Questions and looking for advice/guidance

Hello!

I've been searching through the forums trying to find the answers to the questions I have, and while I haven't found my answers I have found that this community has provided great information and answers to many questions. I'm hoping you can help me with mine.

In 2008, I completed my AA in Electronics Technology with Coastline Community College (putting military credits to use).

I'm currently attending Ashford University. I am set to graduate April 16 with my BA in Social Sciences with minors in History and Psychology. I have been offered a full scholarship to Ashford for a Master's degree, and while awesome, that's where I start having a problem. Technically, they don't have a degree I'm completely interested in. That said, in my opinion I'd be a fool to walk away from a paid Master's.

So, that brings me to my interests and goals. My main interest in Psychology and Counseling. I want to be able to help people. Right now, the goal I'm trying to get to is to obtain my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, at some point of course.
I had considered teaching and was looking to pursue that avenue, but the current state of the field made me rethink my plan.

Ashford's Master's programs are somewhat limited and I'm trying to make a decision and select a Master's that would best compliment the second Master's I plan to pursue (MFT).
Is there anyone that could explain to me the difference between Ashford's Masters of Arts in Healthcare Administration and an MHA? Would this be an appropriate route? Or should I consider an MBA with HC or HR specializations (or even a different spec)? Or their MPA? I would appreciate any advice or guidance anyone could offer me.

Also, if anyone has any, I would love any input on the Masters in MFT (or even beyond). The idea of continuing on to a higher degree is still there as well.

Thanks in advance!

 

I know nothing about the career area you are exploring (except that my daughter is a social worker). However I recommend you take the Ashford masters program if it is free to you; if it has a thesis option you can orient it to your career goals. Once you obtain your goal then you can always take additional courses/certficates/degrees (an MPA perhaps?)/professional societies. In my experience (technical) the content of a masters degree is often irrelevant to your job.

 

Wow, a free masters? Awesome! If you want to go into a counseling or MFT program eventually, a MHA would be a great fit. You would be well-rounded to run programs in medical hospitals as well as psychiatric settings. Many hospitals or health care facilities will pay for some or all of employees education if it is relevant to health care. So there is a chance that if you go that route, and end up in hospital admin, you could have a lot of your clinical masters degree paid for. Good luck!

 

What about going in a little different direction?

Ashford has an MA in Education with several specializations that could be of interest:

Master of Arts in Education

Child development and Family and Community Services seem quite relevant to your career goals.

How'd you manage to get a scholarship?

 

Thanks for the responses and input!

Hadashi no Gen - I hadn't considered that employment through the healthcare field might have contributions to a clinical or counseling degree. Your thoughts regarding an MHA though are similar to those I've had. What I have wondered though is if Ashford's MAHA is the same as an MHA or if there is a level of difference in which it would be viewed differently by potential employers.

StefanM - What an excellent thought! Honestly, when I thought of their Education Masters, I associated it with a teaching career or a career in that field. However, how you've presented it makes alot of sense! Actually, it puts me right in the middle of the 2 directions, both education and mental health/counseling services.
To answer your question, I was awarded the Homefront Heroes Scholarship from Ashford and Cox Cable, which is awarded to five military spouses. Being so close to my completion date for my program, my award was to be significantly less than my peers who also recieved the scholarship so they generously offered a Master's Degree.