University of Kansas

The University of Kansas was first chartered by Governor Thomas Carney in 1863 after the Civil War's conclusion from funds donated by philanthropist Amos Adams Lawrence. Soon KU became a prestigious member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) as the state's flagship public research institution. Endowed for $1.8 billion, KU supports around 28,000 students in more than 370 programs. The University of Kansas is headquartered on a 1,100-acre urban campus in Lawrence, the Sunflower State's sixth largest city. Extension centers are in Wichita, Overland Park, Salina, and Kansas City.

According to the U.S. News, KU is the 115th best national university, 55th top public school, and 94th best college for military veterans. In particular, the University of Kansas has America's 31st best Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and 40th top psychology degrees. Forbes ranked KU as the 118th best research university nationally. Kansas earned the #3 spot in the Princeton Review's "Students Pack the Stadiums" list. Washington Monthly named the University of Kansas the country's 57th best bang for the buck. The ARWU places KU among the globe's top 300 universities.

University of Kansas Accreditation Details

Recently reaffirmed in 2015, the University of Kansas is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) for 10 years. The School of Education is approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The Ed.S. in School Psychology meets the standards of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Ph.D. curriculum is also reviewed by the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA CoA).

University of Kansas Application Requirements

Even with an acceptance rate of 88 percent, the University of Kansas establishes selective admissions criteria. Applying freshmen must have completed a college-prep curriculum for a high school diploma or GED. Psychology majors must have at least four units of English, three units of natural science, and three units of math. Kansas residents need to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, but out-of-state students are held to 2.5 GPA. Guaranteed admission is offered to applicants scoring above 24 on the ACT or 1090 on the SAT with a 3.0+ GPA.

Transfers interested in KU must carry at least 24 credits from a regionally accredited college or university. Undergraduate transfer students need a minimum 2.5 GPA. Non-U.S. citizens studying on F-1 visa must score above 4.5 on the Test of Written English (TWE). For graduates, completing a four-year, accredited baccalaureate degree is necessary. Advanced Standing is possible for master's degree holders. Most programs limit entry for a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2. At least 15 credits in psychology coursework is required for pursuing the Ph.D.

Future Jayhawks must apply to the University of Kansas online or by mail by submitting:

• Completed admissions form
• $30 application fee or waiver
• Self-reported test scores
• Official academic transcripts
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time undergraduates from Kansas are billed $9,398 annually. Non-resident undergraduate students enrolling full-time will pay $24,488 each year. Part-time learners are charged $313 (in-state) and $816 (out-of-state) per credit. Required campus fees total $911 yearly. Room and board costs between $6,100 and $11,600 per year. Total cost of attendance is approximately $24,117 (in-state) and $39,951 (out-of-state). Graduate psychology students must afford $3,963 per semester regardless of state residence.

Around 83 percent of beginning, full-time KU attendees earn tuition assistance. Financial aid packages average $7,112 yearly. Institutional awards, including the Jayhawk Generations Scholarship, Crimson & Blue Scholarship, and Chancellor Scholarship, are numerous. The University of Kansas currently has 26 prestigious Rhodes Scholars winners. Students could earn the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. There's also KU's Pell Advantage program. In-state residents should apply for the Kansas Comprehensive Grant (KCG). Federal Work-Study (FWS) and research assistantships are granted. VA benefits are accepted by Armed Forbes members in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Psychology and Counseling Degrees

At the University of Kansas, there are six psychology and counseling programs housed in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Atop Mount Oread in Fraser Hall, the Department of Psychology enrolls more than 1,300 students. The student-faculty ratio is kept at 17:1 with award-winning, tenured professors. With over $5 million in funding, research projects are numerous for hands-on student training. Available degrees are:

B.A./B.G.S. in Psychology

The Psychology major offers a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of General Studies degree to students fascinated by the study of the thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. Students utilize the 37-credit major for a broad overview from modern psychological principles. Minors are given in Applied Behavioral Science, Social Welfare, Public Policy, and Human Sexuality. B.A./B.G.S. students are encouraged to join the Psi Chi chapter.

B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience

KU's Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience is suitable for undergraduates with a focused commitment to exploring the biological basis of human behavior and furthering to graduate school. The 40-credit major features courses in cognition, neuropsychology, research methods, statistics, genetics, neurolinguistics, and pharmacology. Those with a 3.25 GPA or higher can declare departmental Honors.

M.S. in Counseling Psychology

Requiring 60 credits, the two-year M.S. in Counseling Psychology program at KU trains multiculturally competent counselors who qualify for LPC credentials. Along with courses in group therapy, ethics, psychopathology, career development, and substance abuse, students complete two semesters of field practicum in the Kansas City Metro. The degree is terminal, but there's a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology option.

M.S.E. in Educational Psychology & Research

With a data-driven thesis, the M.S.E. in Educational Psychology & Research program allows University of Kansas students to master the quantitative methodologies for studying cognition in academic contexts. Two specialized tracks are given in Development & Learning or Research, Evaluation, Measurement, & Statistics. The two-year, full-time degree requires 34 total credits.

Ed.S. in School Psychology

Over three years full-time, the Ed.S. in School Psychology prepares competent specialists for gaining state licensure and positively impacting mental health in school communities. Fully approved by NASP, the 70-credit curriculum follows a scientist-practitioner model. Before the Praxis II exam, students must successfully pass a nine-month supervised internship.

Ph.D. in Psychology

The Ph.D. in Psychology program provides an APA-accredited doctoral degree for students who master applying the scientific method to examine principles of human behavior. Five specialties are granted in Clinical, Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Developmental, Quantitative, or Social Psychology. There's also a Child Emphasis for Clinical majors. Ph.D. students spend four years full-time at the University of Kansas before a pre-doctoral internship.