Counseling and Applied Psychological Science (Counseling Military Members and Veterans) ,BS
Behavioral Health, Counseling Psychology, Health Wellness, Operational Psychology, Psychology, Social Services, Social and Behavioral Sciences, counseling
Would you enjoy helping those who are part of the military service community? Gain an integrative understanding of the impact of service on the well-being of military members, veterans and families. Prepare for growing workforce opportunities to provide military community and family support.
The BS program in counseling and applied psychology science focuses on the promotion of psychological well-being. Students learn basic counseling skills and techniques to complement a variety of social science and health majors, including psychology, public health, interdisciplinary studies, social work and the humanities.
The concentration in counseling military members and veterans provides students with foundational skills and knowledge that are critical in their work with veterans, military populations and military families. Students take interdisciplinary courses to better understand the U.S. military with a focus on the unique psychosocial experience of service members and the mental health needs of this population.
GI Bill® benefits
This new program is not yet approved for use with GI Bill® benefits.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
- College/school:
College of Integrative Sciences and Arts
- Location: Polytechnic, Tempe
- Second language requirement: No
-
First required math course:
MAT 119 - Finite Mathematics
or MAT 170 Precalculus -
Math intensity:
Moderate
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.
ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.
ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.
In order to make a positive impact in the lives of others, students must understand the diverse set of experiences, backgrounds and cultures that shape the people with whom they wish to work. When studying abroad, students gain firsthand experience of a wide range of cultures and communities. Global Education programs provide students with a unique global perspective with which they can impact the world.
Graduates of this program will benefit from the demand for employees from federal agencies. The Department of Veterans Affairs workforce consists of nearly 400,000 civilians. Across all government agencies, nearly 4,000,000 government jobs are posted per month with well over 100,000 in Arizona alone; these postings in Arizona are expected to increase by nearly 6% over the next five years where employees earn an average salary of $84,000 (EMSI, 2022).
Although graduate education and licensure are needed to engage in clinical practice across all states, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022) reported that those with a bachelor's degree in psychology (such as counseling and applied psychology science) are employed in a variety of occupations, including as human resource specialists, educators, social service providers and health and allied-health technicians --- all of which are projected to grow over the next decade and with a median wage of $50,000. These areas are reflected in the current Department of Defense job postings, where they have over 7,600 vacancies in areas such as education, military community and family support, health and wellness, and mental health and social services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the outlook for job growth (2019--2029) for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors is 25%, which is much faster than average.
Graduates with a degree in counseling and applied psychological science are prepared for careers in various settings:
- community centers
- government (sales and marketing specialist, human resources manager)
- mental health services (youth counselor, substance abuse counselor, behavioral health technician)
- rehabilitation centers (vocational rehabilitation assistant, human service worker, life-skills instructor)
- social services (high school psychology teacher, occupational analyst)
- schools and colleges (school psychologist, educator, professor)
- substance abuse treatment clinics
Graduates of this program are not license-eligible as professional counselors but are well prepared with an excellent foundation for entering graduate degree programs in disciplines such as counselor education, counseling psychology, clinical psychology, social work and family studies, counseling and related fields.
Example job titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
| Career | *Growth | *Median salary |
|---|---|---|
|
18.4%
|
$49,710
|
|
|
8.6%
|
$38,520
|
|
|
6.6%
|
$61,420
|
|
|
14.1%
|
$46,190
|
|
|
17.2%
|
$43,390
|
|
|
18.4%
|
$49,710
|
|
|
6.6%
|
$44,990
|
|
|
1.9%
|
$39,990
|
School of Counseling and Counseling Psychology
|
SANCA 233
CISA@asu.edu
480-727-1526
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
