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What is Counseling Psychology?

A counseling psychology degree is a post graduate level degree. A counseling psychologist deals with healthy individuals in regard to the maintenance of healthy mind. Therapeutic measures are often taken to deal with moments of distress. This differs from clinical psychologists, who tend to treat individuals with severe mental disorders. A counseling psychology program can take between 3 and 5 years depending on the program and the degree pursued (the number of years does not include the time necessary to obtain a bachelor's degree).

A counseling psychology curriculum may include:

  • Foundations of Counseling Psychology
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Psychopathology
  • Social Psychology
  • Mental Health Counseling
  • Sport Psychology
  • Counseling and Ethics
  • Group Counseling
  • Clinical Psychology Counseling
  • Child & Family Psychology
  • Cognition, Learning and Motivation
  • Theories of Personality
  • Human Development
  • Vocational Psychology
  • Psychology of Gender

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$49,740

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

25.47%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

659,890

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Counseling Psychology Programs

Columbia University has been giving excellent research and academic lessons to its students from all over the globe for over 250 years. It has diverse faculty members who are experts in the international industries and who are passionate about helping students become successful in their careers.

Columbia University developed a top rank counseling psychology degree program for individuals who wish to become school counselors or licensed mental health counselors. Students of the program will be prepared for the psychology industry and will learn to develop their skills in intervention, prevention, and remediation skills to become effective psychology counselors. The university offers flexible online master’s degrees and Ph. programs.

Acceptance Rate

5.45

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Founded in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania has been giving academic programs that are focused on culture and innovation of the ecosystem as well as enriching the educational learning in liberal arts and sciences. It has nearly 5,000 faculty members who support and give outstanding learning to its more than 26,000 students.

Individuals who wish to pursue their studies and become psychology counselors can enroll in the university’s master’s degree program in counseling and mental health services. The program will last for a year and will obtain a master’s degree after completing the 10-course units required in the program. Participants can also choose between part-time and full-time schedules according to their needs. Upon completion, students will be able to prepare for Ph.D., Ed.D., or Psy.D., programs.

Acceptance Rate

7.66

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

The University of Chicago was established in 1890 and is committed to inspiring students to become independent individuals and establish their personal and career growth with its free and open environment. The programs they offer develop the analytic, critical, and writing skills of the students as well as help them become leaders in the industry. 

With the guidance of the university’s department of psychology, it outlined a psychology and counseling program for individuals who want to seek more experience in the field. It has graduate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs wherein participants will learn or further develop their knowledge in cognition, integrative neuroscience, developmental psychology, counseling, and social psychology. Individuals who wish to enroll in the program can apply through the university’s website. 

Acceptance Rate

6.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

Northwestern University is committed to innovative research, excellent teaching, and enhances the intellectual and personal growth of its students and faculty. It accommodates over 21,000 students annually and provides 12 colleges in its 3 campuses across the state.  The university offers a flexible online counseling degree program for students who want to take the master of arts in counseling. It teaches students to become fully aware and knowledgeable about clinical mental health. It also offers various options that are tailored for the needs of the students depending on their lifestyle, tradition, and schedule. Graduates of the program may obtain a master’s degree upon completing the curriculum.

Acceptance Rate

9.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Johns Hopkins University aims to encourage the students to become passionate in what they pursue by providing excellence in its educational programs and various activities. For 140 years, the university has adhered to its vision of sharing knowledge and discoveries to make the world a better place.

Its Master of Science in Counseling degree program concentrates on school and mental health counseling. It prepares students to become ethical, responsible, and competent counselors that advocate and lead. Individuals enrolled in the program will be guided and taught by dedicated professionals who have extensive experience in counseling and other areas in the field of psychology. 

Acceptance Rate

11.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Boston College is founded by Jesuits and has been the first college institution that operates in Boston with the mission to develop the talents and minds of individuals. Today, it is recognized as a leader in scientific inquiry, student formation, and liberal arts. 

