Frequently Asked Questions
The following are questions people often have about the Department of Graduate Psychology & Counseling. Please feel free to call an admissions counselor to pursue any questions you may have about our unique program.
Will a Master of Arts Degree with a concentration in psychology & counseling enable me to get licensed?
A Master of Arts from UI&U may enable you to achieve your licensing goal. While the department (like other practitioner programs) does not guarantee licensure or certification, faculty helps learners to achieve professional credentialing objectives. Ultimately, it is the learner’s responsibility to ensure that his/her specific program of study complies with personal objectives. We gladly assist our students with any questions that may arise from their own research on this topic.
What, then, is my job as a student when it comes to preparing for licensing/certification?
If you have not done so already, secure a copy of your state’s credentialing requirements and compare it to the coursework and internship guidelines that are delineated in the Department of Psychology and Counseling Academic Concentrations and Tracks Guide (available from: Union Institute & University , Office of Graduate Admissions, 3 University Way, ste 3, Brattleboro, VT 05301-3669; TEL: 802/257-9411). Should your state’s requirements differ from the academic program plan outlined in the Concentration and Tracks Guide, your studies can often be realigned to achieve your desired outcome.
I’m seeking admission to one of the applied psychology tracks. What if I don’t have an undergraduate degree in psychology or have not completed a minimum of 12 credits in psychology prior to acceptance?
In certain circumstances, exceptional applicants may be granted conditional acceptance, full acceptance being contingent upon the completion of 12 preparatory credits of psychology coursework. Preparatory courses are offered through the Office of Lifelong Learning and may be accessed by contacting Union Institute & University, Lifelong Learning, Attn: Elizabeth Hooper, 36 College ST, Montpelier, VT 05602 (800/336-6794). In some circumstances, successful completion of these preparatory graduate level courses will be counted toward degree requirements.
When can I start the program and how long will it take me to earn my degree?
Students may enroll in January, April, July or October. The Department offers learners a choice between a weekend residency schedule and a national schedule. Weekend Option learners attend five, three-day weekend residencies annually. National Option learners attend one five-day colloquium each semester. Both residency options are held on the Brattleboro Campus. Learners seeking licensure complete a 60-credit program of study (12 credits granted for the successful completion of each six-month semester) while non-licensure students need to complete a minimum of 48 credits to receive the degree.
What occurs during a residency?
Whether you have chosen the Weekend Option or the National Option, residencies offer you the opportunity to connect directly with your peers and are viewed as a critical part of your program. Learners attending their first residency will engage in degree planning workshops and attend their first core group meeting. The core group serves you throughout your program as a “learning team” in which you share resources, provide critique, and participate in peer evaluation. A myriad of professional seminars, content seminars and student presentations round out the rest of the residency and expose learners to the common core topics relevant to their academic concentration.
Is there a difference between an M.A. in Psychology & Counseling and an M.S.W?
Although one can counsel with either degree, social work is much more centered on case management (coordinating with state agencies and community resources to assist clients with accessing medical care and meals on wheels services, etc), while clinical mental health counseling or counseling psychology is, as its title would suggest, focused rather exclusively on direct therapeutic services (and the diagnostic and assessment steps that are precursors to direct services). The difference between these two fields, then, is largely an issue of personal preference. Our faculty obviously favor spending their time teaching (and historically working with) direct service, while preferring to leave the coordinating of community resources (which is noble, by the way) to the social workers who have that interest/emphasis.
As a busy adult, how difficult is it to combine a full-time job with my studies?
The majority of learners enrolled in the Department of Graduate Psychology & Counseling Program balance their education with other responsibilities. There are many reasons why the low-residency options work for our learners, but the most prevalent answer seems to be the freedom the educational model allows – you can work on your studies when your schedule allows. It still requires time, commitment, discipline and a passion for what you are studying. It is amazing where time can be found when you are determined, creative, and don’t care what your neighbors think of your unkempt lawn. The payoff is clear, however. In two and a half years you will have an M.A. and potentially a counseling license.
If you have further questions, please contact Wayne R. Wood or Cristy Sugarman at:
1-800-336-6794 or 1-802-257-9411, ext 8902/8907
E-mail: wayne.wood@tui.edu or cristy.sugarman@tui.edu