Thread: PhD in Psychology from Grand Canyon University (GCU)

Hi, everyone. I'm thinking about signing up for Grand Canyon University 's PhD in General Psychology with an emphasis in industrial and organizational psychology . It is 100% online and costs about $38,000. Does anyone have any feedback regarding this program?

College of Doctoral Studies | Grand Canyon University - general page

Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology | Grand Canyon University - program-specific page

	American InterContinental University Online American InterContinental University AIU offers Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees in all the following programs: business administration (MBA, marketing, finance, accounting, human resources, etc), criminal justice, computer science, information technology, healthcare administration, medical billing and coding, fine arts, and education. Special learning facilities include a learning resource center, art gallery, and computer labs. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	Capella University Capella University Capella provides working adults the opportunity to earn online degrees in the fields of business management, health care, nursing, criminal justice, higher education, psychology, social work, human resources, information technology, mental health and counseling, K-12 education, public safety and public administration, and public service leadership. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school. [/center]

	Grand Canyon University Grand Canyon University GCU offers the following online degree programs: Bachelor's Degrees in Elementary Education, Christian Studies, Addiction Counseling, Justice Studies, Public Safety Administration, Public Safety and Emergency Mgmt, and Second Education; Master's Degrees in Christian Studies, Teaching, Business Administration (MBA), Ccounting, Master of Education (with a variety of concentrations), Addiction Counseling, Criminal Justice, Leadership, Nursing, Professional Counseling, General Pschology, and Industrial & Organizational Psychology; and Doctorate's in Education. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

Grand Canyon is a fine school, they have a B & M campus in Arizona, a nice plus. I considered them for my Ph.D sometime ago. If I do ever decide to obtain a doctorate degree, GCU will be on my list. Other members here will probably give you a better perspective on Grand Canyon , I know that some members here are currently, or have pursued, degrees from this school. Good choice!

	Grand Canyon University Grand Canyon University GCU offers the following online degree programs: Bachelor's Degrees in Elementary Education, Christian Studies, Addiction Counseling, Justice Studies, Public Safety Administration, Public Safety and Emergency Mgmt, and Second Education; Master's Degrees in Christian Studies, Teaching, Business Administration (MBA), Ccounting, Master of Education (with a variety of concentrations), Addiction Counseling, Criminal Justice, Leadership, Nursing, Professional Counseling, General Pschology, and Industrial & Organizational Psychology; and Doctorate's in Education. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

GCU is not APA accredited, so you'll need to determine whether having a non-APA doctorate will end up limiting your future options. If you determine that having an APA accredited degree isn't necessary, then GCU sounds like a decent school.

	Grand Canyon University Grand Canyon University GCU offers the following online degree programs: Bachelor's Degrees in Elementary Education, Christian Studies, Addiction Counseling, Justice Studies, Public Safety Administration, Public Safety and Emergency Mgmt, and Second Education; Master's Degrees in Christian Studies, Teaching, Business Administration (MBA), Ccounting, Master of Education (with a variety of concentrations), Addiction Counseling, Criminal Justice, Leadership, Nursing, Professional Counseling, General Pschology, and Industrial & Organizational Psychology; and Doctorate's in Education. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

Originally Posted by emmzee

GCU is not APA accredited, so you'll need to determine whether having a non-APA doctorate will end up limiting your future options. If you determine that having an APA accredited degree isn't necessary, then GCU sounds like a decent school.

I don't think APA accredits I/O psych programs anyway.

Originally Posted by emmzee

GCU is not APA accredited, so you'll need to determine whether having a non-APA doctorate will end up limiting your future options. If you determine that having an APA accredited degree isn't necessary, then GCU sounds like a decent school.

The GCU program is in general psychology which doesn't qualify for licensure in any state, so the lack of APA accreditation isn't that big a deal.

Originally Posted by StefanM

I don't think APA accredits I/O psych programs anyway.

They don't....clinical and counseling programs only.

