COEBS Q&A Information Session - Behavioral Sciences

OK, welcome so far we have a few people ready to go. We're going to give a few more minutes for people to join and then we'll get started. And so we'll we'll get started briefly.

OK, well my name is Lindsey Harjer an I'm the admissions coordinator for the behavioral science programs and I love that were able to connect virtually given everything that's going on. One of the negatives is during the in person breakout sessions you would get to be in a room with only people in the program that you're interested in. So if you're interested in LSP.

You would be with only Ellis as people hearing from the psychology faculty. But for this purpose, where sort of putting all behavioral science interests into one Q&A session, so there's going to be something said that may not apply to you, so feel free to tune out during that time, and then I'll try to be very clear what I'm talking about. Each program, and then at the very end I'll try to address any questions. Feel free to send them in.

As they come up, I just may not answer them right away. And then at the end we'll go through those and then if anything is not addressed, will follow up with you through email or phone call or something later. But we want to make sure you have all the information you need so you feel confident about starting HBO. So on the screen you'll see all of the list of behavioral science programs offered at HB you and so.

Some of the programs are available in person, residentially or face to face on campus and then others are also available 100% online and so I try to specify those programs and we'll talk about that a little bit. What it would look like if you want to do both face to face classes and online. 'cause usually that is permitted, so we'll start with psychology so.

This line has two of our psychology faculty that work a lot with grad students. So Doctor Frederick she is the UM, like grad school liaison and will be a part of the interviews. So psychology, if you're interested in the Masters of Arts in psychology, like general program, the LSP, or even like this search only then you would interact with these faculty.

Um, she her background is in school counseling and she's going to HP for awhile. She teaches this really interesting equine therapy class that students can use an elective to take, which is horse therapy. So very interesting, and the Doctor Pelletier. He's the chair of the Department.

I'm in. His background is more research. He has four kids. He likes to be called Doctor Joe 'cause it's a little less formal, so both of them love interacting with students and their at HB you because it's a place where that's expected they want to be with students. They have an open door policy for office hours, so you'll get to know your professors while you're here. So if you have interviewed already for LSP, then you've probably met these two.

If you haven't, then you can look forward to seeing them virtually, since all of our interviews have been going virtually, but let's dive in a little deeper into the different psychology programs.

So the first one I'm going to highlight is the Masters of Arts in psychology general, and so this program is good for students who are interested in future doctoral level training. So if you want to be, you know a psychologist or get us ID or PhD, then this is sort of your stepping stone. You get your Masters. So then you can continue on in your educational journey. So if you notice there's a little snippet of the degree plan there, it's 37.

Hours, so it's a quick program, which means it doesn't lead to any license or independent practice, so again, it's more getting your Masters done so you can go onto essaidi or PhD program or something like that because it doesn't lead to licensure. There's no interview in the admission process and it's quick as well. If you go full time you can finish in a year and a half to two years depending on how much time you need for the thesis.

Um, so the program is. There's an emphasis on research, and it doesn't include a thesis project, and so if you look at the degree plan, you'll see you know research techniques, seminar research, so it's kind of heavy and research which is beneficial since that's what you'll be doing if you go on for a doctoral program.

Uhm, OK.

Max, we have the LSP program. This is one of our most popular programs and that is because there's high demand for it. So the MMPLSSP. It's a Masters of Arts in psychology with license specialists in school psychology.

So this program prepares you for licensure as an LSP. So when you finish the program, you have everything you need to move on and get license. So graduates of this program also have the ability to become an LPA and so in LPA is a licensed psychological associates and this is something that's newer that we're still learning about. So we are encouraging students if that interests you too.

Explore a little further and do your own research so you know what to expect by included a link. I'll let me know if you're interested, I'll make sure you get the actual link.

So that you can research what that entails. Now Once Upon a time, Elsa spez could. We're prepared to sit for the LPC, but that's no longer accurate, which we need to update that on our website. So if you saw on the website that helps can also be prepared for the LPC that is no longer correct, it's the LP.

Um, so this program does include the interview and you interview after you submitted all of your other application documents. So resume two references in transcripts. Then will your application will be reviewed for interview approval and then you get invited to interview so.

