Psychology and Counseling Degrees with a Christian View at Regent University
Regent University appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Master’s Degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy Online.
The goal of Regent University is to offer world-class studies from a Christian viewpoint. Since counseling is a vital part of Christian ministry, this especially applies to the many counseling and psychology degrees at Regent.
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology can be earned in a traditional classroom format or online. Students in this program study psychological methods, theories, and motivations. They learn to interpret psychological data and understand how personality influences behavior. Classes last either eight or fifteen weeks.
The Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Clinical and Counseling Psychology is available online or in classroom format as well. The degree contains 120 credit-hours and includes three requisite semesters of Spanish. This degree does not prepare students for licensure as a clinical counselor, but it does give them foundational knowledge of human behavior. Some of the courses included are several Bible classes, General Biology, Introduction to Economics, Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology and others.
There is also an online Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies-Psychology, a minor and an associate degree in psychology.
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60 credit-hour program that does prepare graduates for licensure. It is available online, but students must also do two one-week residencies on campus during the program. There are 45 core courses in psychology plus 15 in the concentration, including an internship. There are available 16-week sessions.
The Master of Arts in Human Services is 100 percent online. The degree can be earned with one of eleven concentrations including Criminal Justice and Ministry, Grief Counseling, Human Services Counseling, and others. Sample classes in the degree program are Foundations of Human Service, Behavioral Science Foundations, Behavioral Ethics in the Human Sciences Fields, Helping Skills and Techniques and the Internship.
Other graduate degrees available in this discipline are The Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling, The Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling, The Master of Arts in School Counseling and the Master of Science in General Psychology. The MS in General Psychology is a 39- credit-hour, non-licensure degree with available concentrations in Addictions, Cyberpsychology and Cybersecurity, Marriage and Family, Leadership Coaching, Doctoral Preparation, and Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
Doctoral degrees in psychology and counseling include the Doctor of Educational Psychology (Ed.D.), the Doctor of Educational Leadership ( Ed.S.), the Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychological Studies and the Ph.D. in Education, all of which are online programs.
The PsyD. In Clinical Psychology is taught on campus. It is a terminal degree in the discipline and leads to state licensure. It is available in a master’s-to-doctoral program that features flexible internships in several locations and can be completed in four years of full-time study.
Students may also earn a Certificate of Graduate Studies in Psychology and Counseling.
About Regent University
This private Christian research school is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Founded by Pat Robertson in 1978, it was initially called The Christian Broadcasting Network University but changed its name to Regent University in 1990.
The university is comprised of five colleges and an online component that has more than 80 programs of study. There are more than 132 degree programs offered in the traditional university. Regent University has a student body of more than 10,000 students. Most classes have fewer than twenty students, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1.
The US News and World Report ranks Regent University as tied for #201 of National Universities. It is also tied for #35 of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.
Regent University Accreditation Details
- The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
- Psychology programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.
Regent University Application Requirements
All prospective Regent students apply online. Undergraduate applicants must submit their unofficial high school transcripts to the university as well as arranging to have the official SAT or ACT scores sent to Regent. The online application form contains a personal statement section that must be completed by the applicant, and there is a non-refundable $50 application fee.
Students applying to the graduate programs in Clinical Psychology and Counseling must apply online. There is a $50 non-refundable application fee that will be waived if the applicant attends an informational online or on-campus session about admission and financial aid. Students must complete the Academic Background Questionnaire Licensure Survey contained in the application form. They must also submit a resume to Regent and an unofficial transcript of all undergraduate work completed. Graduates should arrange to have their official scores for the GRE or MAT sent to the school as well.
All students must present a government-issued ID.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition at Regent University can be quoted as a 12-credit block. That amount is $8,490 per semester. Per-credit-hour costs average $595. Full-time undergraduate online students pay an average of $395 per credit-hour. Additionally, various fees are assessed. Graduate tuition varies by program. For instance, the Master of Arts in Counseling costs $750 per-credit-hour, while the Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling costs $595 per credit hour. The Ph.D. programs average $56,100 and the master’s programs average $17,800.
Housing and meal plans add to the cost of an education for those who live on campus. Figuring those charges in along with fees and personal expenses, the estimated cost-of-attendance at Regent is $29,763 per year for undergraduates.
Most students need assistance paying for their degrees. The first step in getting that help is completing the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Assistance. The government program awards grants and loans as well as funding some work-study programs for those with demonstrable financial need. Students who qualify for the Pell or the SEOG Grants will probably also qualify for certain state and institutional grants. After receiving their awards letter from the FAFSA program, students should investigate other financial opportunities. Virginia has funds available for state residents who qualify for them. Some of these are needs-based, and some are based on gender, ethnicity or other qualifications. Regent has several merit-based scholarships, loans and church fund-matching grants for students as well. These can be found on the school website.
Students who exhaust all these funds and still have a debt should consider a student loan which has lower interest and a deferred payback option or part-time employment. There are many ways to pay for a psychology or counseling degree at Regent University.