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Answer Your Calling with a Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Southern
Are you someone who is passionate about helping others?
We all like to be there for people when they need us—friends, family, coworkers, people in our lives who need support from time to time. But it takes a whole new level of compassion, dedication, and professional skills to make a career out of helping people. Pursuing a service-based career like counseling can be a challenging journey. At times, you will need to help clients navigate and process past traumas and other heavy issues, but when you’re able to see the impact that you’ll have on people’s lives, it all becomes worthwhile.
Maybe you’re a recent college graduate considering a career in counseling, looking to take that next step in your journey. Or, maybe you already have an established career in another field and are thinking about making a change.
Wherever you find yourself, if you’re passionate about the idea of a service-based career in counseling, there is a path for you.
How to Become a Professional Counselor
The first step to beginning a career in counseling is to earn a Master of Professional Counseling degree. Here at Southern, our Professional Counseling program teaches you the foundational knowledge and advanced technical skills needed for a successful career that allows you to make a positive impact every single day.
Our graduates go on to change lives across a variety of settings and populations, from working with students to support their development to helping couples resolve their issues with healthy, happy outcomes. As a counselor, you could open your own practice, or you could choose to work in the school system, a mental health agency, or any number of counseling settings. With an MS in Professional Counseling to your name, you’ll have plenty of career opportunities to explore.
The courses you’ll take provide you with the knowledge and practical insights to tackle the unique emotional or mental health challenges that many people face in our communities and society at large.
Already know which counseling career you want to pursue? Click your program of interest to skip ahead to that section!
The MS in Professional Counseling program is designed with three tracks:
- The Clinical Mental Health
- The School Counseling
- The Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling Dual specialties
Each of these tracks is taught within the Christian tradition so that you can practice according to His teachings if you wish to do so.
In this guide, you’ll learn about each program, the courses you’ll get to take, the career outlook within each emphasis, and how to know which path is right for you.