Undergraduate Degree Programs

• Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology
• Bachelor of Science in Education Degree in Psychology

Graduate Degree Programs

• Master of Science Degree in General Psychology
• Master of Science Degree in Clinical Psychology
• Master of Science Degree in Community Counseling
• Master of Science Degree in School Counseling
• Education Specialist Degree in Counseling
• Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology Program Guide (PDF)

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in Psychology: This degree was designed for undergraduate students who aspire to continue their education in graduate or professional school. This degree particularly prepares students for advanced training in psychology and counseling, but also provides a very good background for other disciplines (e.g., law, media, social work, business, etc.). The B.A. degree requires that the student complete ten hours of a foreign language and a minor in an area recognized by the University.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology Program Guide (PDF)

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in Psychology: This degree was designed for students who want to pursue a career in a psychology-related field immediately after graduation. Historically, most careers in psychology and counseling require graduate training, however; there are a number of careers that do not. It should also be pointed out that completing the B.S. does not preclude an individual from gaining entrance into graduate school. Presently, the Department of Psychology and Counseling offers six concentrations (which replaces the requirements for a minor):

• Developmental Disabilities Concentration: prepares graduates to work in mental retardation or developmental disabilities facilities or transition homes as supervisors, transition coordinators, or mental retardation professionals.
• Human Resource Development Concentration: prepares graduates for positions in business and industry as human resource planners, personnel directors, or employee selection specialists. Individuals trained in human resource development are trained to assist individuals in the workplace become the most effective and motivated workers who have their skills, abilities, and knowledge suitably utilized and recognized.
• Human Factors Concentration: prepares students for careers or further graduate training in the interaction of humans with various media/machines/instruments. Individuals who work in the human factors area, also referred to as ergonomics, study and develop the most effective ways for humans to interact with media, machines or instruments. One of the fastest growing areas of human factors involved designing the most efficient and user friendly web sites. Traditionally, individuals trained in human factors have developed efficient dash boards in automobiles and aircraft and many other areas where humans routinely interact with machines.
• Psychology and Legal Issues Concentration: prepares graduates to work in the legal system in jobs such as probation and parole officers or law enforcement personnel, and to prepare students for law school.

Students must apply (application available in the department office) and be accepted before undertaking coursework in the following concentrations:

• Substance Abuse Services Concentration: prepares graduates to work as substance abuse counselors and qualifies graduates for certification as addictions counselors (through Social and Rehabilitation Services, SRS) in Kansas.
• Case Management Concentration: prepares graduates for jobs as case managers and case coordinators in community mental health centers, hospitals, and other mental health facilities.

Bachelor of Science in Education Degree in Psychology Program Guide (PDF)

Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) Degree in Psychology: This degree was designed for undergraduate students who wish to teach at the secondary level or eventually acquire graduate training in school counseling. The B.S.Ed. requires that the student complete the requirements for certification to teach in addition to acquiring certification in another teaching area (which replaces the requirements for a minor).

Graduate Degree Programs

Master of Science Degree in General Psychology Program Guide (PDF)

Master of Science (M.S) Degree in General Psychology: This degree is designed for the student who wishes to pursue an advanced degree (at the specialist or doctoral level) or a career in community college teaching.  The M.S. Degree in General Psychology is not a practitioner degree.  Students pursuing this degree are not eligible to enroll in practicum or internship, and are not qualified upon degree completion for any type of licensure, certification, or professional credentialing.  Most students who complete this degree subsequently apply to the Ed.S. Degree Program in School Psychology or to a Ph.D. Program.  A number of graduates have also been employed as community college psychology faculty.

Master of Science Degree in Clinical Psychology (CMHC Emphasis) Program Guide (PDF)
Master of Science Degree in Clinical Psychology (MRDD Emphasis) Program Guide (PDF)

Janet V. Smith, Ph.D., Coordinator

Master of Science (M.S.) Degree in Clinical Psychology: This degree is designed for students who wish to pursue master’s level licensure in psychology (in states where such licensure is available), and provide direct clinical service delivery to individuals who have classifiable mental disorders.  The program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by MPAC (Masters in Psychology Accrediting Council) and qualifies graduates for status as licensed masters level psychologists (LMLP) in Kansas.  (As of July, 2000, students completing the program and post-degree supervision, and passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology are eligible for designation as Licensed Clinical Psychotherapists in Kansas.)  The program includes a 750 clock hour practicum and internship sequence.

Master of Science Degree in Community Counseling Program Guide (PDF)

Donald E. Ward, Ph.D., Coordinator

Master of Science (M.S.) Degree in Community Counseling: This degree is designed to train skilled practitioners to provide direct counseling services in mental health and other community agency settings.  Completion of the program (and post-degree supervised experience requirements) qualifies graduates to apply for Licensure as Professional Counselors in Kansas, Missouri, and over 40 other states.  Advanced students are also eligible to sit for the National Board for Certified Counselors Examination.

• Orientation Manual for M.S. in Community Counseling (PDF)
• Inclusive Recruitment Policy for M.S. in Community Counseling (PDF)

Master of Science Degree in School Counseling Program Guide (PDF)

Becky Brannock, Ph.D., Coordinator

Master of Science (M.S.) Degree in School Counseling: This degree prepares candidates for professional careers as school counselors in Pre K-12 settings. Candidates interested in pursuing the M.S. degree in School Counseling should have completed as a minimum pre-requisite, an undergraduate degree in education. Two years of teaching experience are required for candidates planning to secure employment as school counselors in the state of Kansas. In addition to completing the 45 hour program of study in School Counseling, candidates are also required to complete two additional post-graduate Internships in the field during their first year of employment as school counselors in Kansas.

Education Specialist Degree in Counseling Program Guide (PDF)

Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree in Counseling: This is an advanced graduate counseling degree designed to allow professionally trained mental health practitioners to re-specialize or further specialize within the discipline of professional counseling.  The program requires prior completion of the master's degree in counseling (or its equivalent) and requires the completion of 30 (Option I) to 32 (Option II) semester hours of coursework, including a 15 semester hour core and 15-17 semester hours of electives in a specialty in counseling.  (Option I requires completion of an Ed.S. level thesis.)

Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology Program Guide (PDF)

Rick Lindskog, Ed.D., Coordinator

Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree in School Psychology: This degree is designed to provide degree candidates with the competencies necessary to function effectively as school psychologists in special education cooperatives, public schools, and institutional settings. Persons with a bachelor's degree may begin this degree by working toward a prescribed master's degree in a related field, including at least 10 hours of graduate work applicable to the area of school psychology. The candidate for this degree must meet requirements for provisional certification as a school psychologist in the state of Kansas. Full certification requires completion of this degree plus one school year of internship. The program must include a minimum of 32 hours of approved coursework beyond the master's degree, of which 21 hours must be numbered 800 or above and at least nine of the 21 hours must be numbered 900 or above. This curriculum adheres to the standards established by the Kansas State Department of Education and to the curriculum recommendations of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Admission is competitive and limited to the number of practicum sites available.