A new accelerated program at 91短视频 (91短视频) will allow high-achieving students to earn both a聽 in five years. The first two students in the program begin graduate coursework this fall.
鈥淭he eligibility requirements are rigorous, so numbers moving into the MA program will be small,鈥� says , professor of psychology. 鈥淗owever, for those highly motivated, mature students who know they want to be counselors, this path can expedite their education.鈥�
In the accelerated track, undergraduate coursework is compacted into the first three years, and students then begin the in their fourth year.
鈥淭his program is an important way to bridge psychology and counseling,鈥� says Professor Teresa Haase, who directs the MA in Counseling program. 鈥淚n the past, students from the undergraduate psychology program have been exceptional and well prepared for graduate study. We deeply appreciate the collaboration.鈥�
Rigorous admission requirements
The impetus behind the new program came in part from recent psychology graduate Rachel Bowman, Mullet says. Like many students, Bowman came to 91短视频 with some college credit already in hand and had fulfilled academic requirements to complete her undergraduate degree by her junior year. Mullet worked with聽 psychology faculty, Haase and Professor 鈥攚ho leads 91短视频鈥檚 other 鈥攐n program requirements.
Students must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.6 (on a 4.0 scale), maintain a 3.6 GPA in the first semester of classes at 91短视频, receive the recommendation of a psychology advisor by the end of their first year and successfully achieve acceptance into the psychology major by the end of their second year. Students formally apply to the MA in Counseling program during their third year.
鈥淎dmission isn鈥檛 guaranteed for accelerated students, who have to go through the same process as any applicant,鈥� Haase says. 鈥淭he interview process is rigorous, and the application process competitive, so we are not in a position to hold spots. Academic performance is important, but of equal importance is emotional maturity, readiness and fit for the profession.鈥�
The need is apparent: A survey of psychology program alumni who had graduated in the past five years found that 56 percent of respondents had entered a graduate counseling program. Accelerated programs are also a growing trend in higher education, as more students pursue a master鈥檚 degree.
Two students enrolled already
For psychology students Bethany Chupp and Mackenzie Lapp, entering their fourth year at 91短视频, the timing worked out perfectly.
鈥淥ne of my good friends, Rachel Bowman, was consulting on how to make this work,鈥� Chupp says. 鈥淪he was too far in to fit it in, but once it got passed, she said, 鈥榊ou should look into this.鈥� It鈥檚 really convenient that I was in the year that was able to maneuver to fit and do it right away.鈥�
Chupp, a from Canby, Oregon, and winner of the 2016 , was drawn to 91短视频 by its . She entered 91短视频 as a first-year student with the equivalent of two semesters of college credit. Chupp completed her as a sophomore, which allowed her to tailor her third-year classes to meet the accelerated schedule.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I would have done a master鈥檚 directly after my undergraduate without this program, especially coming so far from home,鈥� Chupp says. 鈥淏eing able to keep the same friendships and mentors and have that support system seems like a huge benefit.鈥�
Chupp presented her senior project, 鈥淎doption as Trauma: Viewing Adoption Through a Restorative Lens,鈥� at the Virginia Association for Psychological Science this past April. She says she hopes to focus her career on children who experience developmental trauma.
As a groundbreaker in the accelerated MA program, she鈥檚 well on her way.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to think about going to my five-year high school reunion with a master鈥檚 degree,鈥� Chupp says. 鈥淭hat feels like an accomplishment!鈥