University of Detroit Mercy

Psychology and Counseling Degree Programs

The University of Detroit Mercy appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Small Colleges for a Counseling Degree.

The University of Detroit Mercy offers both undergrad and graduate degree programs for students with an interest in psychology or counseling. It offers three different undergrad psychology programs: psychology, developmental psychology, and industrial and organizational psychology. Industrial and organizational psychology, also called IO, focuses on the way people interact with others and objects at work, while developmental psychology looks at the way human behavior changes through the ages. Students can also minor in psychology or developmental psychology.

Graduate students can study industrial and organization psychology or clinical psychology. The clinical program gives students the opportunity to work in the university's counseling center and interact with patients who need help. Those who complete the program will also meet most of the requirements needed for getting a psychology or counseling license. The University of Detroit Mercy offers both a certificate in school psychology and a clinical psychology doctoral program also.

Students can also earn a Master of Arts in Counseling with a major in one of four fields. The addiction counseling program teaches students how to work with patients struggling with addictions to drugs and/or alcohol, while the clinical mental health counseling program focuses more on working with patients who have personal issues. There are two school counseling programs available also. One of those will help students get their school counseling license. The other program serves as an endorsement program that is suitable for working teachers and counselors.

Most of the graduate programs feature 60 credits of classes. Full-time students can earn their degrees in three years, but part-time students may spend five years or more in one of these programs. The Counseling Clinic operated by the university allows students to work under the supervision of licensed counselors and to gain some professional experience. Most programs require that students spend 600 hours working in the clinic in a single semester. The University of Detroit Mercy allows students to work with patients similar to those they will later work within the field.

About the University of Detroit Mercy

The University of Detroit Mercy is a private university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. Established in 1877 as Detroit College, it originally opened as a small school that offered opportunities for students living in and around Detroit. The Society of Jesus helped found the college and created a school that offered opportunities for practicing Catholics. After becoming the University of Detroit in the early 1910s, the university added to its course offerings and curriculum. The Mercy College of Detroit opened in the 1940s after the Sisters of Mercy founded a separate institution in the city. Those two campuses later merged to form the University of Detroit Mercy.

Often called UMD today, the university operates three campuses in the city. It has a campus that houses all dentistry classes and programs and one that houses its law school. The university also has a third campus called the McNichols campus, which is its largest. This campus handles all other programs and departments. Students can now take classes from seven different colleges and earn a degree in one or more than 50 fields. The university operates a number of clinics too that allow students to gain some practical experience in their fields of study. Enrollment at UMD now includes nearly 5,000 students at the top three levels.

University of Detroit Mercy Accreditation Details

As private schools charge higher tuition rates, many students applying to UMD will need financial aid. They can successfully apply for government aid because this university has regional accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS). Regional accreditation is also a requirement for transfer students who want to apply their past credits to a new degree. The university also has APA accreditation for its clinical psychology doctoral program.

University of Detroit Mercy Application Requirements

Any student applying to a bachelor's, graduate or doctoral program at UMD will fill out the university's online application. It will ask for some background information, including where they went to high school and/or college and any professional experiences they have. The early action deadline for incoming freshmen is November 1. The university will notify students of its decision by the beginning of December. It will also accept applications submitted up through March 1. Those who apply early decision must agree not to apply to any other school and agree to attend UMD if accepted.

In addition to an application, prospective freshmen must submit their official transcripts and test scores. They will also provide letters of recommendation and an essay of around 250 words. Though graduate students will also use an online application, the university expects more information from them. They must provide a resume that shows the psychology and/or counseling experience they have and letters of recommendation that come from both professional and academic references. There are similar requirements in place for doctoral students. Students can visit the department website of the program to find out the exact application requirements.

Tuition and Financial Aid

UMD announced in 2017 that it would cut its tuition costs by 30% for incoming students. Undergrads now pay $1,049 per credit hour as a part-time student and $14,000 a year as a full-time student. If they take more than 18 credits in the same semester, they pay $1,347 for each of those credits. Students will also pay at least $3.,800 a year for room and board too. Both graduate and doctoral students will pay the same rate each year. They pay $1,579 per credit hour for all counseling and psychology courses. If they take any classes from another department or college, they may pay a different rate.

Any student who needs financial aid should fill out the FAFSA and use the UMD school code. Once the university receives this form, it will create a package designed to meet the individual needs of that specific student. Undergrads can also qualify for grants and scholarships if they are residents of Michigan. Those programs reduce the amount they will owe after they graduate. Graduate students can take out loans, work for the university in an assistant role or take part in a work-study program. Both assistant and work-study jobs are open to students who take at least 4.5 credits each semester. The Department of Psychology at the University of Detroit Mercy offers more financial aid information for incoming students.