Alliant International University - San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego is a branch of Alliant International University. Founded in 2001, the university previously operated as two separate campuses. The United States International University offered a number of courses in different subject areas, while the California School of Professional Psychology dealt more with upper level psychology programs. After these two schools merged, the board chose the name Alliant International University. This newer university now offers a large number of courses in technology, social sciences and other fields.

AIU has a good reputation because of its military programs, which allow active duty service men and women the chance to take college courses and even earn a degree while still on active duty. GI Jobs called it one of the best schools for military personnel for three straight years. Military Times EDGE also choose the university as one of the best schools for military veterans to attend. In addition to the San Diego campus, AIU also operates six other campuses in Los Angeles, Fresno, San Francisco, and Irvine. Students can take all their courses on the San Diego campus, take courses on one of the other campuses or even take some classes online. Many students spend a semester or more studying at one of the other campuses operated by AIU.

Alliant International University - San Diego Accreditation Details

The San Diego branch of AIU has accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). This is what experts call institutional or regional accreditation, which means that you can get government assistance in the form of financial aid programs like student loans. This type of accreditation also lets AIUSD grants degrees or certificates to students who complete all the requirements needed for graduation.

You'll also find that the university has accreditation from three other organizations for some of its programs of study. The American Association for Marriage and Family granted AIU accreditation for both its graduate and doctoral programs in marriage and family therapy. Its education program, which prepares future teachers, has accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. This accreditation applies to both its undergraduate and graduate programs. the university also has accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA) for all its psychology programs.

Alliant International University - San Diego Application Requirements

The requirements you must meet and the steps you must take to enroll in AIUSD depends on whether you enroll in one of the graduate or undergraduate programs. Undergraduates must fill out the application and submit the application with a $65 application fee. Those students must also submit a high school transcript that shows they had a grade point average of 2.0 or higher. Students who took college courses in high school and want to transfer those credits will also need to submit a transcript from that college or university.

If you want to enroll in one of the graduate programs, you should contact an admissions counselor to talk about all the requirements and schedule a tour of the campus. The counselor will walk you through all the steps you need to complete. You typically need to submit a transcript that shows you earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited college and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. You will also need to submit your official scores from a graduate entrance examination like the GRE. Most programs also require an essay or personal statement, a copy of your resume and up to three letters of recommendation. You may also need to attend an interview session that takes place on campus or over the phone.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Psychology and counseling students enrolled in AIUSD pay around $1,100 per credit hour. The total amount you'll pay in tuition varies based on whether you take a full course load or enroll as a part-time student. The cost for its psychopharmacology program increases to around $2,900, but this program lets you prescribe medications for your patients later. You may need to attend one of more cohort events on campus as well before graduating. The cost of attending one of these programs ranges from around $600 to more than $800.

A large number of AIUSD students at all levels receive some type of financial aid. You'll only know what you will receive after you fill out and submit the FAFSA. Undergraduate students usually have more options available to them. They may take a work-study job on campus, receive grants that they can use for tuition and expenses and take out loans too. Graduate and doctoral students often qualify for loans, and the amount you can borrow rises each year that you remain enrolled in an accredited university. AIU also offers a number of scholarships that are awarded to students who demonstrate more financial need, those who are residents of California and those who have high grades. You can download a copy of the scholarship application form, complete that form and mail it to the San Diego campus.

Psychology and Counseling

Alliant International University – San Diego offers a variety of graduate programs in psychology and counseling, but it also offers a bachelor's degree in psychology. The BS in Psychology consists of 120 credit hours of work, which includes 60 credits of general courses and 60 courses of behavioral science classes. Undergraduate students must also take several science labs to ensure they understand research methods and reporting.

The San Diego campus has a number of upper level graduate programs too. Its clinical psychology program awards students a doctoral degree. They must spend at least one year gaining practical experience in the field. There is also an MA in organizational psychology available that primarily looks at how people work and what companies and employers can do to help employees. Those who want to work with both children and adults may enroll in the marriage and family therapy program. Students can earn an MA degree or a doctoral degree in this subject. The university also offers certificates in school psychology for those who want to work with students and one in school counseling. Many of the counseling and psychology programs available through Alliant International University – San Diego require that students spend one semester or more working or doing an internship before they earn a degree.