The counseling, developmental, and educational psychology department of Boston College offers 9 degree programs and four of them are focused on counseling. Aspiring psychology counselors can choose between the masters in mental health counseling, school counseling, or counseling psychology and theology ministry, as well as Ph.D. in counseling psychology. The program aims to help the students become the next generation of expert counselors and expand their beliefs beyond the traditional clinical settings and boundaries.

Acceptance Rate

27.22

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

With more than 2,000 professional employees, Northeastern University provides students with learning opportunities through research and challenges to improve their personal and professional skills. The university has research institutions in 11 cities worldwide, offering a wide range of opportunities and developing impacts in society.   Northeastern University offers a doctorate degree in counseling psychology wherein expert professionals train the individuals to become responsible and well-educated mental health counselors. Individuals enrolled in the program will be able to conduct, conceptualize, and evaluate research in numerous social contexts. Individuals who wish to apply to the program can submit the materials needed by the college before admission. 

Acceptance Rate

18.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Boston University accommodates nearly 35,000 students who can choose from the university’s more than 300 areas of study. Its mission aims to educate students to be resourceful and reflective individuals that can adapt, lead, and live in the ever-changing industry.

It has developed a doctoral program in counseling psychology and applied human development with the help of the university’s college of education and human development. The program aims to prepare students to become leaders in the field of psychology as well as in applied human development. Graduates of the program will know how to design, evaluate, and implement responsive interventions at multiple levels of society.

Acceptance Rate

18.94

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Lehigh University is a private institution located in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. It provides opportunities for students and challenges their entrepreneurial mindset to help them adapt in the global industry.

The university offers training for individuals who want to pursue a career in counseling and mental health advocation by developing a counseling psychology program. Students will learn how to respect the diverse culture of every individual and become effective psychology counselors.  Students enrolled in the program can earn a master’s degree and will have an opportunity to be employed in social service agencies, mental health agencies, college counseling centers, and schools.

Acceptance Rate

32.1

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

New York University or also known as NYU has been operating since 1831. It provides higher education programs that emerge middle-class individuals to become passionate and responsible leaders. The university also promotes urban identity and global vision.

It offers a full-time counseling psychology program wherein students can earn a doctoral degree upon completing the 69 to 72 credit hours. The program curriculum follows the major components of counseling psychology as well as clinical and research training. Students will be prepared for a diverse role in social research, academics, clinical practices, and well-position jobs in the psychology field.

Acceptance Rate

16.2

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The purpose of the University of Florida is to challenge its students and faculty as they strive for a better impact in society as well as help improve the lives of the people. The university focuses on high-quality research that transforms potential ideas into results. 

With the belief that counseling psychologists are scientists in training, the college of liberal arts and sciences outlined a psychology program that concentrates on counseling psychology. Its curriculum includes lessons about interpersonal and personal functioning individuals, as well as social, educational, emotional, health-related, developmental, vocational, and organizational concerns. Students of the program will learn how to become human service providers

Acceptance Rate

36.58

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Recognized as one of the country’s leading research universities, the University of Miami has a diverse and vibrant academic community that can accommodate more than 16,000 students annually. It is composed of eleven colleges and schools and offers more than 180 academic programs.

Individuals who are interested in pursuing a degree and further expanding their knowledge in counseling psychology can enroll in the university’s doctorate program. It is developed by the college of educational and psychological studies with a mission to promote the psychological well-being of individuals by providing students a quality education, research, and practices. The program also aims to develop the competency of its researchers, faculty, and students to become leaders in the field.

Acceptance Rate

27.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

The Baptist Bible College and Seminary is a higher education institution that provides a Christ-centered curriculum that encourages students to understand the biblical worldview. It also enables students to participate and play a greater role to influence global society.

The college has a biblical studies degree in biblical counseling that has 122 credits and can be completed in four years. Students can select a schedule of their choice between the on-campus or online programs that both offer convenience and flexibility. Students participating in the program will have a broad understanding of the world, help the community, and have a certain understanding of the Bible, enabling Christians to grow into mature people, develop necessary skills, and become active in the local church.

