BA/BS Psych help please!

Discussion in 'Nursing and medical-related degrees' started by dane813, Oct 27, 2005.

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  1. dane813

    dane813 New Member

    Hi there!
    I have been reading threads from this site for a few days now. I think I have read just about all I can without my head blowing!! I have gotten so much useful information from all of the postings.
    Now I am looking for a bit of advise.
    I am going to go back to school for my BA/BS in Psychology. From there, my PLAN is to earn my Master's in Counseling or Doctorate in Counseling Psychology. I have done so much research about online schools and Arizona licensing requirements and I still can't figure out which school would be best. I am looking for any advice, personal experience etc that anyone might have to offer. I don't know if it is more important to go to a school with a "big university" name attached to it. (Univ of Maryland). Or if it would be best to go to a school that I could continue my education at for my masters or doc (NCU or NU). There are so many things I have to sort through to decide which is the best. I am looking for any help. Like I said, I have read through so many posts on this site and added some ideas to my pros and cons lists, I am just looking for a bit more help.
    Thanks so much,
    Dana
     
  2. Longwaytogo

    Longwaytogo New Member

    Hi, Dana, I'm with you in this search! I will watch and see what advice you get from others. This process is daunting, as you are finding out. If all we wanted was to get a bachelor's degree, it wouldn't be too difficult, would it?

    What sort of feedback are you looking for?
     
  3. dane813

    dane813 New Member

    At this point, I am looking for any feedback! If someone has had a good or bad experience with a school, someone's opinion on what is most important in choosing a school (big name, further education in same school, years established, etc), anything would be helpful. I am thinking eventually I as going to hear something that will just click and it will all be clear to me what is the best choice. (Yeah right, I am dreaming huh??)
    Thanks for the help!
    Dana
     
  4. Longwaytogo

    Longwaytogo New Member

    One thing I learned the hard way recently - check out what the school's format for online work actually is. I withdrew from two courses in psychology after receiving the packet of grading information from the school, and learning that all exams are essay type, proctored and timed, to be handwritten in little bound blue books. I was looking for online coursework whereas they offered "individualized study." Protect that GPA for grad school!
     
  5. simon

    simon New Member


    Hi Dana,

    In order to obtain a better idea of your needs I would need more information. You mention that you are going back to school for your BA/BS. Have you completed any undergraduate coursework and how many credits did you actually complete?

    It is good to plan for the future and there are a number of online graduate schools in counseling that would probably meet the licensure requirements of your state. However, let us get a better understanding of your academic standing now prior to inundating you with the names of numerous graduate schools. Simon
     
  6. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    The "Big 3"would likely meet your needs for the bachelor degree in psychology.

    Thomas Edison State College

    Charter Oak State College

    Excelsior

    These are assessment colleges which means you can earn a degree from them using transfer courses, CLEPS, DANTES, TECEPS, ACE, etc.

    One advantage if protecting your GPA for graduate school is a concern is that at least Thomas Edison State College allows you to exclude grades/courses that might hurt the GPA. Based on the advice of many on this board it is advisable to knockout the bachelor degree as quickly as possible, often through testing (CLEP, TECEP, DANTES) in those areas where you are able. If at all possible find on-line courses and distance education courses that do not require proctored exams. Athabasca University offers a good selection of courses with no proctored examinations. If you need a sample list send me a private message (PM) or post to this thread.

    If you are starting from 0 credit hours I would recommend you allow yourself at least 2 - 2.5 years to complete the BA/BS degree. Read the odyssey by 'unixman' for an excellent overview of the testing process.
     
  7. PhD2B

    PhD2B Dazed and Confused

    IMHO…Since a graduate degree is crucial to practice as a counselor and getting into a graduate program that leads to certification is another important step, go with a university that will make your transition from undergraduate students to graduate student to counselor easier…go with the big-name university if possible. On a side note, check with your state’s licensing requirements before enrolling in any university to make sure the university’s program meets those licensing requirements.

    Once you’re a certified counselor, a PhD from a lesser-known university should be fine.

     
  8. dane813

    dane813 New Member

    Sorry, I should have given some background information in the beginning. I have a general associates degree. I have about 100 credit hours, obviously not all of them would transfer. More than likely with the credits I already have, I probably have all my general/core classes taken care of. However, I have only taken one psychology class, the basic Intro to Psychology.
    All the feedback has been awesome! Thanks a million!
    Dana
     
  9. Longwaytogo

    Longwaytogo New Member

    Dana, your situation sounds so similar to mine, and I agree you are getting some very pertinent suggestions here!

    The concept that I originally had about big schools versus small schools was challenged by the experience I mentioned above in this thread.

    I had wondered if I'd be lost in the shuffle at a big University and felt that a small school might serve my needs better. But after the experience I've just gone through, I'm reversing that idea - small school may mean more intense expectations on the part of the faculty! I am sure that's way too much of a generalization, however.

    So, TESC may forgive some grades? Good to know!
     
  10. simon

    simon New Member

    Dana,

    So you will need to obtain a number of foundation undergraduate courses (or if possible test equivalents as noted by Sentinel) in psychology including statistics, history and systems of psychology, abnormal psychology, theories of personality, experimental psychology, social psychology, physiological psychology and related coursework. You also may need several undergraduate courses in science and math although not necessarily. These courses will provide you with the foundation for graduate work in professional counseling.

    You may wish to explore the schools noted by Sentinel in his post above. You may also wish to contact schools like NCU to determine if they have a program that would allow you to complete a combined BA/MA program in order to expedite your completion of your graduate degree. In any case speak with the respective admission counselors at these schools to obtain their feedback regarding the options available to you to complete your BA and possibly MA degree.

