Home to majority of the Southern Rocky Mountains, there are an array of Psychology Graduate Degrees in Colorado. Colorado resides in the western part of the country, and is the eighth most extensive state. It was named after the Colorado River. Colorado is regarded as the third best business state in the U.S., and its other thriving industries include agriculture, government, and food processing. The state is home to a variety of institutions of higher education that offer many different programs at the graduate level. Listed below are the Psychology Graduate Degrees in Colorado.
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
Nestled in the northeast area of Colorado Springs, the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs is one of the fastest growing institutions in the state and country. It educates nearly 11,000 students through its 37 bachelor’s degrees, 19 master’s degrees, and five doctoral degree programs. The mission of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs is to become a comprehensive university that employs selective admission standards. It is committed to offering a superior student-centered academic environment that promotes creativity and scholarly research to serve the surrounding community, state, and nation. The University of Colorado-Colorado Springs was ranked number 10 in the U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges publication.
MA Psychological Science
The MA in Psychological Science program gives students a sound understanding in psychological research. The program is mainly designed to prepare students for doctoral programs or those seeking to gain advanced education about psychology and its related applications. It includes courses in statistics, psychological science design, and research methodology. Students will also choose a specialization area that will make up the elective courses and master’s thesis. The specialization areas include abnormal psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, geropsychology, personality, neuropsychology, trauma psychology, social psychology, and psychology and law. The program requires a minimum of 36 credit hours that include general requirements, core courses, and electives. The core psychology courses include research statistics and methodology, contemporary issues in psychology, history of psychology, psychology of aging, neuroscience, personality, and cognition. Students must also complete a research practicum and the master’s thesis.
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with emphasis in Geropsychology
The Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with emphasis in Geropsychology is a scientist-practitioner model program that enables students to gain an advanced understanding of the field to pursue careers as practitioners, administrators, researchers, and other upper-level positions. The program focuses on mental health diagnosis, evaluation, intervention for adults and the elderly, and basic and applied research on aging. A minimum of 126 credit hours is required for completion of the program. This includes core and elective courses, a comprehensive examination, a dissertation, a clinical practicum, and a clinical internship. The clinical internship is completed during the final year of the program at an off-site facility. The core courses include psychology of aging, research statistics and methodology, clinical skills laboratory, clinical geropsychology, developmental psychology, ethics and practice standards, advanced psychopathology, psychopharmacology, clinical nueropsychology laboratory, and cognitive assessment. Upon completion of the program students are prepared to pursue various positions in research, academia, and practice settings.
Contact
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
719-255-8227
gradinfo@uccs.edu
Website
University of Colorado-Denver
The University of Colorado-Denver is the premier research institution in the state. It offers over 130 programs at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional levels. It provides education to more than 14,000 at its comprehensive campus and over 3,000 students at its Anschutz Medical Campus. The University of Colorado-Denver is a diverse teaching and learning institution that is committed to the discovery and application of knowledge to improve the quality of life of the state and the world. It strives to become a leading public institution with international recognition for excellence in academia, research, community involvement and clinical care.
PhD Program in Clinical Health Psychology
The PhD Program in Clinical Health Psychology is a scientist-practitioner model that focuses on the role of research in treating various issues and applying knowledge that is based on scientific evidence. Students are prepared to work in various settings using psychological tools and methods to diagnose and treat an array of mental health conditions. The program requires core courses and elective courses, a master’s thesis, clinical practicum, comprehensive clinical competency examination, doctoral dissertation, and internship. The required core courses include psychotherapy, personality assessment, cognitive assessment, clinical research methods, advanced statistics, health psychology, advanced psychopathology, and clinical behavioral medicine. The master’s thesis involves an experimental research project that makes a noteworthy impact on the field of psychology. Students are required to complete at least 500 hours of intervention and evaluation and 1,200 total practicum hours. The competency evaluation assesses student’s understanding of the filed from a clinical standpoint to apply for the clinical internship. The internship component is typically a 12-month full-time commitment at a clinical health psychology location.
