Bachelors in Counseling – Degree and Career Guide
If you’re interested in getting a Bachelors in Counseling online or need to research which programs will help build a strong foundation to prepare you for a Master’s degree in Counseling and to become a licensed counselor, you came to the right place. Earning your bachelor’s in counseling can lead to a very rewarding career. It will also help prepare you for your graduate studies should you choose to continue beyond your undergraduate degree. Undergraduate counseling concentrations can include:
- Marriage and Family Counseling (limited options)
- School Counseling (limited options)
- Mental Health Counseling
- Addiction Counseling
There are many online schools that offer a bachelors in counseling with a concentration in addiction and substance abuse, while there are limited opportunities for other concentrations. If you’re unsure of whether or not you want to go to graduate school, earning your bachelor’s degree in counseling with a concentration in addiction and substance abuse could be a good option for you. Addiction counselors aren’t required to have a graduate degree in order to start their counseling career. They do, however, need to become certified. If becoming a licensed counselor is your goal, you’ll need to earn a Master’s Degree at the very minimum.
Since there aren’t many options available to earn a complete undergraduate counseling education outside of addiction counseling studies, you may consider other options. These alternatives include getting a psychology degree or a bachelors in social work. Either of those options can help prepare you for an entry level job in a human service type of job. They can also prepare you for admission to a graduate counseling program. The following psychology programs are great alternatives:
Featured Online Counseling Psychology Programs
| School | Program | Format | Location | School Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen University | BA in Psychology and Addiction Studies | Online | Colorado | Request Info |
| Capella University | BS in Psychology Pre-Counseling | Online | Minnesota | Request Info |
| Southern New Hampshire University | BA in Psychology | Online or In-Person | New Hampshire | Request Info |
Admission Requirements
In order to qualify for admissions to a Bachelors program in Counseling Psychology and Addiction Studies, you’ll need a minimum of a high school diploma. Additional requirements such as SAT scores, minimum GPA, letters of recommendation and personal essays will vary by school. It’s important to discuss your career goals and specific admission requirements with the online school that you’re interested in attending.
Counseling Career Paths with a Bachelor’s Degree
Receiving a Bachelor’s in Counseling online may help prepare you for entrance into the following careers:
- Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling (additional certification may be required)
- Case Manager
- Probation or Parole Officer
- Women or Homeless Shelter Coordinator
- Mental Health Advocacy
Certified counselors and licensed counselors are two completely different career paths and have different education and experience requirements. Addiction counselors can become certified at the national level with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. There are certain programs that can help qualify you to become eligible for certification. For more information on the educational and clinical hours required, please check out the Association for Addiction Professional’s counselor certification page.
If you’re unsure which area you want to focus on or which age group you would like to work with but know you want to become a licensed counselor, you’re not alone. While there’s no specific undergraduate program required for admission to a graduate program, there are some programs that will provide you with a strong foundation for a graduate degree in counseling.
Undergraduate programs in the health or social sciences will give you the knowledge that will help you succeed in your graduate studies and help prepare you for a career as a counselor. There are some great online bachelor programs at schools that offer things such as scholarships, flexibility, pay as you go and school partnerships. School partnerships allow their students to take general education courses at a lower cost and at an accelerated pace.
Online Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
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School Showcase
 | BA in Psychology @ SNHU SNHU is an affordable option and you also have the benefit of having a campus experience. Location in Manchester, New Hampshire, SNHU is a non-profit university offering affordable tuition rates, study abroad programs and internship programs. |
 | BA in Psychology @ Penn State Penn State University’s BA in Psychology is a nationally recognized program and comes with great prestige. |
 | BA in Psychology @ Ashford Ashford’s BA in Psychology program offers 5 week courses and allows you to transfer up to 90 credits (far greater than the maximum 60 credits most universities require) |
 | BS in Psychology @ Capella Capella’s Bachelor’s in Psychology program offers two learning paths – their Guided Path* and Flex Path**. You should discuss the different advantages with an Admission’s counselor at Capella. |
 | B.S. Psychology @ Regent Regent University offers both a general undergraduate psychology program and a clinical counseling psychology program. |
**FlexPath program is a self-paced learning format that allows you to take courses at your own pace. There are no schedules or deadlines here. This path may be good for those who have busy lives and can’t commit to a structured school schedule.
There are many other online schools to choose from that offer bachelor degrees in psychology. These were just a few to help you get started in your search. If you are unsure which area of psychology is right for you or which school might be a good fit for you, you can check out our undergraduate psychology and related program listings.
Search Online Bachelors in Counseling and Related Programs
- Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling Programs
- Psychology
- Human Services
- Social Work