University of New Orleans

The University of New Orleans was chartered by Senator Theodore M. Hickey in 1956 to support America's largest metropolitan without a private university. After officially joining the University of Louisiana system in 2011, UNO become a public, co-educational research institution with a $65.7 million endowment. Annually, the mid-sized college enrolls around 6,600 undergraduates and 1,800 post-graduates in the Urban 13. Sprawling over 195 acres, the University of New Orleans is located on Lake Pontchartrain in "The Big Easy." According to Forbes, it's the country's 209th best public university. The U.S. News also recognized UNO for the 177th best psychology degrees nationwide.

University of New Orleans Accreditation Details

Reaffirmed in 2015, the University of New Orleans holds Level VI accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This regional accrediting body is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to review colleges in Louisiana and 10 other Southeast states. The College of Education & Human Development maintains approval from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Please note the Applied Psychology Ph.D. isn't APA-accredited though.

Related Resource: The Complete List of Master’s in Genetic Counseling Programs, Ranked by Affordability 2016

University of New Orleans Application Requirements

Getting into the University of New Orleans won't be a piece of cake with the "selective" acceptance rate of 58 percent. First-year applicants must complete a diploma from a state-approved high school without remedial coursework. Four units each of English, math, science, and social studies are preferred. Freshmen must hold a high school core GPA of 2.0 or greater. Prospective undergrads should score at least 23 on the ACT or 1060 on the SAT. Promising applicants not meeting the testing requirements could pursue the Privateer Pathways Program.

Transfers to UNO must have finished 24+ semester hours at accredited two- or four-year institutions with a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or better. Transfer agreements exist for associate degree holders from Delgado and Nunez Community Colleges. International admission will require a minimum TOEFL score of 79 or SAT English score of 450. Graduate psychology or counseling majors need to complete a baccalaureate degree from accredited colleges with a minimum 2.75 GPA. GRE scores less than five years old are mandatory.

Application deadlines vary significantly at the University of New Orleans. Freshmen must apply before January 15th while graduate students can typically apply until July 1st. Log onto the VIP Portal to complete the online application and send:

• Payment for the non-refundable $20 fee

• Copies of high school and college transcripts

• College entrance exam scores (SAT, ACT, or GRE)

• Verification of English language proficiency

• Professional resume or curriculum vitae

• Thoughtful personal essay of 3-5 pages (graduate only)

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time undergraduate psychology majors from Louisiana are charged $3,575 per semester. There's a non-resident fee of $6,908 that makes undergrad out-of-staters pay $10,483 each full-time semester. Psychology (B.S.) students enrolling part-time are billed $1,131 per credit. Room and board is estimated to add $9,730 yearly. Total cost of attendance for UNO undergraduates is approximately $22,768 (in-state) and $36,585 (out-of-state). At the graduate level, counseling or psychology students from Louisiana pay $3,617 per full-time semester. Non-residents who matriculate full-time can expect paying $10,336 each term.

According to the NCES, 92 percent of beginning, full-time UNO students share over $29.8 million in financial assistance. Institutional awards, such as the Homer Hitt Scholarship, FIRST Scholarship, Jefferson Premiere Scholarship, and Provost Scholarship, are abundant. Federally, free aid is available with the Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. Bayou State residents could benefit from the Louisiana Go Grant or Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS). Community Service Work-Study and graduate assistantships are offered for part-time employment. The Yellow Ribbon Project promotes military benefits for veterans and spouses. Learners can also cautiously borrow Federal Direct, Perkins, and PLUS loans.

Psychology and Counseling Degrees

The College of Education & Human Development and College of Sciences combine to offer five degrees for psychologists and counselors. Ideally located in the New Orleans Metro, the programs share the universal goal of nurturing ethical, culturally competent community leaders to promote well-being. The University of New Orleans has a 20:1 student-faculty ratio for substantial professor contact. It's renowned for the LaHoste Biopsychology Lab, which discovered the association between dopamine genes and ADHD. Consider pursing the:

Psychology Major (B.S.)

UNO's Psychology Major grants a Bachelor of Science to undergraduates who will support the social well-being of New Orleans by applying in-depth knowledge on behavior. The 120-credit curriculum encompasses courses from the humanities to social sciences and mathematics. As seniors, students collaborate with doctoral-level faculty on research in cutting-edge facilities like the Families in Transition (FIT) Lab. Majors can also join the active Psi Chi chapter that's nearly 50 years old.

Counseling (M.Ed.)

The Master of Education in Counseling (M.Ed.) is properly authorized to equip University of New Orleans alumni for becoming Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). This 60-credit program focuses on the prevention and early intervention of mental health disorders to empower diverse clients. Coursework and the 600-hour internship can be specialized in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling (PreK-12). Majors could also join the Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society and Counseling Organization of Graduate Students (COGS).

Applied Psychology (M.S.)

Since 1994, the Applied Psychology (M.S.) program at UNO has aligned with the American Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology to produce well-trained mental health professionals. The 40-credit, non-thesis terminal degree develops graduates' ability to apply empirical literature toward resolving practical human problems. Students select from two specializations in Applied Biopsychology and Applied Developmental Psychology. Both will include field practica at local agencies like Jefferson Neurobehavioral Group or Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST).

Counselor Education (Ph.D.)

Requiring 114 credits, the Counselor Education (Ph.D.) delivers a Doctor of Philosophy to UNO graduates who strive for faculty, supervisor, or research positions in the counseling profession. Following CACREP guidelines, the program includes 100 practicum hours and a culminating 600-hour internship with agencies listed in the Clinical Counseling Laboratory. Candidates can select from nine emphasis areas, such as Multicultural Counseling, School Counseling, and Mental Health Counseling. Learning culminates with a mixed method-research dissertation.

Applied Psychology (Ph.D.)

Combined with the Master of Science, the Applied Psychology (Ph.D.) program allows doctoral candidates to prepare for advanced practice, teaching, and research in academia. Students focus on the application of principles from two specialization areas: Biopsychology or Developmental Psychology. Typically spanning five years full-time, the curriculum involves clinical work, thesis research, a doctoral dissertation, and collegiate teaching. The University of New Orleans also offers in-house supervised practica in the Psychology Clinic.