Contact
University of Colorado-Denver
1250 14th Street
Denver, Colorado 80202
303-566-2400
registrar@ucdenver.edu
Website
University of Denver
The University of Denver is a top private university in the country, and it was founded in 1864, only a few years after the city of Denver was established. It offers more than 100 undergraduate programs and 120 graduate and professional programs to over 11,500 students from around the world. The university is committed to collaborative and practical learning and students work closely with faculty and community members on research, projects, and fieldwork. The University of Denver is dedicated to making an impact on the community and the world. Students have a variety of opportunities for practical study in their fields.
MA Forensic Psychology
The MA in Forensic Psychology provides students with a comprehensive education that enables them to apply the theories, skills, and competencies of psychology to various career civil and criminal justice settings. The program includes master’s level psychology coursework and practicum experiences in psychology and law. Students are prepared to work as mental health professionals or pursue advanced educational opportunities. The program requires core courses in forensic psychology, field placements in direct service settings, and a satisfactory score on a clinical competency examination. The required core courses include professionalism and practice, forensic mental health basics, clinical interviewing and psychotherapy, statistics, group interventions, research methods, trauma and crisis intervention, psychology of criminal behavior, mental health law, and ethical issues in forensic psychology. In field settings, students work with diverse populations that provide additional support to the program. The clinical competency examination is oral and assesses students’ competence on theoretical and conceptual aspects of forensic practice.
MA International Disaster Psychology
The MA in International Disaster Psychology is intended for students seeking to provide effective mental health services to those who have been affected by traumatic events, such as natural disasters, civil conflict, and health-related issues. Students gain foundational skills in clinical psychology as well as specific abilities needed to work in the trauma and disaster fields. The program requires core courses totally 90 quarter hours, field placements, and international internships. The core courses include international disaster psychology, global mental health systems, psychopathology and diagnosis, disaster mental health, statistics, cross cultural analysis, research methods, international public health, crisis intervention, psychotherapy with children and families, and international perspectives in trauma interventions. The field placements take place throughout the program and students complete practical experiences in the Denver area. A minimum of ten hours per week is required for the placements. The international internship typically takes place during the summer and enables students to apply what they have learned in a global context.
MA Sport & Performance Psychology
The MA in Sport and Performance Psychology is designed for students in related fields seeking to improve the performance and lives of individuals. The program prepares students to pursue careers in the sports and performance field or complete advanced education at the doctoral level. The program requires a total of 72 credit hours. Students are required to complete psychology core courses, sport and performance psychology core courses, elective courses, a supervised practicum, and a master’s project. The sport and psychology core courses include theories of performance excellence, sport and performance psychology interventions, team and organizational dynamics, group interventions, consulting methods and practices, and theoretical aspects of sport and performance psychology. The practicum involves practical learning experiences through internships throughout the academic year and in the summer. The master’s project enables students to show their comprehensive understanding of sport and performance psychology theories, concept, and applications.
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program Clinical Psychology
The Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program provides a broad based education that prepares students for general practical in the field. The program requires 135 credit hours, including required and elective courses. The core courses in psychology include health psychology, radical behavior and functional contextual models, cognitive models, psychoanalytic models, systems models, clinical inference, program evaluation methods, group dynamics, hypnotherapy, group psychotherapy, and child and family behavior therapy. Every student is expected to select a specialty area to gain more in-depth knowledge and skills. Examples of specialty areas include family therapy, forensic psychology, behavioral medicine, school psychology, dynamic psychotherapy, adult or child assessment and therapy, and group treatment. In addition to coursework, students receive clinical training through the Professional Psychology Center on campus and community fieldwork. Students must also complete a professional seminar course. A clinical competency examination must be passed before students can apply for an internship. Internship experiences typically last one-year. A doctoral paper is also required for completion of the program.