Acceptance Rate

40.58

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Located in Silicon Valley, Santa Clara University is committed to encourage creativity, pursue innovation, community engagement, and entrepreneurial mindset within its community of students. It offers programs ranging from sustainable-energy engineering to business analytics.

School of Education and Counseling Psychology provides a 90-credit unit master’s program in counseling psychology wherein students can receive licenses in marriage and family therapists or clinical counselors. It is a three-year program that provides flexibility by giving full-time and part-time options depending on the needs of the students. Students enrolled in the program must complete the 90 quarter units to be able to graduate and become professionals in the psychology industry.

Acceptance Rate

48.82

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

The University of Georgia is a public institution that provides world-class education and research. It has been operating since 1785 and is recognized for its commitment to student success by providing a quality learning experience, hands-on research, and leadership opportunities.

Among its various graduate and undergraduate programs, the university offers a doctoral degree in pychological counseling, focusing on innovative training in health supervision, psychology, advanced assessment, and qualifications to become a licensed psychologist. Students in this course will receive clinical training, research design, and analysis, as well as courses in career development, ethics, social justice, cognitive psychology, and behavioral neuroscience. The university also provides a step-by-step guide to apply for the program through its website.

Acceptance Rate

45.3

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

St. Lawrence University offers a vibrant community for its students and faculty who value thoughts and actions. It helps students develop their full potential by encouraging them to embrace their natural environment, experience relevant education in liberal arts, and engage in global challenges.

It provides a 60 credit hours master’s degree program in mental health counseling wherein students may be granted full licensure after completing the program curriculum. Students can pick between the 2-year full-time or the 4-year part-time programs depending on what fits them best. Internships and lessons about clinical interventions, psychopharmacology, theories and techniques of counseling as well as different counseling courses (such as crisis, addiction, family, and marriage counseling) will be taught to the students enrolled in the program. 

Acceptance Rate

42.41

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Fordham University was founded by Jesuits in 1841. Over the past five years, it gives students nearly 700 prestigious scholarships as well as 200 Fulbright scholars. Fordham has five campuses that accommodate more than 20, 000 students every year. 

Together with the graduate school of education, the university offers an excellent counseling psychology doctorate degree that is guided by experienced, significant professionals in the field of counseling and psychology. Its curriculum aims to enhance the student’s ability to become knowledgeable about their work as well as develop work ethics and connection within the community. Students enrolled in this program will learn lessons particularly in racism, identity development, mindfulness, developmental psychology, women issues, and group dynamics.

Acceptance Rate

45.88

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

The Texas A&M University has been preparing students to strive against the challenges of the world since 1876. It houses over 69,000 students in its more than 5 campuses worldwide and has a mission to provide high-quality programs to develop the students’ understanding of research and creativity.

One of its Doctor of Philosophy programs is Counseling Psychology which is designed to give comprehensive and thorough knowledge in the professional field as well as in research and training methods. The program is open to individuals who graduated with a master’s degree and wants to continue broadening their skills in counseling psychology. Students enrolled in the program will have an opportunity to work with experienced professionals to better expand their networks and strengthen their skills. 

Acceptance Rate

57.79

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

Located in Pennsylvania, Geneva College can accommodate up to 2,000 students annually with a student/faculty ratio of 13:1. Its undergraduate engineering course is ranked as one of the leading programs in the United States.  It offers a master's in counseling overview program that focuses on professional and clinical psychological counseling, as well as marriage, family, and couple counseling. Students of this program may earn a national counselor certification and license for academic professional counselors. Its curriculum includes lessons such as career development, professional ethics and issues, counseling theory, faith-based counseling, assessments, research, multicultural awareness, and group training.

Acceptance Rate

53.23

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

The University of Denver lets students explore and discover the things that define the history and region of the world. It is also committed to providing opportunities for students while promoting inclusiveness and empowering them to make bold changes on a global scale. 

