WEBVTT 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:05.920 Alright. 00:00:05.920 --> 00:00:07.140 Well, here we are. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:15.545 Welcome, everyone, to the, presentation for the master's in psychology program here at Divine Mercy University. 00:00:16.245 --> 00:00:17.765 My name is Greg Shapiro. 00:00:17.765 --> 00:00:19.465 I'm the admissions representative. 00:00:20.245 --> 00:00:23.705 I'm gonna be walking through with you the program details. 00:00:24.085 --> 00:00:25.785 We're gonna be covering a few things. 00:00:25.940 --> 00:00:34.520 One would be just general information regarding to Divine Mercy University, and then also, of course, the master's in psychology program. 00:00:35.140 --> 00:00:41.305 We're gonna go further into the different vocational avenues that you can take once earning this degree. 00:00:41.305 --> 00:00:48.125 This is, based on what many different students have done, after earning their degree going into different positions. 00:00:48.825 --> 00:00:53.305 We're also gonna start covering the, tuition information as well. 00:00:53.305 --> 00:01:02.660 So, the the tuition of the program, the scholarship options that we have, ways of reducing your tuition, there's always an opportunity for that. 00:01:03.680 --> 00:01:06.000 So I'm gonna be including these slides. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:08.560 You'll have visual aids for all of this. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:21.025 But if you're one that just likes to listen, I will, speak very, clearly on the details if you're one that likes to listen while, you know, doing, household chores or whatever it is that you're doing. 00:01:21.165 --> 00:01:22.225 So let's begin. 00:01:24.820 --> 00:01:28.120 So just some general information on Divine Mercy. 00:01:28.180 --> 00:01:35.320 To begin, we began back in 1999 under, the Institute for Psychological Sciences. 00:01:35.380 --> 00:01:36.600 So we were called IPS. 00:01:37.515 --> 00:01:44.655 And, later on, we added the school of counseling, which brought us to the university status. 00:01:45.035 --> 00:01:47.055 And so we have three different programs. 00:01:47.195 --> 00:01:50.975 We have the master's in counseling program, which is hybrid. 00:01:51.275 --> 00:01:58.560 And then we also have, under IPS, the PsyD program in clinical psychology, and that one is fully residential. 00:01:58.620 --> 00:02:01.840 So we have students here on campus in Sterling, Virginia. 00:02:02.460 --> 00:02:12.035 And then we have what we're gonna be talking about today, the master's in psychology program, which is 100% online, and we'll go into the online format shortly. 00:02:13.695 --> 00:02:21.395 With that, we are accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. 00:02:21.775 --> 00:02:24.560 So So this is one of the seven major accrediting bodies. 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:30.720 We're also accredited through, APA, American Psychological Association. 00:02:30.860 --> 00:02:32.640 So this is a national accreditation. 00:02:33.260 --> 00:02:38.145 And then, of course, we're also recognized by the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia. 00:02:40.925 --> 00:02:48.305 So going deeper into the master's in psychology program, to begin, as I mentioned, we are 100% online. 00:02:49.290 --> 00:02:54.170 There are no residencies, no field experience that needs to be completed with this one. 00:02:54.170 --> 00:02:58.910 You could technically be a hermit and complete the degree from beginning to end. 00:02:59.450 --> 00:03:01.710 With that, it's also asynchronous. 00:03:02.115 --> 00:03:09.255 So in other words, you have the flexibility to participate in your classes at whatever time works within your schedule. 00:03:09.795 --> 00:03:19.760 There are no live lectures, which is a benefit, especially if you do have a busy, work life or busy home life, if time might be more demanding for you. 00:03:19.760 --> 00:03:23.540 So you can log in at whatever time works within your day. 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:29.120 And then as mentioned, we are regionally credited, through Saks as I mentioned. 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:34.585 So this is, you know, this is why we hold our our, education at a high standard. 