School counselors address issues that can arise in the educational setting. They can guide students through their career paths and offer support with behavioral, social, and academic difficulties. Online master’s in counseling programs provide busy professionals the flexibility to pursue their degrees without sacrificing work or family commitments. Below are five key benefits of pursuing this degree online.
Compassionate Advocate
Many online school counseling programs require a certain amount of in-person fieldwork or an internship. These supervised experiences often happen outside the classroom, and finding a program that aligns with your work schedule is essential.
Look for a master’s in school counseling online accredited program by a recognized higher education accrediting body. It will ensure your program meets minimum quality standards and can help you qualify for federal financial aid.
When successful adults are asked to name one person who inspired them or helped them along the way, they often mention their school counselors. Southeastern Oklahoma State University can prepare you to serve as a compassionate advocate for students, helping them navigate social and emotional challenges like bullying, drug use, sexual orientation, depression, and trauma.
Flexibility
When choosing an online school counseling program, consider whether it will allow you to maintain full-time employment as you pursue your degree. It will help make the degree more financially feasible. An excellent online counseling degree program will also offer many opportunities for hands-on learning and community engagement. It should also allow you to transfer credits and offer flexible course scheduling options. Lastly, make sure your online counseling program is accredited. It will affect how much financial aid you can receive and whether or not you are eligible for public service loan forgiveness programs. In addition, many schools will have scholarships and assistantships specifically for school counselors. Check with each school to see what options are available.
Rewarding Career
School counseling is a gratifying career. Students facing academic, social, and homelife issues need a caring hand from knowledgeable counselors to help them succeed. Typically, online programs offer the flexibility to work around busy schedules without sacrificing time off for classes. Many programs also feature synchronous learning, which allows students and instructors to meet at a scheduled time to discuss coursework or share experiences. Those seeking an online master’s in school counseling should consider the program’s accreditation and whether it provides fieldwork opportunities. They can guide students through their career paths and offer support with behavioral, social, and academic difficulties. They can then use these skills as school counselors, community service managers, and mental health professionals in their future careers.
Develop Skills
The curriculum for an online school counseling program may vary from one college to the next, but most offer a mix of theoretical and practical courses. For example, you might learn about multicultural and bilingual counseling theories while taking classes that help you develop your skills with children and adolescents. You can also expect to take synchronous learning courses, where you and your fellow students meet weekly for virtual discussions in a format that mimics face-to-face interactions. It helps build community, allowing students with scheduling conflicts or other commitments to participate.
Flexible course structure can be necessary for equitable teaching, but it must also be balanced with clear and straightforward expectations and deadlines. It helps students understand what is expected of them and how to access alternative options for demonstrating their knowledge when life gets in the way.
Pro-active Engagement
Most online students seek the same type of flexibility in a world accustomed to workplace flexibility. However, this kind of flexibility requires self-discipline and proactive engagement. Many master’s programs in school counseling require practicum or internship experiences that allow students to apply their classroom learning in real-world settings and fulfill state school counselor licensure requirements. This hands-on opportunity is significant for an area of study that involves helping young people make one of the most critical decisions in their lives.
Additionally, many schools have a cohort model that brings together students from across different backgrounds and theoretical approaches to the field, which helps expand students’ perspectives and understanding of the work they will do in their careers.
