Fort Valley State University

Psychology and Counseling Programs at Fort Valley State University

Fort Valley State University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program, which is available as a traditional program that takes place on its campus and as an online program. Many students join the Psychology Club, which allows them to learn more about job opportunities available to psychology majors. They can also participate in activities with other club members. Students typically minor in either sociology or gerontology, but students can also take social work classes.

The university offers even more options for graduate students. It has a mental health counseling program available for those who want to work with patients who have emotional and behavioral disorders. Students will take classes to learn more about counseling theories and practices before doing fieldwork. FVSU requires that counseling majors do an internship that lasts for two full semesters. Graduates can get a Professional Counselor license in Georgia or sit for an exam and get board certified in another state.

Another grad program available through this university awards students a graduate degree in rehabilitation counseling and case management. The classes that students in this program take go over counseling theories, case management basics and government programs for people with disabilities. They learn how to help patients in medical facilities and how to support those patients as they get back on their feet.

FVSU also offers two programs for grad students who want to work with younger students in clinical and school settings. Students can enroll in its school counselor education program and earn a Master of Science in Education, or they can enroll in a different school counselor education program and earn an Education Specialist degree. Both programs require that students take classes on counseling theories and practices. They will also do some fieldwork, which helps them meet the minimum number of hours of work needed to get a school counseling license in Georgia.

About Fort Valley State University

Fort Valley State University is a university in Georgia that is part of the University of Georgia System. It is one of the only historically all black colleges and universities in the state. The university can trace its roots back to 1895, which was when the Fort Valley High and Industrial School opened. This school merged with a teaching and agricultural college in the 1930s and became Fort Valley State College. It later eliminated the high school from its campus, which led to it becoming Fort Valley State University. Also called FVSU today, its student body primarily consists of minority students.

The university now offers around 50 majors for undergrads. Many of its students enroll in one of its teaching programs and later earn licenses to teach in Georgia and other states. Its graduate programs include counseling programs for those who want to work with students and those with mental and emotional disorders. The campus is also home to one of the only family and consumer sciences programs in the state. Though Fort Valley State University grew quite a bit over the years, it still has a small class size and an enrollment of a little more than 2,200 undergrads and professional students.

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

Fort Valley State University Accreditation Details

Fort Valley State University psychology and counseling majors will find that this university has accreditation from two of the top specialty organizations. It has accreditation from both the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CRE). This lets students know that they will receive the practical education and training needed in the field. FSVU also has regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), which allows students to use federal financial aid to cover their educational costs and to transfer any college credits they earn.

Fort Valley State University Application Requirements

Undergrads applying to FVSU must submit an official score from either the ACT or the SAT. The university requires a score of at least 440 on the math section and at least 24 on the reading section of the SAT. Those who took the ACT must score at least 17 on the math section and 17 on the English portion. FVSU also asks for a transcript that shows the student took four years of English, three years of science and math and two years of social studies and foreign language classes. Students can file the undergrad application online and pay the $20 application fee at the same time.

Prospective graduate students will use a separate graduate school application and pay the same $20 fee when they submit their applications. Applications for those who want to start in the fall must reach the university by June 15. Students can submit an official test score from the GRE or any other graduate exam. Though not all programs require a test score, it can help students stand out from their peers. The other requirements for graduate students include three letters of recommendation, a resume, professional statement and a transcript that shows a student maintained a 2.5 GPA while in college. Grad students must submit immunization records also.

Tuition and Financial Aid

FVSU charges an undergrad tuition rate of around $730 per credit hour for Georgia residents. Nonresidents pay a higher rate of around $1,170. Depending on whether a student is a Georgia resident, he or she will pay between $2,840 and $8,070 per semester to take a full course load. The university charges around the same rate for graduate students, but graduate students typically take fewer classes each semester. Many of the classes that the university offers are now available online. Undergrads pay just $250 per credit hour for classes taken online. Graduate students taking online classes pay $219 per credit hour.

Both undergrads and graduate students hoping to attend FVSU should fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible. This form uses their own tax information or the tax records of their families to determine how much help they need paying for school. The university will then create a financial aid package based on the specific needs of each individual student. Graduate students typically use grants, unsubsidized government loans, and private loans. Undergrads can use subsidized student loans, grants and scholarships, and they may also work for Fort Valley State University and earn a regular paycheck during the school year.

Interested in learning more about Fort Valley State University's counseling programs?  Click here.