Hello all, thank you for taking the time to read my post. This is my first post on SDN, but I have been reading past threads for the last two weeks. I have a question that I was hoping people already in the field of Counseling or going to school for could help me with. I do appreciate all feedback.
I am set to graduate next week with my Bachelor's in psychology from a state university in northern Ohio. My end goal is to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in my state and work in either a community health agency or hospital and eventually after gaining the needed supervised hours, private practice. My current school offers a M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that is CACREP accredited. The school has a good reputation. I have been admitted to the program but I am having reservations. I currently commute 50 minutes to campus and pay $250 a semester in premium downtown parking. I have done this the last four years for my undergrad and it has not been fun or easy, to say the least, but I do love the University and the education I have received.
Alternatively, I have come across different online Masters in CMHC. I have noticed the sentiment here toward online degrees, but the convenience of working around full time work and the fact that I wouldn't have to drive so far to class are hard to ignore. One program in particular is at Mid America Christian University, a small liberal arts school in Oklahoma City. The program is not CACREP accredited but does meet Ohio standards for licensure. Has anyone heard of this school? Also, it is a not for profit, christian institution if that matters. I am not interested in for profit, online only schools. I guess my main question is whether employers will look down on an online MHC degree even if it came from a not for profit school which seems to have a decent reputation in it's area.
Sorry for long post, but your help is very much appreciated.
I am set to graduate next week with my Bachelor's in psychology from a state university in northern Ohio. My end goal is to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in my state and work in either a community health agency or hospital and eventually after gaining the needed supervised hours, private practice. My current school offers a M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that is CACREP accredited. The school has a good reputation. I have been admitted to the program but I am having reservations. I currently commute 50 minutes to campus and pay $250 a semester in premium downtown parking. I have done this the last four years for my undergrad and it has not been fun or easy, to say the least, but I do love the University and the education I have received.
Alternatively, I have come across different online Masters in CMHC. I have noticed the sentiment here toward online degrees, but the convenience of working around full time work and the fact that I wouldn't have to drive so far to class are hard to ignore. One program in particular is at Mid America Christian University, a small liberal arts school in Oklahoma City. The program is not CACREP accredited but does meet Ohio standards for licensure. Has anyone heard of this school? Also, it is a not for profit, christian institution if that matters. I am not interested in for profit, online only schools. I guess my main question is whether employers will look down on an online MHC degree even if it came from a not for profit school which seems to have a decent reputation in it's area.
Sorry for long post, but your help is very much appreciated.