PGSP's Distance Learning Program for 2008-09 FAQ
Can I See Patients With This Degree?
This degree does not contain an applied clinical component, as we are not yet ready to do web based clinical supervision. Because of that, this degree is not designed for people who want a master's degree in order to see patients. If that is your goal, you should seek out a local program that might exist in the Social Work department or the Counselor Education department of a university.
How and When Do I Apply?
We accept new students in the spring and summer to begin in the Fall. Classes begin shortly after Labor Day this year. The deadline for initial applications is August 15, 2006 but we strongly urge you to apply in the spring and early summer. Late applications are frequently unable to be reviewed because pieces of the application packet (i.e., letters of reference) are not submitted in a timely manner.
There is an online application form that can be filled out and submitted on the Internet at http://www.pgsp.org/Application.htm. You can also request an application form from the admissions office by calling them at 800/818-6136 or sending an email request to: admissions@pgsp.edu.
What Is Required?
You must be a graduate of an accredited undergraduate institution and provide official transcripts to document that. You will also be asked to provide three letters of reference in support of your application. Finally, you will be asked to write essays outlining your goals and reasons for applying
For students coming from a non-psychology background, there are 4 courses that are prerequisites: developmental psychology, physiological psychology, personality or abnormal psychology, and statistics.
GRE scores are not required for admissions. If, however, you wish to transfer into the Ph.D. program, they will be required at that time.
How Much Does It Cost?
The tuition for the DL program is the same as on campus. For the 2005-06 academic year, it is $768 per unit. There are 21 units in the first year of the program. There is also a $257 per quarter technology fee. Therefore, the tuition and fees for this year total $16,899 for first year students. The second year of the program has 18 units (instead of 21) so the tuition costs will be somewhat lower. However, you can anticipate an increase in tuition commensurate with inflation. The per-unit charges for 2006-07 have not been determined at this point in time.
Can I Transfer Units From A Prior Graduate Program?
You can transfer up to 5 units of prior graduate work. The coursework cannot be more than 5 years old. It is done on a case-by-case basis. You need to submit the course description with supporting documentation (e.g., syllabus). It will be reviewed by a PGSP faculty member who will either accept or reject the course for transfer credit.
What Happens if I Don't Pass a Class?
Students who fail a class will be put on academic probation, a process that occurs for all students at PGSP when they don't pass a class. The normal remedy for an isolated failure is to simply retake the class the next time it is offered. You should be forewarned that you need to pay again to retake a class and that you may not have sufficient credits available during the quarter you retake the class to qualify for financial aid. That means you would have to pay out of pocket for retaking the class. We hope the issue is one you never have to deal with directly.
How Do I Get Additional Information?
You can e-mail Dr. Froming (wfroming@pgsp.edu). He will also be happy to arrange for you to talk with current students and recent graduates of the program to get their perspective.