School of Human Sciences and Humanities
The School of Human Sciences and Humanities (HSH) is dedicated to the study of people. The school fosters the liberal arts and encourages practical preparation for occupations.
Instead of many separate departments, there are two interrelated clusters: Humanities and Fine Arts (HFA) and Human Sciences (HS). Within these plans, students may develop either a broadly interdisciplinary plan of study or one that is more narrowly focused, resembling traditional departmental majors. With the help of faculty advisors, students develop the plans most appropriate to their interests and goals.
Records for degree-seeking graduate and undergraduate students are processed by the Office of Admissions and forwarded to the dean's office for faculty assignment and completion of the degree plan.
The School of Human Sciences and Humanities has recently revised its undergraduate degree programs. Beginning in fall 2008, most of the School's degrees will become 120 credit hour programs. Exceptions to this new 120-hour rule include the Bachelor of Social Work (123 hours), the Bachelor of Arts in History with 8-12 History Certification (127 hours), the Bachelor of Arts in History with 8-12 Social Studies Certification (127 hours), the Bachelor of Arts in Literature with
4-8 Certification (127 hours) and the Bachelor of Arts in Literature with 8-12 Certification (127 hours).
Students who transfer to UHCL from a college or university in Texas should have completed a minimum of 54 credit hours, including the 42-hour Texas Core Curriculum. Students who arrive with 60 credit hours, including the Texas core curriculum, will complete their degrees by taking 60 hours at UHCL. Students who arrive with fewer than 60 credit hours will be required to take more courses at UHCL to complete the 120-hour requirement.
Requirements for each HSH degree plan are detailed in the following pages.
Academic advising is a key component of student success. Students should meet with their community college advisors in their first semester to create a transfer plan for moving to UHCL. This will help to ensure that students can complete their plans of study with 120 hours of course work. Once accepted at UHCL, students must receive academic advising prior to enrolling in courses. Otherwise, students may end up taking more than 120 credit hours to complete their degrees.
Information on HSH degree plans and advising schedules can be obtained from the HSH Advising Office.
There are two ways applicants can be accepted into a graduate degree plan in the School of Human Sciences and Humanities:
In order to have adequate time to review applicants' material, the Application for Admission, transcripts for all prior college course work and GRE scores (if necessary) must be received by the Office of Admissions according to the following deadlines:
Fall Enrollment...................................... August 1Students wishing to apply to one of the Professional Psychology Plans should refer to that section of the Catalog for information about the Professional Psychology admission process, requirements and deadlines.
Office PhoneAll degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in the School of Human Sciences and Humanities are required to demonstrate proficiency in written English. This requirement is fulfilled by passing the course in Advanced Writing (WRIT 3037) with a grade of "C" or better (grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable). In exceptional cases, the recommendation of three full-time faculty members who teach WRIT 3037 will exempt students from this requirement. Students are urged to fulfill the English proficiency requirement during the first semester of study.
The Baccalaureate program in Women's Studies provides a multidisciplinary education, offering courses that span both the humanities and social sciences. No prerequisites are required. The objective of this program is to expose students to a broad range of issues relating to the study of women and gender, and to teach students to reflect critically and analytically on these topics. A parallel focus of this program is to relate women's issues to analyses of ethnicity, race, class and sexual orientation, among other social factors, both within the U.S. and globally. The degree includes an optional sub-plan in Latina/Latino Studies.
Lower-Level Course Work (60 hours)
Students will ordinarily be expected to complete 60 hours of lower-level credit prior to coming to UHCL. Recommended lower-level course work includes:
Texas Core Curriculum 42 hr.Elective courses in anthropology, psychology, sociology, humanities and women's studies are recommended.
Upper-Level Course Work (60 hours)
All nine hours must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. Grades of "C-" and below are not acceptable.
