For Howard about Liberty/Cappella

Howard,

I have read some of your posts and would like to ask you a couple of questions as I'm interested in following the route you appeared to take. Four questions I hope you'll answer:

1. RE your MA in Counseling from Liberty, did you take the 48 hour track? Or did you add on classes to get to 60 hours for licensure?

2. Did you practice before you applied to Capella's PHD program?

3. What is the name of the PHD program? Is it a doctorate in Counseling?

4. If I get Liberty's MA in counseling, would Argosy (sarasota) also accept that degree for entrance into their PDH in counseling program?

Thanks a TON

Cathalina

 

About Liberty/Cappella

Excuse me for jumping in this public forum discussion. I had to throw in my two cents as a person acquainted some with Liberty U. and as a Ph.D. student at Capella (Family Psychology).

First, I would suggest you contact Capella and talk with a counselor for the Ph.D. Psych program. Ask them or send them a copy of the courses that you would have to take in the 30 semester credit hour masters from Liberty. Simply ask what classes, in her 'off the record' opinion, might transfer into the Ph.D. If they transfer some, you might hit the lottery since few schools, to begin with, are as generous in credit transfer as Capella is. From reading Argossy's site, if I remember accurately, you won't be getting very many to transfer. This is true of most APA schools. Not even Fielding Institute will let you transfer more than 6 credits. Now, keep in mind that you must decide if you need Doctoral level psychology licensure in your state and if your school of choice needs to be APA approved. In my case, I am not currently going for psychology licensure so APA accreditation is not a factor. I will be getting licensure at the masters level.

You have some gaps in your questions that you must first answer. That will determine which route you take.

If you only need a Masters level licensure or if you go for a psychology licensure in states that do not require APA programmatic accreditation then Capella is a good choice. Though Capella is going for APA acreditation they are not accredited at this point other than regionally.

If you go for a Masters' level licensure then you can pick up the rest of your state required classes while in the PH.D. program. Taking Liberty's short masters is a fast way to get into and through the Ph.D. program at Capella, depending how many credits transfer. Most licensure masters are two years long full time. You slice off at least a year and maybe more by doing the short Liberty masters and then going for the PH.D. at Capella.

Hope this helps you some.

 

As an a side, Liberty's 48 credit hour program is designed for Licensure (for many states). At one point Liberty had a 36 credit hour program for non licensure. Alabama was an example of a state with lower requirements (36) and other states had 48 credit hour requirements. Of course as you mention some are moving to 60.

Argosy's EdD seemed to be pretty much a repeat of the M.A. Blackbird's advice seems reasonable that if you can wait for licensure, why bother with all of the extra credits for nothing. You could do a 36 credit hour program & gain entrance. As I recall the Argosy program was designed for LPC licensure. WHen I checked it out they gave no advanced standing for someone with a 48 credit hour program in Counseling and a 36 credit hour Masters.

Again, it is the difference between doing 96 grad credits vs 108. So if you can wait until you get your doctorate for licensure, you might as well do a much shorter MA & save $$ & time.

Good luck!

North

 

Liberty will let you take 60 hours of coursework, then apply for graduation. The transcript will show a Master's with 60 hours, thereby satisfying the 60 rule.

Of course, potential students should check their home state's regulations before applying and using that tactic.


Bruce

 

I agree. This would be true if you are seeking doctoral level licensure for psychology in a state that would not require APA programmatic accreditation. But if you are not going after licensure in psychology then you can apply for your post graduation "intern" status and start accumulating hours for the state board exams. You don't have to finish your Ph.D. for that. Once you have a Masters and you have all the required courses stipulated by your state then you can apply for "intern" status and work under supervision and get paid.

 

Thanks so much!!

Hi,
Sorry it took me awhile to get back here!

I am SO glad I asked about this! To set the record straight, Argosy in Sarasota offers a PHD in "Counseling Psychology", and that is the program I was interested in. It's not a straight PHD in Psychology; that's in Tampa and perhaps elsewhere but not Sarasota.

So it seems I would need to see if the 36 hour program would be sufficient for entrance into that program, and you are all right, why take 48 or 60 hours if it's not needed?

However, doesn't one need to have PRACTICED as a licensed counselor before entering a PHD program such as Cappella's as Howard did??? Would Cappella let one into their PHD program without having been licensed and therefore had experience in counseling??

Thanks tons in advance for your answers!

Cathalina....admitted and starting soon in Liberty's MA Counseling program

 

Re: Thanks so much!!

If it's a competitive admission process (limited slots for an excessive number of applicants) then I would imagine that having been in practice might give you an advantage but, otherwise, I'd be a bit surprised if it was actually required. It's not always that they think someone who has been in practice is somehow a better PhD student; frequently they simply feel that it provides some evidence that the person knows what they're getting themselves into. In any case, best of luck in your school program.
Jack

 

Re: Thanks so much!!

I think you have made a very wise decision.....ok, so I'm a little prejudiced...Liberty's program is excellent. To answer another question, no, you don't have to be licensed to enter a PhD program. There any number of PhD's who teach and do not practice. The main requirement at most colleges that offer PhD's is that you have the GPA, $$$$'s, and time.

Good Luck,

 

Re: Thanks so much!!

Cath,

I have Ph.D. fellow learners from all walks of life in terms of experience. I went into my program at Capella almost right out of my Masters. Others have been practicing for a while. I would not worry about it. If you have good recommendations from your profs, get your masters, write a good defense for your reason for attending, etc. you should be accepted at Capella.

Hope that helps.

 

I may be wrong but I believe Liberty has done away with their 36 hour program and replaced it with a 30 hour program. I think they only have the two programs now....the 48 hour for lisensure and the 30 hour for those in business or in human resourses that need the skills in human relations. (The 60 hour program is pretty new)

In fact, I believe they are changing the name for the 30 hour program. I don't believe it will be a M.A. in Professional Counseling but a M.A. in Human Relations or something like that.

http://www.liberty.edu/Academics/Arts-Sciences/Counseling/Graduate/index.cfm?PID=2721

If you look at the "Download Status Sheet" on the 48 and 60 hour program it states an M.A. in Progessional Counseling but on the 30 track, it states Human Relations.

Duff

 

Thanks so much for all of your replies - you guys are great!