Something else to know about the LSP program, so it's labeled as prereq. But I like to call it more foundational because you don't have to have this before starting the program, but if you have less than two years of teaching experience then you will take classroom management in your first 12 hours.

And then next the other thing about this program is that you'll have three semesters of field experience, so it's practicum internship one internship to the internship is a year long, and it's basically a school year, so you're starting in working with schools for the year, and that's internship one and two and HP. You will help you arrange a practicum and your internship, so it's ultimately your responsibility, but will provide Contacts for you. We do.

A practicum fair where people looking for interns will all be in one place, and you can kind of walk around and mingle and meet them so we do what we can to help you. But it is your responsibility.

Uh, the other big thing about this program is there's a comprehensive oral exam.

So it's at the very end of the program, and it's similar to defending your thesis in the sense that it can be scary and demanding, but it's a good experience and you basically get question prompts and you have to answer a things that you have learned throughout your entire time at HB you. So I think it usually lasts about 2 hours, but the good news is, once you've done that, then you're absolutely prepared to pass the Praxis and get licensed so.

The This is a 60 hour program which can be completed in about 2 1/2 to three years. If you're going full time.

So a lot of people ask my license when I graduate.

It is the states that provides license, not the University. So once you graduate you still have you take the praxis. In the Texas jurisprudence and then you get hired as in LSP and you work for a year, sort of provisionally. And then you're fully licensed so.

It's a longer process after you graduate, but you have all the tools you need in order to be successful.

OK, the next program is, well, it's still about the LSP, but we do this really great thing at HB you wear if you have a Masters degree in a related field then you can transfer any credits that are equivalent to the LSP program and it gets counted. So we use the term re specialization. So if your Masters is an Ed, Dy, AG or counseling.

Then your transcript will be evaluated to figure out what will work at HP. You and all of this is based on state requirement. So if the state says that in order to be an LSP you have to have a class in child or adolescent development. Then when they're reviewing your transcript, if they see, like human development or childhood development, then you've met that requirement. Therefore, you don't have to take it at HP. You and what was a 60 hour program is now 58 hours.

So if you have any Masters work, it would be good for us to evaluate it just to see if you have any transfer credits.

Uhm, the next common question is when do you get your transcript evaluated? So we ask that you apply and submit all your documents, including your transcripts and then interview and then after the interview the faculty will review everything with you and create like a modified degree plan or deficiency plans so you know exactly what you need to take in order to get licensed.

Typically, well, if you're doing the sort of what we call re specialization, it's still going to be at least 30 hours because you will also be getting a second Masters, so you'll have a Masters in psychology with all the special excuse me.

I'm just still water.

So you'll be getting a second Masters.

So it will be at least 30 hours.

So Sandra, I saw that you had asked on the other.

Section about financial aid. So, uh, well, I'll just go ahead and.

So let's start only if you have a Masters in psychology, then you have the ability to just take the classes.

Uh, that you need in order to get licensed, and so if you're LSP certainly then you're not seeking a degree and therefore not eligible for financial aid. Now. Masters in psychology's like programs can be so different from school to school, so some Masters programs, especially if you have a specialization in psychology like forensic or addiction. Or you know, if there's a specialization. There's a lot of classes you might take that don't necessarily.

That you may not need for the LSP, so typically.

I would say you know applies. LSP certainly will evaluate your transcript and then even if you have a Masters, if you're going to need maybe 10 classes an internship but don't want to pay out of pocket, then we can put you in as an MAPLSSP so that you can get financial aid. Basically, we're going to work with you so that you can do what's best for you, but if you do have a Masters in psychology, you may only need a handful of classes, an internship, and then you can get licensed.

Um, same thing. Transcripts are evaluated by the faculty after you interview.

And they'll work with you to create an efficiency plan. So it's a. It's a good program.

So that is everything for our psychology programs within the behavioral Sciences. Next, we're going to focus on counseling. So if you're interested in clinical mental health, counseling, marriage and family therapy, school counseling, Christian counseling, or Christian psychology, this sections for you encourage you to listen now so doctor Leggett is the chair of the counseling Department and so she will be the one that you're interviewing with. If you have an interview yet, you'll meet her in the interview.

And she.

