This school appears in our ranking 20 Most Affordable Master's in Psychology Degrees Online: Private Colleges 2018.
Brandman University is a private university which is part of the Chapman University system. Chapman University, with its main campus in Orange, California, was founded in 1861. Brandman began in 1958 as Chapman College providing education to Marines stationed at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, and was officially named Brandman University in 2009.
Brandman is a separate university within the Chapman University system and continues to be regarded as military-friendly, according to Military.com and G.I. Jobs Magazine. Brandman's programs are now offered online and in-person and focus on non-traditional students. The University's students range in age from 18 to 65 and are not exclusively military members. Brandman University's main campus is based in Irvine, California, and the school operates 25 additional campuses in California and Washington, as well as a virtual online campus. Brandman's virtual online campus offers degree programs which have received high rankings from U.S. News & World Report's "Best Online Programs" rankings since they were instituted in 2012.
Brandman's degree programs are offered through five different schools: the School of Education, Marybelle and S. Paul Musco School of Nursing and Health Professions, the School of Business and Professional Studies, the School of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Extended Education. Brandman University is "the fourth largest provider of teaching credentials" among California's independent universities.
Brandman University Accreditation Details
Brandman University has regional accreditation from the WSCUC Senior College and University Commission. The University's regional accreditation qualifies it as an institution that is eligible to receive federal funding for its programs, including student access to Federal student aid. Brandman's accreditation was most-recently granted by WSCUC in February 2014. The main campus and all branch locations in California and Washington are accredited by WSCUC.
Brandman's School of Education and teacher preparation programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing has accredited Brandman University's Credential and Authorization Education programs.
Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees at Brandman are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Brandman's Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and the Master of Social Work is in Pre-Candidacy for Accreditation by the CSWE.
Brandman University Application Requirements
Brandman University offers two sessions per semester, including spring, fall, and summer. The university advises applicants to begin their application two weeks before it is due.
The session application deadline and schedule are as follows:
- Application deadline of August 20 for session start date of September 4
- Application deadline of October 15 for session start date of October 29
- Application deadline of December 28 for session start date of January 14
- Application deadline of February 25 for session start date of March 11
- Application deadline of April 22 for session start date of May 6
- Application deadline of June 18 for session start date of July 1
Students applying for an undergraduate degree must have a high school cumulative GPA of 2.0, a high school diploma, GED equivalent, or high school transcript with the planned date of graduation. Brandman provides an admissions exam in English and Math; undergraduate applicants must take and pass the exam unless they can demonstrate successful completion of qualifying English or Math courses with a C or better. Transfer students must have at least 12 transferable baccalaureate credits from a regionally accredited college or university with a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA.
Graduate program admissions have a variety of options, including
- A 3.0 GPA averaged over the most recent 30 (semester) or 45 (quarter) credits.
- Earning a GPA between 2.5 and 2.00 and a satisfactory score on the GMAT, GRE, CSET, or MAT, depending upon the graduate program.
- An earned master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
- A portfolio, detailed resume, writing samples, letters of reference, and a letter of explanation qualifying the applicant for candidacy.
Brandman's graduate programs in nursing, social work, teaching, counseling, psychology, and education have individual admission requirements that may vary between the four options. Online, in-person, and hybrid graduate degree programs do not have different admission requirements.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Brandman University's tuition varies depending upon the level of degree and program or credential candidates seek. Most Brandman courses consist of 3 semester units. Tuition is $500 a unit for associate and bachelor's degree programs. Credential and master's degree programs assess tuition of $650 a unit. Doctorate of Education courses are $995 a unit, and Doctorate of Nursing courses are $1,135 a unit.
For active duty military and spouses, tuition is $250 a unit for associate and bachelor's degree programs. Credential and master's degree programs for military members and spouses are $400 a unit, and the Doctorate of Education Program cost is $995 a unit. The Doctorate of Nursing cost per unit for military members and spouses is $1,135. MyPath competency-based online programs have 24-week billing periods. Associate and bachelor's degree programs have a minimum of 12 units per billing period and cost $6,400 per year. Master's degree MyPath online programs have a minimum of 9 units per billing period and cost $7,000 per year.
Brandman University offers financial aid for undergraduate students including need-based and non-need based grants, loans, and scholarships. Graduate programs may be financed by Work Study and Direct Federal Loan programs, as well as alternative loan programs. Scholarships include program-specific scholarships, scholarships and grants for veterans and military members, and need and academic excellence scholarships provided by Brandman and outside organizations.
Online Degrees Available
Brandman University offers many avenues to earning degrees that range from traditional, on-campus programs to hybrid programs to fully online programs. At the graduate degree level, students can choose from degrees in areas such as education, psychology, organization leadership, and counseling. The university suggests that students who earn a master's degree may earn up to $400,000 more over the course of their lifetime. Some of the graduate degree programs at Brandman University feature field experiences, which help students put their knowledge to work while still enrolled in the program.
Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
The Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership is one degree that students may choose to maximize personal career growth while enjoying the convenience of an online program. Students who enroll in the Organizational Leadership program may apply military experience toward earning the degree as well as earn the degree in as little as one year. Some of the types of employment that may open to students upon completion of the degree program include work as School and Community Service Managers, Medical and Health Services Managers, and Public Relations and Fundraising Managers. Some of the classes students will take in the program include Seminar in Organizational Dynamics, Leading Organizational Change, Self, Systems, & Leadership, and Democracy, Ethics, & Leadership. Students will also take Organizational Leadership, Foundations of Organizational Leadership, and a Leadership Capstone Seminar. In all, students will complete 36 credits to earn their Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership.
Master of Arts in Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy
Another graduate degree option available through Brandman University's online campus is the Master of Arts in Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy. The university reveals that the profession has undergone more than 17 percent growth in the past decade based upon statistics gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To gain acceptance into the program, students must complete an application, an autobiographical essay, secure three recommendations, and complete the Ethical & Responsibility Statement form. Classes in the degree program include Research and Bibliographical Methods, Life Span Development/Aging & Long Term Care, and Family Therapy Theories and Techniques: A Modern Emphasis. The degree program requires that students complete 60 credits which includes a trio of three-credit practicum sessions. Students interested in the Master of Arts in Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy, as well as any other online graduate degree program at Brandman University, should contact the school for additional information.
Brandman University website