WRIT 3037 Advanced Writing 3 hoursHSH Overview Requirement (choose one course): 3 hours
ANTH 3131 Cont Cult Anth PSYC 4131 Social PsychologyChoose four courses from the following:
ANTH 4431/ SOCI 4431 Women and Society WMST 4539 Women and the Visual ArtsGlobal - choose one course from:
ANTH 3535 Peoples of Asia ANTH 3537 Peoples of AfricaU. S. Requirement-choose one course from:
ANTH 4334 Indians of North America PSYC 4536 The Aging ExperienceGeneral Electives: 21 hours1
Students interested in Women's Studies Research are encouraged to take WMST 4839 Independent Study in Women's Studies as a general elective.
+These courses will count toward an optional sub-plan in Latina/Latino Studies.
1Students entering UHCL with more than or less than the expected 60 hours of transfer credits will take a different number of general electives to complete their degrees.
Women's Studies is an interdisciplinary curriculum administered by the School of Human Sciences and Humanities. Women's Studies courses offer challenging new perspectives by exploring the special contributions of women and the impact of gender in a variety of academic disciplines. Women's Studies is a support area in plans such as literature, history, humanities, anthropology, sociology and psychology. Courses fulfill plan requirements in several of these areas.
Students also may complete a certificate in this area.
Inquiries should be addressed to the convener of Women's Studies.
Certificate Requirements
Undergraduate: Nine hours of Women's Studies courses in any combination.
One of the following courses is highly recommended:
WMST 4038 Introduction to Women's StudiesGraduate: Nine hours of Women's Studies courses in any combination.
Highly recommended:
WMST 5732 Seminar in Women's StudiesMA in Humanities-Women's Studies Sub-Plan requirements:
Within Sub-Plan I, Texts, students select nine hours of graduate Women's Studies courses.
Highly recommended:
HUMN 5732 Seminar in Women's StudiesOther Women's Studies courses are identified in the course roster.
Plans in Human Sciences are designed to help students explore a number of significant issues: to understand one's self in relation to others; to distinguish what is genuinely personal from what is societal; to help in the difficult processes of value formation and critical thinking; to come to a more subtle appreciation of collective ideals and notions of the good life, the nature of happiness and how to secure it; and to cope intelligently with the complexities and problems of modern society.
Plans in Human Sciences have strong theoretical and applied orientations. As these plans seek better understanding of self and society, they are equally intended to prepare students for a variety of professional careers, such as work in human service agencies, scientific research and college teaching. For specific information regarding careers in any of the human sciences, students should consult the advising coordinator.
The undergraduate plan in Behavioral Sciences leads to the bachelor of science (BS) degree. This plan allows students to combine courses in anthropology, psychology and sociology according to their interests and goals. The philosophy behind this interdisciplinary approach is recognition that human behavior is too complex to be fully covered by one academic discipline. Students are assigned a faculty advisor upon admission to the plan; the faculty advisor works with the students to select appropriate courses.
Lower-Level Course Work (60 hours)
Students will ordinarily be expected to complete 60 hours of lower-level credit prior to coming to UHCL. Recommended lower-level course work for this degree includes:
Texas Core Curriculum 42 hr.Psychology, sociology and anthropology as well as additional courses in these areas are strongly recommended.
Upper-Level Course Work (60 hours)
This degree requires at least 54 semester hours of upper-level work. A minimum of 48 hours of upper-level work must be completed with grades of "C" or better. Grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable.
At least 30 hours of the degree plan, including 12 hours of courses in the behavioral sciences, must be taken in residence at UHCL.
The following nine hours must be completed with grades of "C" or better.
Grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable.
Three semester hours in WRIT 3037 Advanced Writing
Six semester hours selected from Basic Texts in the Western Tradition I and II and Basic Texts III: Non-Western Tradition:
HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 and HUMN 3035 or
Three semester hours in Basic Texts HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 or HUMN 3035 and one of the following courses:
ARTS 3831 West Art: Prehist thru Middle Ages ARTS 3832 West Art: Ren to Contemp ArtSix semester hours in statistics and research methodology are required. This requirement isordinarily met byone of the following three options:
The two-semester sequence PSYC 4631/4632 Research Design and Statistical Measurement I and II or
PSYC 4730 Behavioral Statistics and PSYC 4731 Social Science Research Techniques or
*SOCI 4834 Statistics and *SOCI 4835 Research Methods
These courses should be taken in the first year.
