University of West Alabama

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Updated December 1, 2022 · 3 Min Read

Learn more about the various counseling degree programs available at University of West Alabama.

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Psychology and Counseling at the University of West Alabama

The University of West Alabama in our ranking of The 25 Best Low-Cost Master’s in Counseling Online Programs.

The University of West Alabama offers an undergraduate degree in psychology as well as offering psychology as a minor. Students majoring in psychology often pursue careers in social work or school counseling or attend graduate programs to go into fields of psychiatry, research, criminology, or academia.

The college also offers advanced degrees in these fields online. The Master of Science Adult Continuing Education/Counseling Psychology option offers unique coursework including classes on theories of personality, professional orientation and ethics, therapeutic relationship counseling, and psychology of emotion.

The Master’s of Science in Experimental Psychology provides ongoing training in psychology-based statistics and research methods and is a stepping stone for many students who plan to enter Ph.D. programs. This program provides students a core base of knowledge in the fields of psychology as well as elective classes that allow students to pursue interests in their chosen fields.

Other online degree programs include the Master of Education School Counseling Certification (online), the Master of Science in Guidance and Counseling, the Master of Education School Counseling certification, the Master of Science in Family Counseling, and the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

The University of West Alabama has a range of options for those interested in studying the field of psychology and counseling and is most beneficial to those who live in the state of Alabama or who are looking for online learning.

About The University of West Alabama

The University of West Alabama, located in Livingston, AL, began as a female academy associated with the church and admitted its first students in 1839. Named Livingston Female Academy and State Normal College, the institution remained a private school with some state support until 1907. The state assumed full control in 1907 and a State Board of Trustees was created in 1911. In 1919 the board was eliminated and all similar schools were placed under the management of the State Board of Education. Livingston Female Academy, at this time, offered both secondary education and normal school programs for the purpose of training teachers. After several more name and other changes, the institution realized its broader mission and changed its name to the University of West Alabama with a goal of serving the education needs of all citizens.

As a regional institution, the University is now mostly focused on the education of those students in the West Alabama area, though it does welcome students from throughout the country and around the world. Offering associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and education specialist degrees in the natural sciences, liberal arts, nursing, pre-professional programs, mathematics, business, education, and technology. The school boasts a wide range of educational opportunities, too.

In addition to their classroom focus, the university also seeks to enhance the growth of the entire student experience and offers a number of programs and services for students to take part in including clubs, sports, and cultural participation. They have a thriving Greek life, a student government association, cheer and band programs, and an assortment of clubs and organizations. In addition, the UWA Tigers participate in almost every college sport, including rodeo, providing students the opportunity to participate in organized sports or be involved as a fan. By building a firm foundation for thinking critically and respecting the ideas and values of others, the school puts an emphasis on personal integrity and character as well as academic achievement.

With programs for traditional as well as lifelong learners, the University offers distance learning, networking with other educational institutions and agencies, and the use of innovative technology in addition to their regular classroom programs. Their focus on providing a well-rounded education is facilitated by the recruitment and retention of a talented and diverse faculty who are expected to not only display excellence in teaching but also provide leadership and foster growth in the West Alabama community as a whole.

In the 2015-2016 academic year, the University of West Alabama had a total on-campus student population of 2261 and an online enrollment of 2833. On-campus students were 76% female.

University of West Alabama Accreditation Details

The university holds accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This allows the school to offer bachelors, education specialist degrees, and Master’s. In addition, teacher certification programs are approved by the Alabama State Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

University of West Alabama Admission Requirements

To be admitted into the University of West Alabama, prospective students must submit an ACT/SAT score of 17-18 or 830-890 for conditional admission. Unconditional admission requires an ACT score of 19 or above or an SAT score of 900 or above. Applicants must submit an official high school transcript that shows coursework and a final transcript must be submitted after graduation. This must show the student’s date of graduation and type of diploma received.

Students who have previously attended college at a different institution should submit official transcripts from all schools they have attended.

Those interested in the Master’s programs will need to take the GRE or MAT (Millers Analogies Test) and submit their results to the university. Those who have already taken the MAT in the past five years may submit those scores to the university in lieu of taking it again. Currently, there is no minimum score on either test to be considered for the program.

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University of West Alabama Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition at the University of West Alabama is much more affordable for in-state students than those residing outside of the state. In-state tuition was $7,144 for the 2015-2016 year with additional fees of $1,590, bringing the total yearly cost for these full-time undergraduates to $8,734.

Full-time undergraduate students who do not reside in Alabama paid $15,878 in tuition and fees for the 2015-2016 school year. This is an increase of 45% over their in-state counterparts. Tuition for out-of-state students increased at an annual rate of 5.5% over the past few years, making estimates for the 2016-2017 year to be $16,680.

To help offset these costs, the university offers a wide range of academic scholarships as well as scholarships based on extracurricular involvement and scholarships for veterans and specific fields of study.

The university also participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program and provides low-interest subsidized as well as unsubsidized loans for students and their parents. Students may also apply to receive grants that do not need to be paid back.

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