Waynesburg University

Waynesburg University Psychology & Counseling Degree Options

Waynesburg University offers a psychology program for undergrads and some related majors. The psychology program teaches students the fundamental psychological skills that they will need in graduate school and provide students with skills they can use in the field. Many of these students minor in either child development or self-development. Both minors require that students take 21 credits of electives within those fields. Related majors include sociology, social sciences, and human services. The social sciences program prepares students for working in political fields or for going to law school. Its human services program allows students to focus on social sciences or education.

There is also a Master of Arts in Counseling program available through the university. This program accepts fewer than 20 students each year and has an average class size of just seven students. It features a core of counseling courses that include Theory and Techniques in Group Counseling, Theories and Techniques in Career Counseling, Foundations of Counseling, Theories of Addiction and Recovery and Research Design and Program Evaluation. Students must do a practicum and two internships too.

Waynesburg University asks students in this program to select a specialization in clinical mental health counseling, sports counseling or addictions counseling. They'll take four courses relating to that specialization. It typically takes students two semesters to complete a specialization.

The university now offers a doctoral Ph.D. program in Counselor Education and Supervision also. Students take 54 credits that include a counseling core worth 24 credits and a research core worth 21 credits. Those credits come from courses such as Methods of Counselor Supervision, Advanced Counseling Theory and Skills and Advanced Group Counseling. Students will also do fieldwork and a combination practicum and internship, which is worth nine credits. The university awards students credits for their dissertation research and work too.

About Waynesburg University

Waynesburg University is a small college in the Pennsylvania city of the same name. Founded in 1849, it has a religious affiliation with the Presbyterian Church. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the area helped establish the college. One of the more unique features of its campus is that it has nature on all sides. The city established a series of small parks over the years that now surround its campus. Those parks provide students with a quiet and safe place to study or relax with their friends.

The university also has a service-learning program that pairs students with organizations based on what their majors are. This program allows students to work for organizations and groups that give back to those in the surrounding community. Students also have the option of working for organizations in other parts of the country and signing up for a study abroad program. Waynesburg University expanded its catalog to include graduate programs in later years, and it now offers a small number of doctoral programs too.

WU appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Most Affordable Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the Northeast.

Waynesburg University Accreditation Details

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) offers institutional accreditation and regional accreditation to the university. This gives the school the right to offer degree programs at all levels and to provide graduates with their degrees. MSCHE accreditation also acts as regional accreditation, which gives students the chance to transfer their credits and to get federal financial aid. The university also has accreditation for its nursing program from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Waynesburg University Application Requirements

Waynesburg University has different application requirements and steps in place for students based on the program they want to enter and study. Undergrads will need to complete the freshman application for admission and submit a transcript that shows each student followed a college prep high school curriculum. This typically includes classes in math and science as well as the social sciences and English. Students will also need to submit an SAT or ACT test score. The application asks students about the experiences they had outside of school and whether they participated in any clubs or other activities.

Graduate students need to use the graduation application, which is available online, and submit a transcript that shows the student had a 3.0 grade point average or higher in college. The university will ask for proof that the student has a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university too. Other requirements include a personal essay statement, a resume and two letters of recommendation. The personal statement must outline all the goals the student has and why the student wants to work as a counselor. There is an interview with an admissions counselor required too. Those accepted into the counseling graduate program must pass a background check and an FBI clearance check also.

The requirements for entering the university's doctoral counseling program include filling out the online application form, having a master's degree in counseling or a related field and supplying an official GRE test score. Students must also submit a transcript that shows a GPA of 3.5 or higher in a graduate program, a resume and two letters of recommendation. They must have at least two years of professional experience and write a doctoral essay. Students who did not pass the FBI clearance check and the state background check will need to do so before enrolling.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for full-time students at Waynesburg University is a little more than $23,000 a year. This is the rate that students pay to take up to 18 credits each semester. Students pay $640 per credit for any classes taken over that amount, and part-time students pay $960 per credit. Undergrads living on the campus will need to pay for both a meal plan and a housing package. The tuition for graduate students is $680 per credit hour of classes taken. Counseling doctoral students pay $790 per credit hour for all of their classes.

All students applying to Waynesburg University can use the FAFSA and see if they qualify for any financial aid. The federal government offers both grants and loans for students at the undergrad level, and these students may qualify for university scholarships or state grants too. Graduate students can use different types of loans to cover all their costs, and some students will use scholarships and/or grants too. Waynesburg University provides students with a financial aid letter that shows them the amount and type given before they enroll.