Website ranks UHV psychology programs in national top 10
BestMastersInPsychology.com applauded the career preparation aspect of the University of Houston-Victoria’s graduate psychology programs in its list of top online master’s degrees.
The UHV School of Arts & Sciences’ three graduate psychology degrees were ranked sixth in the national website’s Top 50 Best Online Master’s in Psychology Degree Programs. The school offers master’s degrees in counseling psychology and forensic psychology, and a Specialist in School Psychology degree.
“The UHV School of Arts & Sciences’ graduate psychology programs are focused on developing competent, outstanding professionals who can serve the needs of their communities,” said Jeffrey Di Leo, dean of the school. “The importance of mental health is becoming more openly discussed in our society. UHV is pleased to see our efforts in this area acknowledged.”
When creating the list, the website looked for accredited universities. Ranked schools offer online programs with some exceptions for residency periods, which help students learn specific skills. All three of UHV’s programs require students to gain practical experience through residencies or internships.
When the university receives feedback from practicum and internship supervisors for the three programs, it has been almost universally praiseworthy, said Rick Harrington, professor of psychology and chair of the Social & Behavioral Sciences Division. In addition, a large percentage of students find employment upon graduation at their practicum or internship sites.
“The graduate psychology faculty members have been instrumental in producing high-quality graduate programs in counseling, forensic and school psychology,” Harrington said. “Our outcomes assessment process confirms that we meet or exceed our quality benchmarks, yet we always seek to improve. We are honored to have all three programs earn this recognition.”
The website applauded the programs for their excellence, especially in terms of career possibilities open to students upon graduation. In the counseling psychology and forensic psychology programs, students can earn Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Psychological Associate credentials. School psychology graduates are academically qualified to become Licensed Specialists in School Psychology, which allows them to practice school psychology within the Texas public school system.
“It’s gratifying that we can deliver high quality programs at a comparatively reasonable cost to students,” Harrington said. “Also, the fact that many of our classes are offered online makes them more accessible to a wide range of students.”
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.