If one is interested in licensure, there is an interesting option; earn the Ph.D. in general psychology from GCU (or any other RA school), then later go through a respecialization program in clinical psychology at an APA-accredited school, such as offered by one of my alma maters;

http://mspp.edu/academics/degree-pro...on/default.asp

	Capella University Capella University Capella provides working adults the opportunity to earn online degrees in the fields of business management, health care, nursing, criminal justice, higher education, psychology, social work, human resources, information technology, mental health and counseling, K-12 education, public safety and public administration, and public service leadership. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school. [/center]

	Grand Canyon University Grand Canyon University GCU offers the following online degree programs: Bachelor's Degrees in Elementary Education, Christian Studies, Addiction Counseling, Justice Studies, Public Safety Administration, Public Safety and Emergency Mgmt, and Second Education; Master's Degrees in Christian Studies, Teaching, Business Administration (MBA), Ccounting, Master of Education (with a variety of concentrations), Addiction Counseling, Criminal Justice, Leadership, Nursing, Professional Counseling, General Pschology, and Industrial & Organizational Psychology; and Doctorate's in Education. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	Counseling Degrees Counseling Degrees Counselors work in diverse community settings designed to provide a variety of counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Their duties vary greatly, depending on their specialty, which is determined by the setting in which they work and the population they serve. Although the specific setting may have an implied scope of practice, counselors frequently are challenged with children, adolescents, adults, or families that have multiple issues, such as mental health disorders and addiction, disability and employment needs, school problems or career counseling needs, and trauma. Counselors must recognize these issues in order to provide their clients with appropriate counseling and support. •People interested in counseling should have a strong desire to help others and should be able to inspire respect, trust, and confidence. •Education and training requirements vary by State and specialty, but a master’s degree is required to become a licensed counselor. •Projected job growth varies by specialty, but job opportunities should be favorable as job openings are expected to exceed the number of graduates from counseling programs. Click Here to find FREE information on schools offering this course of study.

Ah thanks for the clarification!

I'm not too concerned about the APA accreditation, as I am not pursuing a clinical psychology track. However, the bit about re-specialization is very interesting...provides a great avenue in the future if I change my mind. Thanks!

Basically, I did a search for distance learning or very limited residency psychology PhD programs. GCU was the only one with a campus and NCAA sports team. The cost seems reasonable, too, relatively speaking. I can't help but think there is some kind of catch?

I don't like the fact that GCU is owned by a for-profit corporation (it used to be non-profit, but the trustees had financial problems and sold out). Also, it looks like only about 4,000 students are on-campus, and the other 36,000 are distance-learning students. Furthermore, I'm not too fond of the school's very sales-oriented/telemarketing recruiting tactics. Additionally, the Department of Education 's Financial Aid website shows that the graduation and retention rates for all students combined is in the 25-29% range.

Any thoughts?

	Capella University Capella University Capella provides working adults the opportunity to earn online degrees in the fields of business management, health care, nursing, criminal justice, higher education, psychology, social work, human resources, information technology, mental health and counseling, K-12 education, public safety and public administration, and public service leadership. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school. [/center]

	George Washington University George Washington University GWU offers an online Bachelor’s Degree in Police Science; and Master’s Degrees in Education and Human Development, Paralegal Studies, Public Relations, Educational Technology Lead, MBA – Healthcare, and MPS in Security and Safety Leadership. GW University is a prestigious and well regarded school. Established in the heart of the nation's capital in 1821, GW provides innovative programs in more than 200 fields of study, including graduate certificate, master's and doctoral programs. Under the guidance of a world-renowned faculty, you will explore both theory and practice in courses that prepare you to meet the needs of an increasingly complex society. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	Grand Canyon University Grand Canyon University GCU offers the following online degree programs: Bachelor's Degrees in Elementary Education, Christian Studies, Addiction Counseling, Justice Studies, Public Safety Administration, Public Safety and Emergency Mgmt, and Second Education; Master's Degrees in Christian Studies, Teaching, Business Administration (MBA), Ccounting, Master of Education (with a variety of concentrations), Addiction Counseling, Criminal Justice, Leadership, Nursing, Professional Counseling, General Pschology, and Industrial & Organizational Psychology; and Doctorate's in Education. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	Psychology Degrees Psychology Degrees Psychologists study mental processes and human behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people and animals relate to one another and the environment. To do this, psychologists often look for patterns that will help them understand and predict behavior using scientific methods, principles, or procedures to test their ideas. Through such research studies, psychologists have learned much that can help increase understanding between individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, nations, and cultures. •Job opportunities are naturally best for individuals with higher degrees. Individuals with a doctoral degree are highly sought after, especially ones who holds degrees in a particularly in-demand subfield, such as health; those with a master’s degree will have good prospects in the corporate environment; bachelor’s degree holders will have limited prospects due to steep competition. •Employment growth will vary by specialty; for example, clinical, counseling, and school psychologists will have 11% growth; industrial-organizational psychologists will have 26% growth; and 14% growth is expected for all other fields of psychology. Click Here to find FREE information on schools offering this course of study.

