Admission Requirements for a Psychology and Counseling Degree
Bachelor’s Degree The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the American Psychological Association (APA) report that nearly two million bachelor’s degrees were conferred in 2016-2017. This data is the most recent published information reported by these two organizations. The APA reports that the fourth most popular major, based on the greatest number of degrees conferred, was psychology. Psychology majors earned 116,861 bachelor’s degrees during this year. Post-graduation surveys reveal that about three-quarters of all graduates in psychology end up working in a field related to psychology or counseling. Successful admission to an accredited psychology bachelor’s degree program requires academic promise. To showcase your promise, you must offer a high school GPA of at least 2.5. More competitive psychology programs will have higher admission standards. In some cases, a minimum GPA of 3.0 or 3.3 is required for admission. Aptitude tests, such as the SAT or ACT, may also be required. Master’s Degree Most master’s-level psychology or counseling programs require an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Many programs require an undergraduate degree in a related field, such as counseling or psychology, but this is not always the case. Some schools accept students with non-psychology degrees, but require prerequisites. Prerequisite courses may include developmental psychology, general psychology, research methods, and statistics. A strong GPA is necessary for any graduate program. Admission is often competitive. Being able to showcase your academic potential helps admission committees take notice of your application. A stellar undergraduate GPA, strong GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and writing samples will aid your application to a graduate psychology program. Top-ranked counseling or psychology programs may have GPA minimum requirements of 3.3 or 3.5. Ph.D. or Doctoral Degree Traditional Ph.D. in psychology programs are designed to equip students for careers in academia and research. These programs do not always require a graduate degree, as a master’s can be earned during completion of the Ph.D. However, these programs require an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The degree does not have to be in psychology, though some programs may require certain prerequisites to be considered for admission. To bolster a Ph.D. application, you must showcase your academic potential. Psychology and counseling programs require strong undergraduate GPAs, competitive GRE scores, letters of recommendation, writing samples, and a statement of purpose. Doctoral degrees are applied degrees that equip students for careers in psychology or counseling. Instead of being research-heavy, as psychology Ph.D. programs are, emphasis in doctoral psychology degrees is placed on career readiness. Work experience is often part of the admission requirement, in addition to undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, and school transcripts.In-Demand Psychology and Counseling Majors
In-demand jobs in psychology and counseling call for in-demand majors. If you’re deciding what major to choose, and have a desire to work in the psychology or counseling industries, the information below might help in your exploration. Below are several disciplines available at colleges and universities.
Counseling
Mental Health Counseling – To become a mental health counselor, rigorous schooling is required. At the undergraduate level, students interested in becoming mental health counselors select a major that is appropriate for their career path. Majors in psychology are among the most popular for those seeking this type of career, though some schools offer bachelor’s degrees in counseling. Graduate work consists of earning a master’s in counseling, completing research and fieldwork, and passing certification or licensing exams.
Rehabilitation Counseling – According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are many accredited colleges and universities that offer undergraduate rehabilitation counseling programs. While more common at the graduate level, bachelor’s degrees focus on general counseling, such as mental health or family, while offering specializations in rehab counseling. At the master’s level, accredited programs recognized by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) exist. These programs are known to meet high academic standards. Courses cover topics like counseling theory & ethics, multicultural counseling, and psychosocial aspects of disabilities.
School Counseling – Bachelor’s degree programs for individuals aspiring to be school counselors focus on general psychology and counseling. The broad scope lessens in graduate school. In school counseling graduate programs, students hone their skills in career and school counseling. The programs emphasize how to foster academic development and work with parents and staff. Graduate programs also require students to complete an internship and thesis.
Substance Abuse Counseling – Most positions for substance abuse counselors require an earned bachelor’s degree in counseling, psychology, or a related discipline. Training in undergraduate programs offers broad knowledge of psychology and addiction counseling. Courses common at the bachelor’s degree level include abnormal psychology, addiction & substance use counseling theories, ethical & legal issues in counseling, and principles of addiction counseling. To be considered for a master’s degree program in substance abuse counseling, you will need a bachelor’s degree. Master’s programs focus less on foundational principles and more on direct clinical skills and evidence-based practice. Typical courses found in graduate substance abuse counseling programs include advanced developmental psychology, crisis & trauma counseling, and research & theories in addiction counseling.
Psychology
Developmental Psychology – Developmental psychology programs prepare students to work as developmental psychologists. The discipline focuses on how to aid individuals with developmental disorders across the lifespan. Curricula in bachelor’s degree programs emphasize the development of research skills. In fact, a research component and capstone are often required for most accredited bachelor’s in developmental psychology programs. The master’s in developmental psychology takes up to two years to complete and requires a master’s thesis, research, and fieldwork components. Courses cover topics like cognition & learning, cross-cultural psychology, language development, and moral education.