00:03:35.205 --> 00:03:38.185 And then this program is 36 credit hours. 00:03:38.325 --> 00:03:45.800 And so 30 of those credit hours go toward psychology and six of the credits go toward philosophy and theology. 00:03:46.660 --> 00:03:53.080 And then in order to be eligible to apply, you must have a baccalaureate degree with at least a 2.5 GPA. 00:03:54.180 --> 00:03:58.180 And then with this program, I would classify this as a helping degree. 00:03:58.180 --> 00:03:59.800 So it's for helping professionals. 00:04:00.985 --> 00:04:04.345 In other words, this is not a licensure track program. 00:04:04.345 --> 00:04:11.145 So if you're looking to become a licensed professional counselor or a licensed psychologist, this would not be the right program for you. 00:04:11.145 --> 00:04:13.725 I would look at the other programs that we offer. 00:04:14.370 --> 00:04:26.870 However, if you're looking for something that might be a little less intensive than that or you want to advance in your career or go into positions that don't require any formal licensure, then this is a great option for that. 00:04:27.330 --> 00:04:32.935 And then lastly, as the university name implies, we're a Catholic university. 00:04:34.115 --> 00:04:41.655 We teach the social sciences, but we include in the curriculum the Catholic Christian teaching of the human person through the meta model. 00:04:41.795 --> 00:04:49.200 So you're not only getting a solid education of the human mind, we want to include an education of the human person as well. 00:04:49.820 --> 00:05:00.080 One thing that we don't really highlight as often, but something I'm very proud of is the fact that our curriculum was formed by, by the Dominican excuse me, the Dominican order. 00:05:00.105 --> 00:05:11.405 So there's a very scholastic, part of this Catholicism within the curriculum, but we even include a sort of Thomistic, Aquinas tradition into our teaching of psychology. 00:05:14.550 --> 00:05:20.490 So with that, we do have three different tracks that you can choose from when it comes to completing the degree. 00:05:20.790 --> 00:05:27.155 So the program could be completed in twenty eight months, twenty months, or sixteen months. 00:05:27.215 --> 00:05:35.155 If you're doing the twenty eight month track, that means that you're committing about fifteen to eighteen hours per week toward your study time. 00:05:35.455 --> 00:05:40.470 If you're doing the twenty month track, then you'd be committing about eighteen to twenty five hours per week. 00:05:40.710 --> 00:05:46.730 And if you're doing the sixteen month track, then you'd be committing about twenty five to thirty hours per week. 00:05:47.750 --> 00:05:55.765 So it's a good idea to take some time to think about, what your schedule looks like before choosing a track. 00:05:56.065 --> 00:06:01.425 For those that might have a busier schedule, then the twenty eight month track might be a better option for you. 00:06:01.425 --> 00:06:15.250 If you do have a little bit more flexibility in your time and you're ready to, proceed gung ho and and completing it at a at a faster rate, then the twenty or sixty month track might be a great option for you as well. 00:06:17.950 --> 00:06:21.410 And so program structure and clinical experience. 00:06:22.315 --> 00:06:28.655 These are some examples of certain skills that you'll be, gaining through the program you'll be trained in. 00:06:29.035 --> 00:06:39.600 And, for a lot of employers, they really value these critical thinking skills that you might already have, but, this program will really solidify those skills that you're looking for. 00:06:40.140 --> 00:06:48.400 So whether it's building a crisis plan or going into, counseling if you wanna gain counseling, skills. 00:06:48.700 --> 00:06:55.415 For a lot of people, they they use this degree to counsel individuals in different, environments. 00:06:55.475 --> 00:07:03.015 So maybe it's at at a parish level or working at a maybe a pro life crisis, center or something like that. 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:05.280 Counseling is a big part of it. 00:07:05.280 --> 00:07:18.020 Now, again, you wouldn't be doing it as a as a licensed counselor, but you'll be able to recognize certain, maybe, mental health challenges that people experience, and you can help refer them to the right professional, for their needs. 