Xavier University of Louisiana

Psychology and Counseling Degrees at XULA

This school appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Most Affordable Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the South.

Xavier University of Louisiana confers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in its Division of Social & Behavioral Sciences to inform undergrads on people's behavioral processes from multiple theoretical perspectives. Directed by Dr. Lisa Schulte, the 33-credit, APA-aligned major offers three specializations in Psychological Science, Pre-Medical Psychology, and Neuroscience. Undergraduates fill their four-year curriculum with courses like Comparative Psychology, Personality Theory, Brain Disorders, and Black Psychology. Students might pledge Psi Chi, enter the Peer Mentor Program, intern at Soliant Health, exchange to the University of Alicante, volunteer via Mobilization at Xavier, and add the Health Communication Certificate. Some continue into The Chicago School's five-year, full-time Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology licensure program at XULA to pass the Examination for Professional Practice too.

The Division of Education & Counseling houses the M.A. in Counseling program for Xavier University of Louisiana post-grads to become reflective, ethical mentors for resolving diverse clients' dilemmas. Chaired by Dr. Renee Akbar, the 60-credit program offers a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization that fulfills LMHC licensure with diagnostic courses like Psychopathology and Behavioral Disorders. Adhering to the ASCA Model, the School Counseling Specialization meets Louisiana K-12 endorsement with educational courses, such as Child Development and Play Therapy. Boasting a 100 percent completion rate, the 2.5-year curriculum begins with a 100-hour summer practicum and transitions into 600 internship hours. XULA counseling students may also join the Chi Sigma Iota Chapter, undertake theses in the Center for Traumatic Stress Research, and serve abroad in Martinique.

About Xavier University of Louisiana

Xavier University of Louisiana was established in 1915 by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament as a Normal School for Native Americans and Blacks. Prominently involved in the Civil Rights Movement by hosting the Freedom Riders in 1961, Xavier grew as the United States' sole private, Catholic HBCU with a liberal arts mission. Endowed for $161 million, XULA currently educates 3,044 Gold Rush in 40+ majors, including Psychology, with a faculty that includes the 2010 Humanist of the Year. Xavier University of Louisiana occupies a 29-acre, Gothic Revival-style "Emerald City" campus in the Gert Town neighborhood of Forbes' 115th best metropolitan for education. Linked to 11,634 LinkedIn alumni, XULA has trained Dr. Regina Benjamin, Alexis Harmon, Nathaniel Clifton, Ernest Nathan Morial, and more.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked Xavier the 25th best Southern college, 17th most military-friendly campus, and top value. On Niche, XULA is America's second best HBCU, 43rd best Catholic school, and 140th best small college with the 36th top faculty. Times Higher Education placed Xavier University of Louisiana 357th nationally overall. According to The Princeton Review, XULA is the 15th most stone-cold sober school. In Washington Monthly, Xavier was the 28th best liberal arts university with the 101st most service participation. WalletHub labeled Xavier University of Louisiana the 102nd best buy. College Factual also applauded XULA for the 257th most focused psychology school with the 479th highest paid social science grads.

Xavier University of Louisiana Accreditation Details

In 2010, Xavier University of Louisiana had its Level V accreditation reaffirmed under president C. Reynold Verret by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), one of the U.S. Department of Education's approved regional agencies. The Master of Arts in Counseling has passed programmatic review by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Please note that Xavier's Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology partnership with The Chicago School isn't accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) though.

Xavier University of Louisiana Application Requirements

Admission into the B.S. in Psychology at Xavier University of Louisiana is deemed "selective" with a Fall 2016 acceptance rate of 62 percent. First-year Gold Rush must have finished a high school program with 16 academic units or taken the General Education Development test. On average, freshmen achieve a GPA of 3.39, SAT score of 1070, and ACT score of 23. Transfer psychology majors need 20-60 accredited college credits completed with a cumulative GPA above 2.0. Starting the M.A. in Counseling requires a recognized four-year bachelor's degree and minimum GPA of 2.5. The Division of Education & Counseling accepts combined GRE scores above 280 and MAT scores over 380. Candidacy for the Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology necessitates 18 prerequisite credits like Statistics and graduate GPAs of 3.5 or better.

The College of Arts and Sciences established freshmen deadlines of March 1st for Fall and December 1st for Spring. Bachelor of Science transfers can apply until June 1st and December 1st. The Graduate School reviews M.A. in Counseling candidates thrice annually after July 1st, December 1st, and May 1st deadlines, but doctoral admission is rolling. Students can submit the Common Application or XULA Application online. Extra materials can be physically sent to 1 Drexel Drive in New Orleans, LA 70125 or emailed to [email protected]. Psychology and counseling students should include the following:

• $30 non-refundable application fee (graduate only)

• Official transcripts of high school/college credits

• Standardized tests not more than five years old

• Recommendations by two qualified persons

• Résumé or statement of work/extracurricular activities

• Two typed, 500-word essay question responses

Xavier University of Louisiana Tuition and Financial Aid

Declaring the B.S. in Psychology major costs Xavier University of Louisiana undergrads $21,212 for full-time annual tuition and $2,394 for fees. Living at the New Orleans campus' dorms like St. Katherine Drexel Hall costs $8,784 for room and board yearly. XULA budgets devote $1,300 to textbooks, $1,916 to transportation, and $2,003 to personal expenses. Total annual cost of attendance is roughly $36,443 for residents and $26,909 for commuters. The Graduate School bills M.A. in Counseling students $433 per credit for an average yearly tuition of just $5,196. The Clinical Psychology Psy.D. charges considerably more at $1,403 per credit.

According to the NCES College Navigator, 97 percent of full-time XULA Gold Rush share $37.45 million in annual financial aid packages that average $11,915 yearly. Psychology B.S. majors can submit the FAFSA form via code 002032 for Federal Pell, Supplemental Education Opportunity, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants. Bayou State natives might claim the Louisiana Go Grant or TOPS Opportunity Award. Master's in counseling students can qualify for up to $20,500 in Direct Unsubsidized Loans. The Federal Work-Study program compensates $10/hour for on-campus jobs. The Yellow Ribbon School offers veterans Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill tuition benefits. Institutional funds from Xavier University of Louisiana also include the Board of Trustees Scholarship, Norman C. Francis Scholarship, Academic Merit Scholarship, DSBS Academic Grant, and Saint Katharine Drexel Scholarship.

Learn more about Xavier University of Louisiana on the College of Arts and Sciences website.