Online Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Counseling Studies

Earn your Doctor of Philosophy Degree in counseling studies online now. Human services are a field that has become an area of great need in today’s forward looking society. Amongst the many routes available to take within the discipline of human services, counseling studies is one of the degree programs that can be approached online.

You may be asking yourself many questions in regards to whether or not you should advance to such a high degree in this field. Be assured that there are benefits to going above a master’s degree.

Those with more experience and higher education levels in counseling have more choices in selecting positions that tend to pay more, offer more responsibility, and possibly have better benefits. You can expand your knowledge and skills in your researching efforts as well. Moreover, you have the opportunity to engage in deeper studies in counseling theory.

Many programs may require that you attend residential colloquia, conferences, internships, and more. These can be very beneficial in your learning efforts, but if you are hoping for an online only course of study, you want to find out about them ahead of time. Getting this degree via distance learning allows you to have the opportunity to continue working in your field while pursuing the education.

Capella University and Walden University both offer online PhD programs for counseling Studies. Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. There is a 120 credit requirement, with quarter coursework costing $4,485 and quarter comps $3,945 for this particular online program. Walden University is accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and requires completion of 134 quarter credit hours. Courses cost $4,280 per quarter at Walden University. Both programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

Different programs tend to vary in areas of admissions, courses, and credit amounts. There are some common courses amongst the available online PhD programs for counseling studies. You should be prepared to take courses such as:

• Advanced Research in Adult Human Development and Behavior
• Contemporary Issues in Compulsive and Addictive Behavior Treatment
• Human Sexuality and
• Epistemology of Practice Knowledge

Are you interested in knowing what research related courses you could end up taking? There are:

• Fundamentals of Social Science Research
• Quantitative Research Methods in Human Services
• Advanced Qualitative Research Methods and
• Advanced Study in Research Methods

Expect your knowledge to be tested towards the end of your program via a comprehensive doctoral examination.

Even with a degree this advanced, you can still work as a marriage and family counselor with the necessary credentials. This degree is well suited for a position of counseling psychologist. Although a PhD is not required for some of the other positions, you may still work in these areas within management or oversight with a PhD in counseling studies. As a matter of fact, you could become responsible for managing a group of vocational counselors. The position of director at a substance abuse clinic is common with such a degree.

In the United States, 25 percent of counseling psychologists make $52,060. The median expected salary for this position is $59,139, and $66,685 is the pay for the 75th percentile.

The Doctor of Philosophy level in counseling studies prepares students and employees in the field to become research experts. There are usually more research courses than any other type of courses at this stage of the learning process.

If you are looking towards advancing your career opportunities while you work in counseling, it may be in your best interest to find an online program to prepare you for the road ahead.

References:

• Retrieved on July 27, 2009 from Capella University at http://www.capella.edu/schools_programs/human_services/phd/counseling_studies.aspx
• Retrieved on July 27, 2009 from Walden University at http://www.waldenu.edu/Degree-Programs/Doctorate/18094.htm
• Retrieved on July 27, 2009 from Salary.com at http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_compresult_national_ED03000057.html

Related Links:

• Online Doctoral Degrees and International Trends in Doctoral Education
• Online Doctorates in Psychology
• Ph.D. Vs. Psy.D.: A Comparison of Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Degrees