Ball State University

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Updated December 1, 2022 · 4 Min Read

Learn more about the various counseling degree programs available at Ball State University.

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Located in the city of Muncie, Indiana, about an hour northeast from Minneapolis, Ball State University is a public university established in 1918. Here, on this suburban campus of over 1,000 acres, world-renowned faculty conduct research, the NCAA Division I Cardinals varsity teams compete, and approximately 20,000 students pursue their educational and career goals in a variety of academic programs.

Ball State University believes that experiential learning is the future of higher education and the saving grace of traditional universities, and their commitment to this belief takes the shape of “immersive learning” experiences and programs. The psychology and counseling degree programs at Ball State University are among the many of the university’s programs that provide these immersive learning opportunities, as well as the university’s unique Degree 3 program that strives to help undergraduates finish their studies and prepare for employment in three years instead of four. It’s these and other innovations that has earned Ball State a spot on the Princeton Review’s “Best of the Midwest” ranking list every year for the past decade.

Ball State University Accreditation Details

In 2014, Ball State University’s continuously accredited status was reaffirmed by the Higher Learning Commission. The university is now accredited until the 2023-2024 academic year, and based on its long-term good standing is now eligible to maintain its accreditation through the less intensive “open pathway” option.

In addition to Ball State University’s institutional accreditation, its various educational programs have been accredited by the relevant accreditation organizations where applicable. This includes the university’s several client-contact psychology and counseling programs. The Ph.D. program in counseling psychology at Ball State University is accredited by the American Psychological Association(APA.) The clinical mental health and school counseling tracks have been accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP.) The rehabilitation counseling track is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE.)

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Ball State University Application Requirements

For Undergraduate Students

  • Ball State University practices rolling admissions for undergraduate students. This means that the university’s admissions officers review and decide on an application after receiving all of the required materials and continue to admit students as long as space remains for that year’s incoming class.
  • When making admissions decisions, Ball State’s admissions staff considers factors such as grade trends, strength of the high school curricula and participation in extracurricular activities.
  • Prospective freshmen will need to submit high school transcripts, SAT or ACT scores and a form completed by their high school guidance counselor. A one-page personal statement is optional
  • Transfer applicants with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 out of 4.0 in all transferable college coursework will be considered for admission to Ball State. Prospective transfer students should submit transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
  • Transfer students who have earned at least 24 transferable college credits and all applicants age 23 or older may have the SAT/ACT score requirement waived.

For Graduate Students

  • Graduate degree candidates apply first to Ball State University’s Graduate School, then to the specific academic program they intend to pursue.
    Prospective graduate students will need to submit their official undergraduate college transcripts.
  • The Graduate School will review applications until one week before the academic term applied for begins, but individual programs and departments reserve the right to set their own deadlines for admission. Graduate applicants should contact the program director of their intended degree track before applying.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For Undergraduate Students

As of the 2016-2017 academic year, full-time undergraduate tuition for Indiana residents was $7,698. For out-of-state students, that number was $23,472. Through the Midwest Student Exchange Program and the Ohio Reciprocity Agreement, students from certain Midwestern states and from certain counties in western Ohio may be eligible for tuition discounts.

In 2016, the costs of room and board started at $8,715. The comprehensive yearly cost of attendance at Ball State University, covering tuition, fees and housing, was $18,589 for a resident student and #34,363 for a non-resident student. Students should also budget roughly $4,500 to $5,000 for books, supplies and personal expenses.

About four out of every five Ball State undergrads receives some type of financial assistance. This assistance may come in the form of federal grants and loans, work-study or one of the over 500 merit-based scholarships Ball State offers to incoming students each year.

For Graduate Students

For the 2016-2017 academic year, Indiana residents paid $7,902 per year or $3,546 per semester for full-time graduate study at Ball State University. The cost of tuition for non-residents was $19,404 per year or $9,702 per semester.
Ball State graduate students have the option of living in on-campus housing. Rates started at $8,715 in 2016.

Graduate students in good standing and enrolled in at least six credits per semester are eligible to apply for a graduate assistantship, of which over 900 are available at Ball State. These assistantships require approximately 20 hours of teaching, administrative or research work per week and provide a stipend and partial tuition waiver, with exact amounts decided upon by the offering department.

Psychology and Counseling Degrees at Ball State University

Department of Psychology
The Department of Psychology offers an undergraduate degree in psychological sciences. The Department fully embraces Ball State’s campus-wide commitment to experiential learning through signature immersive programs. For psychological sciences students, these immersive learning experiences take the shape of internships, undergraduate teaching assistantships, undergraduate research assistantships and community outreach.

The psychological sciences majors is also one among the roughly 30 programs on Ball State’s campus that participate in the university’s Degree 3 initiative. This initiative allows ambitious students to shave one year off of the normal time required to complete a bachelor’s degree by taking summer courses while exploring career options.

The major in psychological sciences requires 39 credit hours of coursework in introductory studies, statistics, research methods and electives selected from topics including learning and cognition, motivation and emotion, abnormal psychology, diversity, personality and social psychology. For students who intend to become psychology teachers, the 44-credit teaching major in psychology includes coursework required for teaching licensure.

Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services at Ball State University emphasizes learning through research, practice, teaching and service in each of its masters and doctoral degree programs. In keeping with the university’s commitment to experiential learning and community service, graduate students provide supervised counseling services to area residents at the Counseling Practicum Clinic.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Track

This CACREP-accredited, master’s level program prepares graduates for licensure as a clinical mental health counselor. Candidates complete 60 credits of coursework in counseling, psychology and approved electives while gaining real-world experience through two semesters of practica and a 600 to 900-hour field internship.

School Counseling Track
This CACREP-approved master’s level program requires a minimum of 51 credits in counseling, educational psychology and approved electives. All candidates in the program complete a one-year internship at an area school and develop a portfolio of professional work.

Rehabilitation Counseling Track

The 48-credit, CORE-accredited Rehabilitation Counseling Track is the only master’s program of its kind in Indiana, and prepares graduates for certification in the growing field of rehabilitation counseling. Candidates learn ways to foster independent living skills, improve employment chances and enhance the psychosocial functioning of clients with a wide range of disabilities and chronic health conditions.

Ph.D. Program in Counseling Psychology

This APA-accredited doctoral program prepares candidates to work as psychologists in a variety of settings. The program blends academic training with hands-on experience in research and collaboration with faculty. The program stresses outreach opportunities whether at the Counseling Practicum Clinic on the Ball State University campus or through an internship at a hospital, school, correctional facility or military setting.

See also: The 50 Best Doctoral Programs in Counseling Psychology

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