Tired of comparing $ for Masters in Psychology

Discussion in 'Nursing and medical-related degrees' started by fairyrealm, Sep 14, 2008.

Loading...
  1. Graves

    Graves Member

    If you're comfortable with exams, AMU/APU will accept a combination of two CBEs:

    Excelsior College - Research Methods in Psychology (lower level)
    Excelsior College | Research Methods in Psychology
    DSST/DANTES - Principles of Statistics
    http://getcollegecredit.com/assets/pdf/dsst_fact_sheets/DSST_PrinciplesofStatistics.pdf

    The two courses are sometimes one four-credit hour course, so keep that in mind while searching. I applied for the program, and the ECE was accepted for the first prerequisite. But it doesn't have statistics, so I had to take the second exam. If you see a research methods in psychology course that is four credit hours, please contact AMU/APU, and ask if it will suffice for both prerequisites.

    Good luck.
     
  2. Mathetes

    Mathetes New Member

    Thanks again Graves. I just realized the previous posts regarding the cost for APU/AMU MA Psych was from 2010 and the tuition is now $350/cr instead of $300/cr so total tuition is now $13,650 instead of $11,700. Where is everybody going for their master's in psychology (general psychology) these days (2016)? Has anybody here gotten their MS Psych from University of Valley Forge?
    Master of Science in Psychology (Non-Licensure) - University of Valley Forge Online - Online Christian University

    I couldn't find much on this forum about them but here's my experience so far:

    Good news: they only require 30 units for the program
    Bad news: their per unit tuition is $425, much higher than APU/AMU
    Good news: total program cost is still $12,750, lower than APU/AMU
    Bad news: their website doesn't tell you anything about admissions requirements
    Good news: they're regionally accredited (Middle States)
    Bad news: their big bold phone number on their website doesn't work
    Good news: their small phone works but goes to voicemail
    Bad news: nobody there has responded to my voicemail and it's been almost a week

    So far not a great first impression. But if anybody here has more experience with them, especially if you've gotten your MS Psych from them, please let me know what you think of them. Thanks.
     
  3. Slobodon

    Slobodon New Member

    Thx for heads up that NDU's psych MA req's "attendance" to "live" online classes

    University of North Dakota I applied to and was accepted to their Masters in Social Work (MSW) program online (I am open to MSW programs as well), which I was very excited about. I also knew about the tuition going in, comparable to Saybrook's. They obviously have a B&M, but the downside to this fabulous looking program is that the classes are taught "live" via web cams, so you actually must be available to sit at your desk on specific days and times in order to "attend" class. As a student at Ellis College of NYIT, I have grown accustomed to the flexibilty of completing my work when its convenient and getting it in my specified due dates. Needing to be at the computer (when I have a long commute from work to home) at specific times won't work well for me unfortunately.

    Will have to check to see if this is still the case, but, they were one place I was certainly considering. Grand Canyon University is another, with a cost that is actually lower than North Dakota University.
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Your alternative MSW programs are here

    Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) - Online and Distance Education
     
  5. boredsatan

    boredsatan member

    is a phd in psychology useful?
     
  6. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    you really couldn't be more obvious, could you?
     
  7. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

  8. Maxwell_Smart

    Maxwell_Smart Active Member

    The price is great, and as outdated as that site looks, the school is actually legit. It's recognized by the UGC and accredited by the NAAC, India's official educational authorities. However, I question just how easy it will be to get licensed in the United States. It's already tough getting licensed with the Msc in Psychology in a number of states. New York for instance, gives people a hassle even when they complete programs that are 36 credits or more due to having very specific (read specific as "picky") guidelines for eligibility.

    Granted, not all people who get a Masters or Doctorate in Psychology get those degrees for the purpose of becoming licensed, and a quick perusal over Indeed will bring up many jobs asking for those degrees without requiring a license, but much like being an unlicensed JD you're going to be paid significantly less and private practice is off the table.
     
  9. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    This is a great point. Now we know that there are some people who get licensed at the Masters level and just use the doctorate to look good and I guess there's nothing wrong with that. But don't plan on using that degree to obtain a license because I'm guessing it's not going to happen.
     
  10. Maxwell_Smart

    Maxwell_Smart Active Member

    One other thing: one of Madurai's MSc in Psychology courses is in Human Resource Management. I don't believe that's a standard course in the American system for an MSc in Psychology, but in this case it could be considered a specialization since it's not uncommon for American Masters degrees to have one-course specializations (see WGU for an example), though with American Psychology programs the specializations are usually in things like Health Psychology, Marriage and Family Counseling, Addictions Counseling, etc. With that being said, that only leaves one with 9 courses in Madurai's program that are directly concerned with Psychology so that may present another problem for licensing purposes. Granted, the 9 that are there are the essential courses, but many states are concerned with hours in specific courses and if those courses are not even available in your program then you're already at a disadvantage for licensing.

    I'd say this degree will be strictly for non-licensed practice which would have to be under the supervision of a licensed professional or a licensed institution/organization that deals with mental health. Good news is, there are many jobs available for people who are okay with that situation. I suppose for $5200 one can't complain too much. Compare that price tag to California Coast's Msc in Psychology (going toward $9,500 - $10,000 when factoring in the cost of books), or Touro's which is over $18,000, neither of which are designed for licensure, and if you dig deeper you find even more expensive programs that still don't lead to licensure. Seems, if you want a program leading to licensure it's going to cost you a lot more.

