The rise of international schools is one major side effect of our globalized economy. Increasingly, families around the world are choosing to send their children to international schools.
The explosive growth in international schools is also opening doors for English speaking teachers, school counselors, and librarians who are open to living and building a career internationally.
What the Data Tells Us About the Major Growth of the International School Community:
According to ISC Research, the number of international schools has increased 343 percent in the last 20 years, with the largest numbers of schools concentrated across the Asian continent.
Graphic by ISC Research, based on January 2020 data.
International schools first sprang up in the 1920s in order to serve the children of diplomats or of expatriates abroad for business or pleasure. Over time, international schools began to attract families who could afford a private school education and wanted their children to have a background in English. Their hope is that their children have an advantage when it comes to college and professional life because of this exposure to another language or culture.
Today, the highest concentrations of international schools are in the United Arab Emirates and China, with more than a million students in these two countries enrolled in international schools.
Graphic by ISC Research, based on January 2020 data.
International School Counselor Jobs are Plentiful:
The growth in international schools has created opportunities for English speaking teachers and counselors.
Writer Alan Weschler discusses this phenomenon in an article published in The Atlantic. He points out potential benefits that attract English speaking educators to teaching internationally by first highlighting budget cuts and other challenges in the American school system:
Compare that to the life of an international teacher. Apart from the rich cultural and travel experience, it’s also a relatively lucrative gig. While salaries in many countries may be slightly lower than that for a comparable job in the states—starting pay , in U.S. dollars, can range from the low $20,000s to the high $30,000s annually, depending on location—there are other benefits. Teachers typically get a housing stipend and a free round-trip ticket home each year. Parents get free or reduced tuition for their kids. They don’t have to pay taxes or worry about teacher cuts or yearly budgets being voted down. Generally, they have a community of appreciative parents and attentive, motivated youngsters. Not to mention the significantly reduced cost of living in many of these emerging nations.
Weschler lists many of the perks that should and do attract English speaking educators to international schools. Elsewhere in the article, he also points out that it’s not just teachers that are needed. It’s staff to manage the library, to provide administrative support, and to offer counseling services to students.
If you are an English speaker and you’re interested in counseling, travel, or a career change of pace, you may want to explore the possibility of finding a job in counseling at an international school.
Getting an Online Counseling Certificate at the University of San Diego (in International School Counseling):
The University of San Diego offers an online counseling certificate options for professionals who are hoping to gain certification in international school counseling.
The Certificate in International School Counseling is designed to provide candidates with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to effectively provide counseling and develop school counseling programs in international schools. Certificate candidates acquire a working knowledge of career, academic, and social-emotional counseling specifically focused for counselors wanting to and working in international schools. Students must complete the four courses over the span of one year.
This program is ideal for those who wish to work or are employed as school counselors in international schools, recent graduates, career changers, aspiring counselors, and educators who wish to develop their competencies in the field of school counseling.
Online Counseling Certificate Program Highlights:
- A professional certificate from USD
- Highly-qualified professional faculty with advanced degrees and years of counseling experience
- Affordable cost
Online Counseling Certificate Program Format:
- 10 Units
- 1 Year Average Completion Time
- $340 per unit, 10 units = $3,400
Online Counseling Certificate Coursework:
Courses are offered in an online, self-paced environment, with Applied Theories and Techniques in International School Counseling offered onsite, depending on student location.
- Cross Cultural Counseling Skills for International School Counselors (3 units)
- Crisis and Trauma Prevention and Intervention in International School Counseling (3 units)
- International College and Career Readiness (3 units)
- Applied Theories and Techniques in International School Counseling (1 unit)
Connect with USD to learn about our Graduate Certificate in International School Counseling!
It's exciting that you're considering obtaining USD's Certificate in International School Counseling! If you have any questions, we encourage you to request more information. And if you're ready to jumpstart your future with an online counseling certificate, we invite you to start your online application today!
Launch your career as an international school counselor with this online counseling certificate!
