Guidance Counseling Degree Review - Master Degree Information

Published Jan 02, 2007

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A Master's Degree in Guidance Counseling prepares the graduate for a career as a guidance counselor in a school system. Guidance counselors assist students with the important decisions in their life, including issues relating to further education, drugs, peer pressure, violence, pregnancy, and other personal issues and crises.

What is a Master's Degree in Guidance Counseling?

A Master's Degree in Guidance Counseling teaches students effective techniques and strategies that are necessary for a career in guidance counseling. These includes techniques such as vocational guidance, group counseling, assessment, and program development. Future counselors learn to work with a variety of ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, so they are prepared for a career in a variety of different settings. Typical courses for a Master's Degree in Guidance Counseling include:

  • Counseling Techniques and Theory
  • Human Development
  • Contemporary Clinical Interventions
  • Psychology of Exceptional Children
  • Career Development
  • Ethic and Legal Issues for School Counselors

What Careers is a Master in Guidance Counseling Prepared for?

A Master's in Guidance Counseling really only prepares the graduate for one kind of career: a counselor in an educational setting such as a high school or elementary school.

What is the Career Outlook for Guidance Counselors?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), the demand for guidance counselors is expected to grow faster than the national average. This is due to the large number of existing guidance counselors who will leave their jobs or retire in a few of years and the relatively low demand for their positions, leading to a very favorable job outlook for guidance counselors.

The median income for guidance counselors in 2004 was around $51,000. The highest-paid positions were in elementary and secondary schools.

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