Originally Posted by Bruce

The GCU program is in general psychology which doesn't qualify for licensure in any state, so the lack of APA accreditation isn't that big a deal.

The Commonwealth of Virginia offers licensure, and in many situations requires state licensure, for psychologists even if they aren't clinical or counseling psychologists .

DoctorPhD expressed an interest in industrial/organizational psychology . Virginia puts I/O psychologists in the category of applied psychologists for purposes of licensure. Graduation from an APA approved program is not required (for the reasons previously mentioned). The education requirements for each state is available online. Here are Virginia's as an example of what states may require.

18VAC125-20-55. Education requirements for applied psychologists.
A. The applicant shall hold a doctorate from a professional psychology program from a regionally accredited university which meets the following criteria:
1. The program is within an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education , or publicly recognized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada as a member in good standing. Graduates of programs that are not within the United States or Canada must provide documentation from a credential evaluation service acceptable to the board which demonstrates that the program meets the requirements set forth in this chapter.
2. The program shall be recognizable as an organized entity within the institution.
3. The program shall be an integrated, organized sequence of study with an identifiable psychology faculty and a psychologist directly responsible for the program, and shall have an identifiable body of students who are matriculated in that program for a degree. The faculty shall be accessible to students and provide them with guidance and supervision. The faculty shall provide appropriate professional role models and engage in actions that promote the student's acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies consistent with the program's training goals.
4. The program shall encompass a minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study or the equivalent thereof.
5. The program shall include a general core curriculum containing a minimum of three or more graduate semester hours or five or more graduate quarter hours in each of the following substantive content areas.
a. Biological bases of behavior (e.g., physiological psychology , comparative psychology , neuropsychology, sensation and perception, health psychology , pharmacology, neuroanatomy).
b. Cognitive-affective bases of behavior (e.g., learning theory, cognition, motivation, emotion).
c. Social bases of behavior (e.g., social psychology , group processes, organizational and systems theory, community and preventive psychology , multicultural issues).
d. Psychological measurement.
e. Research methodology.
f. Techniques of data analysis.
g. Professional standards and ethics.
B. Demonstration of competence in applied psychology shall be met by including a minimum of at least 18 semester hours or 30 quarter hours in a concentrated program of study in an identified area of psychology , e.g., developmental, social, cognitive, motivation, applied behavioral analysis, industrial/organizational, human factors, personnel selection and evaluation, program planning and evaluation, teaching , research or consultation.

	American InterContinental University Online American InterContinental University AIU offers Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees in all the following programs: business administration (MBA, marketing, finance, accounting, human resources, etc), criminal justice, computer science, information technology, healthcare administration, medical billing and coding, fine arts, and education. Special learning facilities include a learning resource center, art gallery, and computer labs. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	George Washington University George Washington University GWU offers an online Bachelor’s Degree in Police Science; and Master’s Degrees in Education and Human Development, Paralegal Studies, Public Relations, Educational Technology Lead, MBA – Healthcare, and MPS in Security and Safety Leadership. GW University is a prestigious and well regarded school. Established in the heart of the nation's capital in 1821, GW provides innovative programs in more than 200 fields of study, including graduate certificate, master's and doctoral programs. Under the guidance of a world-renowned faculty, you will explore both theory and practice in courses that prepare you to meet the needs of an increasingly complex society. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	Hodges University Hodges University Hodges University is the leading college in Florida providing education by example from real-world educators for success in business and professional environments. The school offers a variety of online degrees including applied psychology, legal studies, paralegal, and paralegal studies. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized form of accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school. [/center]