*Pending Coordinating Board Approval
Nine hours (one course in psychology, one course in sociology and one course in anthropology) selected from the following behavioral sciences overview and core courses.
ANTH 3131 Contemp Cultural Anth PSYC 4131 Social PsycSix hours of courses to fulfill the diversity requirement. At least three hours must be in either Anthropology or Sociology.
ANTH 3535 Peoples of Asia ANTH 3537 Peoples of AfricaSix hours selected from the following courses in psychology:
PSYC 3231 Learning PSYC 4134 Child Psychology orSix hours selected from the following courses in anthropology:
ANTH 3532 Political & Economic Anth ANTH 3535 Peoples of AsiaSix hours selected from the following courses in sociology:
SOCI 3132 Criminology SOCI 3335 DevianceGeneral Electives 12 hours1
1Students entering UHCL with more than or less than the expected 60 hours of transfer credits will take a different number of general electives to complete their degrees.
Lower-Level Course Work (60 hours)
Students will ordinarily be expected to complete 60 hours of lower-level credit prior to coming to UHCL. Recommended lower-level course work for this degree includes:
Texas Core Curriculum 42 hr.Electives courses in anthropology, sociology and humanities are recommended.
Upper-Level Course Work (60 hours)
This degree requires at least 54 hours of upper-level credit. A minimum of 48 hours of upper-level credit must be completed with grades of "C" or better. Grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable.
The following nine hours must be completed with grades of "C" or better.
Grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable.
Three semester hours in WRIT 3037 Advanced Writing
Six semester hours selected from Basic Texts in the Western Tradition I and II and Basic Texts III: Non-Western Tradition:
HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 and HUMN 3035 or
Three semester hours in Basic Texts (HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 or HUMN 3035) and one of the following courses:
ARTS 3831 West Art: Prehist thru Middle Ages ARTS 3832 West Art: Ren to Contemp ArtSix semester hours in statistics and research methodology are required. This requirement is ordinarily met by taking one of the following three options:
The two-semester sequence PSYC 4631/4632 Research Design and Statistical Measurement I and II or
PSYC 4730 Behavioral Statistics and PSYC 4731 Social Science Research Techniques or
*SOCI 4834 Statistics and *SOCI 4835 Research Methods
These courses should be taken in the first year.
*Pending Coordinating Board approval
Three hours of overview in anthropology:
Six hours of overview and core courses in psychology and sociology (one course from psychology and one course from sociology) selected from the following:
PSYC 3331 Theories of Personality PSYC 4131 Social PsycA minimum of six hours from the following subject courses in anthropology:
ANTH 3532 Pol and Econ Anth ANTH 4431 Women in SocietyA minimum of six hours from the following area courses in anthropology:
ANTH 3535 Peoples of Asia ANTH 3537 Peoples of AfricaAnthropology Elective: Three hours of any ANTH course.
Six hours of courses to fulfill the diversity requirement. At least three hours must be in either Anthropology or Sociology.
ANTH 3535 Peoples of Asia ANTH 3537 Peoples of AfricaGeneral Electives15 hours1
1Students entering UHCL with more than or less than the expected 60 hours of transfer credits will take a different number of general electives to complete their degrees.
Lower-Level Course Work (60 hours)
Students will ordinarily be expected to complete 60 hours of lower-level credit prior to coming to UHCL. Recommended lower-level course work for this degree includes:
Texas Core Curriculum 42 hr.Additional courses in psychology as well as sociology, anthropology, biology and women's studies are recommended.
Upper-Level Course Work (60 hours)
This degree requires at least 54 hours of upper-level credit. A minimum of 48 hours of upper-level credit must be completed with grades of "C" or better. Grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable.
The following nine hours must be completed with grades of "C" or better.
Grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable.
