Counseling and Psychology Programs Available at Palo Alto University
Palo Alto University appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Best Online Masters in Psychology Degree Programs.
Palo Alto University is a university that offers programs in both counseling and psychology. Undergrads can choose between two Bachelor of Science programs in business psychology and psychology and social action. Each program is only open to students who completed at least two years of classes at another school and then transferred here. They can take online classes or classes on the California campus, and many students choose to take both types of classes. Social Psychology, Psychology Research Methods, Psychology of Gender and Psychology of Lifespan Development are some of the undergraduate courses that are available. Both programs include internship opportunities too.
Most of the students attending Palo Alto University enroll in one of its graduate or doctoral degree programs. The university offers a Master of Science in Psychology, which includes online classes and a one-week residency. Students in the Master of Arts in Counseling program can do a one-week residency and take online classes or enroll in the hybrid counseling program. This program includes an emphasis on marriage and family therapy and a second in clinical mental health counseling. Online students take up to three classes each quarter and graduate in a little more than two years.
Students can also get a doctorate in clinical psychology from Palo Alto University. This program includes five years of work, which will feature both practicums and internships as well as classes. There are many electives available such as Forensic Assessment, Child Assessment, Trauma in Children and Adolescents, Substance Abuse and Health Psychology that students can do once they complete their required classes. They can also choose from seven different emphasis areas, including trauma, meditation and psychology, forensic psychology, LGBTQ psychology and diversity, and community mental health.
About Palo Alto University
Palo Alto University is a private senior college and university in Palo Alto, California. Established in 1975 as the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, it became one of the top schools in the state for psychology majors. Though it kept this name for many years, it would later adopt the name Palo Alto University and use the abbreviation PAU. PAU works with local community colleges to make sure that students have a strong social science background before they transfer to the university. Students only need to take two years of classes before they can transfer.
The only degree programs available from PAU are in counseling and psychology. It worked with Stanford University to create a consortium for doctoral students too. U.S. News and World Report ranks this as one of the nation’s top health and psychology consortium programs. With an enrollment of just over 1,000 students, PAU offers small classes that allow students to express their thoughts and opinions. The psychology and counseling programs that it offers are available online and on campus.
Palo Alto University Accreditation Details
The American Psychological Association (APA) awarded accreditation to PAU for its clinical psychology doctorate program. APA accreditation also tells students that some of the other courses they take will meet the standards established by that organization. Another type of accreditation held by the university comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WASCSCUC), which is a form of regional accreditation. This gives students the chance to both apply for financial aid and transfer credits to PAU. The university’s counseling programs also have accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Palo Alto University Application Requirements
Undergrads applying to PAU must have at least 60 credits or 90 units of courses that they can transfer into one of these programs. They also need to submit transcripts that show they have grade point averages of at least 2.0 and that they took all required prerequisites, which include classes in lifespan development and math. The university will only give students credit for classes where they earned a grade of “C” or higher. Undergraduate applications are due by the end of August as is the $50 application fee.
The graduate programs offered by PAU have a priority deadline of June 30 and a regular deadline of July 31 but will accept applications up through the end of August if space is available. Those programs require that students have a bachelor’s degree and recommends that they have a GPA of 3.0 or higher transcripts that show they took prerequisite psychology courses. Students will either need to get a fee waiver or pay the $50 application fee when they submit the PAU online application. They will also need to supply contact information for three references, a resume, transcripts and a statement of purpose. PAU requires that students interview also.
Those applying to the doctoral program need to submit their applications by November 15 to meet the priority deadline of January 3, which is the final deadline. They need to supply their transcripts, GRE test score, a resume, statement of purpose and three references who will write letters of recommendation for them. These students must also interview for a spot in the clinical psychology program.
Tuition and Financial Aid
PAU charges all students a flat rate, which covers the cost of tuition and fees. The cost for undergrads is $7,584 per quarter in a daytime program and $5,688 per quarter in an evening or online program. Graduate students pay $569 per credit hour unless they enroll in the university’s doctoral prep program, which charges a rate of $5,791 per quarter. Doctoral students pay $17,509 per year and $13,755 for each year they spend doing dissertation work. They also pay close to $4,000 per quarter during their internships.
As long as students submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 2, PAU will give them a financial aid package. Undergrads receive packages that include scholarships, loans, work-study and grants that come from the federal government and the state government. Graduate students can also qualify for work-study along with loans and scholarships. Students in both the doctoral and graduate programs may qualify for a fellowship too. This gives them $10,000 in their first years and $5,000 in each of their second and third years. Palo Alto University encourages students to submit all required documents needed for financial aid when they apply to one of its counseling and psychology degree programs.
