Mental health therapists usually have master's or doctoral degrees. These therapists can specialize in a range of topics. For instance, professional degrees in mental health therapy include clinical psychology (PhD, EdD or PsycD), psychiatry (MD), clinical social work (MSW), school psychology (MA or MS) and marriage and family therapy (MFT, MS). Students should look at programs that are accredited and be prepared for course work that includes psychology, sociology, child development, statistics, research and counseling techniques. Since mental health therapy is a broad field, undergraduate preparation varies. Psychology, social sciences or social work are good preparation for MSW, MS or MA programs and some PhDs, while a degree in biological sciences may be helpful for an MD.
There are bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees available for the study of physical therapy. A minimum of a master's degree is required to practice in the field. Students enrolled in undergraduate programs who wish to apply to graduate school for physical therapy can prepare by studying areas such as biology, chemistry, physics, exercise physiology, physiology and exercise science or can attend an undergraduate physical therapy program. There are a wide variety of physical therapy programs available. When looking at these schools, students should consider whether they are accredited, the size of classes, cost, quality of faculty and what types of degrees are awarded by the institution.
A master's or doctoral degree is needed to become a speech language therapist. Master's degrees that prepare individuals for this career include audiology, speech-language pathology and hearing science. It is important to find programs that are accredited. As with all college searches, it is also important to find the right location and cost. When looking at speech-language programs, students should also consider the quality of clinics, classrooms and labs. Schools range in size, from small colleges, which are mainly teaching focused, to large universities that are more research oriented; however, most graduate programs in the field have about 50 students.
Rehabilitation therapists help people who are recovering from illnesses or injuries. Rehabilitation therapists can specialize in rehabilitation counseling, recreation therapy, occupational therapy or respiratory therapy. A master's degree is required for entry-level rehabilitation therapist positions. To prepare for graduate programs, students should concentrate on biology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, liberal arts or anatomy in their undergraduate course of study. There are many graduate programs available in the area of allied health.