Psychology and Counseling Programs Offered at Union College
Union College appears in our ranking of the 50 Great Small Colleges for a Bachelor’s in Psychology.
The Department of Psychology at Union College offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology and several similar programs for graduate students. Undergrads need to take Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods in Psychology and a statistics class before they pick nine cognate courses. Though the college gives them multiple options, they can pick classes such as Language and Culture, Theories of the Good Life, Philosophy of Science, Aging and Society, Domestic Violence and Mental Health and Society. Psychology majors will also need to do an internship or take an independent study course.
Through the online Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology, students take classes in general fields of psychology. Introduction to Psychology Graduate Studies, Social and Community Psychology, Health Psychology, Group Dynamics and Emotion, Motivation and Cognition are among the classes they can take. Students earn up to six credits for their thesis projects and can earn the same number of credits if they choose to do a final paper. Though the general psychology is an online program, the college also offers a hybrid program in clinical psychology.
Students in the Master of Science (MS) in Substance Abuse Counseling can also earn their degrees online. This program features 60 credits and follows the guidelines established by the state for substance abuse counselors. Students can apply for their counseling licenses once they complete the program. They need to do 2,000 hours of fieldwork at the graduate level, which the college offers through fieldwork placements. The program features nine credits of electives, 25 hours of foundation classes and 26 credits of substance abuse courses. Those courses include Psychology of Addiction, Multicultural and Diversity Issues, and Recovery and Relapse.
To go along with its psychology programs, Union College offers a certificate in chemical dependency counseling that students can complete online. It includes 21 credits and requires that students earn at least 14 of those credits from the college. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in the certificate program too. The college also opens this program to undergrads who have psychology degrees. It meets some of the requirements for licensed counselors in Kentucky.
About Union College
Union College is a private university in Schenectady, New York. Established in 1875, the college was home to one of the first fraternities in the nation and earned the nickname the Mother of Fraternities. Some of the earliest Greek organizations still have a presence on its campus. Not only was Union one of the first colleges in New York, but it was one of the earliest colleges in the country not affiliated with a religion. Many of the buildings on the main campus have an architectural influence from the Greek Reformed Church that was popular in the region.
Students attending Union can wander through Jackson’s Garden, which covers more than eight acres and visit historic buildings that include Lippman Hall and Nott Memorial. The college developed Terms Abroad to allow students to study in foreign cities. Those terms last for as little as three weeks and are available in more than 20 cities. More than 2,200 undergrads and a small number of graduate students attend Union College every year.
Featured Programs
Union College Accreditation Details
Union College has accreditation for some of its programs, including those in mechanical engineering and education. That accreditation comes from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and other organizations. Union also has regional accreditation, which comes from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It has similar accreditation for its online programs. Students can use that accreditation to get financial aid from the federal government and other sources. They need to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the Union College code to get that aid.
Union College Application Requirements
Prospective Union College undergrads can use the Coalition Application or the Common Application. They can apply by either early application deadline of December 15 or February 15 and receive an answer from the college within one month. Union then gives students until the first of May to accept their decision letters. Though the college only requires an application and high school transcript, it encourages students to interview with a faculty member and/or provide a standardized test score.
To enroll in any of the graduate programs in psychology, Union requires that students have an undergrad grade point average of 3.0 or higher and a bachelor’s degree in a social science area. Students need to submit an official GRE score of 286 or higher and their college transcripts along with the application. They will also need to sign a curriculum contract that shows they agree to follow the curriculum of the program. Once students complete 12 credit hours, they need to apply to remain in the program. This requires a new application with a goals statement, a GPA of 3.0 or higher and an interview with a faculty member. The substance abuse counseling degree and certificate programs accept students with an undergraduate GPA of 2.5.
Tuition and Financial Aid
All undergrads attending Union College pay $13,165 per semester for tuition and another $810 in fees. Students who opt for a dorm room will also pay $1,650 per semester for housing and $2,100 for a meal plan that entitles them to at least 19 meals a week. The costs that they pay will increase when they choose a different residence hall. Undergrads enrolled part-time at the college pay $225 per credit hour and a $25 fee when they register. Graduate students pay $400 per credit hour in the college’s online and traditional degree programs as well as online programs.
More than $53 million go to students each year in the form of financial aid packages. Union only awards financial aid packages to students after it receives both a completed FAFSA and an application. Scholarships and grants are among the aid that comes directly from the college to enrolled students. Most of those programs are only available for undergrads who can also qualify for government grants. Undergrads who show more need on the FAFSA qualify for work-study too. Union College encourages students to speak with a financial aid counselor if they have any questions about loans or other awards granted to students in its psychology and counseling programs.
Related Resources:
- 5 Tips for Landing Your First Job after Earning a Psychology Degree
- Is an Online Psychology Degree Cheaper Than a Traditional One?
- Should One Expect to attend Graduate School with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology?
- What Can I Do With a Bachelors Degree in Psychology?
- What Can I Do with a Master’s Degree in Psychology?
- What Interests Would Lead One to Obtain an Online Degree in Psychology?
- What is the Future Job Outlook for Careers with an Online Degree in Psychology?
- What is the Future Outlook for Careers in Psychology?