Contact
University of Denver
2199 S University Blvd.
Denver, CO 80208
303-871-2000
Nancy.Phalen@du.edu
Website
University of Northern Colorado
The University of Northern Colorado is dedicated to providing students with diverse opportunities, as well as support services. It prides its highly regarded faculty and motivated students. It offers more than 200 academic programs through its six colleges of education. It educates more than 12,000 students in its programs. The University of Northern Colorado strives to keep classes small, with a student to faculty ration of 17 to one. The University of Northern Colorado’s mission is to become a comprehensive research university. It strives to provide a student-centered academic environment that promotes successful instruction, commitment to service, advancement of knowledge, and lifelong learning.
School Counseling MA
The School Counseling MA program prepares students to work as professionals who provide counseling services to children and adults in elementary, middle, and high school settings. The program requires a total of 63 credit hours for completion. The required major courses include foundations of school counseling, diagnosis and treatment planning, theories and practices in group guidance, family systems, lifespan developmental psychology, psychological trauma and intervention, and understanding children, adolescents, and their systems. Students must also complete group laboratory experiences, a practicum in individual counseling, and an internship in school counseling and guidance. The internship involves field experiences where students participate in counseling and guidance tasks in actual school settings while being supervised by a licensed school counselor. Graduates of the program are qualified to become National Certified Counselors.
Rehabilitation Counseling MA (CORE Accredited)
The Rehabilitation Counseling MA program provides students with an intensive academic environment where they are active participants in their learning. Students work closely with peers and faculty in small class settings. The program includes core coursework, a supervised practicum, and internship. The total amount of required credit hours is 60, which includes 48 credit hours of major courses and 12 credit hours of electives. The required major courses include rehabilitation principles and case management, occupational information and job placement, interpretation and evaluation of behavioral research, group processes in rehabilitation, and life span developmental psychology. A faculty advisor must approve the elective courses. The practicum experience is supervised counseling in human services, and the internship takes place in an approved rehabilitation counseling setting. Upon graduation, students will be qualified to become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. They must pass the national examination for successful completion of the program.
Clinical Counseling: Couples and Family Therapy MA
The Clinical Counseling: Couples and Family Therapy MA prepares students to practice in marital and family therapy in dealing with relationships and interpersonal communication. The program focuses on instruction on how to help couples and family with personal, interpersonal, and career issues. Students are prepared to help relationships by using their knowledge about counseling theories and various therapy techniques. The degree requires a total of 51 credit hours. The required core courses include diagnosis and treatment planning, theories of counseling, understanding and counseling diverse populations, sexuality counseling, advanced methods: couples and family therapy, and contemporary issues: couples and family therapy. The program also requires the completion of a practicum in family therapy and an internship in a couples and family therapy setting. Upon completion of the program, graduates will understanding the policies, laws, and practice related to marital, couple, and family counseling.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MA
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling MA program prepares individuals to work as professional mental health counselors in various settings. Students gain a solid understanding of the historical, cultural, and philosophical concepts of clinical mental health counseling, as well as current trends in the field. The program requires a total of 60 credit hours including core courses, a practicum, and an internship. The required core courses include diagnosis and treatment planning, career theory, counseling and assessment, understanding and counseling diverse populations, psychological trauma, family systems, and group dynamics and facilitation. The practicum is broken up into two parts and involves practical experiences in individual counseling settings. The internship also takes place in actual mental health counseling environments. Upon graduation, students are prepared to offer an array of counseling services, such as group, career, parent education, and peer facilitation. They are skilled in clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment for a diversity of clients.
School Psychology, Ed.S.
