Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online

What you'll study

Coursework includes research methods, statistics and core professional topics alongside applied clinical training. Examples of listed courses are:

• Clinical Research Methods
• Ethics and Issues in Professional Psychology
• Multivariate Statistics
• Human Learning and Cognition

Training emphasizes individual and group counseling, interviewing, crisis intervention, psychological testing, and professional issues and ethics, with real-world practicum experience in the ACU Psychology Clinic.

Entry requirements

Application steps and academic prerequisites specified by the department:

• Complete the online application and pay a $50 fee.
• Official transcript(s) in English showing a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent.
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.5–4.0 for unconditional admission; applicants with GPA 3.0–3.49 may be admitted on probation with the condition of earning a B or better in each of the first four required courses or face suspension.
• Three letters of recommendation, with at least two from psychology faculty or psychologists familiar with the applicant’s academic work.
• Prerequisite of at least 12 undergraduate semester hours in psychology, including statistics, experimental psychology, abnormal psychology, plus 3 additional hours (e.g., physiological, developmental psychology, cognition, or principles of learning). Each prerequisite must have a grade of B or higher and must be completed prior to starting graduate coursework.
• A 600–800 word written statement describing professional goals, interests and reasons for applying to ACU’s psychology program.
• Non-native English speakers must pass an interview with two department faculty to demonstrate sufficient English and cultural competence for practicum client services; international applicants must also meet the university’s English language test requirements.
• The department does not require the GRE or other standardized tests for admission.

Application deadlines noted by start term include December 1 for Spring start; February 15 for Fall start for international students; March 30 for Fall priority review; and August 10 for Fall start.

Career prospects

The degree prepares graduates for a range of practitioner and applied roles. The program lists potential careers such as psychologist, behavioral interventionist, psychotherapist, mental health counselor, clinical assessment developer, forensic therapist, and behavioral analyst.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Graduate students frequently use federal student loans to cover tuition and living costs. Many students engage in faculty-mentored research with opportunities to present at national and regional conferences; departmental and college funds, plus support from the Graduate Student Association, may provide travel funding. All incoming full-time graduate students are considered for graduate assistantships, which typically require about 10 hours per week of teaching, research, clinic or service work; assistantships pay $1,650 per semester, are paid bi-weekly during the academic year, and are generally available for up to four semesters.