Education and Training

A counseling degree may be earned in a number of specific fields, each of which will involve its own specific coursework. Those interested in working as a school counselor, for example, will need to include educational coursework in their counseling degree program. Those working toward a career as a drug rehabilitation counselor, on the other hand, will need to take extensive coursework in understanding different forms of drugs and their effects. Regardless of the area of specialty, a person pursuing a counseling degree will complete coursework in areas such as behavior management and conflict resolution.

Employment Opportunities

With your counseling degree, you may pursue a career in a variety of fields. These include:

• School counselors
• Career counselors
• Rehabilitation counselors
• Mental health counselors

School counselors are responsible for helping students plan their schedules and to make future career plans. They also put their counseling degree to work helping students cope with the every day struggles they face while working their way through school.

Career counselors use their counseling degree to help others get an idea of what type of counselor best suits their interests and needs. In addition, they help their clients develop a plan for making their career goals a reality.

Rehabilitation counselors work with patients suffering from some form of addiction or behavioral problem. This may include working with someone that is addicted to drugs or alcohol as well as helping someone with an eating disorder or a gambling problem.

Mental health counselors work directly with individuals suffering from a mental illness. They may work as part of a team at a mental institution of have their own private practice.

In order to work in each of these fields, it is usually necessary to have a master’s degree. Having a bachelors level counseling degree, however, will qualify you to work as a counselor’s aid.

Job Outlook and Salary

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for individuals with a counseling degree will have more job prospects than the average occupation. The Bureau reports that the median annual salary for a school counselor with a counseling degree was $45,570 in May 2004. The median annual salary for rehabilitation officers during that same time period was $27,870 while those working in the mental health field earned $32,960.

Take the next step, earn a counseling degree today.