In the United States, counselors assist their clients with personal, family, educational, mental health, and career decisions and problems through consultation, evaluation, therapeutic techniques, teaching, and research. Counselors work in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary institutions, health care facilities, counseling agencies, and in private practice. 

Formal education is necessary to become a licensed counselor in the United States. Degrees are offered at the master’s and Ph.D. levels through departments of education or psychology. While counselor education programs are not commonly offered at the undergraduate level, interested students may wish to take basic psychology courses and gain practical experience through volunteer or internship positions.

Graduate Education

At the master’s degree level, students specialize in fields of study ranging from elementary or secondary school counseling, college student affairs, education, gerontological counseling, marriage and family counseling, substance abuse counseling, rehabilitation counseling (which involves work with individuals with disabilities), agency or community counseling, clinical mental health counseling, counseling psychology, career counseling, and related fields.

A typical master’s program consists of forty-eight to sixty hours of coursework in eight core areas: human growth and development, social and cultural diversity, relationships, groupwork, career development, assessment, research and program evaluation, and professional identity. Students also complete 600 hours of supervised clinical experience in counseling.

The Education Specialist credential (Ed.S.) provides additional training in individual, group, and family counseling beyond the master’s degree level. These programs are often offered through departments of education.

Psychology is one of the top undergraduate majors in the United States, second only to business.  If you are interested in this field, pursue a well-rounded high school education including courses in English and other languages, math, sciences, and social sciences.  You’ll want to polish your computer skills, and if your school offers courses in statistics or psychology itself, take those for a head start.  Volunteer work in the community can also often be helpful in building the “people skills” you need to succeed in the profession.

At the undergraduate level, psychology is a liberal arts program, involving the opportunity to explore many subjects.  Undergraduate admissions requirements for psychology are the same as for other majors.  Four-year programs may award either the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.  Two-year associate degrees in the field are also available.

Undergraduate degrees in psychology provide students with a basic introduction to the principles of psychology and opportunity to take more advanced classes in one or a few subfields, as well as some research experience.  Those who plan to continue their psychology studies at the graduate level will want to get involved in faculty research, an independent study project, and/or a fieldwork course to strengthen their application.

Graduate Study

Only about 25 percent of those completing undergraduate study continue to graduate school.  The undergraduate major provides good background for entering careers in areas such as marketing, human resources, management, advertising and sales, politics, social service, and many others.  However, to actually become a psychologist, graduate study is necessary.

These articles for students from the Middle East/North Africa examine a variety of careers related to health that you can prepare yourself for during your U.S. study.
We will be updating and adding material to this web site so be sure to visit regularly.
If you have questions not answered on this site, please contact your nearest AMIDEAST or other EducationUSA center for more information.

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These articles for students from the Middle East/North Africa examine a variety of careers related to dentistry that you can prepare yourself for during your U.S. study, including background on types of programs available, tips on application, helpful links, and information on special admissions requirements that exist for some fields.

We will be updating and adding material to this web site so be sure to visit regularly.

If you have questions not answered on this site, please contact your nearest AMIDEAST or other EducationUSA center for more information. 

These articles for students from the Middle East/North Africa examine a variety of careers related to medicine that you can prepare yourself for during your U.S. study, including background on types of programs available, tips on application, helpful links, and information on special admissions requirements that exist for some fields.

We will be updating and adding material to this web site so be sure to visit regularly.

If you have questions not answered on this site, please contact your nearest AMIDEAST or other EducationUSA center for more information.