Florida School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University

The Florida School of Professional Psychology is a Florida school owned and operated by Argosy University. Argosy University is the name given to a string of non-profit schools that operate across the country. The founder of the American School of Professional Psychology became the chairman of the Argosy Education Group in the 1970s and set about buying and acquiring campuses across the country. It later expanded into other types of colleges, including law schools. Argosy is now responsible for operating nearly 30 campuses and a large online system that gives students the chance to take classes without actually visiting one of its campuses. These schools now let students take courses to earn an associate's, bachelor's or master's degree, and students can also enroll in one of the doctoral programs.

The Florida School of Professional Psychology is unique because it requires that students spend time both working in the field and attending classes. It requires that all students do a high level of independent research as well, which is helpful to those interested in research positions after graduation. The school also expects that all students will meet the professional ethics put in place by the American Psychological Association, which apply to both students and those working in the field. This school offers both a Master of Arts and a doctoral psychology program for students who already completed work at the bachelor's and/or master's level.

Florida School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Accreditation Details

In the hopes of setting itself apart from other for-profit schools and to assist students who needed financial aid, Argosy University quickly sought accreditation for many of its campuses. The Florida Professional School of Psychology has general accreditation from the Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The Commission for Independent Education from the Florida Department of Education also granted this Tampa campus accreditation. This ensures that students who complete one of the programs will receive a degree at the end of their studies and that they get access to certain types of financial assistance like grants and loans.

Though not all schools owned and operated by Argosy University have specialized accreditation, the Florida Professional School of Psychology does. This type of accreditation comes from the American Psychological Association (APA) and applies to its psychology doctoral program. APA accreditation applies to both the work that students do in their classes and the work they do as part of an internship or fieldwork experience.

Florida School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Application Requirements

Applying to the Florida School of Professional Psychology through Argosy University requires that students meet with an admissions counselor first. They can either speak with a representative from the school over the phone or in person. Argosy often recommends that students make an appointment to meet with a counselor on campus to learn more about the programs available and how to apply for financial aid. The counselor will provide interested students with a six digit code that they can use to enter the online application system. All students applying to the Florida school must go through the official Argosy University application system.

The general application asks students simple questions about where they currently live and the school or schools they attended in the past. It will also ask them for the degree(s) they have, when they graduated, the name of any schools attended and about their grades. It will also ask if the applicant did any fieldwork outside of school or has any specific credentials that apply to the given program. They will need to submit a college transcript that matches the information provided on the application.

Tuition and Fees

The Florida School of Professional Psychology charges tuition of $1,162 per credit hour. Estimated fees or costs to students per year is $2,000. Students must also pay miscellaneous fees that cover the cost of doing work outside of the school. As the school does not have its own dormitories or residence halls, students must also pay for their own lodging and food costs. That is why almost every student who enters the school will receive some type of financial aid. The school recommends that students complete the FAFSA early in the same year that they want to start their classes.

The federal work study program on campus allows students to work for the school and receive regular paychecks throughout the year. Most jobs on campus pay more than the national minimum wage rate. Students may also qualify for some grants or for loans. In addition to federal student loans, alternative student loans are available for those who have a good credit history or apply with a cosigner. The school can also assist students in finding scholarships and applying for that type of aid.

Psychology and Counseling Programs

There are two different upper level psychology programs offered by the Florida School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. The first is the Master of Arts program in Clinical Psychology. This program ensures that students understand how to work with and treat patients in clinical settings, that they understand the basics of human behavior and development and that all graduates are capable of working in the health care industry. Students will complete 50 hours of work, which will include 36 hours of core psychology classes. Some of those classes include lifespan development, personality assessments, interventions and treating diverse populations. The remaining credits will come from two group learning experiences and two seminars.

The Florida School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University also offers a Doctor of Psychology program in Clinical Psychology that is only open to students who have a master's degree from an accredited college. Students must take a combination of courses that total 98 hours of work. This includes courses on interventions, assessments and human development. They must also work in a clinical setting under direct supervision and complete some independent research as part of both a seminar and practicum. Doctoral students must earn a grade of B or higher in all their classes. The Florida School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University does a good job of preparing counselors and future psychologists for working with their patients.