	Psychology Degrees Psychology Degrees Psychologists study mental processes and human behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people and animals relate to one another and the environment. To do this, psychologists often look for patterns that will help them understand and predict behavior using scientific methods, principles, or procedures to test their ideas. Through such research studies, psychologists have learned much that can help increase understanding between individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, nations, and cultures. •Job opportunities are naturally best for individuals with higher degrees. Individuals with a doctoral degree are highly sought after, especially ones who holds degrees in a particularly in-demand subfield, such as health; those with a master’s degree will have good prospects in the corporate environment; bachelor’s degree holders will have limited prospects due to steep competition. •Employment growth will vary by specialty; for example, clinical, counseling, and school psychologists will have 11% growth; industrial-organizational psychologists will have 26% growth; and 14% growth is expected for all other fields of psychology. Click Here to find FREE information on schools offering this course of study.

	Education Degrees Education Degrees Teachers play an important role in fostering the intellectual and social development of children during their formative years. The education that students acquire is key to determining the future of those students. Whether in elementary or high schools or in private or public schools, teachers provide the tools and the environment for their students to develop into responsible adults. Teachers act as facilitators or coaches, using classroom presentations or individual instruction to help students learn and apply concepts in subjects such as science, mathematics, and English. They plan, evaluate, and assign lessons; prepare, administer, and grade tests; listen to oral presentations; and maintain classroom discipline. Teachers observe and evaluate a student's performance and potential. They are increasingly asked to use new assessment methods •Public school teachers must be licensed, which typically requires a bachelor's degree and the completion of an approved teacher education program; private school teachers do not have to be licensed but may still need a bachelor's degree. •Job prospects are best for teachers in high-demand fields, such as mathematics, science, and bilingual education, and in less desirable urban or rural school districts. •Teachers must have the ability to communicate, inspire trust and confidence, and motivate students, as well as understand students' educational and emotional needs. Click Here to find FREE information on schools offering this course of study.

	Counseling Degrees Counseling Degrees Counselors work in diverse community settings designed to provide a variety of counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Their duties vary greatly, depending on their specialty, which is determined by the setting in which they work and the population they serve. Although the specific setting may have an implied scope of practice, counselors frequently are challenged with children, adolescents, adults, or families that have multiple issues, such as mental health disorders and addiction, disability and employment needs, school problems or career counseling needs, and trauma. Counselors must recognize these issues in order to provide their clients with appropriate counseling and support. •People interested in counseling should have a strong desire to help others and should be able to inspire respect, trust, and confidence. •Education and training requirements vary by State and specialty, but a master’s degree is required to become a licensed counselor. •Projected job growth varies by specialty, but job opportunities should be favorable as job openings are expected to exceed the number of graduates from counseling programs. Click Here to find FREE information on schools offering this course of study.

Posted in error.

Thanks for the info on re-specializing in clinical psychology - that leaves another option down the road!

I did a search for psychology PhD programs with little to no residencies. GCU is the only school with a B&M campus and NCAA sports teams. The tuition is also the lowest. There has to be a catch - what is it?

While I am attracted to the program, things I'm not too happy with are:
- Owned by a for-profit corporation
- Heavy sales-oriented/telemarketing-type recruiting tactics
- Only about 4,000 students are at the B&M school; the other 36,000 are distance learners (and this relates to the above two points)
- The FAFSA website shows graduation and retention rates in the 25-29% rate (this also relates to the above points)

So, what do you all think? What are some reasons for choosing other schools, such as NCU, Capella , or Walden? I know about Fielding, but unfortunately, it's not viable for me since I work full-time and because the program is too expensive.