Three semester hours in WRIT 3037 Advanced Writing
Six semester hours selected from Basic Texts in the Western Tradition I and II and Basic Texts III: Non-Western Tradition:
HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 and HUMN 3035 or
Three semester hours in Basic Texts HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 or HUMN 3035 and one of the following courses:
ARTS 3831 West Art: Prehist thru Middle Ages ARTS 3832 West Art: Ren to Contemp ArtSix semester hours in statistics and research methodology are required. This requirement is ordinarily met by taking the two-semester sequence PSYC 4631/PSYC 4632 Research Design and Statistical Measurement I and II or PSYC 4730 Behavioral Statistics and PSYC 4731 Social Science Research Techniques or equivalent. These courses should be taken in the first year.
Psychology Overview Course:
PSYC 3135 Psychological ThinkingAnthropology Overview Course
ANTH 3131 Cont Cultural AnthropologySociology Overview Course (choose one of the following)
SOCI 3135 Sociological ThinkingDiversity requirement (6 hours selected from the following; at least 3 hours must be SOCI or ANTH)
ANTH 3535 Peoples of Asia ANTH 3537 Peoples of Africa118 hours from the courses listed below with at least two courses from Group A and at leasttwo courses from Group B.
Group A
PSYC 3331 Theories of PersonalityGroup B
PSYC 3231 Learning2General Electives:12 hours
1Equivalent lower-level courses completed at another institution may partially satisfy this requirement, thereby permitting a student to take an equivalent number of psychology electives.
PSYC 3135 (Psychological Thinking), PSYC 4631 and 4632 (Research Design and Statistical Measurement I and II) or PSYC 4730 (Behavioral Statistics) and PSYC 4731 (Social Science Research Techniques) should be completed during the first year.
No more than nine hours of a combination of Independent Study, Behavioral Neuroscience Research or Behavioral Pharmacology Research courses can be counted toward this degree.
Students must take an assessment test given by the Psychology faculty during their last long semester (fall or spring) for Psychological Plan Assessment.
2Students entering UHCL with more than or less than the expected 60 hours of transfer credits will take a different number of general electives to complete their degrees.
Lower-Level Course Work (60 hours)
Students will ordinarily be expected to complete 60 hours of lower-level credit prior to coming to UHCL. Recommended lower-level course work for this degree includes:
Texas Core Curriculum 42 hr.courses include
SOCI 1301 Introduction to SociologyUpper-Level Course Work (60 hours)
This degree requires at least 54 hours of upper-level credit. A minimum of 48 hours of upper-level credit must be completed with grades of "C" or better. Grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable.
The following nine hours must be completed with grades of "C" or better.
Grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable.
Three semester hours in WRIT 3037 Advanced Writing
Six semester hours selected from Basic Texts in the Western Tradition I and II and Basic Texts III: Non-Western Tradition:
HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 and HUMN 3035 or
Three semester hours in Basic Texts HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 or HUMN 3035 and one of the following courses:
ARTS 3831 West Art: Prehist thru Middle Ages ARTS 3832 West Art: Ren to Contemp ArtSix hours from the following overview courses in sociology:
SOCI 3135 Sociological ThinkingSix hours selected from the following courses in anthropology and psychology (must take at least one course in each discipline):
ANTH 3131 Contemporary Cultural Anth PSYC 4131 Social PsychologyThree (or, in the case of honors classes, four) hours of the following statistics courses in sociology:
*SOCI 4834 Statistics orThree (or in the case of honors classes, four) hours of research methods courses in sociology:
*SOCI 4835 Research Methods or*Pending Coordinating Board approval
Six hours on diversity from the following list of courses. At least three hours must be in Sociology.
ANTH 3535 Peoples of Asia ANTH 3537 Peoples of AfricaA minimum of 12 hours selected from the following core courses.
SOCI 3132 Criminology SOCI 3335 DevianceSociology students are also encouraged to structure their plans of study to reflect concentrations within the discipline. The following concentrations have been developed by the Sociology faculty to help students better plan for their career and/or graduate educational goals.
