University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee first opened its doors in 1885 as the Wisconsin State Normal School with 76 pupils. After 1955 legislation, UWM grew into a comprehensive public, state-funded research institution with doctoral RU/VH status.

Endowed for $201 million, UW-Milwaukee educates more than 23,000 undergraduates and 4,700 post-graduates annually. Its 104-acre urban campus stands on the Upper East Side of Wisconsin's largest city near Lake Michigan. Forbes named UVM the nation's 227th best research university and Midwest's 147th top college. The Princeton Review includes UW-Milwaukee within its "Best Midwestern" schools. The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee also has the 101st best graduate psychology degrees according to the USNWR.

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Accreditation Details

Last reaffirmed in Spring 2015, the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA). This agency accredits colleges in 19 Midwest states for the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Relevant program-specific approvals include:

• American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (APA CoA)
• Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC)
• Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WDPI)

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Application Requirements

The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee has a selective admission process with an average acceptance of 74 percent. New freshmen pursuing the Psychology Major must be graduating from a high school with at least 17 college-prep units. Attaining a GED certificate with a minimum score of 150 is acceptable too. On average, admitted students hold a secondary GPA of 3.05. First-years also achieve an average ACT score of 22 and SAT score of 1010 (excluding writing). Undergraduate transfers with at least 12 credits are welcome from other regionally accredited colleges. Competitive transfer applicants will have a minimum "C" average.

Getting accepted into the UWM Graduate School will require completing a baccalaureate degree with at least 120 credits from an accredited college. Master's and doctoral students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA during the last two years. Completing at least six post-bachelor's credits with a "B" or better could satisfy the requirement. Admitted students to psychology and counseling programs have an average GRE score of 157. The Ph.D. requires several course prerequisites, including research methods, psychological statistics, and abnormal psychology. Non-native English speakers must score at least 550 on the TOEFL or its equivalent.

Before the priority deadline on March 1st, aspirant psychology and counseling majors should apply to the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee by submitting:

• Completed online UW application
• $44 application fee (unless waived)
• Official high school and college transcripts
• College entrance exam scores
• At least two recommendation letters
• Proof of English fluency (if foreign)

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time undergraduates from Wisconsin are charged $9,470 annually for tuition. The Midwest Student Exchange Rate (MSEP) is $13,514 per undergraduate year. Non-resident undergraduates can expect paying $19,826 annually for full-time enrollment. Room and board is estimated to cost $9,950 each year. At the graduate level, Wisconsin residents pay $11,764 yearly. The MSEP rate for full-time graduates is $17,222. Out-of-state graduate students studying full-time pay $25,036 each year.

Approximately 85 percent of beginning, full-time UWM students share over $13.3 million in financial aid annually. Institutional awards like the Freshman Merit Scholarship, Transfer Scholarship, Life Impact Scholarship, Osher Reentry Scholarship, and Graduate Fellowship are abundant. Students could benefit from federal aid, including the Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. Wisconsin funds statewide programs like the Talent Incentive Program (TIP), Hearing and Visually Handicapped Student Grant, and Lawton Scholars Grant. Veterans qualify for tuition benefits under the Yellow Ribbon Program. Federal Work-Study (FWS) and graduate assistantships are available. Students enrolling at least half-time could borrow Stafford, Perkins, and PLUS loans too.

Psychology and Counseling Degrees

The College of Letters & Science and College of Education combine to offer six psychology and counseling degrees to University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee students. There's a student-faculty ratio of 18:1, so 43 percent of classes have fewer than 20 peers for interactive learning. Aspiring mental health professionals benefit from unparalleled resources like the Psychology Clinic, Norris Health Center, and Affective Neuroscience Lab. Available degree options are:

Psychology Major

UW-Milwaukee offers a Psychology Major leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science for undergraduates to build core knowledge on the factors influencing human behavior. The 34-credit major spans diverse courses from psychological statistics and child psychology to personality theory and behavioral neuroscience. Students could serve as research assistants, study abroad in South Korea, volunteer with the Milwaukee Women's Center, and more.

M.S. in Experimental Psychology

As a terminal program, the M.S. in Experimental Psychology at UWM provides advanced study into psychological research and theories in two specializations. Students choosing the BACB-approved Behavior Analysis track complete 31 credits and thesis research to prepare for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam. Those going the 36-credit Health Psychology track delve into master's thesis research on the causes and consequences of health disorders.

M.S. in School & Community Counseling

For more than 50 years, the M.S. in School & Community Counseling program has trained multiculturally competent counselors with the therapeutic skills to foster client well-being in urban environments. The 48-credit Community Counseling Concentration satisfies students' qualifications for LPC licensure with two supervised practicum. The 48-credit School Counseling Concentration integrates courses like child development and educational assessment to produce licensed counselors for K-12 schools.

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

Following a scientist-practitioner model, the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology program equips UW-Milwaukee graduates for entering licensed psychology practice as consumers and producers of empirical research. As an APCS member, the five-year program holds APA accreditation to train generalists from a cognitive-behavioral perspective. Cohorts of five to 10 students are accepted annually into the six-year program, including dissertation research and a year-long internship.

Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology

Noted for winning the APA's Bersoff Presidential Cultural Award, UWM's Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology program brings together world-class faculty to promote the scientific inquiry and therapeutic skills required for multicultural practice. Along with 73 course credits, students participate in faculty research teams for two years and complete dissertations. The program boasts a 100 percent placement rate for pre-doctoral counseling internships.

Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology

The Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology is a research-intensive program devoted to producing exemplary scientists who can advance psychological theory to better explain the brain and behavior. From the preliminary exam to the master's thesis and dissertation, doctoral candidates are deeply involved in faculty research in facilities like the Anxiety Disorders Lab. The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee offers three Ph.D. specializations: Behavior Analysis, Health and Social Psychology, or Neuroscience.

See also: The 50 Best Ph.D. Programs in Clinical Psychology