Counseling & Psychology at Penn State – World Campus
Pennsylvania State University – World Campus appears in our ranking of the 50 Top Online Bachelor of Psychology Degree Programs.
Pennsylvania State University – World Campus students may enroll in four different programs in counseling and psychology that include a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, an undergraduate minor in psychology, and a Master of Professional Studies in Psychology of Leadership. In all, the university offers more than 150 different accredited degrees, certificates, and minors that mimic the degrees offered on the university’s Pennsylvania campus, and students who graduate with a psychology degree can find work in a variety of settings like social work, recreational therapy, and school counseling. The university offers financial aid and scholarships for the online programs it offers through Penn State World Campus, so students can explore these degree options with the possibility of getting aid to pay for the programs.
Students who enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Psychology or the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology will need to complete 123 credits to earn their degree. The Bachelor of Arts requires 50 credits in psychology, as well as 34 additional course credits and a three-credit internship. Classes required include Introductory Psychology, Basic Research Methods in Psychology, and Psychology as a Science & Profession. Students who choose to enroll in the three-credit internship course will need to gain approval for internship placement, as well as create a plan of study. Students in the Bachelor of Arts program will also need to complete 12 credits in a foreign language. Students who choose the Bachelor of Science option instead will choose one of two concentrations in Business or Life Sciences.
Students who want to earn a graduate degree must complete 33 credits to earn their Master of Professional Studies in Psychology of Leadership. The degree will require that students complete classes that include Psychological Foundations of Leadership, Ethics & Leadership: Psychological & Social Processes, and Foundations of Behavior, Motivation, & Attitudes at Work. All students in psychology programs at Penn State World Campus can participate in the local Psi Chi Chapter, which is the Psychology Club for students. One of the unique facets of the club is that students come from around the world, so students can get to know about the role psychology plays in states around the United States, as well as in Europe and the Middle East.
Featured Programs
About Pennsylvania State University – World Campus
Penn State World Campus was established in 1998 as the online branch of The Pennsylvania State University. Before its foray into online learning, the university had already built a reputation as a distance learning institution with the earliest correspondence classes occurring in 1892. Around 13,400 students attend the university that has its administration office in University Park, which is the Pennsylvania location of the traditional Penn State campus. The acceptance standards for the World Campus are the same as the admission requirements for students attending traditional classes. Some classes require students to participate in webcam-based assignments to ensure the enrolled student is the one taking part in the class, and some tests are conducted online through the university’s proctoring tool. The university’s online campus adds new classes and programs regularly.
Pennsylvania State University – World Campus Accreditation Details
Penn State World Campus is a division of the state university and possesses the same accreditation as the on-campus state university division. The Middle State Association of Colleges & Schools is Penn State World Campus’s regional accreditation organization, and the school is also approved to operate in every state. The World Campus is also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), as well as the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Business Schools. The Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) has also accredited the Master of Public Administration. Other organizations have also given their approval to programs offered by Penn State World Campus.
Pennsylvania State University – World Campus Application Requirements
To apply to Pennsylvania State University – World Campus, a student must first fill out the official application and then complete a Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). Some programs have different admission prerequisites and requirements, so students must check with the Penn State World Campus official website to determine the exact materials required for their application. For undergraduate programs, students usually need to hold a GED or have a high school diploma. Some programs may require prerequisite courses that must be satisfied before full admission to the student’s chosen program is granted. For example, the Bachelor of Science in Accounting program requires some classes in English, economics, and accounting. Graduate programs usually require similar application materials, but students will provide evidence of having earned a bachelor’s degree rather than a high school diploma or GED.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition rates at Penn State World Campus are based on a student’s academic level, as well as how many classes they’ve already taken. Undergraduate students who have not yet earned 59 credits will pay $555 per credit when they take fewer than 12 credits a semester or a flat rate of $6,742 for 12 or more credits. Students who have already earned 60 credits will pay $596 per credit when they take fewer than 12 credits a semester or a flat rate of $7,297 for 12 or more credits. Students will also pay a technology fee that will range from $86 to $252 a semester and is based on how many credits a student takes. Graduate tuition is based on the program in which a student enrolls. For example, a student taking fewer than 12 credits in the accounting program will pay $930 per credit, and a student in the business analytics program will pay $975 per credit for fewer than 12 credits a semester.
Eligible students may receive federal student aid when they enroll as full-time or half-time students at Penn State World Campus. Students who aren’t sure whether they qualify for financial aid are encouraged to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if they can receive loans, scholarships, or grants for college. Students who are unemployed or who have been laid off from their jobs may qualify for additional benefits from the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program. Students who are members of the armed forces or who are veterans may also qualify for special aid packages from Yellow Ribbon programs and ROTC, as well as the GI Bill. Students interested in any of the online psychology degrees at Pennsylvania State University – World Campus may use their financial aid for tuition, books, supplies, and other educational expenses.