Master of Arts (MA): Professional Counseling Degree Overview
A Masters of Arts (M.A.) degree in professional counseling trains counselors to work in multiple settings, including schools, community outreach programs, rehabilitation clinics and other medical facilities. During the M.A. program, students are trained in various counseling styles and also get to practice what they learn through participating in clinical counseling rotations. Counselors require a strong sense of empathy for patients, but counselors must also remain objective.
Professional Counseling Master of Arts Degree
Earning a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in professional counseling provides graduates with the skills needed to offer guidance to patients suffering from psychological distress. Within M.A. programs, students typically learn techniques for listening to patients, identifying potential patient issues and making recommendations for treatment. Students can also learn about the legal issues related to counseling, including patient confidentiality and liability.
Education Prerequisites
The majority of M.A. degree programs will only accept applicants who already hold the equivalent of a bachelor's degree, and usually the bachelor's degree must be in a related field, such as psychology, social work or education. Certain concentrations within a professional counseling M.A. program have additional prerequisites, such as the school counseling concentration requiring applicants to be academically eligible for teacher certification and licensing.
Course Topics
Professional counseling programs require students to participate in classroom lectures as well as several supervised clinical internships. Many M.A. programs offer concentration options for individuals to specialize in various counseling fields, such as marriage and family therapy. Common coursework includes:
- Counseling techniques
- Group counseling methods
- Abnormal psychology
- Multicultural counseling methods
- Lifespan development
- Patient assessment
- Intervention therapy
- Child psychology
- Addiction counseling
- Counseling ethics
Popular Career Options
Master's degree programs in counseling can lead to a variety of counseling jobs, though some careers may require specialized training, licensure or certification. After meeting the correct requirements, individuals who complete a master's degree in counseling may become:
- School counselors
- Drug abuse counselors
- Marriage and family counselors
- Vocational counselors
Continuing Education Information
Individuals who want to enter the professional counseling field of school counseling may need to complete additional coursework to obtain teaching credentials or licenses in accordance with state guidelines. Counseling certification programs are usually voluntary, but workers can pursue these programs by meeting educational requirements and passing certification exams. Counselors who wish to become psychologists or those who want to enter into upper administrative counseling positions may need to earn doctoral degrees within their counseling fields of specialty. A doctorate degree in counseling or counseling education could also lead to positions in academia or research.
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