Online Counseling Psychology Degree Programs

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WHAT IS A COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE?

Counseling Psych degree programs help you to provide mental health counseling services. You could study the science behind counseling. And, you could learn methods to help patients work through their issues.

Counseling Psychologists often need to earn a PhD degree. A PhD in psych or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) is most common. But the road to each of these starts with going for your Bachelor’s degree. Your undergrad degree doesn’t have to be in Psych, but this major happens to be one of the most popular.

A program in this field look at the human mind and personality. For instance, you may learn about the biology of mental processes or behavioral psych. And, you may learn how social and cultural factors can affect a person’s behavior. These courses could offer the ground work for future study in the field.

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TYPES OF ONLINE COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAMS

B.S. in Psychology – Applied Behavior Analysis

This program may prep you for grad studies or a career path. The program covers concepts like learning theories and behavior principles. You may learn how to work with those who have mental health and behavioral issues.

Course Examples:

  • Intro to Psych
  • Special Needs Children
  • Abnormal Psych

M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

This program is designed to help you prep to counsel diverse patients. You’ll learn theories and methods for mental health counseling. And, you’ll explore areas like career assessment and professional ethics.

Course Examples:

  • Diversity & Multiculturalism
  • Couples and Family Counseling
  • Addictions and Drug Abuse

Ph.D. in Addictions Psychology

This PhD program covers the ins and outs of drug abuse and addictive behaviors. You’ll learn about co occurring disorders, treatments, and more. The program is designed for mental health pros and is not meant to lead to a license.

Course Examples:

  • Addiction and Related Disorders
  • Family Systems
  • Group Therapy

COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE ONLINE PROGRAMS

Programs in this field cover the theory and practice of clinical counseling. You will learn to apply the principles of the field while treating patients from diverse back grounds. Before going for a degree in this field, your journey will have other steps. To earn a Bachelor’s in Psych may be a good point to start.

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

A Bachelor program takes a broad look at human behavior. Programs are often in many disciplines. That means they have courses across the sciences and humanities. You’ll study biological, clinical, and sociological forces in Psych. You may even be able to focus on a field of study, like Addiction Studies or Child Psych.

Common programs include:
  • B.S. in Psych – This degree may have a lot of math and science courses. You may take more courses in the Psych major, and fewer electives. You may even be able to choose a field of study, like Neuroscience or Applied Behavior Analysis. Students that pursue this program may intend to pursue grad studies, later.
  • B.A. in Psych – This degree may take more of a broad based approach. You could take more courses outside of the major, like humanities courses. The focus may be on soft skills, like critical thinking. These could apply to other career areas, besides Psych.
Programs have courses like:
  • Developmental Psych
  • Cognition and the Brain
  • Abnormal Psych
  • Undergrad Research in Psych

And, most programs feature gen ed courses, like English and Bio.

MASTER’S DEGREE

Master’s degree programs often focus on how to work with patients. You may learn to assess patients and choose evidence based treatments. You’ll also study how to counsel people from diverse cultures and back grounds.

Programs include courses like:
  • Theories and Methods of Counseling
  • Family Therapy
  • Addictions Counseling

Programs may also have a practicum to introduce you to counseling strategies. And in most cases, you’ll need to pursue one or more supervised internships.

Some Master’s programs in the field could help you pursue a license. Requirements to get a license vary by state. You may need to complete a certain amount of credits or supervised experience. If getting a license is your goal, it’s key to find programs designed for this outcome.

DOCTORAL DEGREE

Most Counseling Psychologists earn a Psy.D. or Ph.D. in Psych. These programs both include Psych course work, research, and supervised experience. That said, each takes a different approach.

A Ph.D. in Psych is a research degree. You may study statistics and the procedures for experiments. Often, you must research and write a dissertation. That said, the program may include both theory and how to apply it. So, earning a Ph.D. could prep you for a clinical career path.

A Psy.D. degree program focuses on clinical practice. You will learn how to work with patients in a counseling setting. They may study how to diagnose mental illness, perform an intervention, and more. Often, Psy.D. programs require exams and practical work instead of research and a dissertation.

WHAT DO COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE COURSES LOOK LIKE?

Some common courses include:

Intro to Counseling Psychology: In this course, you may cover a broad overview of counseling psych. You could learn both the science behind this profession and how to practice it.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT uses many methods to help patients with mental health problems. In this course, you could learn all about CBT and how it’s applied.

Statistical Design: Wondering how to better collect and understand data in psych research? This course may cover the tools and methods you need.

Lifespan Development: Explore how humans develop, from birth to death. In this course, you could learn how our thoughts and emotions change in our lives.

Professional Counseling Ethics: This course looks at rules of conduct for counselors. You could learn how people in this role handle tough issues.

Group Counseling: Take a look at how to work with groups of patients. In this course, you could study group theory, ethics, and how to act as a leader.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE?

