Going back to school is a hard decision for many people, as it often means having to trade in full time work for the classroom. However, people who are looking to study psychology and counseling are finding the perfect way to balance work and study through various distance learning courses.

Distance learning courses in counseling and psychology are becoming increasingly popular for people looking for employment in those fields.

Demand for people with psychology and counseling degrees is steadily increasing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as schools, hospitals and consulting firms are looking to hire people with knowledge of those topics.

School psychologists are in high demand as they can work with schools to increase awareness of students' mental health and of various behavioral problems, such as bullying. They will also be needed for general student counseling for students who are looking for someone to talk to.


Counseling and psychology courses are also important for those who are interested in pursuing other career paths, such as law, as they teach students how to think critically and examine all sides of an argument.

According to the International Career Institute, 2.5 million students are enrolled in online courses and 40 states have statewide or state led virtual schools - and the numbers are expected to increase dramatically in the next couple of years.