors who earn their counseling degree online work in K-12 education settings, hospitals, non-profit organizations to mention a few area.

Counseling Degree Online Programs

Online Counseling PhD Programs

Liberty University

• PhD in Counseling - Pastoral Counseling
• PhD in Counseling - Professional Counseling

Walden University

• Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision

Capella University - Online

• PhD - Counseling Studies

University of the Rockies

• Doctor of Psychology - Executive Coaching Specialization
• Doctor of Psychology - Health and Wellness Psychology Specialization
• Doctor of Psychology - Mental Health Administration

Online Masters Counseling Degree

Liberty University

• MA in HS - Marriage and Family
• MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
• MA in Pastoral Counseling
• MA in Professional Counseling
• MA in Professional Counseling - 60 Hour
• MDiv - Pastoral Counseling

Capella University - Online

• MS - Addiction Counseling
• MS - Counseling Psychology
• MS - Counseling Studies
• MS - Mental Health Counseling (CACREP Accredited)
• MS - School Counseling

Walden University

• M. S. in Mental Health Counseling

Grand Canyon University

• M. s. in Marriage and Family Therapy
• MS in Addiction Counseling
• MS in Professional Counseling

University of the Rockies

• MA in Psychology - Career Management and Counseling Specialization
• MA in Psychology - Executive Coaching Specialization
• MA in Psychology - Mediation and Conflict Resolution
• MA in Psychology - Mental Health Administration

Northcentral University - Graduate

• Marriage & Family Therapy - Master of Arts

Online Counseling Bachelor Degree Programs

Liberty University

• BS in Psychology - Christian Counseling

Grand Canyon University

• BS in Addiction Counseling

Online Associate Degree Counseling Online Programs

Liberty University

• AA in Psychology - Christian Counseling

Online Counseling Certificate Programs

Capella University - Online

• Professional Counseling certificate (* certificate is not designed to meet licensure requirements associated with a master's degree in mental health counseling)

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Online Counseling Education and Training

Counseling licensure typically requires at least a master's degree in counseling in addition to up to 2,000 hours of supervised clinical internship or practicum, in addition to taking a state-administered exam. However, in certain states and employers may allow you to begin a career with a bachelor's degree and foundation counseling courses. Counseling courses and programs, for example in an online mental health degree, are centered around:

• Assessment
• Career development
• Human growth and development
• Relationships
• Group work
• Social and cultural diversity
• Research and program evaluation
• Professional identity

There are various tracks one can pursue in a counseling degree, and this determines the kinds or courses you will be required to take to fulfil program requirements. A possible list of courses in the counseling degree online might include:

• Professional Orientation in the Counseling Profession
• Human Growth and Development
• Theories of Counseling
• Abnormal Psychology
• Multicultural Issues in Counseling
• Religious Counseling
• Assessment
• Career Counseling
• Advanced Counseling Techniques
• Group Counseling Techniques
• Program Evaluation
• Research Methods
• Marriage and Family Therapy
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• Counseling Children and Adolescents

Counseling Career Options

Counseling careers require counselors to at least have a first degree in areas such as psychology, sociology, or education and then have courses in counseling, for example a mental health counseling degree program. Students are also required to have at least 600 hours of supervised clinical counseling experience. You can work as a Family and Marriage Counselor, Executive Coach, Career Counselor, or School Counseling amongst other areas.

In order to practice, most counseling positions require a degree in counseling, license, and a master’s degree. In addition, all states require counselors to have a state school counseling certification and experience to work in schools.

With a bachelors degree you can work as an aide. For non-school counseling jobs, most states require two years of 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience beyond a master’s degree, passing an exam and completing annual continuing education requirements. Mental health counseling careers require specific licensure to practice in most states.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

With a campus or online counseling degree the median hourly wave is $22.85 per hour, and the median salary is $47,530. The income range is therefore wide, ranging from about $27,000 to the top 10% of counselors earn about $75,000 annually. United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the following annual earnings for 2008.

• Educational, vocational, and school counselors in 2008 earned $51,050 with the middle 50 percent earning between $38,740 and $65,360.
• The median annual income of substance abuse and behavioral disorder in 2008 was $37,030 with the middle 50% earning between $29,410 and $47,290.
• Mental health earned $36,810 with the middle 50% making between $28,930 and $48,58
• Rehabilitation counselors made $30,930. The middle 50% earned between $24,110 and $41,240.
• Marriage and family therapists earned $44,590. The middle 50% earned between $34,840 and $56,320.

The BLS reports that the overall employment of counselors is expected to grow by 18% between 2008 and 2018. This should influence the growth of counseling degree online programs. According to the BLS, the rapid growth in school counseling careers may be linked to greater enrollment in schools and corresponding demands on school counselors. This has therefore increase the need to offer counseling degree online programs.