Western Illinois University Quad Cities

Western Illinois University Quad Cities is a branch of Western Illinois University that goes by the name of WIU-QC. Founded in Moline, which is the home of John Deere, this branch originally catered to commuter students. It did not offer any type of on-campus housing. The majority of its students lived with their families, though some working students lived on their own. It also functioned as an upper level college or a senior college. Rather than offering classes at all levels, it offered classes for just juniors and seniors. Students studied on other campuses before transferring to WIU-QC.

That all changed in 2012, which is when the university moved to a new location. Its current location puts it close to the four main cities near the border of Illinois and Iowa, which is why it chose the Quad Cities name. Since moving, the university added to its curriculum and now offers classes designed for freshmen and new students. It also added programs designed for advanced students who already have a bachelor's degree and brought in some graduate programs too. The campus is home to a number of modern buildings that provide students with state of the art amenities such as research labs and high-speed wireless internet access.

Western Illinois University Quad Cities Accreditation Details

WIU-QC first obtained accreditation in 1913 and received a reaffirmation of its accreditation in 2011 from the Higher Learning Commission. This means that the university will maintain its accreditation through the end of the 2020 to 2021 school year. Accreditation of this type grants students the right to seek out financial aid opportunities and use the FAFSA to see if they qualify for any financial aid. The university also has accreditation for some of its degree programs like those in counseling, kinesiology, tourism, education and social work. Those accrediting bodies include the Council on Social Work Education, National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education, Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education and Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

Western Illinois University Quad Cities Application Requirements

The way you apply to Western Illinois University Quad Cities depends on whether you are a prospective grad students or undergrad. Undergrads can use the Common Application when applying to more than one college, but you can also use the university's own website, which has an online application available. You'll need to create an account with a user name and password. Once you have an account, you can complete the application and pay the $30 fee. The university asks for an official transcript from your high school. You also have the option of sending in letters of recommendation, an official standardized test score and/or a personal essay.

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Western Illinois University Quad Cities has a longer application process for prospective graduate students. You must first apply to the university's graduate school and then apply to the program you hope to study. New students can fill out the online application or print off a copy of the paper application, complete it and send it back to the university. There is a $30 fee due at the time that you submit either application. When enrolling in either a counseling or psychology program, you may need to submit a GRE score, letters of recommendation, a copy of you resume or other information.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Western Illinois University Quad Cities offers a guaranteed four-year tuition plan that ensures your tuition rate never changes over the course of the four years that you spend working on your undergrad degree. This university also ranks as a best value college because its rates are so affordable. The cost for all undergrads, including those studying online and those coming from outside of Illinois, is $284.70 per credit hour. You'll pay around $25 in other fees too, and if you want to take classes online, you must pay a $50 distance learning fee. Rooms in campus dorms start at around $3,000 a semester, and you'll also need to pay more than $1,800 a semester for a meal plan.

All graduate students pay the same tuition rate, which is $323.64 per credit hour, though students from other countries pay a higher rate. Your fees will come in at around $25 as well. The university also offers a number of on-campus living options for graduate students. You can get a single room for around $4,300 a semester or live in a room with one other student for around $3,000 a semester. The university also has meal plans available for graduate students.

Psychology and Counseling Degree Programs

One of the grad programs that Western Illinois University Quad Cities offers is a Master of Science in Education in Counseling, which is suitable for those who want to work with real people. This program offers a concentration in mental health counseling for those who want to work in rehab and treatment centers or in private practice. There is also a concentration available in school counseling for those who want to work with students. You'll need to do a practicum and create a thesis before taking a final exam. This program features courses like diagnosis, group counseling theories and procedures, techniques of counseling and lifestyles and career development.

The Department of Psychology offers two undergrad degrees in general psychology and forensic psychology. You can pick a minor in gerontology psychology, neuroscience, forensic psychology or the psychology of substance abuse. Though the university requires that you take 55 hours of psychology courses, you'll actually take up to 20 credits from within your minor and up to 12 electives from different disciplines. Students in either program can sign up for the university's GradTrack plan, which ensures that they meet the requirements needed to graduate in four years.

Western Illinois University Quad Cities also offers a graduate degree in psychology with concentrations available in clinical/community mental health psychology, experimental psychology and school psychology. More than half of those who graduated from is experimental program enrolled in doctoral programs later, and more than 90% of those who graduated from its other programs currently work in the field. As a graduate student, you will have the chance to work in the university's psychology clinic, which offers affordable care and support for locals who need help. Western Illinois University Quad Cities accepts only a small number of students each year into these programs to keep class sizes low but will accept students past the February 1 deadline as long as there is space available.