The School Psychology Ed.S. program prepares students to work as school psychology practitioners. The education mainly focuses on the development of skills in assessment, direct intervention, consultation, and program evaluation. The program intends to prepares students to apply psychological and educational concepts to improve the lives of children and their families. The program requires a total of 70 credit hours, including psychological and educational foundations courses, applied practice courses, multicultural understanding courses, and supervised fieldwork. The core courses include human behavior analysis, school-based psychological consultation, social and community psychology, crisis intervention in schools, advanced psychopathology, and social and behavioral assessment in schools. Students must complete a practicum in the following areas: child, adolescent, and family interventions, school psychology, and evidence-based interventions. The internship must be at least six credits. In addition to coursework, students must receive a satisfactory score on a written comprehensive examination.
School Psychology, Ph.D.
The School Psychology Ph.D. program is designed to produce professionals who have the ability to apply various psychological and educational principles in working with children and their families. The program focuses on evaluation of the intellectual, emotional, and social development of a wide range of children. Students are prepared to provide individual and systems consultation in schools and community settings. The program is a scientist-practitioner model with equal focus on science and practice concepts. The degree requires 129 t0 130 credit hours, including school psychology core courses, foundations in psychology courses, research courses, assessment courses, practicum components, elective courses, supervision components, an internship, and a dissertation. The school psychology core courses include human behavior analysis, school-based psychological consultation, and crisis intervention in schools, psychological aspects of academic programming and intervention, and intervention for severe and low incidence disabilities. Students must complete a practicum in school psychology, child, adolescent and family interventions, and evidence-based interventions. They must also complete an externship in school psychology.
Contact
University of Northern Colorado
1700 9th Ave
Greeley, CO 80631
970-351-1890
linda.sisson@unco.edu
Website
University of the Rockies
The University of the Rockies is a leading graduate school offering programs in social and behavioral sciences. The faculty and students has a passion for superiority in business and society. The university is committed to providing excellent, accessible educational opportunities to a diversity of students wanting preparation for professional practice, service, notable leadership, and life objectives. It values excellence, diversity, integrity, and service, and in incorporates the values into all activities. The University of the Rockies offers masters and doctoral degree programs through its two schools of education: the School of Organizational Leadership and the School of Professional Psychology.
Doctor of Psychology
The Doctor of Psychology program provides students with a further understanding of the emotional and mental health of individuals and prepares them for advanced positions in various work settings. It builds on previous psychology knowledge and includes advanced courses in research, measurement, and statistics. The program requires the completion of at least 68 credit hours and the demonstration of experience in the field by writing and defending a dissertation on a particular topic in psychology. Students have the ability to specialize in clinical psychology or sport and performance psychology on campus in Colorado Springs. Additional specializations are available through the online program, such as organizational leadership, non-profit management, mental health administration, mediation and conflict resolution, health and wellness psychology, educational leadership, business psychology, and criminology and justice studies. The required courses vary by specialization, but the general core include introduction to applied and professional psychology, life span development, ethics, laws, and standards of professional practice, theories and methods of psychotherapy and counseling, history of psychology, statistics and research design, and psychopharmacology.
Master of Arts in Psychology, Sport and Performance Psychology
The Master of Arts in Psychology, Sport and Performance Psychology provides students instruction on how to incorporate the insights of psychology into the sport field. The program enables students to develop widespread tactics to achieve change in the sport and performance field. Students work with a wide range of athletes, coaches, trainers, and physical therapists to gain practical experiences in the field. The program requires a minimum of 39 credit hours and a satisfactory score on a comprehensive examination. The required core courses include introduction to applied and professional psychology, psychology of personality, life span development, psychological factors in sports and performance, performance enhancement, youth development and sports, group and team dynamics, and enhancing health and well being in sports and performance. The comprehensive examination is taken after completion of all the core courses, and it consists of questions based on a case study. The exam evaluates a student’s understanding of the specialization and the ability to apply learning to further study or careers.
Contact
University of the Rockies
555 E Pikes Peak Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
866-621-0124
Website
The state of Colorado is an excellent choice for those seeking an advanced career in psychology. With a variety of esteemed options for Psychology Graduate Degrees in Colorado, students have the ability to choose the program that best meets their professional and personal goals.