Preparing for a Career Handling Crises at Adler University
Check out our ranking of the Top 20 Emergency Management Degree Online Programs.
Emergency management professionals are responsible for handling the needs of both individuals and groups during any type of emergency situation. They often work as first responders and are the first on the scene after a natural disaster such as a tornado or earthquake. These professionals also work in the days after a school shooting or terrorist attack. Though Adler University doesn’t offer a full emergency management program, it does offer a Master of Arts in Applied Psychology with an emphasis in crisis management.
This online degree program in emergency management trains students on what to do after an emergency situation to reduce the effect it has on the general public. They learn how to counsel and support locals and the types of psychology practices that can come in handy on the scene. The courses they take go over what to do immediately after the emergency occurs and what to do in the coming days and weeks to offer continued support. Some of the other emphasis areas that students can choose from include gender and sexuality studies, child and adolescent development and health and wellness.
The MA in Applied Psychology program features either a capstone or a thesis requirement. Students will do some research work to complete either one. They will also do a practicum that is worth two credits. This Adler University program includes required classes such as History and Systems for Applied Psychology, Adlerian Psychology: Community Applications and Research Methods.
About Adler University
Adler University is a graduate school that offers programs in psychology and social justice fields. Established in 1952, it opened with one campus in Chicago. Rudolf Dreikurs worked closely with Alfred Adler and learned the basics of individual psychology from him. After moving to Chicago, he worked with locals and helped establish some social programs designed for children. He opened the Institute of Adlerian Psychology in 1952, which taught others the fundamentals of this type of psychology. The school would become the Alfred Adler Institute of Chicago just two years later and then the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Though the school once offered some training programs, it now offers both doctoral and graduate degrees. It chose the Adler University name as a way to pay homage to Adler himself and to show that it was a full graduate university.
The university now has one campus in Chicago and a second campus in Vancouver, Canada. That Vancouver campus is home to the only doctoral program in clinical psychology in the entire country. The hundreds of students attending Adler University today can work in community programs for course credit. Adler offers a variety of online degree programs too.
Adler University Accreditation Details
The United States Department of Education recognizes the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and its regional branches as an accrediting body. Adler University has regional accreditation from the HLC and its North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS). NCACS accreditation allows students who have credits to transfer those credits to the university and allows any student to apply for financial aid. The university also has accreditation from the APA.
Adler University Application Requirements
Students applying to any Master of Arts program must make sure that they meet the requirements established by the university. It has different requirements in place for online students and those taking classes in Chicago or Vancouver. For full acceptance, students must have an undergrad grade point average of 3.0 or higher, write a letter of intent, provide their official transcripts and submit a full application packet. The letter of intent allows students to lay out their reasons for choosing Adler and to explain what they hope to get out of the emergency management program. Adler also asks for a resume to see what management experience the student already has.
Students who complete all application requirements but only submit unofficial transcripts will receive provisional acceptance. Those students can start a Master of Arts program but will submit official transcripts before the second semester starts. If the university does not receive official transcripts, it will remove the student from the program. Conditional acceptance is also possible. This occurs when the student submits all required information but has a lower GPA. The university asks that they include details in their letters of intent about why their grades are so low and why they think they can handle graduate work. Adler also asks for two letters of recommendation from these students. It will only accept those with a GPA of at least 2.5 into a graduate program.
Prospective emergency management majors should focus their letters of intent on their reasons for choosing Adler and what earning a degree in this field will mean to them. They should also highlight any management or leadership experience they have on their resumes. Students can submit an information request form directly to Adler too. The representatives who contact them will fully explain the application process and help students ensure that they submit all the required information.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Students applying to Adler University will pay $30 to submit their applications and put down a $200 deposit. Adler uses this deposit to secure a spot in the MA program for that student. The deposit is only due after a student submits a full application and receives an acceptance letter from Adler. They will then pay $865 per credit hour for any courses they take in a non-clinical MA program. Students in a clinical MA program that includes research or practicum work pay $1,265 per credit hour. These rates apply to online students only. Those taking classes on the Vancouver or Chicago campuses will pay more.
Adler University requires that students pay the total amount due at least two weeks before the semester starts. It offers payment plans for those who need more time paying off their costs. These plans allow students to make payments by the tenth of each month and give them up to five months to pay for the total cost of each semester. Graduate students can also use both federal student loans and alternative student loans. To qualify for federal loans, students must submit the FAFSA and sign a promissory note. They may need to complete loan counseling too. Student loans can cover most of the costs of the emergency management program at Adler University.