Counseling & Psychology

There is no better time to get into the field of psychology and counseling than the present! With more people entering into lower socio-economic classes, a growing elderly population, and questionable world-safety scenarios, many people are in need of help and reassurance to carry on. There are many diverse fields of study within the psychology and counseling majors. If you are interested in online psychology schools or counseling schools and desire to make a difference in the lives of many, a career in psychology or counseling may be for you.

There are many areas of specialization within the context of psychology and counseling. Psychology schools offer many majors and minors including:

Forensic psychology
School psychology
Community counseling
Guidance counseling
Rehabilitation counseling
Grief counseling

In order to excel in these fields and obtain employment, a minimum of a master’s degree will need to be obtained. Many professionals in the psychology and counseling fields have a PhD in their area of mastery. These fields continue to be amongst the most popular and demanding fields of study and competition is keen.
Whether you are attending college for the first time or are returning for a change of pace, you are sure to find these classes offered at many universities; both established on campuses and online. If you choose to study from home, many of the top psychology schools offer at least some of their curriculum online. Usually, if you take this path, you will be able to complete classwork online while being placed in a facility near your home for your internship requirements.

Depending on where you live, you may have to travel out of the state to attend some of the best psychology colleges. However, there are psychology and counseling schools in every state, nation-wide.

Only those with a deep desire to help others should pursue this field of study. The work is intense and your involvement with people is the main focus of the job. The work setting is usually in a comfortable atmosphere; a school or hospital or clinical office would be the most common, although, some areas of specialty, such as forensic psychology and grief counseling, may have you working in a prison or traveling to grief-stricken areas of the world.

The salaries for each field of study vary greatly depending upon many factors. Whether or not you have your Doctorate degree, whether you work in an urban or suburban area, which discipline you specialize in, and whether your degree is in psychology or counseling, will all play a major role in determining your salary. Often times, people who work in a major metropolis will earn more than someone working in a small, country town. People with a psychology degree will often times earn more than someone with a counseling degree and of course, if you hold a PhD you will earn much more than if you hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Whichever path you choose to pursue, these fields of study are quite rewarding and in high demand. They all have great benefits and will provide you with a lifetime of satisfaction in public service.

Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The salary range for Counselor begins around $37,900 and usually tops out around $106,840, with a mean in the neighborhood of $72,370. This is about 67% higher than the national average for annual salaries.

In order to qualify for most Counselor positions, you typically need to have a Bachelor's Degree or higher.

Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The growth outlook for Counselor careers is estimated at about 12% while the estimated growth for all career fields over that same span is at about 10.12%. Over the next six years, Counselor jobs are expected to grow at a 19% higher rate than the national average for annual salaries.