00:07:21.105 --> 00:07:23.685 And so let's go over the vocational opportunities. 00:07:23.825 --> 00:07:32.545 There are a lot of different options that we, or a lot of vocational opportunities that people, use when it comes to after earning their degree. 00:07:32.545 --> 00:07:36.210 So the first one as you're seeing within parishes and diocese. 00:07:37.230 --> 00:07:51.605 I enroll a lot of consecrated religious and lay religious as well, and also lay people that may not be consecrated in the religious life, but, they use this degree in different forms of ministry. 00:07:51.605 --> 00:08:06.370 So whether it's working within the diocesan office of marriage and family or for victim's assistance or working within ministry, whether it's as a, you know, a catechesis or something outside of that, this degree is very useful for that. 00:08:06.830 --> 00:08:08.770 It could also be used within education. 00:08:08.990 --> 00:08:23.025 So, taking positions in higher education or within a high school setting as an educator or a an instructor in a community college, this degree lends to that as well. 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:29.420 It could also be used within federal government positions. 00:08:29.880 --> 00:08:34.920 So whether it's local, state, or federal, you'll you'll have that option. 00:08:34.920 --> 00:08:42.845 So a lot of people use this degree within, as you see, vocational rehabilitation or drug and alcohol counseling or within employee counseling. 00:08:45.325 --> 00:08:53.505 HR is a very common, position people take with this degree because you have to have that ability to communicate with different types of individuals. 00:08:54.205 --> 00:08:58.480 It can even be used within a capacity of of, forensic psychology. 00:08:58.700 --> 00:09:05.840 So pro officer, they usually, this degree will be very beneficial for that, or even something like criminal profiling. 00:09:06.860 --> 00:09:12.000 So there's a a wide variety of government positions with this degree that you could go into. 00:09:14.685 --> 00:09:17.665 And then child and family service organizations. 00:09:19.165 --> 00:09:31.490 So these are, you know, different positions such as family service worker, working within child protection or as a child care supervisor, or working in different nonprofit agencies. 00:09:32.830 --> 00:09:38.130 This is a great program to degree to have that that goes into these positions as well. 00:09:40.825 --> 00:09:44.045 And then, health care and mental health services. 00:09:44.745 --> 00:09:55.485 And these are typically more entry level positions, but these are, these are positions that that people have been able to go into after earning this degree. 00:09:55.940 --> 00:09:59.160 So for many people, it might be working within behavioral counseling. 00:09:59.220 --> 00:10:10.865 So I'm thinking something like, applied behavior analysis, for instance, which may require additional maybe an additional course that might need to be completed or an exam. 00:10:10.865 --> 00:10:13.045 It really depends on the state in which you live. 00:10:13.825 --> 00:10:15.925 But this could certainly go into that direction. 00:10:15.985 --> 00:10:18.965 It could work within casework, case management. 00:10:19.985 --> 00:10:30.700 This degree is also used within health project coordinating or working within a psychiatric tech psychiatric environment as a technician or within rehabilitation centers. 00:10:31.160 --> 00:10:39.105 So, you know, having that background within psychology is, very useful within these different environments. 00:10:41.885 --> 00:10:53.190 And then, also, lastly, this is something that a lot people don't even think about, but this degree is very useful within almost an industrial and organizational psychology capacity. 00:10:53.330 --> 00:10:56.550 So working within a corporate environment or an organization. 00:10:57.410 --> 00:11:09.865 So as I mentioned before, HR is common where people will earn this degree and go into those fields, but that can work not just in government positions, but in private sectors or something similar to that. 00:11:10.485 --> 00:11:26.090 It could work within advertisement or market marketing, just because having a good sense of what the consumer or the client, the psychology behind those things, this is something that you'll be able to use this degree in with these critical thinking skills. 