Hello everyone, I was looking for some help with picking the right program for myself. I am a mother of 3 and recieved my bachelors in business administration, because I thought this was something I would be interested in. After receiving my degree and taking some psychology courses, I found pyschology to be something that I really enjoyed taking. I went for my Masters in psychology and enjoyed it every step of the way. Now I am wanting to get my PhD in Psychology, something I never even dreamed of, but I am ready. My question is, I am looking for the right program and from searching the forum I see similar questions about online programs, but mine is a bit more specific. I want to take online classes because it works for me in taking care of home and already having a job. So I have been looking into North Centrals PhD in Health Psychology and I was thinking after completing it, I would go for my respecialization in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Institute. I like the Health Psychology approach and the program seems really good, but it's not one that is meant for licensure, so I wonder what sort of opportunities I would have after finishing the program and not having any licensce in psychology. I really have been going back and forth on this, so thankfully I found this website and thought maybe there were others that knew they really wanted to get their PhD, but had trouble picking the right program. What do you all feel about North Central and also the Health Psychology program in particular, and also what are the opportunities for someone with a PhD in Health Psychology, but not being licensed? Thanks so much for taking the time to help me in this.
Hi - Some people get their license based on their Masters degree. Could that work for you? Otherwise I think you're right, your opportunities will be limited without a license to practice. I would suggest that you ask the school to put you in touch with some people who've graduated from that specific program and see how they have solved that problem. What sort of positions did they get afterward? Good luck with your quest.
I assume you mean Northcentral University (ncu.edu) not North Central University (northcentral.edu), as even though they both have psych programs I do not believe that North Central has a doctoral progam.
Thanks for responding, when I went for my Masters in Psychology it was more of a personal thing and I wasn't thinking about licensure for work. Now that I am finished with the program, I realize that I wouldn't be able to get licensed with my Masters because I didn't meet the requirements for it such as internships with it being a general psych program. I wish I did, it would of made it a much easier choice for me in picking a PhD program.
I attend NCU and like it. I'm not sure it would be a good option for Psych. though. In that world, licensure is everything. NCU is difficult and quite interesting but, although I'm no expert, I don't think it supplies the proper credentials for a Psych career.
I agree with MIchaelOliver, while Northcentral offers the progam, as do Capella and Wlden, look at schools that specialize in this field, such as: Alliant Argosy Fielding Saybrook Unfortunately they are much more expensive.
You may find it easier to take the extra courses/internships on a post grad basis so that you can get your license based on your Masters degree. There's probably a way to do that, don't you think?
Thanks Kizmet, I have asked about this, but much of the requirements in most states is that you have to have the internship documented within your program. I have also been thinking about the steps towards becoming an LPC, while in the Health Psychology program.
As one more additional consideration: Tarleton State University (Stephenville, TX) does offer a non-credentialing online M.S. experimental psychology major. Even though its online offering is non-credentialing, as are the for-profits previously listed, it will be far less in tuition expenditure than the for-profits; and a B&M state university that’s been around since 1899 and a member of the Texas A&M University system since 1917. And obviously there are other B&M online graduate psychology degree programs available to choose from; Tarleton State is merely one of them. http://www.tarleton.edu/catalog/graduate/grad-pc/ms-psychology.html http://www.tarleton.edu/Faculty/dweissenburger/