    Interesting stuff (at least to me anyway, lol). With online education having opened up so many new possibilities, it's cool to see people looking at alternatives everywhere in the world instead of just in their own backyard, and with U.S. tuition prices so out of control it's definitely understandable.. This gives me an idea to make a thread detailing the different accreditation systems of foreign countries with links to all of the important paperwork.
     
  11. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    If you ever decide to do it you might start with trying to unravel the French VAE process. An then there's the Swiss canonical system . . .
     
  12. Maxwell_Smart

    Maxwell_Smart Active Member

    I remember reading here years ago about the French VAE and how equivalent diplomas can be awarded based on life and work experience but that's as far as I got because back then all of the information I could find off-site was in French (I can read Spanish well but not French) and internet translator programs didn't work as well as they do now. As long as there is proper oversight for determining life/work experience, I think it's a great idea. Should be some interesting research.
     
  13. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    In the context of this board VAE became almost synonymous with "degree mill" because of the alleged use of this system by some "schools." In it's legitimate form, however, it remains a valid way to earn a degree.

    https://www.degreeinfo.com/index.php?threads/what-is-vae.15735/
     
  14. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

  15. Maxwell_Smart

    Maxwell_Smart Active Member

    It makes a lot of sense for I/O dealing with business and all. I/O Psychologists are at the top of the pay scale ladder, too. I would've thought Clinical/Medical Psychologists would be there. Of course, that's based on averages so it's going to vary based on location.
     
    Phdtobe likes this.
  16. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

  17. Maxwell_Smart

    Maxwell_Smart Active Member

    Psychiatrists have a really good situation. I can accept that they make so much more since they have to go to Medical school and are MDs at the end of it.

    I was just thinking about some alternative but noble paths to becoming a Counselor for people with a Masters in Psychology that isn't eligible for regular counseling licensure: Since many Psychologists wind up specializing in a specific field of Psychology, a person with a non-license eligible Masters could do the same and become licensed as an Addictions Counselor in a number of states. In a number of states this can be done with a Bachelors degree (technically an Associate degree or high school diploma, but people at that level rarely get hired for the job anymore similar to how the BSN in Nursing has become the new benchmark). One might even pursue a Masters in Addictions Counseling to help get their required hours faster. With the Masters, you only need about 2,000 hours of supervised counseling time to apply to take the state Substance Abuse Counseling exam and become licensed. Some states even allow you to go into private practice in this field but this may not be widespread (I know New York does not allow it).

    Then there are a number of add-on specializations that can be earned. One common one is gambling addiction counseling. You have to gain your Substance Abuse Counseling certification first in many states.

    With the Masters and performing Substance Abuse Counseling, a person would probably make only a quarter of what a Psychiatrist makes and often half of what a licensed Psychologist makes but it can still be good money depending on where you live.
     
  18. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

    Who has the best deal at the master level for I/O psychology for non-Americans? Canada is a disappointing there is nothing. Education is still elitist in Canada. If you are a professional in from foreign country stay away from Canada. In Canada, the goal is about rejecting foreign professionals then setting almost unrealistic barriers to entry to the profession. The USA is far more open and welcoming to foreign professionals


    I am learning towards Liberty again, because of price and availability, plus 10% discount for Canadian. I may be a first responder, there is a discount for that. I volunteer with the with our fire department doing some administrate work, also I am one of the of member of the Town ‘s disasters response committee. Anyway, my preference is to go without another intuition, but I don’t want to may more for that preference.


    https://www.liberty.edu/online/behavioral-sciences/masters/applied-psychology/
     
    BlueMason likes this.
  19. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Wake Forest has an online Masters in Counseling program (along with a Masters in Human Services program). I didn't check prices but I'm assuming that WF is not cheap. I'd also add that I found their website to be somewhat difficult to navigate, a problem not seen very often these days.

    https://graduate.wfu.edu/academic-programs-reynolda-campus/
     
  20. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    For most states and provinces, a Psychologist license in the US and Canada require a degree to recognized by either APA or CPA. Also, most states and provinces require a PhD for a license. Not many associations recognize DL degrees for licensing as they expect the person to have some clinical experience with face to face contact. A MS in Psychology alone has use mainly in business as an HR professional, counsellor or psychotherapist. For a business profession, you are better off with an MBA in HR or Industrial Psychology, for a counselling license, not all the states require one but normally you need an accredited degree to be insured as a counsellor in private practice. The same for psychotherapy, the license normally requires specific coursework and experience. However, the competition in the mental field is fierce and most people would go and see a psychologist before seeing a counsellor or psychoterapist, mainly because these last two are normally not recognized for health insurance purposes (at least in Canada) so most counsellors and psychotherapists work under a psychologist or work in Schools, clinics, etc as employees.


    If the ultimate goal is license, I wouldnt go the DL route as you need to complete hours of experience under a licensed person, this would be the main obstacle for you and few would care about hiring a DL graduate in psychology when there are tons of available candidates at a local school. You would have a very hard time getting someone to hire you with a DL degree from India for clinical work unless they know you very well or you are already licensed.
     

Share This Page