Environmental Psychology – Climate and environmental psychology programs are not as common as general psychology programs. This major focuses on the interaction between the environment and the public perception of it. Because it emerged in the 1970s, environmental psychology is considered to be a newer major in the field. Bachelor’s degree programs focus on policy, planning, and sustainability. The discipline is more common at the graduate degree level.
Forensic Psychology – The forensic psychology program at the undergraduate level prepares students to apply clinical, counseling, and neuropsychology skills to psychological services within the criminal justice system. As a forensic psychology student, you will take classes in criminal justice, criminology, psychology, sociology, and statistics. Graduate programs in forensic psychology delve deeper into advanced topics and prepare students for entry into the workplace as leaders in the field.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology – Students may pursue an undergraduate degree in industrial-organizational psychology or general psychology with a specialization or focus in industrial or organizational psychology. Both types of programs provide students with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to work in the field. Industrial and organizational psychology programs explore employee assessment, organizational behavior, and more. At the graduate school level, master’s degree programs have courses that explore more in-depth topics like consulting for organizational change, personnel psychology in the workplace, and psychology of organizational behavior.
Sports Psychology – Sports psychology is an interdisciplinary practice that links the physical performance of sport and athletics to psychology. Sports psychology degrees incorporate classes in biomechanics, kinesiology, nutrition, and physiology. In undergraduate programs, students may major in sports psychology or earn a specialization in this discipline while majoring in general psychology. In graduate programs, students typically earn a master’s degree in sports psychology with specialized knowledge in various areas.
Earnings Potential for Psychologists and Counselors
Psychologists A stable income can be earned as a psychologist or counselor; however, wages vary by occupation and industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for psychologists, as of May 2020, was approximately $82,000. The median wage is the wage that 50% of the workers in the occupation earned more than and 50% earned less than. BLS collected data that revealed the bottom 10% earned less than $46,270, and the highest 10% earned over $137,590. Wages vary by job type, industry, and geographic location. The median annual wage for general psychologists per BLS’ Occupational Outlook Handbook published within the last 12 months was $105,780. Industrial and organizational psychologists earned $96,270. Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists earned a median annual wage of $79,820. Four industries are listed by BLS among the top-paying industries for psychologists. Government ranks #1 on this list. Those working in government agencies as psychologists earned a median annual wage of $100,360. Local, private, and state hospitals are the second highest-paying industry for psychologists. At hospitals, psychologists earn a median annual wage of $90,640, according to the most recent data published by BLS. Next in the lineup, ambulatory healthcare services are reported as paying psychologists a median annual wage of $85,970, and are among the top-paying industries for this occupation. The fourth highest-paying industry for psychologists, as reported by BLS, is made up of elementary and secondary schools at the local, private, and state level. In schools, psychologists earn a median annual wage of $77,560. Earnings are also impacted by geographic location. According to the annual mean wage data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are five top-paying states for psychologists. These states include: California: $124,910 Alaska: $118,270 Illinois: $115,340 Virginia: $109,060 Colorado: $103,560 Broken down even further, BLS reports top-paying metropolitan areas for psychologists as Los Angeles, Sacramento, Jacksonville, Salinas, and Chicago. As far as top-paying nonmetropolitan areas for psychologists, BLS reports the Piedmont North Carolina as the highest paying region. In this nonmetro area, psychologists earn an annual median wage of $108,830.
Marriage and Family Counselors
According to BLS, marriage and family counselors or therapists earned a median annual wage of $51,340. The lowest 10% of earners in this occupation made $33,140, and the highest 10% earned over $92,500.
BLS also reports four top-paying industries for marriage and family counselors. State government, excluding education and hospitals, was the highest-paying industry for this profession. The most recent data reveals that the median annual wage for this area is $78,450. Outpatient care centers are the second highest-paying industry with median annual wages for counselors of $55,590. Individual and family services were the third highest-paying industry for marriage and family counselors. This industry reports average earnings of $47,590. The fourth highest-paying industry for this profession is offices of other health practitioners. In this industry, marriage and family counselors earned a median annual wage of $46,630.
Similar to earnings of psychologists, geographic location impacts wages for therapists. According to BLS, the five top-paying states for marriage and family therapists are Utah ($80,110), New Jersey ($78,960), Illinois ($67,650), Hawaii ($65,880), and Oklahoma ($65,050). Metropolitan areas with the highest earnings for this profession include Provo-Orem, Utah ($89,560 annual mean wage); St. George, Utah ($85,290); Vallejo-Fairfield, California ($81,890); Trenton, New Jersey ($80,270); and Sioux City, Iowa ($79,720).
Top-paying nonmetropolitan areas for marriage and family therapists include Southeast Oklahoma ($65,880), Southeast Iowa ($64,490), Southwest Colorado ($64,460), Central Indiana ($64,190), and Nevada nonmetro areas ($61,200).
Both psychologists and counselors typically work full-time. Some counselors and therapists occasionally work evenings and weekends, as needed, to accommodate client schedules.
