Ball State University

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Psychology and Counseling Degree Programs at Ball State University

Ball State University appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable School Psychology Online Degree Programs.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers for mental health professionals and psychologists are expected to increase by 14 percent over the next ten years, faster than the growth in other careers. The average salary for a psychologist is $79,010 with mental health professionals averaging around $40,000 per year, depending on their specialty. Ball State University offers several undergraduate and graduate programs designed to prepare graduates for careers in psychology and counseling.

Ball State University offers either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Psychology which can open students up to a wide range of careers. The program provides a basic understanding of psychology using both laboratory and experiential methods. Students gain a solid understanding of statistics, research methods and foundational learning. They are provided instruction in:

  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Diversity
  • Learning and Cognition
  • Motivation and Emotion
  • Personality
  • Social Psychology

Students are able to get hands-on experience through Psi Chi, the national honor society for Psychology.

The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at Ball State University is designed to prepare students for graduate study at the doctorate level. The program does not lead to licensure at the graduate level and takes approximately two years to complete. The program requires 32-credit hours in clinical psychology as well as 12-credit hours of electives. Courses that may be required include:

  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Applied Research Methods
  • Foundations in Psychological Assessment
  • Psychotherapy
  • Research Methods in Psychology

The Master of Arts or Master of Science in Educational Psychology is designed for educational professionals or anyone who works in the field of learning and development. The program is research-based and is available online. The program can be completed in as little as 18 months. Students gain an understanding of human learning and development, especially in higher learning settings. There is no clinical component as educational psychologists work with teachers and leaders to apply psychological theories of learning, classroom assessment, developmental psychology and more. Courses required may include:

  • Advanced Educational Psychology
  • Human Learning and Achievement Motivation
  • Methodology of Educational and Psychological Research
  • Psychology of Human Development
  • Statistical Methods in Educational and Psychological Research
  • Tests and Measurement

Students may concentrate their studies in the following areas:

  • Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Gifted and Talented
  • Human Development
  • Neuropsychology

Ball State University offers a graduate certificate in Identity and Leadership Development for Counselors for those who want to meet the needs of students and teens from multicultural backgrounds. The program emphasizes engaging secondary students academically so that they can make informed career choices. Courses required include:

  • College and Career Readiness
  • Counseling Ethics and Professional Issues
  • Introduction to Identity and Leadership Development for Counselors
  • Theories and Techniques of Counseling the Culturally Diverse

About Ball State University

Ball State University has its roots in a small, private teacher’s college that opened in 1899. Although the community tried to keep the school operational, the small college failed. The Ball brothers, Lucius, William, Edmund, Frank, and George, purchased the land and buildings before donating them to the State of Indiana. The brothers, all industrialists and philanthropists who had moved from New York to Muncie to expand their glass container business, had the vision of a local college that would help boost development in the city.

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In 1918, the Indiana State Normal School Eastern Division opened with the goal of educating teachers. In honor of the Ball family generosity, the school was renamed Ball Teachers College in 1922. The school was renamed Ball State Teachers College in 1929 and gained university status in 1965.

Today, more than 22,500 students attend Ball State University and the school has been named one of the best universities in the Midwest by the Princeton Review for more than ten years. It is one of only 26 schools in the country to be named to the Princeton Review’s Green Honor Roll. US News & World Report ranks the school in the top 20 for online graduate programs.

Ball State University Accreditation Details

Ball State University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission. Accreditation indicates that students are provided the highest quality education possible based on criteria created by the Commission. The University undergoes periodic review to confirm programs meet or exceed that criteria and agree to address any areas that are identified as needing improvement. In addition, programs throughout the University are accredited by the following organizations:

  • Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
  • American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation
  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Commission on English Language Program Accreditation
  • Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
  • National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation
  • National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on Accreditation
  • National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation
  • National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on Accreditation
  • National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

Ball State University Application Requirements

Undergraduate students who do not have college credit after high school graduation must provide official high school transcripts. Official ACT or SAT scores may be provided but are optional. Applicants who have earned college credit after high school graduation may be admitted as transfer students. They must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.

Graduate students must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. They must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university in order to apply.

Ball State University Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition at Ball State University is $309 per credit hour for residents and $1,037 for non-residents. Graduate tuition for residents is $417 per credit hour and $1,145 for non-residents. Online tuition is $334 per credit hour for residents and $543 per credit hour for non-residents.

Financial aid is available and more than 80 percent of all students receive some type of financial aid. The average student borrows around $28,000 for their education at Ball State compared to the US average of $35,000. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify for loans, grants, scholarships or work-study.

Ball State University sparks intellectual curiosity, treating students as partners from the beginning. Ball State University is grounded in their values, lifted by knowledge and helps students soar toward greater possibilities.

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