    As suggested by PHD2B you also may wish to contact your state board of licensure to obtain feedback regarding their level of acceptance of graduate degrees from distance non face-to-face schools such as NCU. However keep in mind that any feedback you may receive regarding graduate coursework requirements for licensure are open to change and may not be applicable at the time you would complete a graduate degree in counseling.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 27, 2005
  11. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    Apparently, I have heard it is possible to have certain grades/courses suppressed and replaced with other grades/courses. But as long as you can graduate with a GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 there should be no hurdles, other than the usual, to graduate school.
     
  12. dane813

    dane813 New Member

    Ok, I am sure I am going to sound ignorant, but what is the "Big 3" all about? Why are they called the big 3? I have done (I thought) a lot of research on some online schools and this is the first I have heard of these schools. Yikes, maybe I haven't researched as much as I thought I had.
    Thanks for all the help!!
    Dana
     
  13. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    The big 3 of independent study. Excelsior College, Thomas Edison State College and Charter Oak State College are the three 'assessment' colleges. They will award credit for CLEP tests, DANTES tests, Ohio University tests, their own tests, etc. Thomas Edison has a PLA (prior learning assessment) process for attaining credit. At those three schools it is possible to get an undergraduate degree without sitting a single classroom course.
     
  14. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    Hi Dana,

    Check out National University (http://www.nu.edu). I just enrolled there last month as a Psych undergrad major. You can transfer up to 69s.u. (semester units) lower division credits and up to 27s.u. upper division credits.

    National offers a BA in Psychology, available 100% online. The majority of the courses at NU are 4-weeks in length. In general, students take one course at a time. In a year's time, you could complete 36 credits. Note, that NU follows the quarter unit system. Just divide the number by 1.5 to get the equivalent semester unit figure (e.g. 4.5q.u. = 3s.u.).

    You may view all of the NU online degree offerings here:

    http://www.nu.edu/Academics/OnlineEducation/OnlineDegreesandProg.html

    Tuition information may be found here:

    http://www.nu.edu/Admissions/Undergraduate/Tuition.html



    There are other (cheaper) schools out there offering a BA/BS Psychology degree online. However, National University may be one of the faster ways to earn your degree online (aside from the "big 3" of course).

    Anyway, good luck!

    - Tom Illgen
     
  15. dane813

    dane813 New Member

    Tom!!
    I know you have been enrolled for only a month, but how do you like it so far??? Any problems yet or anything you are really happy with???
    Dana
     
  16. japhy4529

    japhy4529 House Bassist

    National University


    Dana,

    So far, I've enjoyed my experience at National University. As I mentioned before, they are a bit on the expensive side ($1044/course). Also, while National University is regionally accredited through WASC, the rigor of the BA Psychology program is not on par with some of the other online schools (e.g. Nova Southeastern University). I am basing this comment on the program requirements for the major, as I have not taken a Psych course from NU as of yet. This is not to say that you could not enter a Graduate Psych program with an BA/BS from National. This is very possible and I plan on possibly doing this myself upon graduation.

    I just finished my first class (Intro to Communications - COM100). This was my first experience with an online class. The school uses the Blackboard system (which is just okay). Interestingly, it was also the Professor's first experience teaching an online course. After a few small snags, everything went smoothly. Most courses at NU have an "online class" component, where you logon at a set time each week to have a "virtual classroom discussion". This was mandatory for my first class (COM 100), however in my second class, "Geography:Mapping (SCI 300) the World", the online class is optional. Also, most courses require that you post information on the classes discussion board and also respond/critique other class members posts as well. This is a graded component to the classes.

    The exams are NOT proctored, however unless you are VERY familiar with the subject matter beforehand, one cannot generally just waltz in (er, online) and ace the exam without studying. I did study before the mid-term and final, however I do admit to referencing the textbook several times throughout the tests! The exams for the COM 100 course were multiple choice, timed exams. You take the exams online and there is a little counter at the bottom to let you know how much time you have remaining to complete the test.

    Finally, many of courses require the completion of an essay. For instance, my Geography class requires two, 2000 word essays. Keep in mind that this is an upper level, two month Science course. The majority of the courses taught at NU are one month in length.

    Good luck!

    - Tom

    P.S. Here is another option for you. You may (and I underscore MAY) want to check out SCUPS (Southern California University for Professional Studies) - http://www.scups.edu/. WARNING, SCUPS is not an accredited school. With that said, SCUPS has recently entered into an agreement with Northcentral University (which is Regionally Accredited), through which units and degrees earned at SCU are transferable to NCU, a 100% distance education university with no residency and no attendance requirements.

    You could start a Bachelor's/Master's OR Ph.D at SCUPS (saving a ton of money) and then transfer over to NCU to complete the degree.

    You can read all about it on SCUPS website:
    http://www.scups.edu

    I understand that you're already familiar with NCU, so you probably don't need the URL, but here it is anyway:

    http://www.ncu.edu.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 27, 2005
  17. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    Hi Dana - Here's my advice, for what it's worth.

    Pick the best RA university that you can afford and enroll in the Bachelors degree program in Psychology. Don't even think about grad school. Think about getting the absolute BEST grads you possibly can. If you earn a BA in Psych with excellent grades then you will get into any DL Masters program that you can find.
    Don't try to plan beyond your Bachelors degree. After all, the best program for you might not exist yet. Once that BA degree is within reach you can start looking around for grad programs.
    Jack
     
  18. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

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