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 Bachelor of Science program in counseling and applied psychological 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, focusing on the specific psychosocial experiences of service members and the mental health needs of this population.
- College/school:
College of Integrative Sciences and Arts
- Location: Polytechnic, Tempe or Online , ASU Local
- Second language requirement: No
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: 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 offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
It is now possible to earn an ASU degree with ASU Local, an integrated college experience in which students take advantage of in-person success coaching and programming experiences on site while completing one of 130+ undergraduate online degree programs, all of which come with online faculty interaction and tutoring support.
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.
To make a positive impact in the lives of others, students must understand the diverse sets of experiences, backgrounds and cultures that shape the people with whom they wish to work. When studying abroad, students have the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in a wide variety of cultures and communities. Global Education programs provide students with a distinct global perspective, enabling them to impact the world.
Graduates of this program 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. According to Lightcast, postings in Arizona are expected to increase by nearly 6% over the next five years, with employees earning an average salary of $84,000.
Although graduate education and licensure are needed to engage in clinical practice across all states, Psychology.org (2024) 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 salary of $50,000 (https://www.psychology.org/resources/jobs-with-a-bachelor-of-arts-in-psychology). These areas are reflected in the current Department of Defense job postings; there are more than 7,600 vacancies in areas such as education, military community and family support, health and wellness, and mental health and social services. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) shows the outlook for job growth (2023--2033) for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors is 19%, which is much faster than average (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm).
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 prepared with an excellent foundation to enter 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.
