Radford University

Radford University was originally established as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women in 1910 to produce teachers for rural Appalachia. Today, Radford has evolved into a comprehensive four-year public, non-profit doctoral research institution. Radford educates more than 8,800 undergraduates and 1,000 post-graduates in over 120 fields.

Spread over 204 urban acres, Radford University is nestled in southwestern Virginia's New River Valley between the rugged Allegheny Mountains. Recently undergoing $330 million in renovations, Radford's campus has achieved three LEED Gold certifications.

According to the U.S. News, Radford is the South's 37th best college, 15th top public school, and 31st best university for military veterans. For nine straight years, Radford University has been one of the Princeton Review's "Best in the Southeast" colleges. Washington Monthly ranked Radford as the region's 12th best bang for the buck. Niche recognized Radford University for having the third best residence halls in Virginia. Radford has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll three times. Radford University also won the "Institute of Excellence in the First College Year" award.

Radford University Accreditation Details

Continuously since 1928, Radford University has been regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Counselor education is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The school psychology program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). School counseling curriculum is recognized by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). The PsyD program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Radford University Application Requirements

Radford University has an acceptance rate of 78 percent, so applicants must fulfill selective admissions criteria. First-year students must be earning a Virginia Advanced Studies Diploma or out-of-state equivalent. Curriculum prerequisites mandate completing four units of English, four units of mathematics, and three units of science at a licensed secondary school. On average, admitted freshmen have a high school GPA of 3.19. Successful applicants also achieve a mean SAT score of 1475 and ACT score of 20. Undergraduate transfers must have obtained at least 30 credits with a minimum 2.0 GPA from a regionally accredited college.

Graduate applicants to Radford must already hold at least a bachelor's degree from a four-year accredited institution. Master's programs in psychology and counseling require carrying a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Satisfying at least 18 credits of psychology coursework is mandatory regardless of major. Successful applicants score an average of 153 on the GRE verbal and quantitative sections. Foreign learners from non-English countries must score at least 550 on the paper-based TOEFL exam. The Psy.D. program requires holding an accredited master's degree in the human services profession with a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5.

Before the priority deadline on February 1st, interested students should apply to Radford University by submitting:

• Completed application form
• Official, sealed academic transcripts
• Official SAT, ACT, or GRE scores
• Three letters of reference
• Current resume or CV
• One to two-page letter of intent
• $50 non-refundable application fee

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time Virginia residents will pay $4,904 per semester or $9,809 each undergraduate year. Non-resident undergraduates enrolling full-time must afford $$11,046 each semester or $22,093 annually. Room and board is estimated to cost $2,489 and $1,934 respectively. Total cost of undergraduate attendance is $18,655 (in-state) and $30,939 (out-of-state) per year. Full-time graduate students from Virginia are charged $3,820 per semester or $7,640 yearly. Out-of-state master's or PsyD students must afford $8,197 each semester or $16,394 per full-time year.

Approximately 76 percent of beginning, full-time Radford students earn financial aid. Students can borrow from the Federal Perkins, William D. Ford Federal Direct, or Graduate PLUS loan programs. There's also the low-interest State Student Loan. Some learners qualify for the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. In-state residents may be eligible for the Virginia Commonwealth Award or Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP). Federal Work-Study (FWS) is available for up to 180 hours per semester. Institutional awards are also numerous, including the Presidential Scholarship, Academic Excellence Scholarship, Transfer Scholarship, and Highlander Grant.

Psychology and Counseling Degrees

In the College of Humanities & Behavioral Sciences, Radford University currently offers six accredited programs for psychology or counseling. Adjacent to McConnell Library, most programs are housed in the newly designed Russell Hall. Since its founding in 1927, the Psychology Department has grown to employ 26 full-time and adjunct faculty. The low student-faculty ratio of 18:1 allows for personalized learning. Students interested in mental health can pursue the:

B.A./B.S. Psychology

The B.A./B.S. Psychology program gives undergraduates a basic, research-focused introduction to the fundamentals of human and animal behavior. With the 37-credit major, students will explore research methods, child psychology, social psychology, personality, cognition, and abnormal psychology with one integrative research lab seminar.

M.S. Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Featuring a two-year, 37-credit curriculum, the M.S. Industrial-Organizational Psychology program gives Radford students an opportunity to apply psychological theories to improve the effectiveness workplaces. The terminal master's degree welcomes a cohort of 12 students to study job analysis, employee selection, employment law, motivation, team building, and more.

M.S. Clinical-Counseling Psychology

Offered full-time over two years, the M.S. Clinical-Counseling Psychology program lays the theoretical foundation for counseling careers or further psychological training. Requiring 40 credit hours, the program includes two semesters of applied research and two semesters of supervision in clinical practicum. Many work in the Student Counseling Services Center.

M.S. Counselor Education

The two-year M.S. Counselor Education program provides the didactic and experiential training needed to produce skillful, caring counselors qualified for Virginia's LPC credential. The 48-credit curriculum can be tailored with the School Counseling (K-12) or Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration. Both require attaining at least 600 hours of supervised practice.

Ed.S. School Psychology

Fully approved by the NASP, the Ed.S. School Psychology program at Radford takes three years full-time to produce ethical psychologists capable of the assessment and intervention of PreK-12 children. Hands-on training begins in the first semester and continues until the year-long internship. This is one of the few Ed.S. programs offering a study abroad option.

Psy.D. Counseling Psychology

Following the practitioner-scholar model, the Psy.D. Counseling Psychology program grants a doctorate to graduate students interested in the clinical application of therapy in diverse counseling settings. The APA-accredited program places emphasis on rural mental health, cultural diversity, and social justice. Before leaving Radford University, Psy.D. students complete a 2,000-hour supervised internship.