Earning a Bachelor’s in Psych may take about four years, full time. Online Psych programs are about 120 to 125 credits.

Master’s in Psych programs can take about two years to earn. They could range from 30 to 50 credits. But, programs designed to help you prepare for counselor licensure could be longer.

Earning a Ph.D. or PsyD could take between four and eight years. This may include a one year internship in a clinical setting.

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COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM EXAMPLES

School# of Credits RequiredStart DatesMinimum Months to Complete
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology36Multiple12
Ashford U36Multiple72 weeks (about 18 months)
Pepperdine U36-48Fall, Spring, Summer18

HOW MUCH DOES A COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE COST TO EARN?

Counseling Psychology students paid a median in state public tuition of $7,488 in 2021. Median tuition for out of state private schools was $30,345. Compare tuition costs for the below master’s level psych programs:

School# of Credits RequiredCost Per CreditTotal Tuition Cost
Walden U90$465$47,015
Grand Canyon U36$515$18,540
Purdue U – Global60-75$420$25,200-$31,500

TOP COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY SCHOOLS

Last check, there were 343 schools that offer Counseling Psych programs. From those schools, 9,463 Counseling Psych degrees were awarded to students.

School2021 Degrees awarded2022/23 Tuition (out of state unless *)
Liberty U681$22,511*
Lamar U279$18,482
Webster U114$29,840*
Troy U151$18,624
Capella U151$14,328*
Lindsey Wilson College216$26,228*
National U125$13,320*
California Institute of Integral Studies181$21,596*
Adams State U238$21,848
National Louis U106$11,580*

Estimated for full time, beginning undergrad students

ACCREDITATION FOR ONLINE COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAMS

Accredited Counseling Psychology programs adhere to specific standards and undergo regular evaluations to ensure a high-quality education.

In some states, meeting graduation requirements from an APA-accredited program might be necessary based on your career aspirations. The American Psychological Association (APA) accredits Counseling Psychology programs at the doctoral level, along with accrediting mandatory internship and postdoctoral residency programs.

While APA doesn’t currently accredit undergraduate or graduate programs, seeking Psych programs from accredited institutions remains crucial. School accreditation is a prerequisite for eligibility for federal financial aid.

Another significant accrediting body is CACREP, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, which accredits both Master’s and doctoral programs in counseling.

Potential benefits of attending CACREP programs are:

  • They ensure the quality of accredited programs
  • They review programs based on professionally approved standards
  • Grads could perform better on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE?

In the current workforce, there are approximately 2.62 million graduates in the field of Psychology. Over the past year, this group exhibited a growth rate of 3.3%. The occupation that employed the largest number of Psychology graduates was counseling.

A significantly higher number of females earned degrees in Counseling Psychology compared to males. Specifically, 81.4% of degree holders were female. On average, individuals holding these degrees in the workforce were approximately 41.2 years old.

TOP SALARIES BY STATE FOR COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE HOLDERS

The following is for Clinical, Counseling or School Psychologists. Salary and employment numbers will differ for other career paths.

StateEmploymentAnnual Mean Wage
California8,780$124,450
Illinois5,170$102,400
New York4,400$128,520
Florida3,450$94,240
Hawaii450$96,680

COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY CAREER PATHS AND POTENTIAL SALARIES

REHABILITATION COUNSELORS

Rehabilitation counselors assist individuals dealing with physical, mental, or emotional challenges to achieve independent living. They collaborate with clients to address and manage the personal, social, and psychological impacts of disabilities on their employment and daily life.

According to 2022 BLS data:

Median Salary: $39,990  per year

Job Growth Through 2032: 2% (As fast as average)

Typical Entry level Education: Master’s degree

SUBSTANCE ABUSE, BEHAVIORAL DISORDER, AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors guide individuals dealing with alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, mental health concerns, or other behavioral issues. They offer treatment and assistance to aid clients in overcoming addiction or altering problematic behaviors.

According to 2022 BLS data:

Median Salary: $49,710 per year

Job Growth Through 2032: 18% (Much faster than average)

Typical Entry level Education: Bachelor’s degree. However, it depends on the state and employer, educational requirements can vary from a high school diploma and certification to a master’s degree. You can even find Psych Masters that don’t need a GRE for admission.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST

Marriage and family therapists aid individuals in addressing and overcoming issues within family and other relationships. They specialize in treating various mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety. These professionals assist individuals in acquiring coping mechanisms to manage and resolve their problems. Often, they engage clients in discussions about their feelings and impart skills to help them effectively cope with their challenges.

According to 2022 BLS data:

Median Salary: $56,570per year

Job Growth Through 2032: 15% (Much faster than average)

Typical Entry level Education: Master’s degree

© Education Connection 2024. All Rights Reserved.

*https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d20/tables/dt20_311.15.asp

Sources for school statistics is the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.

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