University of West Alabama online MSCE in Counseling/Psychology

(Sorry for posting this in multiple sites, but this is my first day doing something besides lurking and I'm still learning my way around)

Does anyone know if UWA's online MSCE in counseling/psychology can be customized to serve as the beginning of an LPC licensure track? And whether the school offers additional courses online that could make up the difference between the 33-credit Masters and the 60 credits required by the LPC? I live in Virginia.

I'm not sure how much of this program's course offerings are school-related, and how much are counseling psychology. But it looks interesting, the school is RA and reputable, it's very affordable, and has no on-campus residency requirements that I can see. I've e-mailed the school about this (UWA; all the contact person at the CSU address could tell me a couple of months ago was that she'd mail me a brochure, which was real general), but I figured I'd ask if anyone on this forum had any experience with this program.

I have someone at this end who has offered to take me on for supervision when I get to that point.

Thanks,
anne

 

My understanding is that the UWA program is designed to meet Alabama state LPC guidelines.

Good luck!


Cheers,

 

UWA is a small school (as evidenced by the interesting emails I get wanting me to join fraternities and such), so a phone call to them would likely clear it up right away. They were responsive to my requests for additional information (when I was doing my research; I'm in the M.Ed. in School Counseling program there). My experience has also been that CSU has quite limited information about the programs. They primarily do marketing and provide the online framework. It seems to be a reasonable relationship.

Yes, that is one of the things that you have to work through. I am still looking for someone to supervise my internship, but I have a year before I can even begin amassing hours, so I don't feel in a rush.

I would check with the State of Alabama, the State of Virginia, and UWA. You will want to make sure that everyone agrees that it will work for you (or that it won't and then tell you what you will need to do to make it work for you).



Tom Nixon

 

Hello again...

Here's the reply to my e-mail that I received from Dr. Bob Ware at UWA:


"As of September 1, 2003, Alabama requirements for licensure in Counseling became "48 graduate semester hours or 72 graduate quarter hours at a regionally accredited college or university". While our program requires a minimum of 33 semester hours, it is possible to add enough electives (PY and SC) to meet or exceed that criterion. The Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling accepts both SC and PY coursework that is the "equivalent" of CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) or CORE (Commission on Rehabilitation and Education) content. Since our program is not CACREP or CORE accredited, our students must submit course syllabi for the courses listed in the Administrative Code in order to meet that criteria. Practica (100 clock hours) and Internships (600 clock hours) are required for licensure and can be arranged at distant sites as long as supervision is available. Again, thanks for your interest in our Counseling Psychology program. Please let me know if you have any additional questions."


I've e-mailed UWA back to ask about specifics. If the reply seems to be promising, I will contact the Virginia licensure people and run this program by them to see if it will work with their requirements.

Something else that I've come across in my research on this subject is that some states won't accept ANY counseling degrees that were obtained via online study. That's something else I plan to check on to avoid any nasty surprises.

Tom H. and Tom N.: Thanks for responding to my original post. Tom N: How do you like UWA's online program? And how is it delivered? I understand (sort of) how Blackboard works, but are class lectures archived there as on-demand audio/video, or are they just in text transcripts? Southern Christian University (another school I've been looking at, whose program I really like but don't think I can afford because it has a flat $400 per term "comprehensive" fee and I don't qualify for financial aid since I will be starting out only taking one course per term) has streaming video that is archived on their Blackboard if you weren't able to view it live online when the class was actually held.

Thanks again,
anne

 

You're entirely welcome, Anne.

I like UWA's online program. As for actual class format, it can vary widely (from what I understand). The course I'm taking now has no lectures (online or otherwise), but there is a virtual classroom available, so some professors will take advantage of that (which does get archived).

One course per term does qualify you for student loans at UWA if you are in the UWA/CSU program. This is due to being on the quarter system. UWA itself is on the semester system (so one course wouldn't qualify you if you were in their b&m grad school).

This is a newer program, so as time goes on, it is likely that they will add audio/video.

And just so you know, I've just started a Yahoo group for students in the online counseling programs at UWA. Although it presently only has a few members, I'm hopeful for growth. Send me an e-mail if you would like to sign up for it. It could be a good place to ask questions.



