Walden Forum: Tackling the Face-to-Face Components of an Online Psychology or Mental Health Counseling Program
September 13, 2006 Questions and Answers
Q: A: Can the internship and dissertation requirements be completed concurrently? In Ph.D. licensure programs, the internship can be completed concurrent with the dissertation; this is a relatively common experience. The practicum is typically completed prior to the beginning of the dissertation, but can be completed during dissertation. Is a practicum or an internship required for Ph.D. students in a non-licensure program? For a non-licensure program, no field training component is required. If the program does not require a practicum or internship, you cannot add one. Is there any way to determine in advance whether the face-to-face experiences at an online university will count toward the requirements for a licensed psychologist in Connecticut? The Academic Year in Residency is accepted by many states to fulfill the practicum requirement. Any questions around licensure and your particular state should be directed to your state licensing board. I am interested in becoming a faculty member in higher education in the field of psychology. Which educational path do you recommend? Most places require faculty to have a Ph.D. to teach in a four-year university. A Ph.D. in any one of our specializations helps to prepare you to assume faculty positions for which you are qualified. A Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in General Psychology–Educational Track would be appropriate if you are interested in understanding more about teaching and learning theories and applications. However, this should not be considered your only option if you are interested in teaching at the university level. Generally, if taking one course per quarter, how long does it take to achieve a Ph.D. without a licensure track? It will vary. The biggest predictor in time to completion is the dissertation. The coursework averages two to 2.5 years. Part time averages four to five years. A dissertation takes about 18 months to complete.
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If you are in a non-licensure program, is there room to decide later if you want a licensure? Yes, Walden provides that flexibility. You can apply for a program change at any time. If you think you might change, our suggestion would be to take courses that count for both programs from the outset. What are the more common position titles of M.S. in Mental Health Counseling graduates? Examples include hospital counselors, researchers, and nonprofit employees working in practice and community-based organizations. One common title is Licensed Professional Counselor. Is Walden attempting to become an accredited CACREP program for the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling? Walden is currently pursuing CACREP (The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) accreditation for the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program. A self-study is expected to be submitted during the winter 2006 term with a site visit anticipated during 2007. With respect to the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, how far in advance are practicum and internship dates set? Students can enter the practicum or internship during any term in the academic year. However, in the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program, field training begins approximately three terms prior to expected completion of the program. What type of placement follow-up studies is done for the graduates of the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program? We are beginning to formulate ways to collect this data. As our program is only one year old, we do not yet have graduates from the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program. Is there a residency requirement for an M.S. in Psychology? There are no residency requirements for the M.S. in Psychology. There are two six-day residencies for the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program. One occurs within the first three terms of matriculation; the second occurs near the end of the program. If I am in the M.S. in Psychology program and I want to enter the Ph.D. program, what is the process and when would I start the Academic Year in Residence? If you are currently in the M.S. in Psychology program, you would complete the M.S. degree (all required coursework and the thesis) and then apply for the Ph.D. program. Generally, students who come into the Walden Ph.D. program with an M.S. degree from Walden, transfer in enough credits that they can start the Academic Year in Residence as soon as three to four terms into the Ph.D. program (though most students start the Academic Year in Residence no earlier than six terms).
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I live in Oregon. I have approached the state organization regarding LPC, and they have not gotten back to me about whether Walden is able to meet the criteria. Any questions around licensure and your particular state should be directed to your state licensing board. Our suggestion would be to go to the Web site for your state’s board and print out the relevant requirements. I am an American currently in India and plan on remaining here. Does Walden University have the capability to support the requirements for the internship and training? This presents a unique challenge. If you are interested in pursuing licensure in the United States, you will need to contact the appropriate state board for requirements for the practicum and internship. It is more difficult to support these experiences overseas. If you plan to seek licensure (or its equivalent) in India, we suggest that you contact the relevant regulatory agencies to understand the extent to which our program would meet their requirements. Does Walden have the resources to maintain an internship abroad? No specific policy currently exists—it is handled on a case-by-case basis. It really depends on where the student wants to get credentialed. Students should research the licensing requirements for the area where they would like to work and together with Walden, determine what makes the most sense. Do students generally find internships in their home states if they are employed in an unrelated field? We do not come across too many students who have trouble finding internships. If they run into difficulty, they can seek assistance from faculty and staff at Walden University. How do the students get individual attention from the faculty? Classes consist of approximately 20 students. With that class size, faculty really get to know the students and interact closely. Also, each course has required office hours during which students and faculty can connect with each other (though not face to face). During the dissertation or thesis phase of the program, the thesis/dissertation chair and the student work very closely together (usually through email, telephone, and sometimes face to face). It is a collaborative effort to help the dissertation work reach completion. During academic residencies, students have many opportunities to meet with faculty face to face during advising sessions, in seminars, and over meals. Thus, there are many opportunities for faculty-student interaction. What is a realistic time commitment if the program is done part time? Some students choose to go part time doing one course per term. The expectations are that the students will spend 20–25 hours a week for two courses. There are time limits on the program. Students still have to meet the maximum time requirements for being a student in this program at Walden.
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How does Walden focus programs online to individual students? First, coursework allows you to bring your experiences into the classroom; additionally, most courses require either a major paper or project that can be tailored to your individual interests. At residencies, students have the option of participating in a wide variety of intensive seminars that meet students’ individual needs. The dissertation and thesis experience also provides the opportunity for students to conduct research in specific areas of interest. Finally, the practicum and internship experiences can be tailored to meet the specific practice needs of the student. What are the financial assistance options available? There are many options available. Stafford student loans Employer tuition reimbursements www.tuitionpay.com o Make monthly payments Veterans benefits o VA as well as the GI Bill Tuition reductions (Not valid for Tennessee residents.) o Spouse, parent or child (25%) and groups of 5 or more (10%) Private loans (www.Teri.org) o Student loans that are credit-based Walden fellowships
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