A Psy.D. is going to better prepare you to do clinical work. That is the point of a Psy.D. A Ph.D. on the other hand is going to prepare you to do academic research and be a professor. That is the point of the Ph.D. Yes, a Ph.D. is more recognized, but with a Psy.D., you can still put Dr. on your business cards and door. Everyone with a Ph.D. will tell you to get a Ph.D. because that is what they have. And they probably all picked it over the Psy.D. because everyone with a Ph.D. told them to do it.

If you want to keep the professor option open in psychology/counseling, then you’ll need a Ph.D. or an Ed.D. (both are research degrees). If you want to teach in a college of education’s counseling program or a social work program in some university, either a Ph.D. or an Ed.D. will be fine. If you want to teach in a psychology program, they’ll probably want a Ph.D. You can,in theory, teach social work with an MSW, and I have seen professors with just the MSW, but they were usually required to go back and get the Ph.D. or Ed.D.

As for the MSW, it all depends on where you want to work. If you want to work in a hospital or nonprofit, an MSW will be fine. If you want to work in private practice, it is possible but a little more difficult since people choosing a private counselor want someone called “Dr.”

Whatever you choose, your salary expectations seem likely to cause problems. You can make $60k plus in private practice, but not right away. Even professors usually only make $40-55k. I would suggest you seriously consider whether you want the career more or the salary more. If you go into these fields expecting the lifestyle you’ve indicated, you are likely to be unhappy. If you want $60k out the door, take your bachelor’s degree and become a car salesperson.

I don’t think the salary for social work is that different from counseling, it really depends on the job (dept of ed or non-profit, hospital, etc). To get into the phd or psyd you need a related master’s (psych or counseling), but if you do the social work, you can then do the phd in social welfare. So, either way you can come out with a phd. which you need to teach university. Decide if you need the ma level to get in, and get good grades if you do. Otherwise, can you do the doctorate full time first? I am looking into this, too, you can probably tell. I’m getting the msed in counseling, but want the phd after, so I’m looking at what I need to get in. I still need some psych credits for the program I want. The msed is considered related, so I have a better chance of getting into the doctoral program with it than without it. Even in NY, though, I’ll only make about 50 at a school starting out of school. There’s overtime, though, so maybe I can get to 55 or so- then it starts to go up fast. If it’s options you want, get that doctorate, either in social welfare, or counseling, or psych.

Speaking of grades, I am going to stop fooling around on Yahoo Answers and go do my homework. Good luck.

Im studying to be a therapist and a PH.D is the way to go. When people look for a therapist they look at the job title. My personal therapist is a PH.D.