Masters Degree Help

[JPreuss4]

I am looking for a masters program in psychology or a psych related field (human services, family studies, counseling ect)

I love the idea of California Coast University - the lack of semesters and payment plan, but I'm a little worried about finding employment with a non-RA degree or limiting my options if I choose a doctral degree/licensure.

Is there any other RA schools that are like it? I'm okay with semesters, but a payment plan like this one is so appealing!

Thanks!

[marianne202]

You may want to contact some schools you would consider for a doctorate or your state licensing board. My understanding is that the rules are very strict in some states regarding degrees in psych. if you want to get your MSW or work up to a psychologist. I don't think they will accept NA degrees when it comes time for licensing, but check. I'm just going off what I have read here and other boards. You may also want to do a search here as quite a few people here have or are working on psych degrees. Good luck!

[TMW2010]

You can check the licensure for your state at the website for the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.

There's several DL programs available for Psych or Counseling, but only one (Fielding) has a doctoral program is APA accredited which is required by many states.

For DL Masters Degrees, I had put this list together for myself earlier this year... Tuition likely has gone up on most if not all of them.

School----- Degree Program----- Total Estimated cost
Masters Degree
Western New Mexico University----- Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies----- $5,220.00
Liberty University----- MA in Human Services - Marriage & Family----- $13,000.00
University of West Alabama----- MSEd - Counseling/Psychology----- $13,000.00
Liberty University----- MA in Professional Counseling - 48 hour----- $20,200.00
Capella University----- MS in Counseling Studies - General----- $20,500.00
Northcentral University----- MA in Psychology----- $21,000.00
Athabasca University----- Master of Counseling----- $24,000.00
Walden University----- MS in Psychology----- $24,000.00
Adams State College----- Community Counseling----- $25,000.00
Northcentral University----- MA in Marriage and Family Therapy----- $25,200.00
Liberty University----- MA in Professional Counseling - 60 hour----- $25,200.00
University of the Rockies----- MA in Psychology - General Psych----- $26,508.00
Capella University----- MS in Psych - General Psychology----- $31,000.00
The Chicago School of Prof Psychology----- MA in Psychology----- $31,000.00
Capella University----- MS in Psych - Counseling Psychology----- $33,000.00
Capella University----- MS in Pysch - Clinical Psychology----- $33,000.00
Seton Hall University----- Master of Arts in Counseling (M.A.C.)----- $34,000.00
Walden University----- MS in Mental Health Counseling----- $35,550.00
Walden University----- MS in Marriage & Family Counseling----- $35,550.00
Capella University----- Mental Health Counseling - Masters----- $41,916.00
Capella University----- Martial & Family Counseling - Masters----- $41,916.00
Pacifica Graduate Institute----- Counseling Psychology----- $52,060.00

I'm sure there's more out there, but those were the ones that caught my interest... If there's any residencies, I *think* I had the costs added in for the total cost.

Sorry for the bad format, but excel doesn't translate to the board that well...

[JBjunior]

As has been stated make sure to check the licensing for your state. My preferred MA would be in psychology but in my state they will not license anyone who completed an online program. The way our state law is written it talks about being in residence and having a cohort and they don't think that an online program meets the requirements. It is what it is, just make sure you know what it will take beforehand.

[TMW2010]

As has been stated make sure to check the licensing for your state. My preferred MA would be in psychology but in my state they will not license anyone who completed an online program. The way our state law is written it talks about being in residence and having a cohort and they don't think that an online program meets the requirements. It is what it is, just make sure you know what it will take beforehand.

There are online programs that do meet the general residency requirements. Capella & Walden are two of them that are specifically structured like that. I'd check with them.

Which state are you in?

[JBjunior]

There are online programs that do meet the general residency requirements. Capella & Walden are two of them that are specifically structured like that. I'd check with them.

Which state are you in?

NC requires 30 hours in residence. The psychology board has a FAQ section and that is the first question asked. They have never approved a member who had "primary instruction online." The two problems according to the way the law was written is there must be an identifiable body in residence at the institution and 30 hours must be in residence "at the institution." They don't feel that online at home or some other location meets that requirement.

Capella would be out automatically because they are completely online and I believe Walden is as well.

[JPreuss4]

TMW2010 - thank you so much for the list!

I am going to check with my state - it doesn't necessarily have to be licensed psychologist - but LPC or LADC would be okay too - I'm not necessarily planning on pursuing licensure right now, but I don't want to screw myself in case I choose to later on down the road.

I am in Connecticut.

[TMW2010]

Capella would be out automatically because they are completely online and I believe Walden is as well.

They've got residency components where you have to attend on site for a few days at a time for some of their specific programs. Thus fulfilling the residency requirements of states. They're *not* completely online. (Once again for Specific programs) The general masters in Psych is not one of those, but the counseling psych is I believe.

Edit - I just remembered - The ones with residency for Walden & Capella are the more expensive ones on the list.. The residency component adds a few thousand to the price.

[JBjunior]

They've got residency components where you have to attend on site for a few days at a time. Thus fulfilling the residency requirements of states. They're *not* completely online.

I had a conversation with Walden the other day and asked where they were and they told me they were completely online and that she was talking to me from Arizona. The short requirements for intensives doesn't equal to the 30 credit requirement in residence that NC requires. They are much more lax with the way the LPC law was written and this is what I had planned to do until yesterday.

I said the original part backwards because I was thinking it was Capella I had talked to on the phone but it was Walden. I checked into Capella but haven't spoken to them yet.

[TMW2010]

I had a conversation with Walden the other day and asked where they were and they told me they were completely online and that she was talking to me from Arizona. The short requirements for intensives doesn't equal to the 30 credit requirement in residence that NC requires. They are much more lax with the way the LPC law was written and this is what I had planned to do until yesterday.

I said the original part backwards because I was thinking it was Capella I had talked to on the phone but it was Walden. I checked into Capella but haven't spoken to them yet.

What were you looking at getting licensed for? It looks like they want a doctorate (and an APA one at that, which means Fielding) for Psychologist, and it looks like they're tightening up their requirements for the LPC, increasing the min credits from 48 to 60.

I'm in OK, and we've got some of the strictest requirements for the psych professions... Fielding's recertification to Clinical Psych isn't even offered for residents of my state, even though its an APA approved program.