No matter what education level you seek in counseling, you can attain it online. Your options include associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in counseling fully online, as well as certificate programs in counseling. These education levels in counseling are available in various specializations. You start to see the variety at the bachelor's degree level, but the real specialization options turn up at the master's degree level.
Some examples of the different kinds of specializations include: addiction counseling, counseling psychology, counseling studies, mental health counseling, and school counseling. At many online colleges with religious affiliations, you will see degrees available in pastoral counseling, which incorporate faith-based counseling principles into the instruction for those entering the ministry. Another large specialization is marriage & family counseling.
Most online associate degrees in counseling will be more generally focused on psychology, with perhaps an emphasis in counseling. Online associate degrees in counseling typically take at least two years of full-time work to complete, although some programs may be accelerated. Bachelor's degree programs will also typically be focused on general psychology principles, although some online colleges offer a more specific degree; Grand Canyon University, for instance, offers a Bachelor of Science in Addiction Counseling. Online bachelor's degree programs are usually designed to take four years of full-time study to complete.
An undergraduate degree in counseling can help you get a foot in the door of some careers related to counseling. However, the fact is that in most states you cannot become a licensed counselor in many career areas without a minimum of a master's degree. Master's degree programs require students to complete between 48-60 additional hours of graduate level work after you have completed your bachelor's degree.
The doctorate is the highest level of education you can attain in your study of counseling, and is the degree of choice for those who wish to enter a career in teaching counseling at the college level. Study at the doctoral level often takes two years, plus however much time you are allotted to complete a dissertation in your area of study. For example, Northcentral University offers an online doctoral degree, a Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy, in the following areas: child & adolescent therapy, couple therapy, medical family therapy, and therapy with military families.