Studying Psychology & Counseling at Arizona State University
One of the most convenient features of many of the psychology and counseling degrees at Arizona State University is that they’re available at several campuses throughout the state, as well as fully online. Additionally, the university offers a selection of concentrations within many of its degree programs, so students can major in an area like psychology and then choose a concentration like forensic psychology.
Available degrees in psychology at Arizona State University include a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science in Counseling and Applied Psychological Science. The degrees in psychology are both available with general, forensic psychology, and psychological science concentrations.
At the graduate level, students may pursue a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology, a Master of Science in Psychology, and a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis. For doctoral students, options include a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, a Ph.D. in Law and Psychology, a Ph.D. in Psychology with an emphasis in Quantitative Research Methods, and a Ph.D. in Psychology.
An interesting degree option related to counseling at Arizona State University is the Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy. There is also the Graduate Certificate in Applied Prevention Science. Students who want to earn their counseling or psychology degree online will choose the MS degrees in forensic psychology or psychology or the BS degrees in those same focus areas.
One of the interesting options for degree-seekers at Arizona State University is the accelerated program option where students earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in an abbreviated format. One option is the Bachelor of Science in Psychology, which may be earned at the same time as a Master of Arts in Communication Studies, as well as in degrees in global management, social justice & human rights, or global management.
A selection of classes students might take as psychology or counseling undergraduate students at ASU includes Introduction to Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Psychopharmacology, Abnormal Psychology, and Developmental Psychology. For graduate students, degree requirements may include classes like Professional Issues in Psychology, Research Methods, and Quantitative Analysis. Graduate students are also able to complete their graduate degree with a thesis option or final project option.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University was established in 1885 as a public research university. Spanning five campuses across Phoenix and its nearby cities, the university also has four regional learning centers across the state of Arizona. Throughout its campuses, the university has more than 80,000 students enrolled in undergraduate classes and more than 20,000 students enrolled in graduate and certificate programs. The university has more than 4,700 faculty members.
Distinguished faculty members have been recipients of awards like the Pulitzer Prize and the Genius Grant, and the university has also employed several MacArthur Fellows, Fulbright Scholars, and Nobel Laureates. The official colors of the university are gold and maroon, and the university’s official mascot is named Sparky. The popular sports teams at the university play as the Sun Devils.
Arizona State University Accreditation Details
Arizona State University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which is one of several commissions throughout the United States that are tasked with approving institutions of higher learning. The university was first accredited in 1931 and has maintained that accreditation since that time. Reaccreditation occurs every ten years. There are also several programs at the university with specialized accreditation.
Accrediting agencies include the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, and The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Additional approvals have been granted by the American Bar Association, the American Psychological Association, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Arizona State University Application Requirements
Prospective degree seekers who want to apply to Arizona State University must meet one of four qualifying aptitude requirements to gain admittance. Students must graduate in the top 25 percent of their high school class, earn a 3.00 or higher GPA in the university’s recommended competency courses, earn an ACT score of 22, or receive an SAT score of 1120. Students can still gain successful admittance to the university under certain circumstances even if they don’t meet all admission requirements.
The admissions process includes completion of the admission application, submission of a non-refundable application fee, and submission of official high school transcripts. Prospective students should have their high school send transcripts directly to the university. Similarly, students should have their SAT or ACT scores sent directly from the testing institution to the university.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Base tuition for Arizona resident students at ASU is $6,426 or $10,710 and depends on which campus the student attends. For example, the Downtown Phoenix campus is $10,710, and the Lake Havasu campus is $6,426. Non-resident students will pay $28,800 for programs at all campuses except the Lake Havasu campus, which charges $10,368 for base tuition.
For graduate students, base tuition and mandatory fees are $11,720 for Arizona residents, $23,544 for non-residents, and $25,200 for international students. The university estimates that books will cost $628. Housing costs are estimated at $8,460, and meals are estimated at $3,348. Students should also consider costs for transportation, personal expenses, and health insurance when figuring out their total cost of attendance.
Students may receive a variety of types of assistance when they apply for financial aid at Arizona State University. Options include loans, Federal Work-Study awards, on-campus jobs, scholarships, and grants. To qualify for federal student loans, applicants must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. There are several institutional scholarships for which students may qualify, and applicants are encouraged to explore available gift aid.
Receiving loans through the federal student loan program requires that students complete a FAFSA form online, so the university can determine the amount of financial assistance the student may need to pay for tuition and other college costs. The form is available at the beginning of October, and students are encouraged to complete the form as early as possible to secure the best financial aid package. Filing a FAFSA can help students qualify for federal student aid, as well as institutional aid from Arizona State University and state aid.