Academic Advisor: Degree & Certification Programs
Bachelor's degrees provide a foundation for aspiring academic advisors, while a master's degree, graduate-level certificate or professional experience can help make them more employable.
What Is Required to Become an Academic Advisor?
Academic advisors are often expected to hold a master's degree, though some institutions will consider candidates with a bachelor's degree. Applicants with undergraduate degrees can strengthen their prospects by becoming certified through a part-time, graduate-level program and/or obtaining professional experience in related areas such as customer service, counseling or coaching.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b> Degree Level</b></td><td>Master's degree, though some employers will accept a bachelor's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td><b> Degree Fields</b></td><td>Education, counseling, academic advising, psychology</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Certificate Programs</b></td><td>Graduate-level university programs available</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Skills & Experience</b></td><td>Customer service, critical thinking, counseling, coaching</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Median Annual Salary (2020) and Job Outlook (2019-2029)</b></td><td>$58,120; 8% growth (for school and career counselors)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatDegreeProgramsAreAvailable">What Degree Programs Are Available?</h3><p>A bachelor's degree in any subject can prepare students for a career in academic advising, though it is helpful to focus in a related field such as education, counseling or psychology.
</p><p>Many universities offer specialized master's degrees in academic advising, such as a Master of Education in Educational Counseling, Master of Science in Academic Advising or Master of Arts in Counselor Education-College Counseling. These graduate programs typically take two years and include fieldwork to provide students with supervised experience and allow for practical application of their studies. Students are usually expected to complete a senior seminar or thesis, and coursework can include the following:
</p><ul><li>Research methods in education
</li><li>Creating communities of interest
</li><li>Foundations of academic advising
</li><li>Trends in career development
</li><li>Foundations of higher, adult and professional education
</li><li>Learning and individual differences
</li></ul><p>While there are also some Ph.D. programs in academic advising, these are generally designed for people who aim to hold leadership or administrative roles and contribute new research to their field.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatKindsOfCertificateProgramsAreAvailable">What Kinds of Certificate Programs Are Available?</h3><p>Some universities provide graduate-level certificate programs, with courses usually offered online. These programs require around 12-15 credits of part-time coursework and can take an average of two years to complete. Students are expected to hold a bachelor's degree and can often apply the credits they obtain through the program toward a master's degree.
</p><p>Certificate programs prepare aspiring academic advisors to:
</p><ul><li>Address individual student needs
</li><li>Effectively convey concepts and information
</li><li>Understand relevant institutional and government laws and policies
</li><li>Refer students to helpful resources
</li><li>Obtain field-specific knowledge relevant to their institution
</li><li>Help students clarify personal goals as they relate to their education and career
</li><li>Evaluate and monitor student progress
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatOtherQualificationsAreRequired">What Other Qualifications Are Required?</h3><p>In addition to meeting educational requirements, it is helpful to have related volunteer or professional experience. Some employers expect two years of professional experience demonstrating skills in customer service and critical thinking. Counseling or coaching experience is also viewed positively by potential employers.
</p><p>Candidates with master's degrees can often obtain state counseling licenses or professional certification through the National Board for Certified Counselors.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatKindsOfJobOpportunitiesAreAvailable">What Kinds of Job Opportunities Are Available?</h3><p>While academic advisors usually expect to work with students at two-year and four-year colleges, they can also find employment as college counselors in secondary schools or outreach counselors for social work programs, nonprofits and other institutions.
</p><p>School and career counselors earned a median annual salary of $58,120 in 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The same agency found that jobs for the occupation are expected to grow 8% from 2019-2029.</p>