The university also promotes justice in counseling; hence, they created masters and Ph.D. degree programs for individuals who seek social justice while being able to help within the individuals' personal, mental, and social development. The programs concentrate on important areas such as relationship counseling, health and well-being, women’s issues, and understanding the class and race of an individual. Students will also learn how to meet the needs of the people that they will serve in the professional field.

Acceptance Rate

58.71

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

Howard University has 13 different departments that helps students pursue their passions and goals by providing graduate, undergraduate, and professional degrees. The university is also the leading in STEM education as well as boasts social work, communication sciences, and business academic learning.

Howard’s Department of Human Development and Psychoeducational Studies offers a Ph.D. degree in counseling psychology. The program strikes a balance between training experience and scientific foundation while encouraging students to focus on remediation and prevention of problems. Students of this program are required to have a maximum of seven years to finish all the requirements needed for the program.

Acceptance Rate

36.08

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Rollins College was founded in 1885 by the Congregationalists of New England. It is the first university institution in Florida and has always offered excellent academic programs that emphasize liberal arts education.

Individuals who are interested in participating in the field of psychology or deepening their knowledge in the field can register for the graduate tutoring program offered by Rollins College. The program has an objective to practice individuals in professional counseling and ethics, social and cultural diversity, career development, human sexuality, human growth, helping relationships, and group work among others. Students will also go through various assessments, testing, research, and program evaluation. 

Acceptance Rate

58.34

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Established in 1846, the University of Buffalo is one of the state universities of New York. It is a premier public university that is dedicated to providing academic excellence in research and creativity. It also strongly encourages its students to positively impact society.

The university offers a unique combined degree in counseling psychology and school psychology that highlights scientific practice and inquiry. During the program, students will receive specialized training in the field with the help of expert practitioners. The program includes courses in etiology, integration of science, research methods, counseling, intervention, and supervised practical experience. Students need to complete the 96 credit hours in a minimum of 5 years to earn a doctorate degree.

Acceptance Rate

61.08

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Temple University aims to provide a diverse community as well as open-mindedness and respect between the students, staff, and the faculty. By involving students in a transformative and supportive environment, it helps to improve and enhance the lives of the community.

Temple University values equity, inclusion, and diversity. With this belief, they created a master’s degree program in counseling psychology that aims to provide assessment and therapeutic skills while facilitating healthy interpersonal and personal relations among its students. Students of the program are also encouraged to know themselves because the university believes that it is a great way to become an effective counseling psychologist.

Acceptance Rate

60.04

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

LeTourneau University guides its students to become active in the community by working, learning, and transforming their ideas into practice. It also gives hands-on experience from its professional faculty who are passionate about their own industry.

The university is also open for individuals who are interested in helping to resolve someone’s dilemma and deal with their life issues and mental disorders by offering a 120 credit hours bachelor of the science degree program in counseling psychology. Students will be knowledgeable in research, theory, and practice with the main objective to guide people to have a healthy mind and body that would help their lives become better.

Acceptance Rate

44.51

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Top Counseling Psychology Degrees

Students considering a career in counseling psychology need to understand a graduate degree is required in most states to practice. The breakdown of degrees as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor includes 27% with a masters degree, 25% with a doctoral degree, and the balance with post-doctoral training. As such, we will cover graduate degree and only graduate study programs below to help you understand the degree options as this level in counseling psychology.

Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology

The master degree program in counseling psychology is a discipline within the psychology department of colleges and universities. Subdisciplines of psychology at the masters level can include the following: applied psychology, crisis management, educational psychology, leadership development, health psychology, psychology of culture, organizational development, public administration, and social psychology.

An on-site or online masters degree will take 2-3 years to complete for most students depending on the number of credits taken at a given time and the overall credits required by the institution.

Courses in a masters degree for counseling psychologists and a mental health counselor may include social psychology, lifespan development, psychology of personality, culture & psychology, grief counseling, clinical psychopathology, quantitative reasoning, cognitive behavior, and coaching.

