Adams State University

Psychology and Counseling Degree Programs at Adams State University

Adams State University appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Most Affordable Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the West.

Among the various psychology and counseling degree programs available through Adams State University is the BA in Psychology. This program requires classes on statistics, psychology research methods and specific areas of psychology. The university offers an emphasis in developmental psychology or clinical psychology. Clinical psychology students take courses on research and practical clinical work. The developmental psychology program includes courses on childhood development and adult development. Its sport psychology program is a joint effort with the health and exercise science department. This program includes classes on methods of coaching, exercise evaluation, human anatomy, fitness management and cognitive and behavior modification.

The Master of Arts in Counseling is available in a school counseling or mental health counseling track. Mental health counseling students take courses designed to help them work more closely with patients later, including classes on crisis disaster and trauma, group counseling and counseling theories. There are also courses on parenting and a practicum that provides clinical experience working with actual patients.

Those enrolled in the school counseling track can graduate and meet the requirements for becoming a licensed school counselor. This program covers some of the professional issues faced in the field, therapy options that work best, and other special topics. Adams State University will still require a practicum or fieldwork experience in this program.

About Adams State University

Adams State University, also known as ASU or just Adams State, is a Colorado college that emphasizes the importance of a liberal arts education. Founded as the Adams State Normal School in 1921, its name reflects the commitment of a state legislator and governor who helped bring the school to the state. As a normal school, it offered teaching prep courses for students to help fulfill the need for adequate teachers in the West. It later added new programs in other subjects, when led to its changing from a normal school to Adams State College. The state governor authorized another name change in 2012 for the campus to become ASU.

Students attending ASU have the option of enrolling in one of its undergrad or graduate programs. The university boasts one of the state's best MBA programs, which teaches students the skills necessary to succeed in the business world. It also offers programs in art history, political science, history, and English. Its Rex Stadium went through a major renovation in the 2010s including new screens that allow visitors to see all the action on the field. More than 1,000 of its more than 3,000 enrolled student join one of the university's athletic teams.

Adams State University Accreditation Details

You should never even consider applying to a college unless it has regional accreditation because schools without this type of accreditation cannot accept federal financial aid, which means you can't use government loans or grants. Though Adams State does have regional accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS), the NCACS announced in 2016 that a thorough review of the university revealed some problems that led to the school landing on its probation list. Adams State representatives claimed that the university would do everything within its power to get off that list and gain its full accreditation back.

Four different organizations granted ASU accreditation for some of its programs too. Its school counseling and mental health counseling programs have accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. And its program in nursing has accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. ASU also has accreditation from the Teacher Education Accreditation Council for its teaching programs and from the National Association of Schools of Music for its music programs.

Adams State University Application Requirements

ASU has its own index scale that assigns students a number based on their grade point averages, test scores, and other factors. Only those with an index score of 80 will receive an acceptance letter. To score this high as an undergrad, you must score at least 19 on the ACT and have a GPA of 2.4 or higher in high school. Incoming freshmen can download a copy of the application and mail the completed application back to the university with a check or money order for $30 to cover the application fee. If you use the online version of the application, the university will waive this fee. Adams also requires an official ACT or SAT test score and a transcript from your high school.

To enroll in one of its graduate programs, you must have a GPA of 2.75 or 3.0 in college, but the exact GPA required depends on the program. You'll also need to fill out and submit the online graduate school application, pay a $30 application fee and arrange for your college to send an official transcript to the university. The department responsible for your program may also ask you to write a short essay, submit a copy of your resume or provide the admissions department with letters of recommendation.

Tuition and Financial Aid

When you factor in all miscellaneous university fees, you'll pay around $4,600 a semester as a full-time undergrad Colorado resident. If you take more than 18 credits in a single semester, the university will charge you a little over $310 per credit hour. The cost for nonresident undergrads is right around $10,100 a semester. Adams State University takes part in the western undergrad exchange program, which lets students in western states like Idaho take classes for a discounted rate. Full-time WUE students pay close to $7,400 a semester. You're also responsible for paying for both a meal plan and dorm room when living on campus. Graduate students pay around $130 a semester in fees, but their tuition costs vary between programs. You'll typically pay around $280 per credit hour as a resident or close to $600 a credit hour as a nonresident.

The sooner you file the FAFSA, the sooner you'll know how much help you'll get paying for ASU classes. Graduate students may qualify for a job as a teaching assistant or a research assistant, but they can also use grants and take out loans. Undergrads at Adams State University may enter the federal work study program, get grants, take out loans and use the loans available to their parents.