text: The major curriculum requirements will be the same for either a BA or a BS, but most universities identify their Arts degrees as representing that the person has taken at least two years of a foreign language.  The choice, therefore, lies in whether or not a foreign language would be beneficial to your long-term goals.\n\nTo become any form of a counselor, most states require at least a masters degree to acheive licensing to work with lesser issues.  For more complex areas of therapy, not only must one study more psych and counseling techniques but one must also know how to diagnose physical and experiential causes, modes of treatments for each condition, biochemical causations and psychoactive medications which may intercept or relieve the conditions -- or make them worse.  Too, one must learn various research techniques, pertinent laws, case report writing, statistical analysis, legal research, writing of legal case briefs, and a myriad of other related things.  It also involves doing several courses involving practicums, meaning being graded on supervised hands-on practice cases.  It in the end requires doing either one semester or one year of internship in a real clinical setting with professional supervision -- and a doctoral thesis based on fresh research which you generate.  \n\nTo go into community counseling working with individuals or groups on issues of social adjustment, bereavement, and such the training route is less stringent, in some states requiring only a masters in agency or community counseling.  To go into clinical psychology as you suggest you are considering, you are are looking at a masters in psychology topped out by a PhD regardless of what state you are considering.  Guidelines for licensing in clinical psychology are set by the American Psychological Association, who will not sanction anyone who does not meet their standands of education.\n\nBenefits, other than the larger paycheck?  People whose lives can be improved through your efforts.  But if you, as far to many do, plan to go there looking for answers for your own problems, don't.  First, fix yourself so that you can better fix others.\n\nSeveral universities across the nation have very reputable training programs in graduate level psychology and counseling.  Do be sure that the department of the university you choose fully integrates and constantly monitors the APA requirements for licensing.  Good luck