00:11:30.245 --> 00:11:32.345 And so I wanna go into a testimonial. 00:11:33.205 --> 00:11:36.805 I'm gonna keep this on the screen for a moment if you wanted to take that time to review it. 00:11:36.805 --> 00:11:39.205 You're welcome to pause it and read it if you like. 00:11:39.205 --> 00:11:54.270 But I like to highlight this one just because the the the, student that wrote this this testimonial, she highlighted just the fact that the faculty and the staff were very responsive to her needs. 00:11:54.935 --> 00:12:00.235 As you see, the student suffered a miscarriage, and so she was going through a lot within her personal life. 00:12:00.615 --> 00:12:02.935 And, it's very difficult. 00:12:02.935 --> 00:12:13.280 I mean, it's always difficult outside of going through a program, but you have the extra burden of this additional, responsibility that you have to deal with as well. 00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:18.640 The last thing we wanna do is make things more difficult for the student, especially when they're going through so much. 00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:22.485 So we make sure that we're working with them with their needs. 00:12:22.805 --> 00:12:27.945 But not only that, she was able to thrive in the program, and we were able to work with her. 00:12:28.485 --> 00:12:30.585 We accommodated her needs with this. 00:12:30.965 --> 00:12:33.865 And on top of that, she found healing in the program. 00:12:34.325 --> 00:12:45.390 She was able to get that, that information that that she'll be able to pass over to different individuals, but she was able to, apply it with herself. 00:12:45.850 --> 00:12:49.150 And so that's one of my favorite parts about this testimonial. 00:12:50.330 --> 00:13:11.950 I also use this slide just to, just to clarify that I I've never seen any student come to me because they're having difficulty getting in touch with their professor or, you know, a support as student support service member, but I use myself as sort of a safety net on top of that. 00:13:11.950 --> 00:13:19.630 So if for some reason, which, again, I've never seen, but if you're having difficulty getting in touch with those individuals, my number is gonna be at the very end. 00:13:19.630 --> 00:13:21.035 You're You're always welcome to give me a call. 00:13:21.035 --> 00:13:23.855 I could, at the very least, get you in touch with that individual. 00:13:27.115 --> 00:13:33.615 So how to, this is actually pertaining to advancing you in your career, but more so with the capstone. 00:13:34.730 --> 00:13:42.110 Many people do use their capstone to advance in their field, and that's one of the benefits to this being a nonlicensure program. 00:13:42.490 --> 00:13:46.750 You can actually apply the skills automatically before you've even earned the degree. 00:13:47.075 --> 00:13:52.375 And one way that people do that is they implement the, the information from their capstone. 00:13:52.675 --> 00:14:05.970 Now the capstone is an extensive written project where you'll be writing about whatever subject you wanna write about, applying the information that you've gathered from your courses into this extensive written project. 00:14:06.350 --> 00:14:09.730 And these are some examples of what other students have written about. 00:14:10.350 --> 00:14:12.270 It really ranges for many people. 00:14:12.270 --> 00:14:17.575 They are, as I mentioned, some are priests, religious sisters, that sort of thing. 00:14:17.575 --> 00:14:18.955 And then we have a lot of laypeople. 00:14:19.735 --> 00:14:23.255 This is not so we have, non Catholics that go into the program. 00:14:23.255 --> 00:14:31.310 So they write about a litany of different things, but it's really up to you what you're gonna get to write about and applying that information into your capstone. 00:14:34.970 --> 00:14:37.950 So going into the nitty gritty, is grad school affordable? 00:14:39.610 --> 00:14:45.535 So there are definite definitely ways of making this affordable, different ways of funding your education. 00:14:45.675 --> 00:14:50.895 We do have, for instance, we're we're, able to work with federal loans. 00:14:51.115 --> 00:14:57.295 So many students will fill out a FAFSA application and fund their education through financial aid. