Argosy University Phoenix

Psychology and Counseling Programs at Argosy Phoenix

Argosy Phoenix appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Most Affordable Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the West.

The Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University offers several options for those with an interest in psychology. It offers a Master of Arts program designed for those who want to study clinical psychology and learn more about helping patients. Though the university gives students up to five full years to complete their degrees, many finish this program in just two years. Students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 and take 50 credits of classes to graduate. Clinical psychology majors will do two practicums that are worth six credits and write a final research paper.

Argosy also offers a PsyD program that awards graduates a Doctor of Psychology degree. This program requires that students take electives and courses from nine different areas, including clinical intervention, human development, evaluation and assessment and statistics, and research methods. Students will take four practicums that are worth a total of 12 credits. Each practicum requires that students spend at least 400 hours working in the field. To receive a doctoral degree, students must also take three Clinical Research Project classes and submit a dissertation.

There is also a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling available for grad students. This program helps students meet some of the requirements for becoming a licensed mental health counselor in Arizona. It may meet some of the requirements for obtaining that license in other states too. This program features a counseling internship and two practicums as well as 51 credits of required courses and electives. Students will take 15 required courses, including Foundations of Mental Health Counseling, Group Counseling, Professional and Ethical Issues, and Trauma Impact and Counseling.

Argosy also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program for undergrads. Nearly 40% of the students in this program take a full course load each semester, and nearly 30% of current students are 40 years old or older. Though this is an online program, it gives students access to a Virtual Psychology Club where they can chat with others in the program over the internet. Students have the chance to study different areas of psychology, including abnormal psychology and human development.

About Argosy University Phoenix

Argosy University Phoenix is a for-profit university system that owns and operates an online campus and multiple colleges across the country. The history of the university dates back to the 1970s, which was when the Illinois School of Professional Psychology opened. This school later became the American School of Professional Psychology. It gave graduate and doctoral students the chance to earn their advanced degrees quickly through a combination of distance learning and on-campus residencies. The founder of that school acquired several other campuses and operated them under the name of the Argosy Education Group and later the Education Management Group. Argosy University Phoenix is a branch of the university located in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dream Center Education Holdings acquired the Argosy University in 2017 and announced plans to shut down certain programs at select campuses and to shut entire campuses down. The company then announced in 2018 that it would close at least 30 campuses across the country. Argosy University Phoenix is one of the few campuses that will remain open. The more than 60,000 students enrolled across all Argosy campuses can still take classes and complete their degrees online.

Argosy University Phoenix Accreditation Details

Argosy University-Phoenix has accreditation from both the APA and the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Those forms of accreditation let students know that they will develop the skills and strengths needed in the counseling field. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) also granted regional accreditation to this branch of Argosy University.

Argosy University-Phoenix Application Requirements

Argosy University Phoenix has different requirements for students based on what they want to study. Its clinical psychology program will only accept students who have a bachelor's degree from a university with regional accreditation and a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students must visit the admissions department website and submit the application found on that page. They will also upload a resume and a goals statement that lists their professional and personal goals. The university asks for an official transcript and three letters of recommendation too. Those applying to the mental health counseling program must meet the same requirements.

Students applying to the university's BA in Psychology program must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. The university asks them to upload or submit official transcripts that show they completed a high school program or passed the GED test. Incoming undergrads can submit their transcripts after filling out and submitting the online application and paying the application fee.

Prospective doctoral students can use the same application that graduate students use. They will fill out each section of the application and upload a goals statement that covers any goals they have while in grad school and after they finish their studies. The university also asks for three letters of recommendation, a resume, and official transcripts. Some students may want to submit an official GRE score too, especially if they have a lower GPA.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for students taking classes on the Argosy University Phoenix campus starts at $445 per credit hour for undergrads. No matter how many classes they take, they will pay this rate for each of those credits. The counseling programs offered by the university charge a rate of $750 per credit hour. Its doctoral psychology program charges a higher rate of $1,162 per credit hour. When students do their practicums and internships, they'll pay this same rate each semester. Though internships and practicums are worth three credits, students only pay for a single credit hour.

Both post-graduate students and undergrads can apply for financial aid because Argosy University Phoenix has regional accreditation. Undergrads can qualify for two different grant programs and take out subsidized student loans, while graduate students may qualify for select grants and receive unsubsidized student loans. Many students will also use one or more alternative loans to pay for their personal expenses and tuition. The Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University offers more information for prospective psychology majors who want to take classes on the Argosy University-Phoenix campus or through the university's virtual campus.