	Capella University Capella University Capella provides working adults the opportunity to earn online degrees in the fields of business management, health care, nursing, criminal justice, higher education, psychology, social work, human resources, information technology, mental health and counseling, K-12 education, public safety and public administration, and public service leadership. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school. [/center]

	Grand Canyon University Grand Canyon University GCU offers the following online degree programs: Bachelor's Degrees in Elementary Education, Christian Studies, Addiction Counseling, Justice Studies, Public Safety Administration, Public Safety and Emergency Mgmt, and Second Education; Master's Degrees in Christian Studies, Teaching, Business Administration (MBA), Ccounting, Master of Education (with a variety of concentrations), Addiction Counseling, Criminal Justice, Leadership, Nursing, Professional Counseling, General Pschology, and Industrial & Organizational Psychology; and Doctorate's in Education. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	Psychology Degrees Psychology Degrees Psychologists study mental processes and human behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people and animals relate to one another and the environment. To do this, psychologists often look for patterns that will help them understand and predict behavior using scientific methods, principles, or procedures to test their ideas. Through such research studies, psychologists have learned much that can help increase understanding between individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, nations, and cultures. •Job opportunities are naturally best for individuals with higher degrees. Individuals with a doctoral degree are highly sought after, especially ones who holds degrees in a particularly in-demand subfield, such as health; those with a master’s degree will have good prospects in the corporate environment; bachelor’s degree holders will have limited prospects due to steep competition. •Employment growth will vary by specialty; for example, clinical, counseling, and school psychologists will have 11% growth; industrial-organizational psychologists will have 26% growth; and 14% growth is expected for all other fields of psychology. Click Here to find FREE information on schools offering this course of study.

So, what do you all think? What are some reasons for choosing other schools, such as NCU, Capella, or Walden? I know about Fielding, but unfortunately, it's not viable for me since I work full-time and because the program is too expensive.

It would help to know what your goals and objectives are for earning a psychology degree. For example, clinical psychology programs that don't require a residency will still require a practicum for state licensure, which typically can't be completed via distance learning. So, if counseling others is your goal then a DL degree might not be your best option. Depending on your goals, there may be other degree options worth considering.

What are your interests? How do you foresee yourself using your new psychology degree?

	Capella University Capella University Capella provides working adults the opportunity to earn online degrees in the fields of business management, health care, nursing, criminal justice, higher education, psychology, social work, human resources, information technology, mental health and counseling, K-12 education, public safety and public administration, and public service leadership. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school. [/center]

	Psychology Degrees Psychology Degrees Psychologists study mental processes and human behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people and animals relate to one another and the environment. To do this, psychologists often look for patterns that will help them understand and predict behavior using scientific methods, principles, or procedures to test their ideas. Through such research studies, psychologists have learned much that can help increase understanding between individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, nations, and cultures. •Job opportunities are naturally best for individuals with higher degrees. Individuals with a doctoral degree are highly sought after, especially ones who holds degrees in a particularly in-demand subfield, such as health; those with a master’s degree will have good prospects in the corporate environment; bachelor’s degree holders will have limited prospects due to steep competition. •Employment growth will vary by specialty; for example, clinical, counseling, and school psychologists will have 11% growth; industrial-organizational psychologists will have 26% growth; and 14% growth is expected for all other fields of psychology. Click Here to find FREE information on schools offering this course of study.

	Counseling Degrees Counseling Degrees Counselors work in diverse community settings designed to provide a variety of counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Their duties vary greatly, depending on their specialty, which is determined by the setting in which they work and the population they serve. Although the specific setting may have an implied scope of practice, counselors frequently are challenged with children, adolescents, adults, or families that have multiple issues, such as mental health disorders and addiction, disability and employment needs, school problems or career counseling needs, and trauma. Counselors must recognize these issues in order to provide their clients with appropriate counseling and support. •People interested in counseling should have a strong desire to help others and should be able to inspire respect, trust, and confidence. •Education and training requirements vary by State and specialty, but a master’s degree is required to become a licensed counselor. •Projected job growth varies by specialty, but job opportunities should be favorable as job openings are expected to exceed the number of graduates from counseling programs. Click Here to find FREE information on schools offering this course of study.

Originally Posted by Steve King

The Commonwealth of Virginia offers licensure, and in many situations requires state licensure, for psychologists even if they aren't clinical or counseling psychologists .

DoctorPhD expressed an interest in industrial/organizational psychology . Virginia puts I/O psychologists in the category of applied psychologists for purposes of licensure. Graduation from an APA approved program is not required (for the reasons previously mentioned). The education requirements for each state is available online. Here are Virginia's as an example of what states may require.