Is an LPC supervisor and LPC herself. She's a registered play therapist and then she also has like 10 other titles that I can't keep track of, so she's very accomplished. Very knowledgeable about counseling and the licensing process so she's a good resource to have. So let's start with clinical mental health counseling. That's her next most popular program, so this program does prepare students for the LPC.

And it does include an interview because of that, this program doesn't require any prereqs, so you can have a background in business or education, or you know whatever your background is, you can start straight into this program, even if it's not in a related field. And then it also has three semesters of field experience, and then this one is not an oral exam, but at the end of the program you have to pass the comprehensive exam.

The CPC, which the comprehensive exam we use HP you, is this made by the same people who do the national counselor exam, which is what you have to take in order to get license. So this is basically a practice test of the nce and.

So you have to pass the comprehensive exam in order to graduate, but again, that means that when you take the nce you're prepared, you're going to pass the first time an HP. You does have a 100% pass rate, so you can feel confident about that.

This program being 60 hours, also can be completed in about 2 1/2 to three years. A lot of so the clinical mental health counseling program is offered online and residentially so because of that there's a lot of classes like course sections where you can choose to take online if you want.

Doctor Leggett would prefer if you're doing residential the residential program she would like you to limit to maybe 5 or 6 online classes during the program, but if you know you need to do more than that, I'm sure she would work with you. So typically students would maybe take.

2 classes residentially and then maybe one online if they need the flexibility I guess I didn't mention this with the psychology classes they're not available online typically there will at least be one to 2 classes offered on line and you can take it if it's offered but it's not every semester that there's going to be a class online but when it is you're more than welcome to sign up for that section.

Uhm, OK, so that is counseling.

A marriage and family therapy is very similar to the counseling program. It's 60 hours, a kind of follows the same three semesters of field experience after you graduate. Well after you graduate, you take it's a different test in the NC. It's the national licensing exam and your license through a different licensing body, but it's the same where you take the exam, you pass the national and state.

And then you will receive a provisional license. So again there's no pre recs for this program.

Now when you do your internship, you will have to find a licensed marriage and family therapist to be your supervisor and there I mean there's tons of LP sees. It might be a little more limited finding a marriage and family therapist, but there's This. Is Houston, so you shouldn't have any issue finding a supervisor.

Uhm and then.

Yes, once you graduate, um, you'll do those tests and then be provisionally licensed. So that's a little bit about the marriage and family therapy program, and both so marriage and family therapy and LPC are very similar, and so marriage and family therapists will also see clients individually, not necessarily in the family. So if you're a marriage and family therapist is not like you will only council people in the marriage and family.

Units, so you'll still. You'll see a lot of crossover classes between the LPC in the marriage and family therapy.

Next is school counseling. If anyone's interested in being a school counseling, the big thing that you need to know is that tha requires two years of teaching. Like as a certified teacher in order to become a school counselor. And so if you were thinking of doing school counseling, make sure you have at least your teacher certification so you can do the two years you can start at HP. You without having your two years, as long as you're working but before.

TA will let you get your certification. Then you have to have had two years by then.

This program is a little different. It's 48 hours instead of 60, but a lot of students will take an additional 12 hour so that they are also eligible for the LPC. So that's an option as well, and there's a little less field experience. It's a practicum and then just one semester of internship, so that is the school counseling now with our Christian counseling and Christian psychology programs that technically falls under the getting Institute, which is still housed in the College of Education of Behavioral Sciences.

But HP you partnered with big Indian Institute to bring this program and it's really unique. I went ahead and included the vision statement which I really like. It says beginning Institute of Christian psychology and counseling at HQ fosters Christ, centered biblically, rooted in scientifically informed psychology and soul care. So this program.

Well, the Christian counseling and Christian psychology programs so I didn't talk about doctor Johnson. Sorry, let me just go back. So doctor Johnson is the faculty in charge of the Gideon Institute program. So when you interview, you'll probably interview with him and Doctor Cook, and so you know you'll get. You'll get to know him and they getting Institute does a lot of things outside of just these programs, so you'll get to be apart of all of all of those.

Sort of continuing education and are on campus counseling center. You get to be apart of all that.

