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Academic Advising

Academic Advising

Academic Advising Process

Advisor Assignments

All psychology majors are advised by professional advisors in the Academic Advising Center (AAC). 

Please check your DegreeWorks or myUCA student information page for your up-to-date advisor assignment. 

Scheduling Appointments

You can email your advisor directly or you can use the “Scheduling an appointment” tool from the Academic Advising webpage to schedule an appointment. 

Preparation for your advising session for Advanced Registration

  • review your course checksheet to determine what course requirements remain
  • review the Schedule of Classes on the UCA website and develop a tentative schedule
  • bring your checksheet and tentative schedule to your advising session

Academic Advising Tips

  • If you have not already done so, take PSYC 1300 General Psychology during your first semester at UCA.
  • Do not put off taking PSYC 2330 Statistics. It is a prerequisite for several other psychology courses.
  • If you intend to enter graduate school in an applied area such as clinical psychology, counseling, or school psychology, you should take elective courses that are often prerequisites for these graduate programs (Abnormal Psychology, Theories of Personality, Tests & Measurement)
  • Join a Psychology Student Organization
  • Apply for membership in the Psi Chi International Honor Society (if you qualify).
  • Meet with your advisor during times other than Advance Registration to discuss your personal and professional goals.

 Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is a good minor or second major? The answer to this question depends on your future goals. Please click here to see a list of available minors at UCA. 
  2. What do I need to do if I want to be able to conduct therapy with clients? Generally speaking, you cannot do this with a bachelor’s degree. To ensure professional standards, clinical psychologists, school counselors, school psychologists, school psychology specialists, community counselors, etc. must obtain at least a master’s degree and must obtain a license from a state board.
  3. What can I do with a bachelor’s degree in psychology? A bachelor’s degree in psychology is a very good degree for a variety of jobs that require a college degree, especially jobs in which you will be interacting with clients, customers, or coworkers. If you want to stay close to the field of psychology, there are jobs in personnel and human resource departments. However, most of the psychology-related jobs will be in some area of mental health services. These employers include inpatient facilities, outpatient facilities, counseling agencies, state agencies, etc. With a bachelor’s degree, many of these jobs will involve managing clients – making sure that treatment programs and protocols are being carried out.
  4. How long does it take to get degrees in psychology? Most bachelor’s degree programs are designed as 4-year programs. Most master’s degree programs are designed to take 2-1/2 years. Most doctoral degree programs are designed to take about 5 years (if you do not already have your master’s degree).
  5. What graduate programs are offered at UCA? We offer master’s degree programs in counseling psychology, community counseling, and school psychology. We offer a doctoral (Ph.D.) program in counseling psychology. Additional information and applications are available from the Graduate Programs link on our department homepage.
  6. Where can I find information about other graduate programs? Nearly every graduate program will have a website with information. So, internet searches are very useful. The American Psychological Association’s Guide to Graduate Studies is also a great resource. 
  7. What is the GRE? The Graduate Record Examination is a national standardized test for admittance to many graduate schools (click here for details). There is a verbal portion, a quantitative portion, and a writing portion.
  8. What sort of GPA and GRE scores do I need to get into graduate school? It depends on such factors as the type of degree program, the specific area of psychology, and the quality/reputation of the program. Master’s degree programs are usually less competitive than doctoral degree programs. Clinical, counseling, and industrial/organizational psychology programs are some of the most competitive. As a very general guide, shoot for a GPA higher than 3.30 for master’s programs. As a very general guide, shoot for a GPA higher than 3.60 for doctoral programs.

Career Opportunities

Here is some web-based information regarding careers in psychology:

Volunteer Opportunities

Students are encouraged to obtain practical experience in the field of psychology. Many of the opportunities for practical experience are in the field of mental health services. Majors are encouraged to contact UCA Career Services for details on internships and volunteer opportunities. 

Tips for Applying to Graduate School

Links to Psychology Organizations