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Wake Forest University

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Wake Forest University appears in our ranking of the Top 30 Online Master’s in School Counseling

Students who enroll for classes at Wake Forest University have a few different options for studying topics like applied behavior analysis, school counseling, and educational psychology. Degrees include online options, as well as traditional degrees on campus. Two degrees available online include the Online Master in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health and the Online Master in Counseling – School Counseling. These degrees are offered by the WFU Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Classes required in the university’s counseling programs include Professional, Ethical & Legal Issues in Counseling, Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Classification of Mental & Emotional Disorders. Some of the topics under discussion may include DSM-5 classifications, abnormal personalities, health disorders, common medical illnesses, and psychopharmacology.

Within each of the counseling degrees, students will find three sets of courses in the areas of counseling foundations, core counseling courses, and beginning practice courses. All of the online programs in counseling offered by Wake Forest University are CACREP-accredited, and students have access to technical support and tutoring services during their enrollment.

Meanwhile, students interested in the psychology route can choose the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, which is also available as a minor and is offered by the Department of Psychology. The undergraduate curriculum is described as rigorous and one that requires that students explore the scientific foundations of psychology. Students may also consider a graduate degree in psychology for a more in-depth and research-oriented degree experience.

Some of the classes in psychology a student may take include Introductory Psychology, Survey of Abnormal Behavior, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, and Personality. In the university’s Survey of Abnormal Behavior class, topics covered may include problem behaviors like antisocial personalities, alcoholism, depression, schizophrenia, and pathogenic personality patterns.

The graduate program in psychology is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. at some point in their lives. Students in the psychology programs at Wake Forest University must also attend their classes on campus. Students interested in online degrees will need to enroll in one of the counseling programs.

About Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University was established in 1834 as the Wake Forest Manual Labor Institute. The school was originally located in Wake Forest, which is a community near Raleigh, North Carolina. However, the main campus has been located in Winston-Salem since the 1950s. The university has around 8,100 students attending its suburban campus of 340 acres. The university also maintains additional campuses for medical students and biotechnology.

The university’s official colors are black and old gold, and its motto is “For Humanity.” Students on varsity sports teams participate in NCAA Division I games, and the players are nicknamed the Demon Deacons. The school’s official mascot is named The Demon Deacon. In its history, the university has produced several Rhoades Scholars, Truman Scholars, and Marshall Scholars. Notable individuals have also graduated from the university, including mathematician Phillip Griffiths and author Maya Angelou.

Wake Forest University Accreditation Details

Wake Forest University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The most recent accreditation cycle occurred in 2016 when the university reaffirmed its status. Remaining accredited ensures students have access to high-quality academic programs. Some programs and departments throughout the university are additionally accredited by various agencies.

The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada has accredited the School of Divinity. The program in nurse anesthesia is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education has accredited the MD program, and the physician assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant.

Wake Forest University Application Requirements

Students who want to apply to programs at Wake Forest University will need to schedule an interview that will occur on campus or via a remote Skype call. Applicants can apply for early decision by sending their materials after they’ve completed their junior year of high school. Materials required during the application process include a $65 application fee, secondary school report form, recommendation from a teacher, and official high school transcripts.

Students may also submit standardized test scores, but only if they want the university to use the scores when deciding on a student’s application. Students who apply early should send a mid-year report form of their grades as soon as it’s available during the senior year. Application to any of the university’s graduate programs requires that students select an area of study, as well as follow the explicit directions required for applying to that program.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students interested in attending Wake Forest University will pay $55,440 in tuition and fees as an undergraduate with additional funds required for items like housing and meals. The university estimates that students will pay $9,560 for their housing, $5,458 for their meals, and $1,500 for books and supplies. Personal expenses are estimated at $1,500, transportation at $900, and loan fees at $66. The overall cost of attendance is estimated at $74,424 per year.

Students enrolled in graduate programs will normally pay tuition associated with their program of choice. For example, the graduate tuition for programs in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences is $38,650. Professional programs are also charged tuition based on the program in which a student enrolls. The tuition for the JD program is $46,268. Students may also need to pay other fees for costs like health insurance, vehicle registration, and new student orientation.

The university indicates that the amount of gift aid issued to students exceeds $77 million each year and that the average net cost for students attending Wake Forest University is just over $25,000. The average need-based grant or scholarship award is more than $43,000. Students with demonstrated financial need should submit their financial aid applications as soon as possible to take advantage of first-come, first-serve awards.

Students may qualify for merit-based or need-based scholarships that come directly from the institution. The merit-based scholarships are described as one of the highest honors that a student can receive when they enroll, and the scholarships are renewable for up to four years as long as the student maintains satisfactory academic, civic, and extracurricular performance. Students who want to qualify for need-based scholarships at Wake Forest University will need to submit an additional application.

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