Psychology and Counseling Degree Programs at the University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Online Master’s in Forensic Psychology.
The Department of Psychology at the University of North Dakota offers an undergraduate degree program and several programs for graduate students. Undergrads can minor in psychology or earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. It takes four years to earn either degree, and students have the option of enrolling in an online psychology degree program. Both programs feature courses that include Practical Experiences in Psychology, Psychology of Learning and History and Systems of Psychology. The university allows students to complete a certificate in Cyberpsychology, forensic psychology or behavioral health too.
Graduate students can earn a Master of Science or a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology. Though the MA program is available online, the MS program requires that students take classes at the University of North Dakota. The university offers the MS as an accelerated program for those who do not yet have a bachelor’s degree. They can earn both degrees in five years. Students will either need to do a thesis or an independent study project. Both forensic psychology programs include classes such as Experimental Design, Cognitive Psychology, Special Topics in Psychology and Psychology and Law.
The university’s Master of Arts in Counseling program allows students to pick from three different tracks: rehabilitative counseling, addiction counseling or community mental health counseling. Students will complete 44 credits of work, which includes a practicum and a class called Cognitive Assessment. Other courses include Career Counseling, Group Theory and Process, Dynamics of Addiction and Lifespan Development in Counseling. The university also asks that students take courses from the tracks they choose and do either an independent study project or a thesis.
There are also three doctoral programs in counseling and psychology available from the University of North Dakota. The general and experimental psychology program focuses more on science and research. It prepares students for working in research labs and similar settings. The clinical psychology doctoral program teaches students how to use the methods they learn about in their classes in practical settings. Students in the counseling psychology doctoral program learn how to work with patients of all ages and types. This program includes some administration courses that teach students how to write grant proposals and lead other counselors too.
About the University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a large public university in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Also called North Dakota and UND, it was established in 1883. The university originally offered a bus that transported students from the city to its campus because it did not have any on-campus housing. UND grew significantly after North Dakota gained state status due to the large number of students who moved west. Some of those students later worked as teachers in the territories that eventually became states. Forbes, Washington Monthly and U.S. News and World Report all rank UND within the top 200 to 500 colleges in America. Grand Forks is a popular college town filled with restaurants and shops for the more than 14,000 students enrolled in the University of North Dakota degree programs.
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University of North Dakota Accreditation Details
The counseling and other psychology graduate programs at UND have accreditation from the APA. This accreditation covers both their classes and any of the fieldwork that they do. APA accreditation also applies to the counseling center on the university’s campus where students may work. UND also has accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS).
University of North Dakota Application Requirements
Incoming freshmen must meet some admissions requirements before they can enroll in a UND program. The university requires that they take 14 credits of college prep courses, including social science, life/health science, math and English classes. They also need a GPA of 2.75 or higher. Students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher also need to score 18 on the ACT or 960 on the SAT. The minimum test scores required will increase as the student’s GPA decreases. To apply to UND, students submit an application and then provide official copies of their test scores and transcripts.
Students applying to any graduate program in counseling or psychology at UND must submit an official score from the general section of the GRE and a personal statement. This statement should be between 250 and 350 words and cover the professional experiences the student has and why they want to study that specific area of psychology. Those applying to the accelerated program should have a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher in high school and a minimum GPA of 3.2 in any college classes taken. The only other requirements are that students must provide three letters of recommendation, their official transcripts, and the UND application. UND has the same requirements for doctoral students but asks that they submit transcripts from the schools where they earned their graduate degrees. Those applying to the counseling psychology doctoral program should submit the same information and a supplemental application.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The rates that UND students pay will depend on their levels and where they live. Graduate students pay $418 per credit hour as a North Dakota resident and $531 per credit hour as a Minnesota resident. Online students pay $418 per credit hour no matter where they live. Students living in certain areas of Canada and the US pay $627 per credit hour. Undergrads pay $363 per credit hour as a North Dakota resident and $398 as a Minnesota resident. The university offers a discount for students who live in the Midwest or the western United States. They pay $512 per credit hour, while all other nonresidents pay $865 per credit hour. Students should also estimate their other expenses, including room and board.
UND will apply any financial aid a student gets to his or her account. Students can use those funds to pay their direct costs, but the university will cut a check for any balance remaining. Those funds can include scholarships and grants from UND and loans and grants from the government too. Some students may qualify for external scholarships or for other types of loan programs also. The University of North Dakota recommends that students submit the FAFSA when they apply to a counseling or psychology program.
Related Resources:
- 5 Tips for Landing Your First Job after Earning a Psychology Degree
- Is an Online Psychology Degree Cheaper Than a Traditional One?
- Should One Expect to attend Graduate School with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology?
- What Can I Do With a Bachelors Degree in Psychology?
- What Can I Do with a Master’s Degree in Psychology?
- What Interests Would Lead One to Obtain an Online Degree in Psychology?
- What is the Future Job Outlook for Careers with an Online Degree in Psychology?
- What is the Future Outlook for Careers in Psychology?