So, uhm, these programs, Christian counseling and Christian psychology, they lead to the LPC in the LPGA, so it's a longer program. It's 72 hours for each of those programs. So you take the 60 hours required by the state of Texas for licensure and then on top of that you're getting an additional 12 hours in spiritual formation. Biblical studies, you know, just getting a deeper understanding of.

The Christian worldview and how it applies to the counseling and psychology relationship.

Um?

You'll learn a lot more about it in the interview and directly from the faculty, but it is is a unique program that we're really excited about. Other things you should know about this program. There are pre recs for this one, so if you've never taken any psychology class you would want to take will have you take a psych class and then if you've never taken any.

Bible or like Biblical texts and doctrines. That's the class that we call it here. But if you've never taken a Bible class then you would take that here with us.

Then outside of that, uhm.

The internship hours for this program so you have practicum and internship one so there's a little less field experience but it meets all the requirements for licensure still we have a Christian counseling clinic here on Hughes campus so are Gideon students in the program can complete their hours at that center if they would like they can go outside of HBO but if they want to do their hours internship hours on campus they can so.

These students will also take the comprehensive exam and because it is a little longer, it takes about 3 to 3 1/2 years to complete. But it's the same process for licensure where you take the exams after you graduate and then your provisional license.

OK.

So thank you guys for beer bearing with me, bear with me through all these different programs, so I'm going to quickly go through some frequently asked questions that apply to all of the programs and then I'll answer more of your specific questions.

Um so.

Part of the application and are you required to take the giri? Typically the jury is in our application requirements. We offer waivers. So if you have a 3.0 or higher you don't need to take the jury. If it's below that, then we would usually ask. You will look at your last 60 hours. Will try to do what we can to make sure you don't have to take it. But if your last 60 hours or cumulative GPA is less than 3.0 then typically we ask you to take it because right now.

Testing centers are closed. We've lowered the requirement or the waiver requirement to 2.8 so if your last 60 hours or cumulative GPA is 2.8 then you don't have to take it. If it's not a 2.8 then I'll reach out to you and we can talk about options and this only applies for the summer 2020 fall 2020. In spring 2021 applicants. So just trying to do what we can because.

The jury testing sites are closed.

HP yr accredited absolutely so we are accredited with Saks EOC and this is important for anyone interested in life getting licensed. So LPC LM FT all of them require you to graduate from an accredited school which we are so you're all good there now there is.

Extra national accreditation. So you may have heard like a crap or compta or nasp.

Those are extra accreditations. We're currently not accredited in any of those with HP you, but we're working on it again, this won't impact your ability to get licensed. None of our graduates have any issues getting licensed, but it's still a good thing to have, which is why we're working on it. If you have anymore questions or concerns about that, let me know. We'll talk about it.

Max, can I take classes on line? I guess I did talk a little bit about that. Um, so if it's available, then yes, you're permitted to take it online. If you are 100% online student, then you're not able to take any residential classes. You can request to change your campus. So let's say you start residentially and you have a handful of online classes in your eyes. You really like that format. Then you can switch to 100% online or vice versa if you're 100% online and.

You know one of a class that a lot of people love is the group counseling class. It's something that LP season LMF TS have to take.

A man. It's essentially like you go to class in the class itself is a group therapy session, so you learn group therapy through experiencing it, and so that's just a class that some people really like to take face to face. So if you're 100% online, you have this class coming up, then we can get you switch so that you can take that class residentially.

Uh, and then as far as how many classes you should take. So if you're trying to think about what your schedule look like for the fall grad students, nine hours is full time. So at HP you can take 9 to 12 hours, which is 3 or 4 classes and then part time is going to be 2 classes and.

Completely up to you what you think you can handle so we don't have like a cohort style where you have to take certain classes each semester. It's completely up to you and what you're comfortable with. So let's say if you're working full time, you have a family you're nervous about going back to school. Maybe start part time with two classes, and then if you like, I got this the next semester. You can added a third class so it's flexible. Or if in the fall you're really busy. 'cause schools just starting, then maybe take two. But during the summer you have lots of free time, so you take 3 or 4.

So there's that flexibility and it's just what you think you can handle.

And then the next question, how much does HBO cost? Obviously money as a reality of Education and we want you to make sure you are financially prepared to take this on and we want you to be successful so.

