Counseling Degrees

Can I work while studying?

Since a bachelors degree in counseling or psychology requires more coursework and study hours than a certificate or associates program, finding time to work can be tricky. If you decide to pursue an online bachelors, this is much less of a problem as you will be able to accommodate your school schedule and your working hours. Regardless of which option you choose, it is always a good idea to try to gain employment in an area that relates to your chosen career.

If you are attending a program on campus, you will have several choices for work on campus. Since the programs usually require a full course load in order to complete the degree in 4 years, a campus job is a great place to work between classes. Check the psychology department or counseling center to see if they have need of office help. This kind of position will allow you to become familiar with your professors or counselors and possibly give you information about your chosen career.

If you are working towards an accredited bachelor, there are many more opportunities to work in a job related to your chosen field of study. Find a local listing of your cities’ nonprofit organizations like food banks, youth centers and thrift stores. These can help you acclimate to listening to and helping people with different needs. Additionally, they often have many entry-level jobs available, as well as flexible work hours.

Are there any brick-and-mortar colleges that offer an online program?

The best bachelors degree in counseling is actually a bachelors degree in psychology. Most of the time, students desiring to become a professional counselor obtain a bachelors of arts in psychology, which opens the door to an advanced degree in counseling. There are a few excellent traditional colleges that also offer programs in psychology where you can enrolled in online counseling courses.

Pennsylvania State University is 1 of the top 50 colleges in the nation as ranked by , and offers a completely online bachelors program for psychology. This traditional college has an exceptional program, though tuition for out-of-state students can be close to $30,000 per year.

University of Hawaii, Hilo is a small regional school that has a competitive online psychology program. This beautiful campus offers both online and instructional television (ITV) simultaneous class broadcasts. It requires students to have an associates degree as well as a junior level standing. Openings for the online psychology program are limited, so it is good to check the admission status frequently.

You can get anonline bachelors degree in counseling or psychology with Upper Iowa University. This is a great choice for students planning on continuing their counseling program online as the courses offered, such as abnormal psychology and research methods will prepare you to attend online counseling schools with masters programs.

Are there any scholarships?

There are quite a few scholarship opportunities if you are planning on pursuing an accredited bachelor in counseling or psychology. One great scholarship that is available for counseling students working on a bachelors in psychology is the AFSCMA/UNCF Union Scholars Program. This award is for students willing to participate in a 10-week long union organization activity over the summer. Winners receive living stipends up to $4,000 during their 10 weeks of involvement and up to $5,000 for the following school year. It can be used at any accredited 4-year university.

The Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation Scholarship is available to students going to any accredited school receiving Title IV funding. This is a $1,000 scholarship, and is based on an essay entry that demonstrates academic achievement and service to others.

Although there are not many scholarships available for an online bachelors in counseling, there are some scholarships available for distance education students at accredited universities. For example, the Academic Year Ambassadorial Scholarship is available to all students, including those who study online, who are attending accredited colleges. This scholarship allows students to travel to another country while pursuing their degrees online, and has an individual grant of $25,000 for living expenses.

Can I study abroad?

If you are seeking a bachelors degree in counseling and psychology possible, you should take advantage of the extensive opportunities to study abroad. Many conventional college campuses will offer these study programs in order to enhance your knowledge of relationships and how they relate to culture, race and environment. Although most study abroad is done as a college junior, there are some programs that are tailored for sophomores and seniors.

Most of the study abroad programs will offer semester and full year study experiences. Each locale usually focuses on a specific type of psychology, so students seeking a counseling profession should apply for admission to a broader program that incorporates behavior classes and counseling psychology rather than a research oriented version.

If you are pursuing a top bachelor degree in counseling or psychology, you may find that it is difficult to find a study abroad opportunity. Although colleges that only offer online courses may not provide these types of programs, students who are attending a conventional college in an online degree program can usually apply to the study abroad programs.

If you are interested in applying to a study abroad program, speak to your school’s study abroad department, or psychology department main office. They will be able to give you excellent instruction on how and when to apply for a study abroad experience. Make sure that you apply as soon as possible, as processing an application can take some departments and schools up to a year to complete.