Honors Studies Concentration (all of the following must be completed)
*SOCI 4832 Honors Theories of SocietyUrban Studies Concentration (must successfully complete three of the following courses):
SOCI 3531 Political SociologyLegal Studies Concentration (must successfully complete three of the following courses):
SOCI 4136 Women and the LawWork and Occupations Concentration (must successfully complete three of the following courses):
SOCI 4131 Social PsychologyDiversity Concentration (must successfully complete three of the following courses):
SOCI 3532 Urban SociologyCriminology Concentration (must successfully complete three of the following courses):
SOCI 3132 CriminologyWomen's Studies Concentration (must successfully complete three of the following courses):
SOCI 4038 Introduction to Women's Studies1General Electives: 15 hours
1Students entering UHCL with more than or less than the expected 60 hours of transfer credits will take a different number of general electives to complete their degrees. The number of hours of general electives will also vary for students taking *SOCI 4810 Honors Statistics Lab and *SOCI 4811 Honors Research Methods Lab.
*Pending Coordinating Board approval
The graduate plan in Behavioral Sciences leads to the master of arts (MA) degree. The plan is a vehicle for advanced study of human behavior. Although course work is taken primarily in psychology, sociology and anthropology, students are encouraged to take additional course work in other appropriate areas. Applicants should have strong undergraduate preparation in the behavioral sciences; those with fewer than 12 upper-level hours are required to take additional undergraduate course work at UHCL. Inquiries should be addressed to the advising coordinator.
The following areas of study are available to graduate students in Behavioral Sciences:
These plans are not designed to prepare students to deliver clinical services, but, depending on the plan, to deliver human services, teach in community colleges or for preparation for further graduate study.
The Candidate Plan of Study (CPS) must include the following requirements:
Prerequisites: Twelve upper-level hours in the behavioral sciences with a grade of "C" or above. Grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable.
General Requirements:
PSYC 6036/6037 Research Design and Statistics I and II or 6 hours1Completion of PSYC 5134 Interviewing and Assessment is a prerequisite for an internship in a human services setting, unless an equivalent course has been taken previously.
2PSYC 5135 Professional Issues and Ethics is a prerequisite for all internships.
*Pending Coordination Board approval
Area of Specialization
Students select 15 hours from the behavioral sciences or other relevant disciplines with the approval of the academic advisor and the advising coordinator. In addition, students must develop with their advisors a written focus statement that will guide their elective course work. This focus statement will be attached to the degree plan.
As part of the 15 remaining hours at least 9 hours selected from:
CRCL 5131 Gender, Culture and Power HLTH 5334 Women's HealthAn additional three hours of Women's Studies courses selected from graduate level HIST /LITR/ HUMN/ PHIL/ ARTS. An additional 3-6 hours of electives, dependent on plan of study. Please note that an Internship requires PSYC 5134 Interview/Assessment and PSYC 5135 Professional Issues as prerequisites.
The I/O Sub-Plan is designed for students who seek training in such areas as training and development and human resources. Internships are available only in the fall and spring semesters in this sub-plan and may not be available outside of regular work hours.
Course requirements:
PSYC 5330 Intro to Industrial/Org Psyc PSYC 5339 Training and DevelopmentApproved elective 3 hours
Master's Options
Students select one of the options listed below:
PSYC 6739 Graduate Internship or 6 hoursCourse Work Option:
Students selecting a course work option will take all 30 hours of course work listed under the course requirements for the I/O Sub-Plan plus PSYC 6735 Seminar in I/O Psychology plus nine hours of approved electives.
This degree requires 36 hours with a thesis or project as the master's option or 42 hours with the internship as the master's option. Any undergraduate prerequisite hours not completed before enrollment are additional.
Prerequisites:
Foundation Requirements: 18 hours
PSYC 6036/PSYC 6037Research Design and Statistics I and II 6 hoursStudents must take at least four of the following five core Psychology classes:
PSYC 5031 Human Growth and Development 3 hours(If an equivalent undergraduate course was taken, substitute PSYC 5432 Psychoactive Drugs)
Master's Options
Students select one of the options listed below:
PSYC 6739 Graduate Internship1,2,3 6 hours1These three options require considerable advance planning. Students may have to meet additional criteria before being permitted to begin one of these options. Students wanting one of these options must make arrangements with a faculty advisor at least one semester in advance. The university reserves the right to deny admittance to or remove a specific student from a specific internship. Master's projects, theses and internships require continuous registration during each fall and spring semester until completion, for a minimum of six hours. If students do not maintain continuous registration in the master's project, thesis or internship, previously accumulated master's option credits will not count toward the master's degree.
