Seems like I keep going around the cycle. After searching DE programs in the early 90's I decided on Vermont College for a second Master's in Psych. Now I would like to move on and teach more (adjunct at Western MI U, Grand Valley State U) and Canyon College (Online), but can't really break in. I am a clinical director of a OP Mental Health and Substance Abuse program, getting tired of the non-profit scene and turning the turnstyle. Would like to get the last sheepskin (almost 52 years old), however need money for tuition, still paying back my MA loan and my daughter's BA loan and have a son finishing his soph year. Where are the grants for DE? I am willing to go to local industry (Steelcase, Amway) and lick the floor with my tongue for money! Can I make deals with any health-related organizations to work 5 hours a week and do psych evals for free for enough to cover my tuition. I have checked out all the majors: Fielding, Union, Argossy, Capella, Walden, Saybrook (either Psych or Counseling or even Social Work doctorate), I figure $ 40,000 to do it all. I have been in touch with Southern Christian U this week, and am interested in where they are going. Oh by the way, even though Vermont College is now part of Union, Union refuses to accept any of my MA grad credits toward their Ph.D. Help, ideas, blindfold gladly accepted.
I've lost track of the various programs offered by the schools you've listed but the only APA approved Clinical Psych program on your list is Fielding. I don't know what the licensing requirements might be in Michigan so one question I've got is, can you set up a private practice based on a non-APA PhD or a non-Clinical Psych PhD? Perhaps you can go into private practice based simply on your Masters degree. If that's the case then you could potentially earn a foreign research-based PhD and save yourself some money. In any case, good luck. Jack
money, etc Jack, I have been in private practice previously with my MA and the managed care shops have this community of 500,000 locked down. In leaving my current shop, I forfeit all the pipelines established and after 25 years in the game, I have a good name and return business, however when someone can choose between a $ 10 co-pay or $ 75 out of pocket, they tend to choose for the co-pay and panel member in network. I guess where I really want to head is into more teaching (non-traditional and alt programs okay), training, consulting and supervision with younger clinicians. So how traditional does my doctorate need to be to satisfy employers in academia? Also anyone know Peter Proehl (sp)? I had him do two analysis in the 80's and 90's of my credentials and interests and recommend several programs, but I seem to have lost his address, email, etc.
Teaching at a degree mill? Is this the same Canyon College that claims accreditation from a bogus accreditor and is run out of some guy's private house? I'm hardly the authority on getting teaching jobs but wouldn't working for a degree mill make it harder to break into teaching at legitimate institutions?
Union doesn't accept any credits towards it's Ph.D. program, Vermont College's or anyone else's: We do not count credits already earned, yet we try to assess the worth of prior learning gained from academic, professional, and/or life experience as it relates to the gaining of proficiency in your fields. The Ph.D. is built upon your prior learning, including your master's degree, but it is made up of new learning.
Union policy What I find interesting about this is that most other RA schools will accept credits earned elsewhere toward their doctorate, and now VC is actually a MA level component of UIU. I have two colleagues here in GR that are Union grads and I have respect for the program, however this policy that is out of step with other schools (even traditional programs) moves Union down on my list.
Hello Tom, welcome to the forum. While my engagement in distance learning is computer related – I’m close to completing a BS in IT- my day job is licensed psychologist and I’m a supervisor in an APA-approved internship program. So I often respond to the sort of issue you present. Questions about pursing doctoral training in mental health appear fairly often and there has been quite a bit of discussion with varying positions. I generally join in the fray so if you do a search on my name you’ll catch most of the message traffic. You mention that you’d like to supervise and I think you’re probably going to encounter some kind of trickle down effect where psychologists-in-training will look for portability in their supervised hours. Which probably translates into having a degree from an APA approved program. As Jack notes above there is only one APA approved distance learning program. Personally, I don’t encourage people in your situation to go for anything less. I did once upon a time and it backfired but you’ll have access to my experience and lots of information pro and con by reviewing the old threads. It really doesn’t make any difference if the degree is in clinical, counseling or school psychology so long as it is APA approved. Tom, I’m assuming you have Michigan’s limited master’s license and since you mention that you’re comfortable in psychological assessment I wonder if you might be able to subcontract with a psychologist who has an assessment based practice. You know the drill: social security, nursing homes, the courts, etc. You mention WMU; if bricks and mortar is even remotely possible this school has APA approved clinical and counseling programs. I’ve never had contact with students from the counseling program but I have had contact with the clinical program and I was impressed with the product. Good luck. Dave
bricks and motar Thanks for the feedback. I do teach in the Counselor Education and Counseling Psych program at Western Michigan U and have since 1986. It would be awkward but not impossible for me to do coursework at WMU, need to talk to the correct honchos. Anyway, interesting timing, a job opened up at Grand Rapids Comm College today, will probably apply, with about $20,000 worth of side work, could make up the difference with my current salary and have more free time to pursue the PhD, probably some tuition reimbursement from GRCC for classes as well. Guess I have to put it out there and jump on the opportunities. Thanks
Re: money, etc Greetings. Regarding your recent post: Peter Proehl, MA DEGREE CONSULTING SERVICES [email protected] www.degreeconsult.com Cordially, Richard Kanarek
Tom -- One thing that might be helpful (apologies if you've already answered this--just got my nose out of a book project and my mind's a little fuzzy): Can you tell us whether you're interested in using the doctorate to practice clinical psychology? If not, that opens up a lot of doors in terms of overseas research programs (which can be VERY inexpensive), et. al. Cheers,
money, etc In regard to my plans, I am a little conflicted about whether to pursue psych licensure or not. In Michigan it requires two years post doc for the residency portion of the requirements. If I knew that Arizona, Alabama or Florida did not require the same residency, then that is a possibility. Otherwise I could just go for MFT licensure and a LPC to go with my CSW and LLP. That can be accomplished through Capella, Regents, or Southern Christian University. I do have a possibility of an opening at our CC for a psych instructor and with a little extra work, could be making what I'm working 65 hours per week to do now, and would provide tuition reimbursement and benefits. That may be the opening (if I can get the job) that I have been waiting for, as I could complete a doctoral program with no problem given that schedule. Did I answer your question? If not here is the short form, priorities in order. 1. Teach, train and consult (and write), as long as degree can be used to teach in either traditional setting or more alt programs 2. Psych licensure if not requiring two years post doc, if so then 3. Doc in counseling (RA program) for LPC and MFT licensure
stop paying for your childrens tuitions. Tell your kids to get a job alongside school so they can pay for their studentloans themselves. I don't understand why you need to be paying for your kids education when they are old enough to work alongside their studies. It would be acceptable if you had enough money for it but considering your situation it is not. My brother worked for his tuition along side his studies for his business degree(BS) at George Washington U in Seattle from when he was 18 and he was able to cope.
May help I just posted this for someone else, so sorry if you already know of this. But I think it is really good idea to try to submit some work for some conferences of your interest if they have CME credits attached. It looks much better when going for PhD to say..."I presented here and here and I have so many CE credits from those". It doesn't seem to work that well for the undergraduate acceptance, but for PhD it works better. If you are into anxiety and panic this Conference still accepts abstracts. http://www.psyedu.com/conferences/ I think I will ask them for comission...Just joking! But I really think that this helps for PhD applications or even online PhD study in shorter time.