Um?

Tuition at HB you specifically for all the programs in Behavioral Sciences. They all have the same cost, which is 575 hundred $75 per credit hour, so.

If you are looking at other schools and trying to compare prices, make sure you're always comparing apples to apples if you will. So like at HP, you we do tuition, then you have fees and then you have books. So like when you sign up for classes you'll get charged for tuition and fees, but not your books. So typically I think if you go full time which is 3 classes you would pay about $5500 a semester for like the the fall in.

In the spring. So if you I definitely have lots of information, a very specific cost breakdown of general fees cost this much. The parking pass cost this much. Your tuition will cost this much, so if you want to breakdown of all the specific costs so you know exactly what you're getting into, I would be happy to provide that. But in general it's between 5:00 and $6000 a semester in the beginning.

And then, as we mentioned already, financial aid is available.

At the grad level, I think it's pretty much just loans and you can choose how much of the loan you want to take and then beyond that payment plans are available. There's also if you can't get federal loans that are private loans as well.

So you can explore that option if needed as well.

Alright, that was a lot of information. If you guys are still with me, I'd be happy to answer any questions that we haven't gone through yet. OK, so I'll do my best. Give me a second while I read through some.

Uhm, OK.

Hello.

Natasha, I don't know if you're still with us, but yes, this is also being recorded and will send you this information. And then I'd be happy to follow up with you and go over some more info as well. So we'll see.

Uh, would you able be able to do school counseling with the LPC? OK, so.

School counseling LPC. Again, it all comes to down to which school you want to work in. So if you want to work in Houston or any like public school, typically tha will require you like certain things in order to then work in the school. If you're going to work at a charter school or a private school a lot of times they will hire, LP, sees you don't necessarily have to have a school counseling certificate or certification, but if you want to work.

An uhm, you know a state school or ISD school? Then you have to be certified by to EA, which then requires you to do certain things like have two years of teaching complete a program. But again, a lot of school counselors will take those additional 12 hours just so they're prepared to also be LPC's so.

Hopefully that answers your question, uhm?

Let's see.

Move up so the question I just read was sort of choosing between the LM FT or the LPC. If you know you want to work with.

Children and adults it could.

It could be beneficial, so again, there's a lot of crossover classes, and let's say you start in the counseling program like towards LPC and you take a class and you realize that you definitely want to work within like a family unit like you want to specialize in that you can always switch to LM FT very easily. Once you've already started the program, or vice versa at Let's say you start in LM FT and you get some clarification like just more about how the disciplines are.

The little separate and you want to switch. You can switch, that's another thing. Oh, I can't remember if you've interviewed yet. That's something that could be good to talk about with Doctor Leggett.

Hi, although I already know what she's gonna say, she always say well that's your decision. You know, 'cause ultimately it is up to you.

But it's, um, yeah, I have my how I might have a few resources that I can send you that can maybe help you kind of decide. But know that you're not necessarily hitching your wagon to one path right now. It is flexible once you're in the program.

Um?

So the next question was about so the Christian counseling program does a Christian counseling program do with thesis.

Not right now. There's not a thesis included in the M ACC degree plan. I'll send you a copy of the degree plan so you can see it, but in place of the thesis it's field experience. So you're doing you know you're out in the field getting required hours in order to become licensed. Now if you weren't interested in becoming licensed, or if you wanted to do a thesis, you might have to stay an additional semester, but.

Doctor Johnson is very much in the attitude of getting you your goal, so if that's what you want, they would probably be willing to work with you if you wanted that thesis component, which could be good for any future doc programs.

Yeah, so right now with everything that's going on with the coronavirus. So like our current students, which in if any of you guys are current students somewhere else, you might be experiencing this so they're changing to an online format right now for anyone who's either registering for classes or about to register for classes at HQ for summer or fall, we are moving forward as though.

We're going to be meeting face to face. Uhm, so you know, I send you the list of classes you can register for. They're going to mostly be face to face. It will specify if it's online and you register for you. Know what you want and then if anything changes. Once we get updates and things that get closer. And we know for sure then what we would do, you would still be classified as residential, but they would. The professors would adjust their lessons, lectures, teaching.

