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Masters in Clinical Psychology: Degree Programs, Top Schools and Career Options

Marty — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:31:14 +0000

Do you want to go for a masters in clinical psychology? A master’s degree can improve your career prospects, increase your earning potential and open up opportunities to pursue further graduate studies. It opens up a variety of career opportunities in private practice, healthcare facilities, academic institutions and the government. A report published by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the employment prospects in the clinical psychology career field will grow at an above average rate up to the year 2018. The average salary for a clinical psychologist is $73,000. Career Opportunities with a Masters in Clinical Psychology The masters in clinical psychology degree will train you to assess, diagnose, treat and prevent mental and emotional illnesses. With a terminal and practice focused masters degree in clinical psychology, you can offer psychotherapy analysis and therapy services on your own or under a licensed clinical psychologist. This degree will prepare you for the following types of careers: Treating emotional disorders Treating child or adult mental health problems Helping those with learning disabilities Treating substance abuse problems Helping patients deal with psychological disorders Health and neuropsychology Teaching and research Marriage and family therapy How to Earn a Clinical Psychology Degree Since clinical psychology degree programs are very competitive, there are strict requirements you need to meet before enrolling into a program. Most clinical degree programs have pre-requisite courses you should have covered in your undergraduate degree, require a good GRE scores or will want you to take some tests before admitting you. Others may want you to have some clinical experience. You will need to consider the different programs available and go for the ones you qualify for and feel offer the type of clinical psychology degree program you want. Go for a degree program accredited by the American Psychological Association. After you are done with your degree, you will also be required to complete a training period and take examinations before you can get a license to practice. Depending on your schedule and class timetable, you can earn your psych degree online through distance learning or on campus. Some programs offer financial assistance while some do not. Best Clinical Psychology Degree Program Terminal master’s degree in psychology offered in some graduate programs Research focused PhD graduate degree programs Practice centered Speed graduate programs Practice and research focused masters degree programs Masters of Arts in clinical Psychology Masters of Science in clinical psychology Clinical Psychology Schools Some of the schools that offer masters in clinical psychology degree program include: Argosy University, American School of Professional Psychology Adler School of Professional Psychology Boston University Drexel University Abilene Christian University Maywood University ST Michael’s College When evaluating clinical psychology degree programs, you need to consider the time you have to dedicate to your studies, the specialty area you want to focus on and where you desire to work. This will ensure that you select the best program and clinical psychology school as you go for your masters in clinical psychology.

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Clinical Psychology Degrees In a Nutshell

Marty — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:09:52 +0000

What is a clinical psychology degree? Clinical psychology is the broadest area of psychology degrees and involves the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and behavioral disorders. Clinical psychologists aren’t authorized to prescribe medication in most states, instead focusing on prevention and therapy. It is a diverse career path that helps individuals, families, couples, and groups in settings such as private practices, mental health organizations, non-profit agencies, hospitals, businesses, and schools. In general, admission into clinical psychology graduate programs are based on your grade point average (this is an average of overall GPA, psychology GPA, and GPA in the last two years); standardized test scores (GRE and MAT); and classes taken (number of hours, subject area, and level). Clinical psychology degree requirements can differ between states. Subjective areas of consideration are letters of recommendation, internships, research experience, related volunteer work, interview performance, and extracurricular activities. Online clinical psychology programs can be further broken down into several unique specialties including child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric mental health; learning disabilities; substance abuse; and health psychology. The first step is to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Most jobs in the field require a doctorate’s degree which takes between five to seven years to complete. In many cases, students choose to train in their specialty while working toward a higher degree in clinical psychology. There are two types of clinical psychology doctoral degrees available so students should have their career goals in mind when looking into psychology degree graduate programs. A PhD focuses on subjects such as quantitative method and research design, and requires completion of a dissertation based on the student’s original research. Ultimately, a PhD leads to a career in research and although it takes a longer to complete, PhD work generally receives more funding. A PsyD takes a little less time to complete and prepares student for clinical and practitioner work. Psychology programs can also vary in approach, focusing on behavioral, cognitive, biological, or psychoanalytic psychology. Each state has unique requirements for licensing or certification. Clinical psychologists must either pursue a state-specific license or choose to practice in 1 of 31 states that recognizes the transferrable certification granted by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). In states that allow clinical psychologists to prescribe medication, a post-doctoral master’s degree in clinical psychopharmacology must be completed. The State Board of Examiners of Psychology also requires passing a national test to ensure proper clinical psychology training.

