Amridge University

Founded in 1967, Amridge University was first known as the Alabama Christian School of Religion and is a non-profit, private university located in Montgomery, Alabama. The school has an affiliation with the Churches of Christ, and its primary function was a theological seminary to offer training and education to ministers in Christian and Bible counseling. However, the school has expanded its offering to include other on-campus and online degrees. Amridge University is recognized by U.S. News & World Report for offering the “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs” in the country.

Amridge University Accreditation Details

Amridge University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Amridge University Application Requirements

In order to be enrolled in a degree program at Amridge University, students must first fill out a request for information. At this point during the process, the school’s academic advisor and admissions staff will answer questions, request transcripts on the students’ behalf and detail the steps of the admissions process. Next, students must apply for admission and pay the $50 application fee to cover administrative costs such as evaluation services and transcript request fees. The school will assist new and transferring students to obtain their transcripts from previous academic institutions, including high school and other colleges attended. Students must also show evidence of basic computer skills and a minimum grade point average as defined by their programs. Associate’s and bachelor’s students must show proof of a diploma and ACCUPLACER assessment test, master’s students must show proof of a four-year bachelor degree from an accredited institution and doctoral students must show proof of a graduate degree from an accredited institution as well as a writing sample, term paper from a dissertation and complete an interview.

Related resource: The Top 25 Low-Cost Online Master’s Degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Tuition and Financial Aid

First-time freshmen can expect to pay $250 per semester hour for an undergraduate degree, and those seeking a master’s degree from the human services department can expect to pay $650 per semester hour for their psychology and counseling degree programs. A doctoral degree from Amridge University will cost approximately $780 per semester hour. The school offers loans, scholarships and grants to help offset the cost of tuition, supplies, books and living expenses, and approximately 85 percent of Amridge students receive some type of financial assistance. Students must first complete an application for admission before submitting a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The school is ranked number one in Online Military Friendly Spouse Schools by Military Friendly and participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program and post-9/11 GI Bill.

Psychology and Counseling Degrees Available

Amridge University offers a number of online and on-campus psychology and counseling degrees, including a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, a Master of Divinity in Marriage and Family Therapy, a Master of Divinity in Professional Counseling, a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Ph.D. in Professional Counseling.

The M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy provides the foundation for clinical practice, scientific research and marriage and family therapy theory. Students will learn the different clinical techniques and approaches necessary for practitioners to offer therapeutic services to families, couples and individuals. Students are also prepared for licensure in their resident state, and graduates will be able to offer therapy services in community agencies, governmental agencies, private practices and church settings. Additional courses may be taken for a dual licensure in marriage and family therapy and professional counseling. The 60-credit-hour program includes coursework in counseling for abusive relationships, marital and family systems, interpersonal and family dynamics, social and multicultural diversity, marriage and family development and human sexual development.

Students pursuing an M.A. in Professional Counseling learn the techniques and approaches for offering therapeutic services to groups and individuals, and graduates are eligible to take the licensure exam in their resident state. Students will be required to take practicum and clinical training courses under the direct supervision of an approved licensed supervisor. The degree program consists of 60 semester credit hours and includes specific courses in group counseling, basic counseling techniques, advanced therapy, systemic treatment of substance related disorders, marriage and family development, theories of personality development, theories of counseling and psychotherapy, human development and community and social systems.

The Master of Divinity in Marriage and Family Therapy is designed for students wishing to enter in full-time ministry. A significant portion of this degree program provides students with thorough preparation in theology and practical ministry as well as extensive studies in the biblical text. Students are prepared for licensure in marriage and family therapy in their states. Course requirements include 96 semester hours that cover coursework in the Old Testament, the New Testament, spiritual leadership, hermeneutics, psychopathology and psychopharmacology, assessment of individuals and families, systemic treatment of substance-related disorders, human development and theories of personality development. Elective courses include theological studies, foundation studies and textual courses.

Students seeking a Master of Divinity in Professional Counseling are also prepared for careers in full-time ministry. Students develop skills and knowledge in clinical practice, scientific research and psychology theory, learning the different approaches to providing therapy for groups and individuals. Students must take 96 semester credit hours to earn their degree, including courses in homiletics, the Old Testament and New Testament, spiritual leadership, clinical training, lifestyle and career development, marital and family systems, theories of personality development and human development.

Amridge University also offers two doctoral degrees. The Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy and the Doctor of Philosophy in Professional Counseling are each a 60-semester-hour research-oriented program designed to prepare students for professional licensure. The school assumes that students have already completed the necessary coursework required for licensure, but students may take additional courses to earn their license. The components in this program emphasize the non-traditional and traditional extended learning delivery systems, and students will complete studies in theories of cultural diversity, problems with abuse and addiction, human development, marriage and family therapy and research. Coursework includes medical family therapy, consultation with larger systems, systems of relational and intrapsychic diagnosis, strategies to reduce marriage and family dysfunction, relational sexual therapy and applied adult development. Students earning a doctoral degree at Amridge University will also take courses in counseling for change, teaching practicum for students who wish to teach, and design and quantitative analysis in research.