Modify it so that it can be done virtually.

And then as soon as we get the OK to meet face to face, you would meet face to face again. So if you are about to register, you will just register as though nothing were happening or that everything will be fine and then we'll change it. You'll get updated effects the case like if we need to change things a leader. OK, so we've gone a little over in time. I'm going to try to answer a few more questions again. I will if I don't get to anything I'll reach out to personally.

Um?

So internship placements, uhm?

I'm going to the question was Do you help with internship placement outside of the University? Yes, we again it's your responsibility to secure it. But in all the programs that were required internship we have this like fat binder of Contacts where other like we're alums, have done their placement that you can go through any relationships that HBO has with certain locations. Those Contacts are in there so we provide.

Contacts for you and then, um.

If you you know need any additional help you can talk to your faculty advisor. They can help you get placed and then once you have an idea of where you want to do your internship, then you contact the site placement you set up your site supervisor and build. Your supervisor will help you because they've at this point supervised lots of students, so they'll help you and they try to make you feel prepared as possible, so will offer help.

Even though it's ultimately responsibility, but yeah, we won't. We won't just throw you out there, so hopefully that answers your question.

So some application deadlines. So if you.

Haven't applied yet. The doubt we have really late deadlines, so for the fall. Uhm the deadline is August 1st. Fall classes start August 24th, so it's a really late deadline, but if you're applying for a position that hat or a program that has an interview then I usually encourage you to like for fall. Try to get it in by May 1st just to give you time to.

RSVP and get in an interview so the interviews are group interviews and it's not competitive in the sense that there's six of you in the interview and only three people are going to spot. If you seem like a good fit for the program you're going to get offered a spot, and usually there's about six or Seven students Max in an interview. So like our April interviews, full arm a interview might be filling. We will make sure you get an interview, you just might have to wait before you can get it.

So that would be one benefit of getting the application done, but technically you have until August 1st to get everything in for the fall and the summer deadline is May 1st. So again you have a little bit of time to get those things in and then if you are already admitted and if you want to know about registration again, technically you can register up until the day before classes start, but classes will fill up so we try to cap are classes at.

Hum.

Will depend on the class that the beginner classes usually maybe 15 students, but some classes may only have 5 or 8 Max and so it's good to register when you know you're ready just to make sure you secure a spot. So OK.

Um, I'm going to take one more question, so if I didn't get to it, sorry again. I'll follow up. This one is about explaining more about the LPGA and so so the LPA license psychological associate. My understanding is that it's similar to LPC in the sense that you can meet if you're going to PA, you can meet with clients individually. You don't have to have a psychologist, supervisor or anything like that like you can be with your own clients.

You can do your own assessments. Uhm, the road to get to El PA after you graduate. So like if you do the LSP.

You've completed 60 hours, which is one of the requirements to do the LPA and then you have to take a national test and then you have to do. Then you're provisionally licensed, then you have to do 3000 internship hours.

But what I don't know is if your LSP hours will count towards those hours, so will need to get some clarification on that. But after 3000 hours you're fully licensed as an LPA and you can see clients and that is about all I know. It's new to us at HB you, so they used to LP's used to be a thing, but it was you always had to work with the supervisor, but I think in 2017 or 18 they changed it to where LPS can work independently. So we're still learning about it.

If I get any other information, I'll send it to you and I'll send you the link to the licensing requirements. OK, well, many of you stuck with me through the end.

Thank you so much, um.

You know the goal is of Tonight is so that you can start feeling more confident about each view. You can make decisions about your future. One of the things I do love about working HP you is we genuinely want what is best for you as God's creation. So if you find out that HP is not the place for you, we will still love and support you in your endeavors. But if HBO is the place for you, then we want to help you achieve your goals and get where you need to be.

So hopefully those goals were met in tonight. I'm just giving you more information. I'll follow up with any of you. Feel free to reach out to me. Oh yeah, my contact information. I chatted with most of you. I recognize a lot of your names, but here's my contact info. I am currently still working in the office, so here's my work number and my email. Feel free to contact me. Thank you guys so much for attending.

You should get a copy of all of this in an email if you want to listen to it again. And yeah, have a good night everyone.

Thank you.