I would like to be a counselor what classes should I take in high school and college?

Answer 1

First of all -- wihch type of 'counselor' are you talking about?

The School Guidance Counseling Program is a Master's Degree Program of Study (for the most part -- because you do have to obtain your Bachelor's Degree in Education first -- and that means at least 6 years of post-high school education that you need to complete (and there are certifications that you must test for and pass along the way -- the teaching certificate is just the first one).

Second -- there is the Therapist/Counselor -- and .. for the most part -- the individuals in these fields will concentrate on their Bachelor's Degrees in either Psychology or Social Work Fields of study. But again, the Bachelor's Degree is just a start ... you must work on and have Graduate Degrees to be able to practice -- and a combination of experience plus passing the Certification Tests are also required in this field.

Three -- the "Counselors" in the Juvenile Justice Field -- these have Criminal Justice Backgrounds combined with practical experience and classwork in both Psychology and Social Science Fields -- hired with at least a Bachelor's Degree -- and have to meet experience/continuing education requirements (and there are also some certifications too)

Fourth -- there are the "Religious" Counselors -- pastors, priests, lay persons -- they have various educations -- including in the Religious Studies -- Bachelor's Degrees, Master's Degrees, and Doctorates -- and have to go through the testing and certifications of their particular faith -- and show experience as well ...

There are other types of counseling positions out there -- but these are usually the top choices of those wanting to be counselors -- so a general overview of the education requirements/experience is what you might want to look at.

I recommend that you go to your School Guidance Office, and make an appointment -- ask for their help/assistance, and take the interest surveys -- to find out if this is what you really want in life. Then ASK the Guidance Counselor, the Therapist (if you know one), the counselor in your church or place of worship ... what they did for their education and what the practice/certification requirements are for the field.

Answer 2

Obviously take college entrance courses and get good grades in them in HS. That means English, Math, Science and Social Studies as well as a language. Next concentrate on psychology courses if your high school offers them as well as child development courses. Round off your academics with community service. Be a big brother or big sister. Once you are in college they will give you the courses you will need to take. The admissions counselors will give you an idea of what subjects and what quarters. You will almost certainly need a masters degree so plan on extra schooling.

Answer 3

Great question!

The answer will depend on what type of counseling you want to do.

If you want to be a high school guidance counselor, one educational path is called for. If you want to do Post Traumatic Stress Disorder work with veterans returning from the Gulf war, another educational path may be required.

Counseling is a broad field. I've given you a link to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), below. The OOH is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. A search of the OOH on the term, "Counseling" turns up 30 different occupations!

The different job entries will give you a lot of information about a given career - educational requirements, the nature of the work, working conditions, salary statistics, job outlook and links to relevant professional organizations.

Generally speaking, a broad high school education will serve you well no matter what you choose - psychology, social work, investment banker, medicine, astrophysics. English, math, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and foreign language education will all prepare you for college in whatever field that you choose.

Once you get to college, you will start to follow a more specific pathway. Undergraduate degrees in psychology or social work are starting points for many counselors. If you go to graduate school, your field of study will become much narrower still.

If you get the chance to do any hands-on exploration, like volunteering at a camp for physically or developmentally disabled children, or as a "candy striper" at the local hospital, you will gain a lot of insight into what you might or might not like to do. When you have what seems like a zillion choices on the menu, ruling some out will make your choice easier.

Good luck with your career exploration. Have fun and don't worry too much. Before I went to graduate school to become a librarian (10 years as a librarian now), I was a federal law enforcement officer for seven years. Before that, I worked in case management with mentally ill adults. I did my undergrad degree in psychology and had planned to be clinical psychologist. You're allowed to change your mind and change your path.

Explore your options. The librarian at your local library can be really helpful with this. If she's not really helpful, or at least trying to be really helpful, let me know and I'll put the librarian hoodoo on her.

Answer 4

Liz has the right idea. Also you might think of which schools you'd like to go to for college and see what counselor programs they have. Many states, like Pennsylvania, expect teachers to get a Masters Degree within six years of graduating with their undergraduate degree. You could, for example, go for elementary ed and then go for a Masters in counseling. Your high school counselor has the answers. That's what they pay them for.

Answer 5

Honestly, the best answer I can give you is to speak with your school's counselor. They will help you plan which classes to take in high school, and when you get to college, your academic adviser will help you choose which classes you need to take to pursue a career in counseling.

Answer 6

I want to be one too but Im already in college on my way to being an interior designer :( lol. I cant help you on this one sorry but Im going to keep checkin your answers because I might go to school for that also after I graduate. thanks for the 2 points tho! lol