MINNEAPOLIS, Feb 11, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) –Capella University (capella.edu), an accredited* online university that has built its reputation by providing quality education for adults, has launched three new degrees, a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), a Doctor of Social Work (DSW), and a Master of Science in Career Counseling. Capella also announced a new Combined BS/MBA option, nine concentrations, and a new Harold Abel School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

New school brings together all social and behavioral science degree programs

Capella University has created a new school, the Harold Abel School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, to bring all of its mental health degree programs into a single school. The name honors Capella’s co-founder and first president, Dr. Harold Abel. The university’s existing School of Human Services and Harold Abel School of Psychology will move to the new school as the Department of Counseling and the Department of Psychology, respectively. The new school also features a Department of Social Work. “Although the professions of psychology, counseling, and social work will remain distinct, the new school will provide students and faculty with a more diverse academic community while improving administrative efficiencies,” said Jody Neuman-Aamlie, PhD, interim dean of the new Harold Abel School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Online DSW is one of very few opportunities to earn a social work doctorate online

“The need for an online DSW program is particularly acute because there are a limited number of doctoral social work programs offered in the U.S.,” said Dr. Neuman-Aamlie. “In fact, 17 states have no doctoral programs in social work. Capella’s program, one of very few online DSWs, allows social work practitioners and educators an opportunity to earn a doctoral degree online without relocating or putting their careers on hold. It is designed around national social work education guidelines and also includes a strong focus on the growing use of technology in the practice of social work.”

Online master’s is designed around leading counseling education standards

The country’s uncertain job market has expanded opportunities for career counselors, and Capella’s new MS in Career Counseling is designed to deliver the knowledge, skills, and best practices needed to help individuals develop employment, career, and life plans. Designed around leading counseling education standards, Capella’s degree program is one of very few online master’s programs in career counseling. The program includes online course work, residencies, and clinical experiences, allowing students to gain both practical and theoretical knowledge of the field. It also provides students the opportunity to learn how to conduct career counseling in both face-to-face and online settings.

Capella online DBA offers unique features

Capella also announced a new online Doctor of Business Administration that incorporates features not available in most online DBA programs, including specializations that reflect some of today’s most cutting-edge areas of business: Business Intelligence, Global Operations and Supply Chain Management, and Strategy and Innovation. The DBA program also includes an optional international experience that offers an in-depth opportunity to explore the effects of globalization in business. in addition, DBA students can leverage the expertise of a leadership coach to help them define the specific leadership competencies they wish to develop, and facilitate the transfer of courseroom knowledge into their individual work settings.

Combined BS/MBA option saves time and money

Capella is also launching a new Combined BS/MBA option that allows eligible students in Capella’s bachelor’s degree programs in Business, Information Technology, and Psychology to begin earning master’s-level credits after completing at least 100 undergraduate credits. these master’s-level credits can be used toward completing the bachelor’s degree and may also be applied toward a Capella MBA degree. Students can save more than $7,700 over the cost of pursuing each degree separately and cut up to two quarters off the time necessary to complete the MBA.

Concentrations provide cost-effective opportunities to add area of focus to degree

Concentrations, which are new to Capella, offer students in certain degree programs and specializations the opportunity to gain deeper expertise in a specific area. in many instances, students can incorporate a concentration into their degree program for little or no additional time or money. new public service concentrations include Public Administration and fire Service Administration, available in most School of Public Service Leadership degree programs. in addition, enrollees in the PhD in Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology specialization, may choose a concentration in Coaching Psychology, Consultation Psychology, Industrial Psychology, or Organizational Psychology. Enrollees in the PhD in Psychology, Educational Psychology specialization, may choose a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development, Program Evaluation and Measurement, or Psychology Teaching and Instruction.

Enrollment now open

Capella is now accepting enrollment applications for these new offerings. For more information, please call 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552) or e-mail info@capella.edu.

Review of the Doctor of Social Work and MS in Career Counseling is pending in FL, KS, ND, and SC. Review of the Doctor of Business Administration is pending in FL, ND, and SC.

About Capella University

Capella University (capella.edu) is an accredited*, online university that has built its reputation by providing quality education for working adults. more than 80 percent of Capella students are currently enrolled in master’s or doctoral degree programs in business, counseling, information technology, education, human services, nursing, psychology, public administration, public health, public safety, and social work. Capella also offers bachelor’s degree programs in business, information technology, nursing, psychology, public administration, and public safety. Within those areas, Capella currently offers 129 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs. nearly 31,000 learners were enrolled as of September 30, 2009, from all 50 states and 55 other countries. Capella is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Founded in 1993, Capella University is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, please visit capella.edu or call 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552).

* Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), ncahlc.org. Capella University, Capella Tower, 225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1.888.CAPELLA (227.3552), capella.edu.

Learn more about earning an online degree at Capella University: online education (capella.edu/online_education.aspx) distance learning (capella.edu/distance_learning.aspx) online university (capella.edu/online_university.aspx)

SOURCE: Capella University

Capella University Media Contact: Irene Silber, 612-977-4132 irene.silber@capella.edu

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