NorthCentral PhD Psychology--guidance please

I would really appreciate some guidance. I'm still looking for a PhD program and I keep coming back to the Psych PhD at NorthCentral b/c it has no residency requirement and it seems very spelled out. You work at your own pace etc. It just doesn't seem too complicated. I live in Alaska so it is almost impossible for me to do residencies. The other two schools I am really interested in are Capella and Union who both require several residences. NOt just one but several. This really makes these two go out the window for me. I need a no residency accredited PhD program. That's kind of like asking for an ice cream sundae with no calories I guess. THey just don't exist. North Central seems to be the best thing i've seen so far. I already looked at Touro and it doesn't interest me b/c I'm not wanting an admin degree.

Here is my question. What good is a Psych PhD that is NOT accredited by the APA? Is there even a point to that? Will I be laughed out of town? As far as I know you only have to be APA accredited if you are going into clinical or counseling psychology. Am I right?? But does that mean if your psych degree is in general psychology or some other area of psych that it is ok for it to not be APA. I am mostly using it for teaching at community college etc. and just personal interest. What do you think?

 

I seem to remember NCU advertising the Ph.D. in psychology as something to the effect of a Ph.D. in "theoretical psychology" or "psychology (non-counseling)." I'm not sure how long ago this was, or even if I'm thinking of the right school, but I'd say that a regionally accredited Ph.D. in psychology would qualify you for APA membership, some teaching gigs, writing/research, etc. I briefly considered the NCU program myself, and might have actually gone with it had they (a) achieved regional accreditation sooner and (b) offered a psychology of religion specialization.


Cheers,

 

psych accrediation

Each State sets it's own requirements for practice as a clinical or counseling psychologist. Some States may require APA accreditation, others do not. You should check the requirements for the State where you wish to practice.

For college teaching, generally there is no requirement that one's doctorate be from an APA school. Whether a doctorate in psych from Northcentral, or any online program depends upon the practices of the particular employing school. Usually, RA is the MINIMUM required.

Depending on the competition, and one's own reputation NC might be competitive then again it may not.

In your position, I would have a frank discussion with whoever does the hiring and I would check the credentials of others on the faculty. Of course requirements also change.

 

If you want to actually practice as a licensed psychologist, then APA accreditation is very important.

However, I think APA accreditation is less important to psychologists than ABA accreditation is to lawyers. One of the reasons is that Harvard University (to mention but one top-tier school) does not have APA accreditation, yet graduates of their Ph.D. in Psychology program can sit for the licensing boards in almost (if not all) all states.

Top-tier schools aside, I think a RA (but not APA) Ph.D. in Psychology would be very valuable for undergrad teaching jobs, where APA accreditation doesn't really matter.

 

Just curious...since you are completing a MA in Education, will you need to compete all 81 credits for the PhD? I am considering the PhD program in Psych (Industrial/Organizational) but do not like the idea of not getting much transfer credits for my MS.

 

NCU will accept up to 30 graduate level transfer credits towards a PhD. My MA from USF was only 33 credits, so I only had 3 unused credits.

 

Check with them about what they'll transfer. Since my Master's wasn't in Psychology, they only allowed one course, leaving me having to complete over 70 units with them.

 

I am afraid that they may not transfer very much which would be dissapointing. HOwever I think it's the best thing out there for me at the moment. I think it's the most realistic option for me. It has no residency and it seems very do-able (did I spell that right?) Well the point is that it seems like it will be a useful degree for me b/c I"m not looking to get into licensed counseling as a psychologist. I just want to teach with it. So I really think NCU it is!

 

If you intend to teach at the community college level it should be a good option. If you intend to teach at University level and get a full time tenure position, you might experience some problems. Some universities tend to look down at online degrees from virtual universities, however, you can always make up this weakness by a good research publication record. The other way is to do a post-doc at a respectable university after you finish your PhD at NCU, this will increase your chances of getting a full time tenure position at a good university.

No matter what, a PhD from NCU is better than no degree at all.

 

If you intend to teach at the community college level it should be a good option. If you intend to teach at University level and get a full time tenure position, you might experience some problems. Some universities tend to look down at online degrees from virtual universities, however, you can always make up this weakness by a good research publication record. The other way is to do a post-doc at a respectable university after you finish your PhD at NCU, this will increase your chances of getting a full time tenure position at a good university.

No matter what, a PhD from NCU is better than no degree at all.

 

If you intend to teach at the community college level it should be a good option. If you intend to teach at University level and get a full time tenure position, you might experience some problems. Some universities tend to look down at online degrees from virtual universities, however, you can always make up this weakness by a good research publication record. The other way is to do a post-doc at a respectable university after you finish your PhD at NCU, this will increase your chances of getting a full time tenure position at a good university.

No matter what, a PhD from NCU is better than no degree at all.

