John F. Kennedy University opened as a commuter school in 1964 in Pleasant Hill, California. Schools at that time typically required that students lived on campus in dormitories and offered little in the way of support for students who lived at home with their parents or in other off campus locations. John F. Kennedy University was one of the first schools in the state that offered an alternative to traditional colleges. As the college expanded, it opened a smaller satellite campus in Berkeley and a second satellite campus in San Jose. Students had the option of taking classes on one of those campus before moving to the main campus, but they could also transfer their credits to another university in the state.
The university now serves as a private college of higher learning and has its own graduate school and law school. Its graduate school offers seven graduate degrees, two certificate programs, a doctoral degree program and several joint degree programs that allow students the option of earning an MBA with a law degree or an MA degree or a Psy.D and MA degrees in psychology. John F. Kennedy University also has a popular sports psychology program that is one of the only programs in the country that culminates with a master’s degree.
John F. Kennedy Accreditation Details
Experts always warn students of the potential dangers associated with attending an online college or university that lacks accreditation. Accreditation means that the school meets a set series of requirements imposed by an accrediting body and that the school does more to help its students. Organizations responsible for accreditation often visit the campus or the headquarters of the school to see how the university operates and then talks with professors and other faculty members, former students and current students. Only the top schools receive accreditation.
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges of the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities granted accreditation to John F. Kennedy University. JFKU now has the right to grant degrees in California and can award degrees to students living in other states who take online classes. It also has accreditation for many of its continuing education programs. This programs allow students who currently work in the field they studied earn a higher degree when they go back to school. Those interested in continuing their studies after earning a master’s degree will find that the college also has accreditation for its Psy.D program. The American Psychological Association granted the school accreditation for its doctoral program.
John F. Kennedy Application Requirements
John F. Kennedy University is one of the only universities in the country that has a rolling admissions policy for graduate students. This allows students to apply at any point throughout the year and start classes during the next semester. Students can start during the spring, summer or fall semester. Before applying, students should ensure that they understand all the other requirements for admission.
The first part of the application is the application form itself, which asks students about their reasons for attending, the program they want to enroll in and other key questions. Students will also need to complete a statistical form that asks for some of their demographic information, including age, gender and race. A nonrefundable application fee goes along with the application. Students can pay the fee over the phone or computer with a debit or credit card or pay via mail with a check or money order.
All graduate programs require an official transcript in the student’s name sent from an accredited school and proof that the student posses a bachelor’s degree. JFKU will only admit students to its graduate school who currently have a bachelor’s degree or will have a degree by the time they start their online classes.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Though some schools charge different rates for on campus and online classes, John F. Kennedy University charges the same rate for all classes taken through its graduate school. The university charges $655 for each course that a student takes, and most graduate school students three or more classes each quarter. The program requires the completion of an internship or field placement. Students taking classes on campus or online must pay the equivalent of one course fees to take that class. Graduate students are also responsible for paying a registration fee and a fee for graduating and receiving a degree.
Many students find themselves worrying about how they’ll pay for the cost of college, and many others think that they can’t afford the costs and never apply. The FAFSA is the first step that students should take after applying for college. This form comes directly from the federal government and uses the income of a student’s parent or the student’s income, if that individual is independent. The answers they give on that form determines whether the student applies for subsidized and unsubsidized loans and if the student qualifies for any grants. Though students must pay back the loans, grants do not require repayment.
Online Master of Arts in Sport Psychology
JFK University gives students the chance to earn a Master of Arts in Sports Psychology degree online, on campus or through a combination of online and traditional classes. The program consists of 77 units in core classes and internship credits. Those taking courses online have the option of working at local facilities, but they will need to inform the school of those locations and receive approval first. Students must complete four internships, and students can work at mental health offices, in schools, with amateur or professional teams and in public and community health offices.
All students working on an MA in sports psychology take 24 courses that are part of the core curriculum. Research methods, performance enhancement and team building are a few examples of the core courses in the program. Students also have the option of ending the program in one of two ways. The first is a project that students do in the field, and the second is a thesis. Students chosing the thesis option must receive approval before starting their paper. As a thesis requires more work than a project, those who do a project will need to take more electives. The Online Master of Arts in Sport Psychology available through John F. Kennedy University offers all the benefits of a traditional on campus program over the Internet.