Sunday, 27 May 2012

Online High School Guidance Counseling Degree Program Options

The majority of online school guidance counseling career programs are available through master's degree programs. Although there are no guidance counseling programs related specifically to high school, most programs train counselors to work with elementary, junior high and high school students.

Online Master of Arts in School Counseling Program Options

Online master's degree programs are intensive to the arts, and students learn to use professional counseling skills to help improve children's emotional, social and academic development. They study techniques to aid in wise career and college decisions, interact socially and deal with personal issues. Eligibility is limited to students with a bachelor's degree, preferably in fields that include social work, education and child development.

Online Program Information and Requirements

Completion of the school counseling program is around two years. Although the master's degree program is available entirely online, it does have in-person requirements, such as a school counseling internship. To complete the online portion, students log onto web-based applications, such as Blackboard, where they can participate in live lectures, complete assignments, take tests and interact with classmates.
Students need a working computer, a valid e-mail address and reliable Internet access. Internet plug-ins, including Adobe Flash and Acrobat Reader, are required. Students may also need to have Microsoft Office Suites and hardware, including web cams.

List of Common School Counseling Classes

The online classes are accessible around the clock, but some schools may have scheduled class times.

School Counseling Administration Course

Students in the school counseling administration course study trends, issues and policies present in school counseling. They examine educational systems and learn specific administrative tactics to work in this field. Students can communicate directly with instructors and students through instant messenger and receive instant feedback on questions.

High School Counseling Course

Through this class, students explore school counseling models and methods. They implement programs and evaluate the most effective counseling methods to implement a plan. Opportunities may be available to watch live lectures through streaming video.

Career Counseling Course

Future counselors analyze career development theories and occupational classification systems that can be used to help their students prepare for their careers. They learn ways to implement career planning strategies and work with students as they make job and college decisions. Assignments and strategies can be submitted through e-mail. Instructors may look over these strategies and send back additional notes to make them more effective.

Group Counseling Course

This class provides students the opportunity to observe and understand how children interact in-group settings. They study normal and abnormal interactions and atmospheres. Students can watch videos of children acting and reacting in different environments and learn methods to interact with them.

Career Information for Graduates

School counselors work with elementary, junior high and high school students in educational settings. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, students must have at least a master's degree to work in this field. The BLS also reports that the median annual salary for school counselors was $51,050 in 2008 (www.bls.gov).

Continuing Education Information

Students may need to earn licensure, according to the BLS. Each state has different requirements and often mandates education and counseling credits.

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