Delta State University

Psychology and Counseling Options at Delta State University

Delta State University offers an undergrad program and two programs at the graduate level that appeal to students with an interest in psychology and/or counseling. The undergrad program awards students a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology. Students with higher grades can join the university's branch of the national honors society for psychology majors, and all undergrads can join the Psychology Club. The university offers research opportunities for undergrads that help them develop the skills needed to conduct research at the graduate level. Students take courses such as Developmental Psychology, Learning and Cognition and Biological Psychology. They also take a seminar and do a research paper in their last years.

The Division of Counselor Education & Psychology at Delta State University offers a Master of Education in Counseling for those who want to work with real patients. This accredited program has an emphasis in clinical mental health counseling and trains students on how to help those with emotional conditions and disorders. The school counseling program prepares students for working with patients in school settings. Students can take classes like Assessment Techniques in Counseling, Counseling Skills, and Human Growth and Development. All students take a course that goes over the practicum work they will do. They spend at least one semester actually working in the field too.

Students can also enroll in the Education Specialist in Counseling program available through Delta State, which has a concentration in school counseling. This program allows students to meet the requirements necessary for getting a counseling license from the state and for working with clients in school and professional settings. Students take 12 credits to complete the counseling core, which includes courses such as Advanced Counseling Research Methods, Theories of Counseling Supervision and Advanced School Counseling. The program also includes counselor education courses like Human Growth and Development, Play Therapy, Marriage and Family Counseling and Sexuality Issues in Counseling.

About Delta State University

Delta State University is a coeducational public university in Mississippi. Founded in 1924 by the state as a public school, it took over the campus of an old high school in Cleveland. Though it still uses that same campus, it grew quickly since it first opened and now has both modern and historical buildings on its campus. The university gained attention after Hurricane Katrina when it turned one of its residence halls into temporary housing for those displaced by the hurricane. Delta State is one of the top colleges in the state. It is also home to one of the only flight schools in the state, which started during World War II to train pilots for the military.

The university now has an enrollment of more than 4,800 students, which includes more than 3,000 undergrads. A large number of students also enroll in the university's graduate and professional programs. Around 30% of its students live on its campus, but a greater number of students commute to the university from their parents' homes and their own homes. Those who choose to live on campus will find residence halls available for both men and women as well as for married students. Delta State now offers more than 10 types of degrees and more than 40 majors for undergrads and eight different master's degree programs for graduate students.

Ranking: Top 25 Most Affordable Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the South

Delta State University Accreditation Details

As Delta State has regional accreditation, students can apply for federal financial aid to get help paying for an undergrad or graduate program. Its regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). SACS accreditation also makes it easier for students to transfer credits across two different colleges. DSU also has accreditation for degree programs, which comes from the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and others.

Delta State University Application Requirements

Undergrads and graduate students applying to Delta State use a different application process. Those applying for undergrad admissions must create a new account on the university's website and verify that they have a valid email address. This application asks for some general background information that includes where the student went to school and the student's contact information. Delta State then asks students to submit an official high school transcript and an ACT or SAT score. The transcript should show the student's overall class ranking and grade point average.

Students applying to any of the university's graduate programs must meet general admission requirements and the requirements of the program itself. General admission requirements include an application, college transcripts and a $30 application fee. The application is available online, but students can also fill out and submit a paper version of the application. Students planning on taking classes on the Delta State campus must submit immunization records from their doctors too. The university looks for students with high grades and a history of taking courses at the undergrad level that apply to their graduate studies. Students may need to provide a resume and other information as well.

Tuition and Financial Aid

As Delta State does not charge a nonresident tuition rate, all incoming students pay the same amount. Undergrad tuition for the entire year comes in at around $6,800 a year. This entitles students to take a full course load of up to 19 credits during both the fall and spring semesters. Living on the university's campus and paying for a meal plan will add around $7,500 to the annual costs of attending Delta State. Graduate students pay around $3,370 per semester, which lets them take up to 13 credits of classes. Part-time graduate students pay around $375 per credit hour.

Any student who needs help paying for college can use the FAFSA to see if they qualify for aid based on their family's income and the type of aid they can get. The FAFSA looks at how much the student's parents make to determine how much they can contribute. Delta State designs financial aid packages that meet the needs of each individual student. Undergrads can get loans and grants and/or work for the university. They can also look at scholarships available from Delta State and others. Graduate students qualify for federal loans, some grants, and alternative student loans. Delta State University will send financial aid award letters directly to students' home addresses.

Students who want to learn more about counseling and psychology at Delta State University can click here.