VA Student Looking into Online Graduate Psychology Degrees

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by jghanks, Mar 30, 2011.

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  1. jghanks

    jghanks New Member

    Hello all,

    I posted this info on another forum but have had no advice as of yet. I am posting it here as well hoping someone can give me some insight.

    I am prior military with about 1 1/2 years left on my GI Bill, then I can apply for an additional 1 year of post 9/11 tuition. I graduate this summer with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies that focuses on Communications, Business and Psychology from Mississippi State University. Fortunately, I have a stable job in Mississippi as the IT Manager, Document Control Officer and Occupational Safety Specialist at a small family run business. My degree really doesn't help me there but I wanted a college education on top of my military experience. I also can't tell my children how important going to college is if I never finished. That being said, I am mostly pursuing a graduate degree for the sake of continued education and possibly to enhance the position I am currently in and future prospects. If it allows me to shop my experience around, then so be it.

    I have decided on pursuing a graduate degree in Psychology online because I think it would be flexible in regards to relating to all aspects of my current job, especially the safety portion. Many safety topics are now focusing on behavioral psychology. After reading many posts here, I am also considering some of the Liberal Arts degrees. I haven't decided on a Masters or Doctorate level degree yet and I'm also not sure of entertaining the notion of anything other than a general psychology degree and possibly limiting my future educational opportunities. I just don't have enough knowledge on the subject. I have considered doing some form of teaching in the future, but I am not sure if the MA would suffice to teach at a college level.

    Any advice and/or things to look out for would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you in advance.
    John
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  3. jghanks

    jghanks New Member

    Thanks. I browsed that post but will give it a more thorough reading. I guess right now my biggest fear is picking the wrong school and/or getting a worthless degree to employers. However, my wife's stepmother said no one knows where she went to school, they just know she has a PhD and does her job well. In the long run, maybe that's what matters most.
     
  4. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Most of the teaching jobs are going to doctorate degree holders. In the past, a master's degree was enough and it is still possible to teach with a master's degree, but the opportunities are being taken more and more by doctorate holders. That's because there are so many of them out there these days. Moreover, most schools generally require that you have some experience in the field you will be teaching before they will hire you.
     
  5. jghanks

    jghanks New Member

    I think right now, teaching would be a secondary reason for the degree. Most of the masters I have looked at stress the fact that the degree prepares you for teaching in a college setting. I agree this is just wishful thinking for the most part. I want the degree mostly for myself and my continued education. However, it would be nice if it had a use other than for my personal enrichment.
     
  6. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Nothing wrong with that kind of goal. All of the major online schools offer psyche degrees. Walden, Capella, NCU, and many others. You are welcome to post the name of any particular school you are considering and the members here will most likely be able to give you the low down. Here's a thread about the program at Excelsior. http://www.degreeinfo.com/distance-learning-discussions/22293-psychology-degree-excelsior.html
     
  7. jghanks

    jghanks New Member

    Thanks for the quick responses. I'm on the fence about sticking with a school that has an actual campus and saving the most money. The top schools for me right now for Psychology are East Carolina and Nova Southeastern. Both for the Masters in General Psych. I am just starting to research schools with a Liberal Studies/Arts Masters. The Capella/Walden/NCU route kind of scares me.
     
  8. Msioni

    Msioni New Member

    I have my PsyD from a ground campus, but I am getting a secondary masters degree online for respecialization. Do not go to Nova is my first advice, and you are right not to go the Capella/Walden route. Do you "ever" want to practice as a clinician (therapist) at the masters level? If so, take the CACREP/CORE route and you should be fine. If you want to teach at the community college or online level, you would still be fine with a MS/MA in Psych even with a concentration, but you would have to make sure your curriculum had a broad range of coursework. In either case, you would go for the programs with 48-60 hours to completion of degree, not 34-38. If you need additional sources, information, or want some recommendations, send me a private message through here.
     
  9. jghanks

    jghanks New Member

    Thanks Msioni for the insight. I don't want to rule out practicing and getting licensed ever, but right now my main objective is to get the most out of my remaining GI Bill tuition. The biggest problem is I'm not really sure what I want to do with the degree I get right now. I'm more inclined to take the Liberal Studies route because I am interested in a wide range of subjects, but I think that would be shooting myself in the foot if I decided to get a Doctorate and/or teach. I'm so fortunate my BS is in three subjects because I probably wouldn't have been able to decide on one.
     
  10. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    Excelsior does not offer graduate-level psychology degrees.
     
