Wayne State University

If you have decided to pursue a degree in counseling or in psychology, Wayne State University could be a great choice for you.

The school was founded in 1868 as the Detroit Medical College. It became Wayne State University in 1956 and currently offers more than 380 degree programs through 13 schools and colleges. Wayne State is a large school; there are 17,669 undergraduates enrolled, and the university has six extension centers. The university values research in all departments. One of the accomplishments it points to with pride is the Biosciences Center which employs 500 researchers and staff from integrated disciplines. That focus on research extends to the psychology department as well. Among other psychology areas, Wayne State is known for gerontology research education and service to the community. The university ranks in the second tier of National Universities in the US News and World Report listing but the graduate psychology department is among the top 100 in the nation.

Wayne State University Accreditation Details

Wayne State is accredited through the North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission for both traditional and online degree programs. Several of its degree programs are individually accredited as well. For example, the education programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Nursing programs have the accreditation of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the business programs are accredited through the Association for the Accreditation of Collegiate Schools of Business. The psychology degree programs are fully accredited by the American Psychology Association. Counseling programs are housed in the education department and are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

Wayne State University Application Requirements

If you apply to Wayne State as a freshman, you will complete the university application online. You must also submit a non-refundable application fee of $25. You must have the agency that administered your SAT or ACT test send the official results to the university. In addition, you need to arrange to have your high school send your official transcript. This can be done through traditional mail or online through the application. If you will be a graduate student, you still must complete the university application and submit a non-refundable application fee of $50. Some students, such as the children of alumni who have a financial need, could qualify for fee waivers. Graduate students must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a GPA of 2.75 for a master’s degree or 3.0 for a doctoral program. There are other requisites according to the college or program you want to enter. Some programs require you to take the GRE or GMAT and submit letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose. These additional requisites are listed in the application for admission.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition at Wayne State University is $12,360 but, if you are not a Michigan resident, you will be charged $26,298. Estimated cost of attendance includes $1,196 for books and supplies and $10,102 for room and board. You will also need to consider personal expenses in your budget and some miscellaneous fees and charges. If you are admitted as a resident graduate student, your tuition will be $12,552. Out-of-state tuition for graduate students is $24,558. Room and board costs are the same as for undergraduates. Some programs may differ. For instance, if you want to earn a pharmacy degree, your tuition will be $18, 978 if you are a state resident. Non-resident pharmacy students pay $36,688 in tuition. The cost of your degree program can be alarming, but most students require financial aid.

Your first step in getting help to pay for your education is filling out the FAFSA form. The free application for federal funding will be used to determine if you qualify for a grant or reduced-interest loans from the government. It is also used by colleges and universities to award merit scholarships to incoming freshmen. Michigan offers several programs such as the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant, Fostering Futures Scholarship and others. Wayne State offers awards as well. In addition, there are several grants and scholarships available to students in specific departments.

You can also check scholarship listings for outside awards. These are funded by individuals, service organizations and corporations and have differing requirements. Scholarships and grants do not have to be repaid. If you have applied all the “free money” that you were awarded and still need help to meet your educational bill, you could take out a student loan. These loans have less interest than general loans and repayment can usually be deferred until after you graduate. Many times students avoid participating in work-study programs but, if you qualified through FAFSA, these can be great opportunities to earn the extra money you need and get great job experience to add to your resume.

Wayne State University’s Psychology and Counseling Programs

The first paragraph of this article said Wayne State was a great choice for students interested in psychology and counseling. As a freshman, you can earn either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Both programs contain 120 credit hours. You will have to complete the university general education requisites in this program and the courses for your major. You are required to have taken one foreign language and you must complete 27 credit hours of science outside of psychology.

There is one Master of Science degree in Psychology in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. The other master’s programs lead to doctoral degrees as well. Master’s candidates must complete a dissertation project and a thesis. There are five specialization areas in these graduate degrees: Behavioral and Cognition Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Social-Personality Psychology and Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Counseling degree programs, which are housed in the education department, are graduate-level. You can earn your Master’s in Counseling degree in Community Counseling, School Counseling or a combined program. There are 71 credit hours in the master’s degree program at Wayne State. You can also add an education specialist certification to your master’s degree.

There are two doctoral degrees in counseling. The first is a Doctor of Education, Education Specialist, and the second is a Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling. Both require 1200 clock hours of supervised internship/practicum. Whether you are an undergraduate who wants to get a foundation in psychology or a graduate student who wants to teach or go into research or professional practice, Wayne State University is a good place to earn your degree.

See also: The 50 Best Online Schools for a Graduate Degree in Counseling