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.
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.
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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.
COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM EXAMPLES
| School | # of Credits Required | Start Dates | Minimum Months to Complete |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology | 36 | Multiple | 12 |
| Ashford U | 36 | Multiple | 72 weeks (about 18 months) |
| Pepperdine U | 36-48 | Fall, Spring, Summer | 18 |
HOW MUCH DOES A COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE COST TO EARN?
Counseling Psychology students paid a median in state public tuition of $7,716 in 2022. Median tuition for out of state private schools was $31,420. Compare tuition costs for the below master’s level psych programs:
| School | # of Credits Required | Cost Per Credit | Total Tuition Cost |
| Walden U | 90 | $465 | $47,015 |
| Grand Canyon U | 36 | $515 | $18,540 |
| Purdue U – Global | 60-75 | $420 | $25,200-$31,500 |
TOP COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY SCHOOLS
Last check, there were 343 schools that offer Counseling Psych programs. From those schools, 10,225Counseling Psych degrees were awarded to students.
| School | 2022 Degrees awarded | 2022/23 Tuition (out of state unless *) |
| Liberty U | 888 | $22,511* |
| Lamar U | 413 | $18,482 |
| Webster U | 128 | $29,840* |
| Troy U | 168 | $18,624 |
| Capella U | 151 | $14,328* |
| Lindsey Wilson College | 235 | $26,228* |
| National U | 191 | $13,320* |
| California Institute of Integral Studies | 147 | $21,596* |
| Adams State U | 301 | $21,848 |
| National Louis U | 86 | $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)