Tom Nixon

 

Hi Tom,
I am thinking of taking a couple of psychology courses at UWA to satisfy SACS teaching requirements for psychology. How is the testing arranged? Is it online or is a proctor required? Are they structured assignments, projects, etc. for the classes. Thanks for your help.

 

Thanks again, Tom N...

And I appreciate the info on eligibility for financial aid at UWA. Just to clarify, though--my understanding is that although the online courses are offered on a "quarterly" basis, it is an accellerated format and the credits awarded are actually semester hours.

Wish that SCU had that kind of eligibility. UWA is pretty affordable on its own.

I am definitely interested in joining the Yahoo group you mentioned, and will be e-mailing you shortly.

Still haven't heard back from UWA on specifics (but it might be taking awhile for them to address all my questions).

Take care!
anne

 

Could you post more info on this program? Is it 100 percent online? Do you have a link for it? I am interested in this but would like to know more from a student perspective. I would especially like to know if there is a residency on campus requirement and the format of the classes.

 

Yes, it is an accelerated format. Taught on quarterly basis, but they are semester units. Strange, but it works. And, yes, compared to other graduate programs, $8000 or so is not awful.

It can also depend on who you ask. Choosing a professor and emailing them (try Louis Smith, for example) may get you a better result.


Tom

 

Yes, the school counseling program is 100% online as well as (I believe) the counseling & psychology program. An internship is required and you will need to find your own advisor for that (because it would not be possible to have advisors available all around the world).


http://www.colsouth.edu/uwa

There is no on-campus requirement. The format for the classes is fairly tradition for Blackboard classes. It does vary from professor to professor. For the school counseling program, there is a requirement (by the State of Alabama) for you to have 2 years teaching experience.



Tom Nixon

 

I suspect that your courses would be in the MSCE in counseling/psych side (although we do share some classes and professors). Testing can vary depending on the class. No proctor is required, though (except for comprehensive exams at the end). Yes, structured assignments. I haven't had any projects yet, but I'm sure they're coming.

For the class I'm taking now, there are four "take home" exams, some article critiques, three books to read. It certainly keeps you busy (given the shortened term).



Tom Nixon

 

Did you say 8000 for the whole program??? That's great. Can you get financial aid for a masters degree program if you already have a masters degree? I can't find a whole lot of info on that counseling program on their website. Do they send you more info in the mail? Do you HAVE to take the GRE if you already have a masters? I really don't want to retake that test.

 

Hmmm I am probably being dense. They keep refering to the one program as a MSCE, but never spell out what that means. Master of Science in Counseling and ...? Thanks all.

 

That is for the school counseling program. For the MSCE in counseling & psychology, it is more expensive (because it is more units).

Yes, you can get student loans for a second master's degree (and I'm reasonably sure on this because I am working on my second master's degree).

It depends on how old your GRE scores are. If they are more than five years old, you must submit new scores. For the school counseling program, they also accept the Miller Analogies Test. I think they do for the MSCE as well.

I would give the counseling folks at UWA a call if you need more information than is available at www.colsouth.edu/uwa.



Tom Nixon

 

Look here. Kind of an unusual designation, but it gets you licensing in Alabama.



Tom Nixon

 

Here's my latest e-mail from UWA:


"Yes, it is possible to structure a program that will get you most of the required hours. We offer courses in 11 of the 13 areas specified in the blueprint [http://www.dhp.state.va.us/counseling/counseling_laws_regs.htm]. We do not have specific courses in addictive disorders or marriage/family systems. With regard to the listed criteria, we do not have a specific "sequence" of courses except for the division of courses into core (four required courses) and elective offerings. The Counseling Psychology program is housed in an academic unit with a specific student body and faculty assigned to teach core and specialty courses. Also, the online courses are offered on a semester credit basis. Let me know if you have any other questions after contacting the Virginia board. Thanks."


I guess my next step is to run it by the Virginia licensure people to see if it will meet enough of their requirements to be worthwhile. I could probably pick up the remaining classes somewhere else.

anne