California Southern University

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Counseling and Psychology Degrees Offered at California Southern University

California Southern University appears in our ranking of the 30 Most Affordable Master’s in Psychology Online Degree Programs.

The School of Behavioral Sciences at California Southern University offers online degrees in psychology. The degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Master of Arts in Psychology, Master of Science in Psychology, Doctor of Psychology, and Post-Baccalaureate Certificates in Addiction Studies, Advanced Addiction Studies, Healthcare Services, Industrial Psychology, Pastoral Counseling, and Sport Psychology.

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology provides students with a solid foundation with a focus on science and human behavior. Students learn about fundamental theories, how various factors affect human behavior, and various theories of learning, memory, motivation, and cognition and how they are related to behavior. A total of 120 credit hours are needed for completion of the degree. The courses include Introduction to Psychology, Theories and Techniques of Counseling and Psychology, Basic Abnormal Psychology, Fundamentals of Research Methodology, Introduction to Social Psychology, and Capstone Project.

The Master of Arts in Psychology program emphasizes marriage and family therapy. Students learn about various psychotherapeutic methods, ethical and cultural issues, and current practices in the field. The program requires a total of 60 credits. The courses include Counseling Theories and Strategies, Ethical and Legal Issues in Therapy, Cultural and Diversity in Counseling, Group Counseling, Advanced Counseling Techniques, and Systems of Care in Community Mental Health.

The Master of Science in Psychology provides students with a comprehensive foundation in psychology. Students are able to focus on sports psychology, industrial psychology, pastoral counseling, general psychology, or advanced addiction studies. A minimum of 42 credit hours are needed to complete the program. The courses include Counseling Theories and Strategies, Therapeutic Boundaries, Psychopathology, Group Counseling, Social Psychology, and Advanced Ethical and Professional Issues in Addiction Counseling. Students must also complete a supervised practicum and master’s thesis.

The Doctor of Psychology is an applied clinically focused degree that is geared toward students who are inclined toward therapy, counseling, and clinical work. The program prepares students to become licensed as clinical psychologists. Students must complete a total of 66 credits for the degree. The courses include Advanced Theories of Personality, History and Systems of Psychology, Advanced Psychopathology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology, Research Methods in Psychology, and Psychological Assessment.

About California Southern University

California Southern University is a private, for-profit online institution of higher learning in Costa Mesa, California. It was founded in 1978 with the intention of providing affordable high-quality education for nontraditional students. It was first named the Southern California University for Professional Studies. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the university became a pioneer in distance education. It was one of the first to implement concepts like active self-learning, one-on-one faculty mentoring, and personalized learning. The university fully transitioned to an online institution in 2007 and changed its name to California Southern University.

California Southern University offers a unique blend of academic quality, affordability, convenience, and personalized support. It provides education in areas with an identified significant need. It promotes intellectual inquiry that advances the professional, social, and cultural development of students. The degree programs are relevant, robust, and constantly updated to reflect modern developments in the areas. The programs blend traditional modes of education in an online format to allow students to meet their goals. Students have the ability to understand ideas and facts, think analytically, and to clearly express conclusions. The university offers more than 30 certificates and degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels in business, psychology, law, nursing, and criminal justice. The Schools of Behavioral Sciences, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, Business, Nursing, and Law offer the programs. All coursework is completed online according to the student’s schedule to enable them to balance their busy professional personal lives. Students receive personalized guidance and support from enrollment through graduation. A team of faculty, advisors, deans, and support professionals assists students in reaching their educational and professional goals. The team monitors, assesses, and reports student’s academic progress.

California Southern University Accreditation Details

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges regionally accredits California Southern University to grant bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission nationally accredits the Doctor of Psychology.

California Southern University Application Requirements

Undergraduate

  • Enrollment Application Online
  • Official high school transcript
  • Official transcripts from prior enrolled colleges and universities
  • Official SAT or ACT scores
  • Nonrefundable $75 application fee

Graduate

  • Graduate Application Online
  • Official transcripts from prior enrolled colleges and universities
  • Official graduate-level examinations, such as the GRE, MAT, and GMAT
  • Nonrefundable $75 application fee

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition

California Southern University offers affordable tuition that never increases as long as a student is in his or her degree or certificate program.

Undergraduate

  • Undergraduate certificates, associate degrees: $425 per credit hour
  • Bachelor’s degrees: $395 and $425 per credit hour

Graduate

  • Graduate certificates and degrees: $545 per credit

Payment Plans

California Southern University does not participate in federal financial aid programs. It offers reasonably priced tuition that is locked in at enrollment to provide students with a set rate that does not increase. It offers payment plans with zero interest to help students prevent the accumulation of debt. There are five payment options:

Option 1: Pay in Full

Students pay full tuition upfront with no monthly payments and graduate without debt.

Option 2: Semester-at-a Time Payment Plan

Students pay full tuition as they progress through the program. They manage payments and graduate debt free.

Option 3: Monthly Payment Plan

Students pay 50 percent payments every semester. They graduate without debt.

Option 4: E-Z Monthly Payment Plans

Students pay $250 per month for undergraduate programs and $350 per month for graduate programs. No interest is added.

Option 5: Third-Party Payer

Students pay their tuition using a third party, such as employer assistance, GI Bill benefits, and vocational rehabilitation.

Counseling and psychology degrees provide students with the necessary education and skills to help individuals, groups, and populations suffering from issues related to mental health and behavior. The counseling and psychology degrees offered by California Southern University prepare students for an array of job options in private practices schools, health care facilities, government agencies, and businesses and corporations.