Capella University WITHDRAWS their APA Accreditation Application

What's going on with Capella? They've just withdrawn their application for accreditation with the APA!

http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/initial_accred.html

They've been trying to get this for years. Something must be going on.

 

it will certainly be a blow to the school if they are unsuccessful in gaining APA accreditation.

I'll check with my peers and see if anyone knows anything.

Regards,
GME

PhD Learner General Psychology Capella

 

A major complaint against Capella

When I enrolled in 2000, the buzz was that APA accreditation was "just around the corner." In those early days, the faculty and administration really seemed interested in involving the learners. During my first residency session there actually was a "town hall meeting" concerning APA accrediation and the unsuccessful attempt to receive ASPPB designation.

That was the LAST time students heard ANYthing.

The retooling from a clinical PhD to clinical PsyD, though not wholly unexpected, was not openly discussed before it was implemented. Nor were program changes to practicum, internship, or the dissertation process.

There also was the hiring of Bruce Weiss from Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology to head the new PsyD program, which most people saw as evidence of Capella's committment to creating a successful PsyD program. But Weiss' departure just about a year later again took students by surprise.

This is all SO discouraging because the academics and training is really top notch. I have finished the defunct clinical PhD and have always felt solidly prepared and never "less" than my colleagues (personal prejudices aside!)

I don't know if this cloak and dagger management style is indicative of the program being online or the university being privately held. To be honest, I have worked in many settings and it is not uncommon for adminstration to play "we know better than you" when it comes to sharing information or strategy. (It is interesting to note that there are also "conventional" programs that have also withdrawn applications.)

It is, nevertheless, disappointing to hear that Capella continues utilzing that model.

 

Hello PsychDr,
Since you went to Capella, I have a question for you.
I'm considering the MS in Mental Health and that's CACREP acredited. I feel very confident about it and talked to them a long time to make sure.
Just to know from a former student, could you tell me if with that degree, I would be able to counsel in a broad area, such as people with all kinds of dissabilities (psychical and physical and specific disorders, etc...). I assume it's a general degree which would not limit me too much. Is that so, what do you think?
Also, with their degree, isn't it well accepted when you seek a job? I feel it's well valued, no?
Please let me know.
Thanks

 

Turns out it's not as dire as it seems at first blush.

Per Capella's email to faculty and psyd students:

The APA generally will not accredit a program until a "sufficient number" of learners has gone thru the entire course soup to nuts.

Capella created the PsyD program 2 years ago.

Capella had submitted their application and requested that those students who transferred into the new PsyD from the old PhD in Clinical be considered as this initial class.

APA decided they didn't want to do that.

So the APA has deferred a decision on the application until the completion of studies by a class of students who were admitted directly into the PsyD program.

Regards,
GME

 

Two responses

GME ...

Guess as a PhD student, I am no longer in Capella's loop.
Still feel betrayed as the program has pretty much built its reputation on my cohort of classmates, not the "new" PsyD program.

xygirl ...
Not to totally avoid your question, but no one can answer your question 100% accurately.

Every state determines its own requirements for counselor licensure and exactly what such practitioners would be allowed to do. I'd suggest you follow up with the mental health practice board of any state you may potentially seek licensure in.

 

The question about licensure for the M.S. in "Mental Health" is an interesting one. Clinical Professional Counselor licenses were inaugurated by most states as a way to regulate private practice psychotherapy by those who were neither social workers nor psychologists. The degree requirement is usually a master's in psychology, counseling, "or other mental health discipline," so "Mental Health" should certainly qualify, but check directly with your state board. It's a rather unfortunate degree title.

 

Re: Two responses

I only found it after posting a query on a capella student billboard. Somebody told me the details and pointed me to where they email was posted.

I don't think I got any sort of direct notice about it either.

-- GME

 

Several years ago Capella university had a doctoral program entitled "Professional Counseling", which was obviously a perfect match for those clinicians who held a state license to practice. Unfortunately without any notice or discussion with students in the program, the title of this degree was changed to "Counseling Studies". A number of students were disappointed with this name change (a doctorate entitled Counseling "Studies" appears to be more of an education/research degree than one that is practice oriented) including the fact that there was absolutely no consultation with them prior to the inception of the new degree title. Although students were allowed to graduate with a doctorate in Human Services with a specialization in Professional Counseling the fact that Capella had eliminated this degree title and was no longer marketing it led some students to feel that they would not have entered this program had they been informed of this intended change prior to applying.