This school appears in our ranking 20 Most Affordable Master's in Psychology Degrees Online: Private Colleges 2018.
Touro University Worldwide refers to the online campus owned and operated by the Touro College and University System. Founded in 1971, it opened as a small private college that offered vast opportunities for students of all ages. The university slowly expanded and established its own campus for undergrads as well as a graduate school. This system now includes a law school and a health sciences campus. Though many of those campuses are in and around New York City, students living in other areas can attend the university too. There are branches in Nevada and major cities such as Miami and Los Angeles.
Time ranked the university on its list of the best value schools because of its low tuition. Touro charges just one rate for all students based on their levels and does not charge as many fees as other schools do. More than 10,000 students now attend Touro University campuses around the world and enroll in the online programs available through its Worldwide system.
Touro University Worldwide Accreditation Details
Students interested in graduate programs must make sure that those programs have regional accreditation, especially if they want to enter a doctoral program later or apply for financial aid. The regional accreditation that Touro has, which comes from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission, covers all the degree programs available through this university system.
Touro University Worldwide Application Requirements
Touro does not have many application requirements for prospective graduate students because it believes that every student deserves the right to higher education. An incoming student must have a bachelor's degree and a grade point average of 2.5 or higher. The university looks at the student's cumulative GPA rather than the grades he or she received in any major classes. Touro will also accept students who previously attended graduate school. Those students must have a GPA of 2.75 or higher.
The only real requirements for students is that they complete and file the online application and pay its $60 fee. Students will then submit their transcripts, which the university will use to evaluate their records and look at their grades. Most students will receive a response from the school within a few weeks. Students may need to submit more information or other records. This mainly occurs when the student has a lower GPA. The university may ask for an official test score from the GRE or any similar exam, a resume that shows the student has some experience in the field he or she wants to study or either an essay or goals statement. Some students may want to submit letters of recommendation also.
Tuition and Financial Aid
All graduate students attending Touro will pay $500 per credit hour. As all graduate courses are worth three credits, students will pay $1,500 for each class they take. The university recommends that students speak to an enrollment counselor to learn about any discounts that might be available to them. Military students, including those currently enlisted, qualify for a discount. Other discounts are available for students who work for any organizations or companies that partnered with the university and those who attended Touro in the past.
The university encourages students to apply for the financial aid that they need as soon as possible. Graduate students can take out loans from the federal government with a low-interest rate. They will go through loan counseling before receiving their degrees to make sure that they understand how they will pay off their loans and what happens if they default on their loans. Touro can help students find the best alternative and private student loans too. Some grad students may want to look at external funding options such as scholarships.
Online Degrees Available
Master of Science in Dispute Resolution
Touro University Worldwide offers both traditional and unique degree options for graduate students who want to earn their degrees online. One unique option is its Master of Science in Dispute Resolution. Designed for those who want to work in a business or related industry, this program teaches students how to get to the root of a problem and find an adequate solution. Students will take 12 classes to complete the 36 credits needed to earn their degrees. Those courses include Alternative Dispute Resolution, The Practice of Facilitation, Foundations of Conflict Resolution and The Practice of Negotiation and Mediation. The university requires that students take a capstone class in the last semester before they graduate.
Master of Science in Human Resource Management
Touro designed a Master of Science in Human Resource Management for students who want to develop the skills that make them in demand in today's world. Though this program also features 36 credits, it includes different courses than some of the other business programs do. Performance Assessment is a course that teaches students how to assess the performance of individual employees and decide whether to change their job duties. Training and Development is another required class that shows students who to train new workers and foster their talents. Other required courses in this management program include Management Across Culture, Strategy and Planning and Human Resources Management and Law.
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Though other schools offer marriage and family graduate programs, Touro offers one of the only online programs in this field. The non-clinical track allows students to take 18 classes online. Those who want to practice with patients can enroll in the clinical track. They'll take 20 classes and do two practicums. During their practicums, they will spend 525 hours working in the field and in direct contact with patients. Touro also offers a version of this program for students who want to work as licensed counselors and get their licenses in California or another state. That program requires that students do at least 730 hours of fieldwork.
Master of Science in Health Science
The university also has a Master of Science in Health Science program with a concentration in public health for those who want to assist the general public. Students will take 30 credits of health sciences courses and six credits of public health classes. They can take courses such as Occupational Health and Safety, Ethical Issues in Public Health, Global and International Issues in Public Health and Mental Health and Society. Touro University Worldwide also offers this Master of Science program with a concentration in health education for those who want to teach others about health issues.
Touro University website