Union College

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Updated November 30, 2022 · 3 Min Read

Learn more about the various counseling degree programs available at Union College.

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Psychology and Counseling Degrees at Union

Union College appears in our ranking of The 25 Best Low-Cost Master’s in Counseling Online Programs.

Chaired by Dr. Illie Vasilescu, the Leadership Department currently confers five psychology and counseling study options for Union College Bulldogs to study behavioral cues. Housed at the Ramsey Center in Barbourville, these programs are offered in hybrid and online formats with eight-week, user-friendly courses on Blackboard 24/7. Six terms per year, courses are delivered with a 15:1 student-faculty ratio for individualized mentoring. Practitioner-focused content could also be applied during fieldwork at organizations like Knox County Hospital, Cumberland Valley Housing Corp, or Hospice of Southern Kentucky. Consider studying the magnificent brain with these Union degrees:

Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.)

Union's Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) introduces undergrads to the behavioral science discipline from a liberal arts framework to enhance understanding of the human experience. Offering a General or Clinical Psychology concentration, the 45-credit major integrates courses from research design to addiction recovery with Psychology Club and Psi Chi Chapter activities.

General Psychology (M.A.)

Taught fully online, the General Psychology (M.A.) at Union transforms post-grads into critical consumers of research literature about human behavior and thought for doctoral prep. Including courses like qualitative methods and behavioral neuroscience before a thesis, the 37-credit degree has placed alums at Boston University, Temple University, Johns Hopkins University, and others.

Clinical Psychology (M.A.)

Integrating practicum limited to a 1:5 ratio, the Clinical Psychology (M.A.) is a hybrid, post-grad Union program where students develop the therapeutic skills and documentation procedures for applying psychotherapy techniques on diverse clients. With an extra 12-credit Endorsement for LPC licensing, the 48-credit curriculum spans courses from health psychology to treatment planning and cognition.

Substance Abuse Counseling (M.S.)

Adhering to Kentucky's ADC Board requirements for licensure, the Substance Abuse Counseling (M.S.) supports Union College post-grads seeking to alleviate clients' dependency on alcohol and drugs, especially during today's opioid crisis. Taking just 24 months full-time, the 60-credit online program studies the psychology of addiction and relapse before six credits of internship.

Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate

Another option for satisfying the Kentucky ADC Board-approved curriculum without a degree is through the 21-credit Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate. Post-bachelor's students at Union College will blend 270 classroom hours of courses like addiction diagnosis and recovery planning with 300 direct service practicum hours to pass the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam.

About Union College

Union College was established by the United Methodist Church in October 1879 with courses in Centennial Hall, which was placed upon the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. First funded by 35 stockholders, the academy expanded into a four-year private, co-educational liberal arts CIC member. Attracting 1,139 Bulldogs from 27 states, Union College maintains its small, close-knit learning community with 30 majors and advanced psychology degrees. Housing 160,000 books in the Weeks-Townsend Memorial Library, Union's 100-acre Kentucky campus stands in the Appalachian town of Barbourville, Knox County. Crowned America's 38th safest college on Niche, Union College is ranked the 164th best master's institution by Washington Monthly.

Union College Accreditation Details

Continuously since 1932, Union College has obtained regional accreditation every 10 years from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Last reaffirmed under President Dr. Marcia A. Hawkins in 2015, this accreditation is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE). Please note that Union lacks approval from the Council on Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) though.

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Union College Application Requirements

Though classified as "less selective," Union College had a Fall 2015 acceptance rate of 75 percent that rejected one-fourth of applicants. Hopeful freshmen seeking the Psychology Major must be graduating with a high school diploma or receiving a GED. Undergrads must meet the 22-unit Kentucky Pre-College Curriculum, which features four units of English, three units of mathematics, and two units each of laboratory and social science. Entering the Bachelor of Arts or Science mandates a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater. First-year candidates at Union need a 17 ACT composite score or SAT equivalent. Undergrads can transfer 24-67 semester credits graded at least "C" from regionally accredited colleges.

Becoming a Bulldog for a Master of Arts or Science requires proving the completion of a regionally accredited bachelor's degree. Majors or minors in psychology are preferred to skip taking four additional curriculum prerequisites for statistics, research methods, abnormal psychology, and human development. Cumulative undergraduate GPAs must be above 3.0 with no grades below "C-." Taking the GRE or MAT exams is wholly optional, but admitted post-grads generally score in the top 50th percentile. International graduates must have their credentials verified by World Education Services, file form I-20, score at least 550 on the paper TOEFL exam, and offer statements of financial support.

Creating an account on the MyUnion web portal is the first step for accessing the undergraduate and graduate applications. Union College has rolling admission, but the final Fall deadline is August 1st and Spring deadline is January 1st. Materials unable to submit online could be mailed to 310 College Street in Barbourville, Kentucky 40906. Most psychology and counseling majors must send the following:

  • Payment for the $10 processing fee
  • Signed curriculum contract
  • Official transcripts for all academics
  • College entrance exam scores
  • Two recommendation forms
  • Statement of goals and objectives

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time undergrads pursuing the B.A./B.S. in Psychology at Union are charged $12,295 per semester or $24,590 for annual tuition. Comprehensive fees add $1,490 each year. Residential undergrads must afford traditional room and board at $3,300 and $4,100 apiece annually. The total cost of attendance is roughly $26,080 for commuters and $33,555 for on-campus students. Online undergrad courses are billed $225 per credit with a $25 technology fee. Online post-grad students studying psychology or substance abuse counseling will pay $400 per credit.

According to the NCES, 100 percent of starting, full-time Union Bulldogs obtain financial aid packages worth $17,100 on average. Applying for FAFSA could qualify undergrads for Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized or Perkins loans. Union College offers its own Bagby, Hicks, Whitfield, and Schell loans for Kentucky natives. Based on EFC, students may receive the Federal Pell Grant or FSEOG Grant for free. Bluegrass State residents unlock the College Access Program (CAP), Kentucky Tuition Grant, and KEES Scholarship. Federal Work-Study offers campus employment for at least $7.25/hour. First-time freshmen with a minimum 3.5 GPA and 100+ community service hours could earn the full-tuition UIGRAD Program. Other institutional awards include the President's Scholarship, Governor's Scholar Program, Transfer Scholarship, Post-Baccalaureate Scholarship, and Common Partners Scholarship.

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