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:12.765 If you're military, of course, getting in touch with the VA and, you know, seeing if depending on what your status of the military is, if you're active or veteran or whatever it may be, that's something that we work with as well. 00:15:13.005 --> 00:15:17.645 And then for many people that plan not to use financial aid, they might do a payment plan instead. 00:15:17.645 --> 00:15:22.305 So setting up a a pay as you go option, that's something that we work with. 00:15:25.325 --> 00:15:27.745 And then these are some examples of scholarships. 00:15:28.680 --> 00:15:36.300 So you can always apply up to four scholarships and, be eligible to receive two of them in fact. 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:40.040 And, typically, it ranges between 2,000 to 50%. 00:15:40.040 --> 00:15:42.120 We usually don't go beyond 50%. 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:44.175 I've never seen it go beyond that. 00:15:44.255 --> 00:15:54.035 But the reason why is because we would actually rather everyone have an opportunity to reduce their tuition than only granting a few, a full amount. 00:15:54.095 --> 00:15:56.345 So there's always a way to get that tuition reduced. 00:15:56.345 --> 00:16:03.030 And then this is the baseline tuition. 00:16:03.030 --> 00:16:09.030 So before any sort of tuition reduction, before any sort of scholarships that you're seeing in front of you. 00:16:09.030 --> 00:16:14.890 So if you're doing a sixteen month track, the cost comes to 25,530. 00:16:15.325 --> 00:16:19.505 For the twenty month track, you're seeing 26,109. 00:16:19.645 --> 00:16:24.305 And for the twenty eight month track, it comes out to 28,428. 00:16:24.445 --> 00:16:38.860 And the reason why you're seeing different, prices for, each track is because every second term that you're taking two courses, that second term comes down to 50% of what it originally is. 00:16:38.920 --> 00:16:41.980 And so that's why you're seeing it sort of fluctuating this way. 00:16:42.345 --> 00:16:58.690 But, again, one thing that I always highlight for students is that even though there's a more expedient way of doing it and the expedient way is, you know, it's a little bit less than the other options, it's always a good idea to choose the one that will be most compatible with your schedule. 00:16:58.690 --> 00:17:00.870 We wanna make sure that you thrive as a student. 00:17:03.650 --> 00:17:09.590 And then this is just going forward with what we discussed of, different ways of funding your education. 00:17:09.890 --> 00:17:11.510 So we have different scholarships. 00:17:12.155 --> 00:17:16.335 You can set up a cash plan using financial aid as another option. 00:17:17.355 --> 00:17:37.410 And, also, of course, looking into even, something called the National Health Service Corps where you could be awarded 50,000 toward student loan debt after working three months and two years, of agreement in an area designated by, by the federal government as considered low income or undeserved. 00:17:38.750 --> 00:17:42.370 So that's something that you could always look into if you're taking those positions. 00:17:44.665 --> 00:17:46.585 So this brings us to the end. 00:17:46.985 --> 00:17:54.445 This is my contact information, and I always encourage you to write down my email, write down my number. 00:17:55.225 --> 00:18:00.910 I would love to have one on one if you're interested in pursuing the master's in psychology. 00:18:01.530 --> 00:18:03.790 You're welcome to call, text, whatever. 00:18:04.090 --> 00:18:07.390 My number does take text, so I do respond that way as well. 00:18:07.690 --> 00:18:16.865 And then lastly, as you're seeing at the very bottom, if you begin an application, typically, there's a $55 application fee, but we can waive that for you. 00:18:16.925 --> 00:18:19.005 All you would need to do is include that code. 00:18:19.005 --> 00:18:23.245 What you're seeing, CCMMP1999. 00:18:23.245 --> 00:18:31.150 So that's actually that stands for the Catholic Christian Meta Model, of the human person 1999, the year that we established. 00:18:31.610 --> 00:18:38.745 So, you know, take that down if you decide to move forward, and we can get that that, application fee waived for you. 00:18:39.705 --> 00:18:42.025 So that is the end of it. 00:18:42.505 --> 00:18:48.605 Again, I look forward to hearing from you if you have any questions, and you have a great and blessed day.