 

As was noted by an earlier post, each state sets its own licensing requirements for psychologists. Many of these laws echo basic APA accreditation requirements even though the laws may not require graduation from an actual APA accredited program. That's the basic reason behind Capella's residency requirements.

Of course, since you are not seeking licensing as a psychologist, the above is merely a side note. (Although you might see if the degree could possibly qualify you for licensure as a professional counselor...)

For most accredited colleges, an advanced degree from a RA school is the minimum standard for faculty positions.

Regards,
GE

 

In reference to the counseling option I find your suggestion a good one. I know it is much easier to get licensed as an LPC than a psychologist. I could obtain an LPC license by taking the appropriate coursework in the PhD program and then I suppose locating an internship of some kind. I know that you have to have certain classes and they seem to offer all of those. I think I will just go for the General Psychology program that way I can tailor my classes however I want. So I leave my options open.

Ultimately, I have no big goals such as getting on as faculty and tenure etc.. I'm not at all interested in that. I'm just looking for something that I can do on a part time basis or better yet from home. My big job in life is raising my children and supporting my husband's military career which keeps us on the move about every 2 years so I am not even in a lifestyle that would allow me to commit to a college faculty position. I just want to teach a few DL classes or teach a few classes up at the comm. college. Then maybe if I get enough classes in to get an LPC license I could do that here and there on the side. Maybe work part time for someone who has their own practice. I guess my main goal is to have something to do that I enjoy but pays decently for only being part time.

 

Helping to clear the confusion...

An LPC license, as you mentioned, needs to have a practicum/internship component during acquiring the degree. You will need to get on your transcript a classes that say "practicum" and "internship," etc. It might be possible to go to some local college that offers the Masters level courses in these after getting your doctorate. For Masters level you would have to do a 1000 hour internship. Once you do that then you work on getting the other 2000 required hours to sit for the board exams.

Another person said earlier that you can become a member of the APA with your doctorate. That is true but that does not mean your degree is APA accredited. It just means you are in a club called APA and you are entitled to say you are in the club but you are not a psychologist. APA membership and APA accreditation are two completely different things. They are apples and oranges.

If you want to teach in a Masters level counseling institution of learning or a school that trains for licensed psychology (clinical or counseling psch.) then you will be expected to have a lic. Clinical Psychologist degree which may mean you had to go to an APA accredited school. If you are going to teach at the Community College level or in a school that offers experimental/general pyschology degrees (not for licensure preparation) then your general Psych. Degree would probably suffice.

Whew!





Ultimately, I have no big goals such as getting on as faculty and tenure etc.. I'm not at all interested in that. I'm just looking for something that I can do on a part time basis or better yet from home. My big job in life is raising my children and supporting my husband's military career which keeps us on the move about every 2 years so I am not even in a lifestyle that would allow me to commit to a college faculty position. I just want to teach a few DL classes or teach a few classes up at the comm. college. Then maybe if I get enough classes in to get an LPC license I could do that here and there on the side. Maybe work part time for someone who has their own practice. I guess my main goal is to have something to do that I enjoy but pays decently for only being part time. [/B][/QUOTE]

 

Helping to clear the confusion...

An LPC license, as you mentioned, needs to have a practicum/internship component during acquiring the degree. You will need to get on your transcript a classes that say "practicum" and "internship," etc. It might be possible to go to some local college that offers the Masters level courses in these after getting your doctorate. For Masters level you would have to do a 1000 hour internship. Once you do that then you work on getting the other 2000 required hours to sit for the board exams.

Another person said earlier that you can become a member of the APA with your doctorate. That is true but that does not mean your degree is APA accredited. It just means you are in a club called APA and you are entitled to say you are in the club but you are not a psychologist. APA membership and APA accreditation are two completely different things. They are apples and oranges.

If you want to teach in a Masters level counseling institution of learning or a school that trains for licensed psychology (clinical or counseling psch.) then you will be expected to have a lic. Clinical Psychologist degree which may mean you had to go to an APA accredited school. If you are going to teach at the Community College level or in a school that offers experimental/general pyschology degrees (not for licensure preparation) then your general Psych. Degree would probably suffice.

Whew!





Ultimately, I have no big goals such as getting on as faculty and tenure etc.. I'm not at all interested in that. I'm just looking for something that I can do on a part time basis or better yet from home. My big job in life is raising my children and supporting my husband's military career which keeps us on the move about every 2 years so I am not even in a lifestyle that would allow me to commit to a college faculty position. I just want to teach a few DL classes or teach a few classes up at the comm. college. Then maybe if I get enough classes in to get an LPC license I could do that here and there on the side. Maybe work part time for someone who has their own practice. I guess my main goal is to have something to do that I enjoy but pays decently for only being part time. [/B][/QUOTE]