The classroom-based program or online masters degree for counseling psychologists is most often conferred as a Master of Science (MS) but can also be found as a Master of Arts (MA) in select schools.

Doctoral Degree in Counseling Psychology

The doctoral degree in counseling psychology can be found in a course catalog as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or PhD in Counseling Psychology. In either case, the doctoral degree is considered a terminal degree as no additional counseling degrees are conferred beyond the PhD in the field.

The PhD program for counseling psychologists is a 4-6 year program that includes: an academic year in residence (AYR), doctoral residency, internship requirements, and supervised practicum. The evidence-based therapeutic techniques, hands-on exercises, and in-residence instruction is critical to the success of doctoral students.

PhD programs are intended to prepare students to prepare students for licensure as a psychologist which can lead professionals to be a consultant, administrator, faculty member, practitioner, or research specialist in the field.

Counseling Jobs & Career Tracks

An individual pursuing a career for counseling psychologists and mental health counselor must be a good listener, analytical, capable of compassion, and have the ability to remain impartial. Counseling psychologists work in a variety of environments with all age groups. A particular counseling psychologist may specialize with a particular group or age group, while others may have more generalized practices.

A counseling psychologist primary job is to assist individuals who are having emotional or psychological difficulty do to circumstance. By offering various therapies and counseling, the psychologist completes his or her work with the individual.

Counseling Psychology Salary Growth

The annual median salary for psychologists in counseling psychology is $73,270 which equates to $35.23 an hour. The growth forecast of the industry is expected to add some 63,800 job openings in the coming decade with a 14% rate of growth during that timeframe. States with the most jobs in counseling psychology per capita are: 1) Massachusetts, 2) Vermont, 3) Rhode Island, 4) Hawaii, and 5) New York.

A counseling psychologist can be employed in a variety of locations, schools, universities, government agencies, private corporations and private practices. The job growth for counseling psychologists is expected to increase faster than average over the next decade due to the expected increase in need for such assistance in the near future.

Counseling Psychologist & Mental Health Counselor Jobs

When planning for a future in counseling psychology, it is important to get accustomed to job-specific vernacular in the industry. To help you better understand jobs in the counseling psychology career domain that you may see in the real-world, we have collected a short list of top job titles counseling psychologists need to review. The list includes:

  • Applied Behavior Science Specialist (ABSS)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Psychologist
  • Chemical Dependency Therapist
  • Counselor
  • Mental Health Counselor
  • Psychotherapist
  • Counseling Psychologist
  • Senior Staff Psychologist
  • Counseling Services Director
  • Staff Psychologist

What Does a Counseling Psychology Major Do?

In a recent survey administered by the U.S. Department of Labor of practicing counseling psychologist, professionals in the field provided details on their daily activities. These activities are rolled up into a top 5 list of common job functions in counseling psychology to help you better understand the scope of the job across industries and organizations.

  1. Developing therapeutic programs to best suit each individual client
  2. Collecting information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, and observational techniques
  3. Supervising a mental health counselor, interns, and clinicians in training
  4. Counseling individuals, small groups, couples, or families to help them understand problems, deal with challenging situations, define goals, and develop realistic treatment plans
  5. Documenting patient information as session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans

Resources for Counselors in Counseling Psychology

Students passionate about helping others in counseling psychology degrees may choose to research similar degree programs in clinical psychology, psychology, child psychology, forensic psychology, or school psychology. Key insights and career alternatives in counseling and psychology can be found on our Ultimate Career Guide in Psychology and our popular article on the Top Jobs in Psychology.

Non-profit associations can be a beneficial career move for counselors of all kinds. As an example, you can leverage a trade association via their unique tools, networking opportunities, resources, and research papers. Associations worth researching further include the American Board of Professional Psychology, (ABPP), American Counseling Association (ACA), and the Society of Counseling Psychology (SCP).

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