General Admission Requirements. Admission to Graduate Studies (see graduate admission requirements).

Program Admission.  In addition to meeting university admissions requirements for a graduate degree, prospective psychology students must submit their official GRE scores.  GMAT scores will not be accepted. Admission to the counseling psychology, forensic psychology, or school psychology program is based on an evaluation by the program's admission committee of the following information.

1. A 1-2 page essay that states the applicant's reasons for applying to the program and the applicant's career goals.

2. One letter of recommendation from a non-UHV, non-family source.

3. Evidence of having completed undergraduate or graduate courses in statistics, research methods, and abnormal psychology.  A particular course will be waived as a requirement if the student passes a comprehensive final exam or its equivalent for the designated course with a grade of "C" or better.  The exam may be taken no more than once for a particular course.

4. Submit official GRE scores and have an Admissions index of 1,400 or higher, obtained by the
   Following:

   1. GPA on at least the last 60 semester credit hours times 200
      Plus GRE score (Verbal + Quantitative)

    

Degree Requirements. 
The counseling psychology, forensic psychology, and the school psychology degree plans have a common core of 24 semester hours.  The counseling psychology degree plan has a concentration requirement of an additional 15 semester hours, the forensic psychology degree plan has a concentration requirement of an additional 27 hours, and the school psychology degree plan has a concentration requirement of an additional 30 semester hours.  Nine semester hours of practicum are required for the counseling psychology and forensic psychology degrees and 6 semester hours of practicum are required for the school psychology degree.  A full-time, year-long internship is also required for the school psychology degree.

1. Common Core (21 semester hours).  The following courses are required for  all three degrees:
   

   PSYC 6321 Advanced Abnormal Psychology
   PSYC 6326 Advanced Research Methods 
   PSYC 6330 Life-Span Developmental Psychology
   PSYC 6331 Multicultural Psychotherapy
   PSYC 6332 Advanced Social Psychology
   PSYC 6334 Theories and Issues in Psychotherapy
   PSYC 6336 Introduction to Assessment

2. Concentration Requirements
   

   Counseling Psychology (18 semester hours)
   

      PSYC 6319  Vocational Psychology and Career Counseling
      PSYC 6333  Ethics and Practice of Psychology
      PSYC 6335 Techniques of Psychotherapy
      PSYC 6337  Advanced Assessment   
      PSYC 6338  Group Psychotherapy
      PSYC 6339  Theory and Techniques of Family Therapy 

   Forensic Psychology (30 semester hours)

   PSYC 6319  Vocational Psychology and Career Counseling
   PSYC 6327 Assessment for Forensic Psychology
   PSYC 6333 Ethics and Practice of Psychology
   PSYC 6335 Techniques of Psychotherapy
   PSYC 6337 Advanced Assessment
   PSYC 6338 Group Psychotherapy
   PSYC 6339 Theory and Techniques of Family Therapy
   PSYC 6343 Advanced Forensic Psychology
   PSYC 6399 Selected Topics in Forensic Psychology
   CRIJ 6330 Advanced Criminology

   School Psychology (36 semester hours)

   PSYC 6315   Advanced Learning
   PSYC 6328   Biological Psychology
   PSYC 6344   The Ethics & Profession of School Psychology
   PSYC 6324  Techniques of Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy
   PSYC 6340   School Consultation
   PSYC 6341   Behavior Management
   PSYC 6345   Integrated School Based Assessment I
   PSYC 6346   Integrated School Based Assessment II
   PSYC 6347   Seminar in Professional Behavior in School Psychology
   CUIN 6321   Principles of Curriculum Development,
       or CUIN 6322 Principles of Curricular Organization
   LANG 6310 Linguistics & Reading
   ELAS 6331 School Law 

3. Practicum/Internship Requirements
   
   

   Counseling Psychology (9 semester hours)  

   9 semester hours of PSYC 6303 Psychology Practicum

   Forensic Psychology (9 semester hours)   

   9 semester hours of PSYC 6304 Forensic Counseling Practicum

   School Psychology (6 s.h. of practicum and 6 s.h. of internship)   

   3 hours of PSY 3649 School Psychology Practicum - Assessment
   3 hours of PSY 6348 School Psychology Practicum – Consultation & Interventions
   6 hours of PSY 6305 (across 2 semesters) of School Psychology Internship

4. Comprehensive Exams
   Students must pass a comprehensive exam to graduate.  The comprehensive exam is tailored to
   the student's program (i.e., counseling, forensic or school psychology).  The counseling psychology comprehensive exam is a 3-hour 200-item multiple choice exam that consists of 20 items from PSYC 6333, PSYC 6337, and each of the core courses. The forensic psychology comprehensive exam is a 3-hour 220-item multiple choice exam that consists of 20 items each from PSYC 6333, PSYC 6337, PSYC 6343, and each of the core courses.  The school psychology comprehensive exam consists of a written multiple-choice exam similar to the Praxis-II School Psychology Specialty Area Exam and an essay component addressing the psychological foundations of the discipline.  The comprehensive oral exam consists of a series of case studies which the student must respond to and discuss with a faculty committee.

Review of Student Progress. 
Student progress will be reviewed on a regular basis with the intention of identifying students who may need remediation to continue in the program.  Continuation in the counseling psychology, forensic psychology, or school psychology program requires satisfactory academic performance, appropriate personal attributes, and ethical behavior.  In addition, students must demonstrate the acquisition of appropriate clinical and professional skills.  All students are evaluated annually and as needed for academic progress and professional behavior and development.  A student who fails to meet minimal criteria will be asked to sign a probation agreement that specifies the remediation terms for continuation in the program.  Dismissal from the program will result if the student fails to follow the terms of the agreement.  More detailed information about the minimal criteria for continuation in the program may be obtained from the student's academic advisor or the program coordinator.