  11. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    If you're considering a Doctorate in psych down the road, I would seriously consider pursuing an MA/MS in Psychology, vs. Liberal Arts.

    Also, I don't know what's wrong w/ Nova. I certainly would go with them over the online for-profit options. East Carolina is also a good choice. I've compiled a spreadsheet of online masters in psych programs (I doubt that it's comprehensive, but it's a good start). Palo Alto and CSPS are also great options, as both schools have (on-campus) APA-accredited doctoral programs (which bodes well for their broader reputation in the academic psychology community).
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 31, 2011
  12. jghanks

    jghanks New Member

    japhy4529 thanks for that spreadsheet. I will incorporate it into the one I started for myself. Palo Alto looks like a good addition to my list. I also totally understand your advice on the Psychology vs. Liberal Arts pursuit. I just don't know if I decide to pursue Liberal Arts, how much it will affect me if I do get want a Doctorate in psych. The frustrating thing is, Psychology isn't my only choice for graduate school. I have also considered an MBA (boring and I think I would hate it) and Communications.

    Right now, these are my top choices for schools. Please advise and give feedback on the schools if you have any insights. Thank you all.

    East Carolina University - MA in General Psychology (only a 30 hour academic track)
    Nova Southeastern University - MS in General Psychology (30 hour track)
    Western New Mexico University - MA in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentration in Psychology (18 hours in Psych with thesis + 18)
    Kent State University - MA in Journalism with concentration in Public Relations

    I have also contacted UNC Greensboro, Arizona State, Toledo University, Baker University, Fielding University, Walden, Northcentral and University of West Alabama. I will be contacting Palo Alto today. I think I already contacted CSPS but something turned me away from them. I think it was the cost.

    The school I am graduating from, Mississippi State University, has a Masters in Psychology program (and Doctorate) but I would either have to move or commute one hour each class day to go there. With work and family, that might be a hard thing to do, but I am looking into it regardless.
     
  13. jghanks

    jghanks New Member

    I answered this, but I don't know if the post was eaten or just hasn't been monitored yet. Thank you japhy4529 for the spreadsheet. I have added it to the one I started myself. My biggest worry in the Liberal Arts vs. Psychology debate is that I don't know how much getting the Liberal Arts degree would affect me if I decided to go the Doctorate route. Maybe I would have to start all over? The other problem is my indecision on completely committing to a graduate program of study.

    The schools I am looking heavily at right now are:
    East Carolina University - MA in General Psychology (30 hour academic)
    Nova Southeastern University - MS in General Psychology (30 hour with optional thesis)
    Western New Mexico University - MA in Interdisciplinary Studies with Psychology concentration (18 hours concentration with thesis)
    Kent State University - MA in Journalism with Public Relations concentration
    Palo Alto University - MS in Psychology (it has the most hours required because it is tied to the Doctoral program) * thanks for this tip

    I have also contacted Arizona State, University Louisiana at Monroe, Baker University, Toledo, Fielding, Walden, Univ. of West Alabama, Harvard Extension School, UNC Greensboro, Grand Canyon, Northcentral and Union University. Some don't meet my requirements exactly (not online, no actual campus, not exactly the degree I want) but I contacted them anyways. I hope it doesn't turn out like it did when the military kept asking me to join for seven years after high school because I made the mistake of taking the ASVAB as a senior. They finally got me to join so applaud their persistence.

    Any personal thoughts on the schools I listed?
     
  14. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    Jghanks - please check in and let us know how you're making out with your graduate degree search. I too am looking into graduate programs, and I have to say that I'm leaning towards Nova's MS in Psychology. Of course, I have every right to change my mind by tomorrow morning! :)
     
  15. major56

    major56 Active Member

    If you determine that the MLS route is more to your choosing – Fort Hayes State University offers the Master of Liberal Studies (31 /CH) with many program concentration areas available online:

    Specialize your Master of Liberal Studies degree with one of 20+ concentrations to meet your personal & professional goals - Fort Hays State University
     
  16. Psydoc

    Psydoc New Member

    Give a look at the MAIS at WNMU - you choose two 18 hour concentrations, one of which could be psychology. A very student friendly school.
     
  17. StefanM

    StefanM New Member

  18. Psydoc

    Psydoc New Member

    I have a Masters of Science in Continuing Education (MSCE), a dysfunctional title, in psychology/counseling from The University of West Alabama. Four foundation courses and you choose the rest from a curriculum of counseling and psychology courses. A 33 hour program unless you are going for licensure in counseling then the State of Alabama mandates 48, some state require 60 for the LPC.
     

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