Non-Traditional Psychology Students
~QUOTE OF THE DAY~: "There's always the motivation of wanting to win. Everybody has that. But a champion needs, in his [or her] attitude, a motivation above and beyond winning."-Pat Riley
Now-a-days, not every student is a 20 or 21 year old transitioning from an undergraduate degree in psychology to a doctoral program in psychology. Instead, students are gaining interest in psychology in their late 20s, early 30s, and beyond. These students may not have majored in psychology during their undergraduate years. For those who fall under this non traditional student category, I want to make it clear that you have options! If you did not major in psychology, consider pursuing a masters degree in psychology or a related field, such as counseling, social work, marriage and family, and so forth. Obtaining a Masters degree in psychology or a related field will give you roughly 60 credit hours that can prepare you for the coursework on the doctoral level. Personally, I would recommend attending a program that leads to licensure like counseling, social work, or marriage and family because the curriculum requires extensive training (60 hours in counseling, M.A. vs 36-50hrs in psychology, M.A.), internship experience, and graduate level statistics and research courses. Ensure that the Masters degree that you choose is accredited for the field you are entering.
Accreditation By Field
For counseling or clinical mental health counseling, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is the program accreditation for Master's level programs. Marriage and Family programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). Social work degrees are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Check for the accreditation in your field before you pursue any particular degree plan. A caveat in this case is if the degree you are pursuing is in general psychology on the Master's level. Master's level psychology degrees are not accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), as they only accredit doctoral degrees, doctoral internship sites, and post-doctoral residency sites. Thus, a Master's in Psychology will probably only have regional accreditation.
A Second B.A. Degree to Pursue Psychology???
Another option besides pursuing a Master's degree is to complete an additional Bachelor's degree specifically in psychology; yet, I would not recommend this route because it makes more sense to obtain a more advance degree in the field of psychology than to pursue another B.A. degree in psychology for those who do not have an original psychology degree.
Doctoral Preparation
The most important elements to remember about preparation for doctoral studies is quality work, excellent grades, strong mentor relationships, internship and research experience, and leadership. In psychology, doctoral committees are looking to see the quality of your work experiences. Students that have work or volunteer opportunities that expose them to the type of work completed on the doctoral level will have the most success with gaining admission. Admissions committees want to know that students have experience in the area in which they are applying. A student who is interested in a Pediatric Clinical Psychology program would do well to have experience counseling children, doing research on issues relevant to children (i.e., development, health, neurological or cognitive functioning, autism and other disabilities, etc.). Do not be afraid to embark on new opportunities that have the potential to expose you to higher level research and clinical work!!
High Grade Marks
Second, students must keep their grades up. It is not enough to join a Master's program. Students need to demonstrate that they can handle graduate level studies and professional responsibilities. Enough said on that point as it should be obvious that students must maintain high grade marks in order to advance towards a doctoral degree in psychology or counseling.
Strong Mentor Relationships
Third, students, whether non traditional or not, will not survive the application process for doctoral studies without having strong mentor relationships that can reiterate their qualifications. Begin building strong mentor relationships with a trusted supervisor, faculty advisor, professor, or volunteer manager as soon as possible. Students cannot count on the fact that someone will remember you after you complete their course or volunteer schedule for the year. Stay close to your mentor. Ask your mentor about how to strengthen your admission profile in applying for doctoral studies. Ask questions until you are fully prepared to apply to doctoral programs.
Use Wisdom in Selecting your Site!
Fourth, students must choose quality internship and research opportunities. I remember coming across a radiology tech student that underwent an internship with a small chiropractor's office. Unfortunately, the chiropractor did not let the intern do anything related to taking x-rays or other work in radiology. She spent her time preparing the examination and treatment rooms for client visits. This intern was not gaining any experience in her field. She found out too late that her internship was not going to prepare her for work in hospitals and clinics. So, my advice to you is to ensure that your internship and research opportunities are relevant to your goals and educational requirements. Do not allow a professional to hold you hostage to responsibilities that will not prepare you for what you are studying in school. If you are not receiving the training you need in your internship and/or research opportunity, then consult the intern or volunteer coordinator at your site. If you do not have one, immediately contact the internship office at your university. Tell them your situation and need for re-placement in another site. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE SEMESTER IS OVER BEFORE YOU CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL ABOUT AN ILL-FITTING INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT!!!
Leadership
Last, leadership is an indispensable aspect of preparing for doctoral studies. Leadership involves taking the initiative to seek out academic and professional opportunities. I recommend that in addition to internship and research opportunities that students involve themselves in studies that require them to contribute to a scholarly publication. Universities are constantly asking students if they have produced any publications or given presentations about their research. At this point, If you are unable to publish work in a psychology journal, then consider going to the American Psychological Association's (APA) regional convention (i.e., choose your conference by region: east coast, west coast, southwest, southeast, etc-see APA's website for more details) and creating a poster, research paper, and pamphlets of your research to share during the poster sessions. Such experiences can be listed on your Curriculum Vita, which is a functional document that shows your education, certifications/licenses, teaching experience, research experience, clinical experience, publications, presentations, and so forth.
Overall, remember to evaluate your life, finances, responsibilities, and work interest. If you decide to pursue a Masters degree in route to a doctoral degree, then consider the work load, requirements, and required completion time. Also, ensure that you are pursuing a degree that fits your needs. Some programs lead to licensure, while others do not. Always check to see if the program will help you advance towards your particular career interest like Clinical Psychology or School Psychology. A student interested in School Psychology without having a B.A. in psychology could major in School Counseling, obtain licensure, and then go on to pursue the PhD in School Psychology. It all depends on you. No matter what-stay true to your needs, passions, and beliefs.
Best of Luck moving forward!
Links:
*APA REGIONAL CONVENTIONS
-National APA Annual Convention:
-Northeast Annual Convention:
-Northwest Annual Convention:
-East Coast Annual Convention:
-West Coast Annual Convention:
*ACCREDITING BODIES:
*COUNSELING ACCREDITATION
*MARRIAGE AND FAMILY ACCREDITATION
*SOCIAL WORK ACCREDITATION
*STUDY TIPS
*TIPS ON THE PhD APPLICATION PROCESS
*CAREER OPTIONS
