Forensic Psychology, M.A.

The University of Houston-Victoria offers two concentrations in the 66-semester credit hour Forensic psychology master’s degree. The Forensic Psychology degree is designed to meet the educational requirements for the Texas Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential or the Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) credential.

General Admission Requirements:

Admission to Graduate Studies is restricted to the Fall semester only (see graduate admission requirements). The M.A. Psychology programs have a separate application deadline separate from any other UHV deadline. This deadline can be found in each program’s website, or by consulting the director of each program. The M.A. Psychology programs do not allow students to have Temporary Graduate Student status. It is the responsibility of the applicant to furnish all necessary documentation for Fall admission to the Admissions office by the deadline for that program. Students wishing to transfer between Graduate Psychology programs must apply for admission to the new program and will be considered with other applicants entering in the Fall semester. They are not guaranteed acceptance into the new program. Graduate Psychology students who have not enrolled in classes for a one-year period must reapply to their program to gain admission status. They may or may not be accepted for admission.

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.

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

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

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.

Submit official GRE scores and have an Admissions index of 980 or higher, obtained by the following:

GPA on at least the last 60 semester credit hours times 200 Plus 15 times (Verbal + Quantitative - 260).

A phone interview with UHV graduate faculty in psychology.

Degree Requirements

The forensic psychology concentration degree plans have a common core of 54 semester credit hours which include 9 semester credit hours of practicum. Each concentration degree plan has an additional requirement of 12 semester credit hours.

Program Core (54 semester hours)

The following courses are required for all Forensic Psychology M.A. degrees:

Concentration selection:

Full-time students will make this selection upon completion of these courses by the end of the first- year Spring semester. Students may declare their concentration before this point but must declare their concentration no later than this point, as progress in the program will depend on the concentration selected.

Professional Counselor Concentration (12 semester credit hours)

Psychological Associate Concentration (12 semester credit hours)

PSYC 6315 Advanced Learning
PSYC 6328 Biological Psychology
PSYC 6341 Behavior Management
In addition, one elective course from the following two options:
PSYC 6350 Addictions Counseling
PSYC 6351 Crisis Intervention

Practicum/Internship Requirements (9 hours)

9 semester hours of:

PSYC 6304 Practicum in Forensic Psychology

Comprehensive Exams

Students must pass a comprehensive exam to graduate. The forensic psychology comprehensive exam is a 3 1/2-hour 220-item multiple choice exam that consists of 20 items each from PSYC 6321, PSYC 6326, PSYC 6330, PSYC 6331, PSYC 6332, PSYC 6333, PSYC 6334, PSYC 6335, PSYC 6336, PSYC 6337, and 10 each from PSYC 6327 and PSYC 6343.

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. Graduate Psychology students who have not enrolled in classes for a one-year period must reapply to their program to gain admission status. 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.