Spotlight: Capella University: Mental Health Degrees
MS & PhD Programs
“Capella was one of the only schools that [prepared me for state licensure]. So I called the admissions staff, and they made me feel like a person - not just a number and a checkbook. That meant a lot to me. ”- Miriam
Capella University, a leading, accredited online institution, has been offering top-quality distance education at the graduate level since 1991. With bachelor's, master's and PhD programs in business management, education, and information technology, Capella is particularly renowned for its mental health program.
A Quality Mental Health Education
Capella students have a wide variety of mental health degrees and specializations to chose from, all entirely online (see bottom of page for full list). Capella is the first and only online university to offer CACREP-accredited counseling specializations in Mental Health Counseling and Marital, Couple and Family Counseling/Therapy. In addition, the University offers three PhD programs including general psychology, counseling studies and social and community services plus a PsyD in clinical psychology. Several other master's degrees and certificate programs are also available. Specializations in a range of topics (business, human services and more) allow students to customize their learning experiences and tailor them precisely to meet their career goals.
"Our courses are very well put together," remarks Dr. Angela Adams, a licensed psychologist who teaches counseling psychology at Capella. "The syllabi and course structure are very detailed, meaning that students know what to expect when progressing through the program���not to mention they're getting a good education."
The University is committed to rigorous coursework that fully prepares students for professional practice. All core faculty in the CACREP counseling specializations are licensed professionals; two have been recently elected to the presidencies of state counseling associations in Texas and Florida.
Studying Mental Health Online: How Does It Work?
Online education requires motivation and self-discipline at any level, but graduate degrees can be especially demanding. Capella's doctoral programs in clinical psychology, for example, require 3,000 hours of fieldwork and a series of brief residencies in order to cement the knowledge and skills gained in the online classroom. The counseling studies and social and community services PhDs include three weeklong, face-to-face colloquia. Master's degree programs generally require shorter residencies and fewer field hours.
"Given that psychology is practice-oriented," says Dr. Adams, "it has taken some creativity to ensure students' competency base. We do this through residency and face-to-face training. We work very hard to make sure that we have a quality product, to make sure graduates are ready to go to work."
The primary component of any Capella degree, however, is the online class. Most coursework and faculty/classmate interaction can be done at any time, though many classes require participation in regularly scheduled discussions. Capella offers a variety of support services to assist students with this new learning format: academic advisors, tutors and career counselors are available, in addition to the University's vast electronic library of information resources
Who Studies Online at Capella?
Capella is proud to serve over 23,000 students from all 50 states and 45 countries���none of whom have to leave those states or countries in order to earn their degrees. 90 percent of Capella students are enrolled part-time; all classes and degree programs are designed to meet the needs of the working professional. 68 percent of students are women, many of them working mothers who need the maximum flexibility offered by online education. Capella's CACREP accreditation in mental health counseling makes it a particularly attractive choice for students whose states require this certification for licensure, but who may not live near an appropriate school.
"We have a variety of learners at Capella," says Dr. Adams. "I recently taught a leadership class to CEOs and CFOs of multinational corporations, side by side with students who were in their first leadership classes, with no experience. Everyone had something unique to offer, a different perspective���we all had something to learn from each other."
Launching Your Career with a Capella Degree
So what happens when you've finally got that advanced degree?
State licensure is required for any graduate who wishes to practice as a therapist or counselor. Graduation from Capella's programs, as with any college or university, does not guarantee state licensure, but the University offers comprehensive information for students on how to obtain licensure in their desired state. In many cases, the student's Capella degree will fulfill state requirements, but each case is different, and requirements vary by degree, by career focus and by intended practice as well as by state.*
Career success can take a wide variety of different forms. MS alumna Miriam Napolitano-Magaw is completing an internship at Highland Rivers Mental Health Clinic in Canton, Georgia. PhD graduate Jeff Devens earned his Capella degree while living overseas and now works as a school psychologist. MS student Larry Fernandez came to Capella from a career in hydrology and is planning to become a licensed counselor. As more and more students choose online education to fit their lives (the Sloan Consortium reported 3.2 million online students last year), Capella continues to lead the way with rigorous, high-quality programs that prepare students for professional success���whatever that means for you.
PhD/PsyD Programs:
- Clinical Psychology
- Counseling Studies
- Social and Community Services
- General Psychology
Master of Science Programs:
- Clinical Psychology
- Counseling Psychology
- Counseling Studies
- General Psychology
- Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling/Therapy
- Mental Health Counseling
- Public Health - Social and Behavioral Sciences
- School Counseling
- School Psychology
- Social and Community Services
- Sport Psychology
Certificate Programs:
- Graduate Certificate - Addictions Counseling
- Graduate Certificate - Marriage and Family Services
- Graduate Certificate - Professional Counseling
- Graduate Certificate - Specialist Certificate in School Psychology
- Graduate Certificate ��� Social and Community Services
- Graduate Certificate ��� Diversity Studies
Additional specializations
PhD/PsyD
- General Business
- General Human Services
- Educational Psychology
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Professional Studies in Education
Additional specializations: Master of Science
- Educational Psychology
- Evaluation, Research, and Measurement
- General Human Services
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Leadership Coaching Psychology
- Organization and Management - General Business
- Organizational Leader Development
- Professional Studies in Education
MBA
- General Business
BS
- Human Resource Management
Certificates
- Graduate Certificate - Human Resource Management
- Graduate Certificate - Leadership
*Capella University cannot guarantee licensure. Our counseling programs are intended to prepare learners for the state���s licensure exam. Attainment of state license is the learner���s responsibility. Each learner must determine the requirements of each state in which the learner seeks to be licensed and is responsible for compliance with those requirements.
