Six UCI Degrees for Psychology and Counseling Careers
The University of California at Irvine appears in our ranking of the 29 Most Affordable Master’s in Psychology Online Degree Programs.
Founded by Dr. Arnold Binder in 1970, the School of Social Ecology offers a 180-unit, four-year B.A./B.S. in Psychology for nearly 1,200 University of California at Irvine Anteaters to study human behavior with 300-hour field internships at 225+ partners like Casa de la Familia and Kaiser Permanente. Chaired by Dr. Michael Lee, the 180-unit B.S. in Cognitive Sciences focuses on mental processes in 100-level courses like Consciousness with opportunities to join Psi Chi, conduct Memory & Development Lab research, and travel to Berlin. Since 1973, the M.S. in Genetic Counseling has followed a 75-unit, AGGC-accredited path advised by Dr. Moyra Smith at the UC Irvine Medical Center with Miller Children’s Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital clinical rotations for California ABGC licensure.
Online on Canvas, the Master of Legal & Forensic Psychology admits cohorts of 30-40 each August for a 52-unit, 24-month curriculum headed by Dr. Jodi Quas that requires only one five-day Irvine session between 200-level courses like Clinical Interviewing and Family Law. Directed by Dr. Nancy Guerra, the Ph.D. in Psychological Science customizes a 72-unit, five-year sequence for Affective Science, Developmental Psychology, Health Psychology, and Social & Personality Psychology tracks with dissertation research in the Human Subjects Lab. Funded for $3.3 million, the Ph.D. in Cognitive Science delivers a unique 72-unit, WASC-accredited option led by Dr. Joachim Vandekerckhove with Cognitive Neuroscience Lab projects for 100 percent job placement at Apple, Yale, Johns Hopkins, the Mind Research Network, and more. There’s also the Program in Law and Graduate Studies (J.D./Ph.D.).
About the University of California at Irvine
The University of California at Irvine originated in 1959 when the UC System was sold a 650-acre tract among the San Joaquin Mountains for $1 to build a new campus. In August 1965, Chancellor Daniel G. Aldrich Jr. welcomed an inaugural class of 1,589 to Irvine. The next year, the Langson Library designed by famed architect William Pereira was opened. In 1967, UC-Irvine purchased the California College of Medicine to begin clinical instruction. In 1974, Irvine opened the University of California’s first Cross-Cultural Center. In 1976, UC-Irvine bought the Orange County Medical Center to serve local patients. By 1992, UCI had formally formed the School of Social Ecology. Three years later, professors Frederick Reines and F. Sherwood Rowland became UCI’s earliest Nobel Prize winners. In 1996, UCI was invited to the elite Association of American Universities. In 1999, UCI Chancellor Ralph Cicerone won the Bower Award for Achievement in Science.
Endowed for $940.0 million, the University of California at Irvine now employs 5,429 faculty teaching 29,736 undergrad and 7,006 post-grad Anteaters from 65 countries online or on its 1,527-acre Orange County campus with 600+ clubs like the Psychology Student Association. In 2018, the Hispanic-serving institution won the CASE District VII Best Diversity Program Award. In 2014, Irvine had the NASPA Excellence in Supporting Student Success Award recipient. The University of California at Irvine accepted a 2018 EPA Green Power Leadership Award too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked UC-Irvine the 39th most innovative college and 36th top psychology school. On Niche, UCI boasts America’s 29th best public education and 114th best psychology degrees. The Wall Street Journal placed the University of California at Irvine 96th globally. Kiplinger’s declared UCI the 26th best public value.
The University of California at Irvine Accreditation Details
On February 22, 2013, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission reaffirmed the Level VI accreditation for the University of California at Irvine through the next Fall 2022 evaluation visit under Chancellor Howard Gillman, Ph.D., who received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Located 416 miles north via Interstate 5 in Alameda, this trusted two-state Pacific Coast accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to review UCI’s 87 bachelor’s and 129 graduate majors. Further, the M.S. in Genetic Counseling is approved by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACCG). Note the Department of Psychological Sciences isn’t accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) though.
University of California at Irvine Application Requirements
Admission at the University of California at Irvine is classified as “very selective” by Peterson’s since only 27,339 of the 95,065 Fall 2018 applicants were chosen for 29 percent acceptance. First-year Anteaters seeking the B.A./B.S. in Psychology must satisfy the 15 required A-G subject courses in high school. The Class of 2022 presented an average unweighted GPA of 3.88. The middle 50th percentile had ACT scores of 27-33. Mid-range admitted SAT scores were 630-780 for Math and 545-680 for Reading. Minimum GPAs are 3.0 for Californians and 3.4 for non-residents. Department of Psychological Sciences transfers must have finished 60 semester or 90 quarter units with GPAs above 2.7. International students need at least 80 TOEFL iBT, 6.5 IELTS, or 24 ACT English scores. The Graduate Division requires fully accredited four-year bachelor’s completion with 3.0 or higher GPAs. Median GRE scores are 157 for Quantitative and 158 for Verbal. Both Ph.D. programs also have prerequisite psychology courses, including Research Methods, Statistics, and Abnormal Psychology.
The University of California at Irvine has an undergrad filing period of November 1st to November 30th. The Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) runs from September 1st to September 30th and May 1st to May 31st. The M.S. in Genetic Counseling closes on January 15th. Master of Legal & Forensic Psychology cohorts must apply by May 15th. The Ph.D. in Psychological Science has a firm December 1st deadline. Prospective Ph.D. in Cognitive Sciences majors are welcome until December 2nd. Accordingly, complete the UC Application online for $70 ($120 if graduate). Send official transcripts to PO Box 1432 in Irvine, CA 92697. Forward test scores using SAT/GRE code 4859 or ACT code 0446. Learn supplemental steps by contacting (949) 824-6703 or admissions@uci.edu.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, the University of California at Irvine is charging in-state B.A./B.S. in Psychology majors $11,442 annually. Non-resident bachelor’s tuition has a supplemental $28,992 fee. Undergrads cover the $1,128 services fee, $264 recreation fee, and $267 Student Center fee. Health insurance plans are $1,751 each year. Living at the Orange County campus’ housing like Mesa Court adds $19,744 for room and board. UCI budgets $1,363 for books and $3,935 for miscellaneous expenses. Annual undergrad attendance equals $35,541 in-state and $64,533 out-of-state. The Graduate Division usually bills Californians $11,442 and non-residents $15,102 more at $26,544 per year. The Online Master of Legal & Forensic Psychology costs everyone $14,469 each year though.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in Aldrich Hall Room 102 connects 68 percent of new full-time UCI Anteaters to tuition assistance averaging $18,605 each for $76.72 million combined. University funds include the Brython Davis Scholarship, La Verne Noyes Scholarship, Mabel Wilson Richards Scholarship, Malcolm Stacey Memorial Scholarship, Stanley Behrens Scholarship, Elliott Family Foundation Scholarship, Laurel Wilkening Scholarship, Crankstart Scholarship, Nicholas Aeberhard Scholarship, Dan & Jean Aldrich Scholarship, Fudge Family Scholarship, and Gilbert Geis Excellence Scholarship. The Strauss Scholarship has a March 25th deadline for full-time School of Social Ecology juniors with minimum 3.5 GPAs. The Regents Scholarship gifts up to $8,000 for freshmen completing 39+ quarter units annually. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant or Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, require FAFSA applications coded 001314. Californians can also utilize the Middle Class Scholarship, Blue & Gold Opportunity Plan, Cal Grant, DREAM Loan, Chafee Grant, National Guard Education Assistance Award, and more.
Keep reading about the University of California at Irvine at the Department of Psychological Sciences website.