Question by Know One: Chose masters degree in psychology or counseling?
I’ll graduate with my BA in psychology next spring. I knew when I started that I would need more than a BA in psych to get a job in the field. Now I’m torn between master’s programs. Should I choose a MS in psychology or in counseling? I would prefer to find work as some sort of mental health counselor, but I’m not sure which degree opens more doors.

At my nearest state university, I can get licensed through the state by taking the counseling program because it includes enough hours of on-the-job practice with professionals to qualify for licensure. However, I don’t know if a counseling degree is as widely accepted by employers as a psych degree, and I don’t know if one offers a more varied job market than the other.

In the future, when I have more money, I would like to work on my doctorate in psychology. I would think a psychology masters would better prepare me for the coursework, but a job in counseling would better prepare me for the work experience.

So any suggestions?

Best answer:

Answer by Sugar Rush
I’m not entirely sure that I understand you correctly, but if you intend to go into counseling in the long run (at Master’s and possibly at Doctoral levels), not research or teaching, then an MS in Counseling Psychology (if that is what you mean by “MS in Counseling”) would make more sense than an MS in general Psychology (if that’s what you mean by “MS in Psychology”).

The reason why I recommend an MS in Counseling Psychology over a general psychology degree is because it would, as you said, allow you to become licensed and practice independently, whereas a general degree would not. This way, you can get on-the-job experience and figure out whether you still want to pursue a doctorate. Assuming that practicing psychotherapy is still your priority for the doctorate, having that experience will help you get into graduate school.

If you see the possibility that you might seek out a research degree (PhD) instead, then make sure that you go to a Master’s program that has a thesis research component (many, if not most, programs should have one). That way, you will also have some relevant research experience under your belt, which is helpful for pursuing your doctorate regardless (even PhD and PsyD programs that are not research-oriented will require you to do some research and write a doctoral thesis or dissertation).

As far as job prospects — I don’t see too many LPC’s (generally licensed Master’s-level counselors with degrees in clinically oriented subfield of Psychology rather than Social Work or Marriage and Family Therapy) around (I see more LCSW’s and LMFT’s), but I don’t think being an LPC would limit you too much. Some larger psychiatric clinics might prefer LCSWs or LMFTs based on the nature of their training, but in counseling oriented or smaller settings, I am not sure if being an LPC would put you at a disadvantage. My friends who got their MS in Clinical Psychology and went out on the job market did just fine finding jobs, both in private practice and in research/consulting.

Hope this helps some. Best of luck, and congratulations on finishing up college soon!

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