College of Professional Studies

Dean: Maureen Cuevas, PhD

The College of Professional Studies offers graduate degrees in four departments: Applied Social and Cultural Sciences, Woolfolk School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Education and Psychology. The graduate programs provide research-based curricula and focus on the development of scholar-practitioner applications. The School of Professional Studies faculty engages in scholarly activity and model best practices in their teaching.

Master’s Degree Programs

Master’s degree programs provide students opportunities for in-depth studies in the professional fields of education, communication sciences and disorders, marriage and family therapy, school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling, school psychology and sociology. The clinical studies programs of the school have requirements based on the type and level of professional functioning appropriate to the individual degrees. Field experiences in practica and internships and the development of specific clinical competencies are required in most of these degree programs. The Communications Disorders program is fully accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Associations Council for Academic Accreditation. The Family, Couple, and Individual Psychotherapy concentration in the MS in Psychology degree is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). All education programs are accredited by the Texas Education Agency.

Doctoral Degree Programs

The Psychology Department offers the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Counseling Psychology, which trains graduates for the independent practice of assessment and intervention with individuals, couples, families and groups. The Counseling Psychology PsyD program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA-COA) and meets the specialty guidelines for the delivery of service. For information about APA accreditation status, contact the APA Commission on Accreditation, c/o Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 2002-4242; phone 202-336-5979, Web: www.apa.org.

The Worden School of Social Service offers the PhD in Social Work, which trains graduates for careers as scholars within minority serving institutions. The program is ideal for students who have a desire to teach in Carnegie classified baccalaureate, master’s and R3 doctoral institutions The program is also a good fit for students who wish to advance their careers as social work leaders and administrators.

Certificate Programs

Our Lady of the Lake University offers two certificate programs through the School of Professional Studies. These include a Psychological Service for Spanish Speaking Populations Certificate, and an Assessment Specialty in Autism Certificate.

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