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Sports Psychology Degrees Are Calling You

Marty — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:43:18 +0000

Sports psychology is one of the most exciting, fastest-growing online sports degree programs available to new students today. While most branches of psychology have been around for quite some time, sports psychology programs have only been offered to the public for about thirty years. It is a high-demand field with unprecedented growth potential. Anyone who decides to pursue a degree in sports psychology should be prepared for a longer than average timeline for completion because the subject matter can be so comprehensive. But if sports psychology is your passion, the dedication and hard work will pay off in the long run. Sports psychology degree programs explore factors that impact high performance as well as how sports and physical activity positively affect general health. Anyone remember the baseball player, Chuck Knoblach? He did not have a great sports psychologist! Sports psychology covers an extensive range of theoretical, clinical, and applied topics. After obtaining a sports psychology degree, students will not only understand the techniques behind improving motivation and enhancing performance, they will also have the skills necessary to teach others how to incorporate physical activity into their daily routine. There are many facets of sports psychology, so students should have their career goals in mind when deciding on a school. For example, applied sports psychology focuses on helping athletes build skills that enhance overall performance; clinical sports psychology combines sports psychology with psychiatric therapy to help patients overcome mental disorders; academic sports psychologists conduct research in an educational environment. Although most employers generally require that candidates have a sports psychology graduate degree, some do accept a bachelor’s degree. For individuals who want to teach or research, a PhD will likely be required. If a student has already chosen an educational path that doesn’t offer a specific online sports psychology degree, it is key to discuss available options with an advisor or an expert in the field. Physical science or a psychology degree can serve as a strong foundation that could be supplemented with classes from other related fields. If at all possible though, the most direct path to job security and satisfaction is to research online sports psychology programs that most closely match a student’s ideal job. After getting a graduate degree in sports psychology, areas of expertise can include coaching student or professional athletes; empowering mentally or physically disabled individuals; counseling compulsive exercisers and those suffering from eating disorders; conducting research at a university; and teaching sports psychology at college or university.

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College Degrees Online Are The Future

Marty — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:33:19 +0000

Traditional campus based colleges and universities are whispering to the rest of the world what they don’t want to admit; college degrees online are the future. Although they don’t want to admit it, they can not afford to ignore it either. In a recent story issued by Huffington Post, traditional college admission rates are dropping to the point where they must now seriously consider the power of getting a college degree online. While schools like Harvard, Columbia, Yale and Princeton all saw their applicant pools drastically increase last year, their acceptance rates were at all time lows, with Harvard being the lowest at 6.2% for the class of 2015. One might draw several conclusions as to why these numbers show these projections, but given the current economic climate, it is widely agreed upon that the higher education industry must consider a change in business model. People who have lost their jobs are looking for ways to advance themselves. A lot of folks who have jobs feel they are not making enough to make ends meet currently, let alone further their kids’ chances at higher education, a promising career, and enabling an overall better life than the ones they had. If getting a degree online expands the potential reach for higher education’s customer base, shouldn’t it be considered by all in that marketplace? If competition drives every market and adjustments are constantly being made to ensure the longevity of those services, won’t every single college in the world consider the need for an online college degree? People need flexibility, especially in this economy where both parents might be working multiple jobs. Nothing is more flexible, convenient, or as accommodating as allowing someone to get a college degree online. And if desperate times call for desperate measures, then no one in the changing landscape of higher education can be choosy, including the fastest best accredited online schools themselves.

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Study Human Behavior – Get A Psychology Online Degree

Ryan — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:16:54 +0000

For me, getting a degree in psychology sounds like one of the lost studies within all education. Perhaps that’s because several new degrees are surfacing from our fast paced worlds of technology and social media. Psychology as a study or course may not sound as fancy as some degree interests, but like it’s definition, the science of behavior will certainly last as long as we do. The question as to why people do the crazy things they do will survive fads, trends, time periods and advancements. When you think about it, it’s as relevant and as universal as physics or math. As long as humans are here, we will be acting out for reasons we will always be studying. I love watching the show Mad Men because it’s so complicated! There are layers upon layers of human emotion twisting themselves out in the form of behavior. I think it’s such a hit show because it proves, no matter the time or setting, when human behavior is reflected back at the living, we can’t help but notice some of the truths within ourselves. Psychology is laced in all good forms of entertainment, business and consumer behavior, sporting events, politics and pretty much every other aspect that is capable of effecting our daily lives. Just as chemistry is the foundation for the tangible, psychology is the foundation of people. Online degrees make it easy for people to achieve in the areas they are interested in. Psychology remains as relevant as any course of study today. Seeking a career in psychology has it’s benefits, too. The average salary in 2011 for those with psychology degrees with an emphasis in neuro psychology is over $90,000. Online degrees in psychology ultimately help you understand us.

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