18VAC125-20-55. Education requirements for applied psychologists.
A. The applicant shall hold a doctorate from a professional psychology program from a regionally accredited university which meets the following criteria:
1. The program is within an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education , or publicly recognized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada as a member in good standing. Graduates of programs that are not within the United States or Canada must provide documentation from a credential evaluation service acceptable to the board which demonstrates that the program meets the requirements set forth in this chapter.
2. The program shall be recognizable as an organized entity within the institution.
3. The program shall be an integrated, organized sequence of study with an identifiable psychology faculty and a psychologist directly responsible for the program, and shall have an identifiable body of students who are matriculated in that program for a degree. The faculty shall be accessible to students and provide them with guidance and supervision. The faculty shall provide appropriate professional role models and engage in actions that promote the student's acquisition of knowledge, skills and competencies consistent with the program's training goals.
4. The program shall encompass a minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study or the equivalent thereof.
5. The program shall include a general core curriculum containing a minimum of three or more graduate semester hours or five or more graduate quarter hours in each of the following substantive content areas.
a. Biological bases of behavior (e.g., physiological psychology , comparative psychology , neuropsychology, sensation and perception, health psychology , pharmacology, neuroanatomy).
b. Cognitive-affective bases of behavior (e.g., learning theory, cognition, motivation, emotion).
c. Social bases of behavior (e.g., social psychology , group processes, organizational and systems theory, community and preventive psychology , multicultural issues).
d. Psychological measurement.
e. Research methodology.
f. Techniques of data analysis.
g. Professional standards and ethics.
B. Demonstration of competence in applied psychology shall be met by including a minimum of at least 18 semester hours or 30 quarter hours in a concentrated program of study in an identified area of psychology, e.g., developmental, social, cognitive, motivation, applied behavioral analysis, industrial/organizational, human factors, personnel selection and evaluation, program planning and evaluation, teaching, research or consultation.

If those are the only requirements, Virginia is the only state I've seen that doesn't require supervised internship hours for licensure.

	American InterContinental University Online American InterContinental University AIU offers Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees in all the following programs: business administration (MBA, marketing, finance, accounting, human resources, etc), criminal justice, computer science, information technology, healthcare administration, medical billing and coding, fine arts, and education. Special learning facilities include a learning resource center, art gallery, and computer labs. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	George Washington University George Washington University GWU offers an online Bachelor’s Degree in Police Science; and Master’s Degrees in Education and Human Development, Paralegal Studies, Public Relations, Educational Technology Lead, MBA – Healthcare, and MPS in Security and Safety Leadership. GW University is a prestigious and well regarded school. Established in the heart of the nation's capital in 1821, GW provides innovative programs in more than 200 fields of study, including graduate certificate, master's and doctoral programs. Under the guidance of a world-renowned faculty, you will explore both theory and practice in courses that prepare you to meet the needs of an increasingly complex society. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school.

	Psychology Degrees Psychology Degrees Psychologists study mental processes and human behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people and animals relate to one another and the environment. To do this, psychologists often look for patterns that will help them understand and predict behavior using scientific methods, principles, or procedures to test their ideas. Through such research studies, psychologists have learned much that can help increase understanding between individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, nations, and cultures. •Job opportunities are naturally best for individuals with higher degrees. Individuals with a doctoral degree are highly sought after, especially ones who holds degrees in a particularly in-demand subfield, such as health; those with a master’s degree will have good prospects in the corporate environment; bachelor’s degree holders will have limited prospects due to steep competition. •Employment growth will vary by specialty; for example, clinical, counseling, and school psychologists will have 11% growth; industrial-organizational psychologists will have 26% growth; and 14% growth is expected for all other fields of psychology. Click Here to find FREE information on schools offering this course of study.

	Counseling Degrees Counseling Degrees Counselors work in diverse community settings designed to provide a variety of counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Their duties vary greatly, depending on their specialty, which is determined by the setting in which they work and the population they serve. Although the specific setting may have an implied scope of practice, counselors frequently are challenged with children, adolescents, adults, or families that have multiple issues, such as mental health disorders and addiction, disability and employment needs, school problems or career counseling needs, and trauma. Counselors must recognize these issues in order to provide their clients with appropriate counseling and support. •People interested in counseling should have a strong desire to help others and should be able to inspire respect, trust, and confidence. •Education and training requirements vary by State and specialty, but a master’s degree is required to become a licensed counselor. •Projected job growth varies by specialty, but job opportunities should be favorable as job openings are expected to exceed the number of graduates from counseling programs. Click Here to find FREE information on schools offering this course of study.

