Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University

Argosy University has several locations around the United States, as well as a division offering online learning. Students may work toward degrees from associate's through the doctoral level from its seven colleges including the College of Undergraduate Studies and the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences.

The Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy and the other schools at the university are owned by Argosy Education Group, and the school's history traces back to the purchase of three distinct colleges that were merged starting in the 1970s.

Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Accreditation Details

The Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association has given its accreditation approval to the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program. Programmatic accreditation must be renewed each decade to ensure the program has maintained the educational standards required by the accrediting body. Argosy University is also accredited by the Senior College and University Commission, which is part of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Additionally, the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission gives Argosy University, Atlanta its state licensing.

Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Application Requirements

To apply for admission at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, students must have earned a bachelor's degree and maintained a grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0. Students whose first language is not English must pass an English proficiency test. After submitting all application materials, students must also participate in an interview with a member of Argosy's admission's team.

In addition to the criteria for admission, Argosy University also requires the following documentation during the application process:

• Official application form
• Application fee
• Personal statement of goals
• Resume or career summary
• Three recommendations
• Official transcripts from previous schools

Future students should note that successful admission to the graduate program for an MA in Clinical Psychology does not necessarily mean the student will then be admitted to the PsyD program. Students must apply for the PsyD program separately after having earned a master's degree. On rare occasions, the admissions team may consider applicants who have not satisfied all the application requirements, but these applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition depends on the program in which a student has enrolled, as well as the format the student will use while attending school. As an example, tuition for the master's degree in Clinical Psychology is $59,240 for a program length of 36 months. The school estimates books and supplies will cost a further $1,360. To illustrate the difference in tuition, a different location might make, students getting their master's in Clinical Psychology at the Arizona campus will pay $61,594 in tuition and $1,445 for books and supplies.

For the doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology, the school requires students pay $118,140 in tuition and fees with books and supplies costing a further $3,135. It's expected that students will take approximately 60 months to complete the program. Argosy doesn't offer on-campus room and board for its doctoral students, so those costs aren't included in the program costs. Again, students should expect some mild differences in tuition when attending various locations around the country; however, those differences vary only by a few thousand dollars, overall.

Many students enrolled at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University apply for federal student loans. Students interested in federally backed loans must submit their FAFSA form to ensure eligibility for federal student loans. Other types of financial aid available to students at Argosy include grants, scholarships, and private loans. The school also provides assistance on figuring out which type of loan repayment plan will work best for each student. Students may also be eligible for the federal work study program, and eligibility depends on the student's income.

Psychology Degrees and Options from Argosy University

The Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University offers students two educational choices including a Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology. The master's degree program requires that students complete a total of 48 credits, and students attending full-time may be able to finish their program in as little as two years. Similar to other clinical psychology doctoral programs, Argosy's PsyD is designed to take approximately five years; however, students may take longer to complete the program.

The master's degree program is designed to help students master several core competencies including scientific inquiry, clinical interviews and observations, and diagnoses. In addition, students must master the conceptual and theoretical models of clinical practice and understand the basics of therapy including listening, reflection, and questioning. To master these and other objectives, students will complete 42 credit hours in core courses and the rest of their credit hours in a practicum and comprehensive examination. An example of classes required to graduate includes Lifespan Development, Diagnostic Psychotherapy, and Statistics and Research I.

At the conclusion of study, students should feel prepared to enter a PsyD program in Clinical Psychology. The master's degree program is designed to ensure students may continue study in a doctoral program rather than enter private practice after graduation. In Georgia, students are not license-eligible with a master's degree from Argosy, which means further study is required at the doctoral level. Students who complete the master's degree program at Argosy and wish to enroll in the PsyD program will need to apply separately to the doctoral program.

Like the graduate program, the PsyD program at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University requires that students master several core competencies including scientific inquiry, measurement and psychometrics, and methods of psychological assessment, just to name a few. To graduate, students must complete 98 semester credit hours that include classes in areas like applied psychology, research methodology, and professional development. Classes required by the university include Physiological Psychology, Social Psychology, and Psychometric Theory.

Practicing psychology requires that students spend a fair number of years in school, but the lengthy degree plans are necessary for students to learn what they need to impact the lives of their patients in a positive and intelligent manner. Students with bachelor's degrees in related areas who are interested in courses on neuropsychological testing, forensic assessment, and cognitive assessment will find valuable courses in the psychology programs at the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University.