UHV online counseling psychology, accounting programs earn rankings
Small class sizes, low costs and numerous learning opportunities recently helped land two UHV programs on national lists for top counseling and accounting programs.
The UHV Master of Arts in counseling psychology was ranked No. 11 on the AffordableCollegesOnline.org Best 2016-2017 Online Counseling Degrees list. The website also ranked the UHV Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting No. 26 on its list of Best 2016-2017 Online Accounting Degrees.
“While we are predominantly an online program – with a mix of face-to-face and online courses – we are honored to be included in the list of best counseling programs,” said Catherine Perz, the UHV counseling psychology program director and an associate professor of psychology. “Our graduates are in demand as counselors, in part because of the strong online education they have received at UHV.”
For both rankings, the website looked at accredited schools with annual in-state tuition and fees of less than $25,000.
Once eligible schools were determined, a scoring metric was used to develop the rankings. The metric included cost, student-to-faculty ratio, number and breadth of online programs, percentage of students who received scholarships or financial aid, and availability of job placement and career counseling services.
For the counseling psychology degree, UHV received a metric score of 96.7. Only one Texas institution had a higher score.
The UHV Master of Arts in counseling psychology is a 60-credit-hour program. It prepares students to assess and provide psychotherapy or counseling to people in need. The program has a strong clinical component and meets the academic requirements for the Texas Licensed Professional Counselor credential.
“The graduates of our program have gone onto successful professional counseling careers,” said Jeffrey Di Leo, dean of the UHV School of Arts & Sciences. “The online classes are challenging and valuable. It’s terrific to see we measure up with other top programs in terms of affordability and quality.”
In the AffordableCollegesOnline.org accounting rankings, UHV earned a score of 94.11. UH-Downtown was the only Texas university to earn a higher score.
UHV’s Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting prepares students for continued education, employment opportunities or the Certified Public Accountant examination requirements. The 120-credit-hour program requires seven accounting classes and 13 additional upper-division business courses.
The online option is especially convenient for nontraditional students pursuing a degree while working, said Farhang Niroomand, dean of the UHV School of Business Administration.
“Quality, affordability and convenience are three of the hallmarks of our school,” he said. “The ability to offer entirely online programs has allowed us to expand our reach and connect with people who don’t have the ability to come to Victoria or Katy every week for class. Accounting students realize they are getting the same valuable instruction regardless of the delivery method.”
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