Originally Posted by Bruce

If those are the only requirements, Virginia is the only state I've seen that doesn't require supervised internship hours for licensure.

That's a great point, Bruce. These are by no means the only requirements for licensure as a psychologist in Virginia. To be licensed in Virginia, psychologists must also complete a supervised internship / practicum and pass a national exam. The list I posted showed only the education requirements for applied psychologists . Clinical and school psychologists have even more requirements for the kinds and numbers of courses they are required to pass.

Licensure is important if someone plans to get paid while calling himself a psychologist . The state law, § 54.1-3606, under the heading, License required, reads: "In order to engage in the practice of applied psychology , school psychology , or clinical psychology , it shall be necessary to hold a license." There are limited exceptions for people working as military psychologists , for the federal government, as ministers or clergy, or volunteering their services, but the exceptions are very limited. This is why I asked DoctorPhD what his goals were for using this degree after graduation.

	Capella University Capella University Capella provides working adults the opportunity to earn online degrees in the fields of business management, health care, nursing, criminal justice, higher education, psychology, social work, human resources, information technology, mental health and counseling, K-12 education, public safety and public administration, and public service leadership. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school. [/center]

	Hodges University Hodges University Hodges University is the leading college in Florida providing education by example from real-world educators for success in business and professional environments. The school offers a variety of online degrees including applied psychology, legal studies, paralegal, and paralegal studies. The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized form of accreditation. Click Here to receive FREE information on this school. [/center]

	Psychology Degrees Psychology Degrees Psychologists study mental processes and human behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people and animals relate to one another and the environment. To do this, psychologists often look for patterns that will help them understand and predict behavior using scientific methods, principles, or procedures to test their ideas. Through such research studies, psychologists have learned much that can help increase understanding between individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, nations, and cultures. •Job opportunities are naturally best for individuals with higher degrees. Individuals with a doctoral degree are highly sought after, especially ones who holds degrees in a particularly in-demand subfield, such as health; those with a master’s degree will have good prospects in the corporate environment; bachelor’s degree holders will have limited prospects due to steep competition. •Employment growth will vary by specialty; for example, clinical, counseling, and school psychologists will have 11% growth; industrial-organizational psychologists will have 26% growth; and 14% growth is expected for all other fields of psychology. Click Here to find FREE information on schools offering this course of study.

Originally Posted by Steve King

That's a great point, Bruce. These are by no means the only requirements for licensure as a psychologist in Virginia. To be licensed in Virginia, psychologists must also complete a supervised internship / practicum and pass a national exam. The list I posted showed only the education requirements for applied psychologists. Clinical and school psychologists have even more requirements for the kinds and numbers of courses they are required to pass.

Ah, okay....that bolsters my point that the GCU program isn't intended for licensure, so APA accreditation shouldn't be a factor.

As for the term "psychologist ", the Massachusetts title is "Licensed Psychologist ", and it's typical to see them list their name, degree title, and then "LP". For example, "Joe Blow, Psy.D. LP" to differentiate them from other people holding a doctorate in other fields of psychology .

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Originally Posted by Bruce

If those are the only requirements, Virginia is the only state I've seen that doesn't require supervised internship hours for licensure.

These are the requirements for Applied Psych (e.g. Psychologists who do not intend on seeing patients). I would imagine that that is the reason for the lack of internship requirements. Interesting though. I've never seen anything like this before. Most states only license clinical, counseling and school psychologists .

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Originally Posted by japhy4529

These are the requirements for Applied Psych (e.g. Psychologists who do not intend on seeing patients). I would imagine that that is the reason for the lack of internship requirements. Interesting though. I've never seen anything like this before. Most states only license clinical, counseling and school psychologists.

If someone doesn't intend on and doesn't meet with clients for therapy, I can't think of a single reason why they would want to be "licensed" to begin with.