2Completion of PSYC 5135 Professional Issues in Human Services is a prerequisite for all PSYC internships.
3Completion of PSYC 5134 Interviewing and Assessment is a prerequisite for an internship in a human services setting, unless an equivalent course has been taken previously. If PSYC 5134 is not needed, the student must take an extra elective to complete the 42 required hours.
Area of Specialization
Twelve additional hours (18 additional hours for students doing the internship option) are selected from psychology and/or other relevant disciplines with the approval of the academic advisor and the advising coordinator. These hours are designed to provide a specific disciplinary focus within psychology. These courses may focus on biopsychology, life-span development, human performance or some other area of choice.
Grades
Only grades of "B-" or better will count toward the Master of Arts in Psychology. Grades of "C+" or below are not acceptable.
Limitations
No more than six hours of a combination of video or WEB courses can be counted toward this degree. No more than nine hours of a combination of Independent Study, Behavioral Neuroscience Research or Behavioral Pharmacology Research courses can be counted toward this degree.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a science aimed at improving socially significant behavior through the application of learning principles. There is a rapidly growing demand for people with master's level board certification in ABA. Students completing the requirements of the General Psychology Plan and the ABA Sub-Plan at UHCL will be eligible to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam. Course content covers the basic principles of learning and the application of these principles with particular emphasis on interventions for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. Practicum and research experiences occur in home, school and clinic settings.
ABA Sub-Plan Requirements (PSYC 5235 is a prerequisite for all courses listed below).
PSYC 5235 Learning Principles 3 hoursThis course is taken for two semesters (3 credits per semester).
Master's Internship/Practicum Requirement.
*PSYC 6330 Research and Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis2 6 hoursThis course requires completion of a research project and 20 hours per week of field experience in home, school or clinic settings for two semesters (3 credits per semester).
1Admission to the Sub-Plan requires a formal application. For more information, contact the Director of the ABA Sub-Plan, Box 245.
2Completion of PSYC 5135 Professional Issues in Human Services is a prerequisite for this course.Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (Graduate)1
The Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate is designed for individuals who have already earned a master's degree in Psychology or a related discipline and who would like to complete the course work and practicum required to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam. The certificate will be granted by the School of Human Sciences and Humanities upon completion of the following courses:
PSYC 5235 Learning Principles 3 hoursThis course is taken for two semesters (3 credits per semester)
*PSYC 6330 Research and Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis 6 hoursThis course requires completion of a research project and 20 hours per week of field experience in home, school or clinic settings for two semesters (3 credits per semester)
1Admission to the Certificate option requires formal application. For more information, contact the Director of the ABA Sub-Plan, Box 245.
*Pending Coordinating Board approval
1. Thesis Option (total hours = 30)
SOCI 5131 Contemporary Sociological Theory 3 hoursCore Classes: Students must take at least nine hours of core Sociology classes (listed below)
Electives 6 hours1The thesis is a 35-40 page paper that could potentially be publishable in a Sociology scholarly journal (it must be in American Sociological Association format, use real data, contain a literature review and test at least one hypothesis derived from a Sociological theory). This option requires a thesis committee, a proposal, a completed thesis approved by the student's thesis committee and the successful defense with a thesis committee consisting of at least two sociologists.
2. Project Option (total hours = 36)
SOCI 5131 Contemporary Sociological Theory 3 hoursCore Classes: Students must take at least nine hours of core Sociology classes (listed below)
Electives 9 hours2Seminar in Sociology will result in a 35-40 page paper that is based on project-related data (it must be in American Sociological Association format, use real data, contain a literature review and may test at least one hypothesis that is derived from a Sociological theory). The Seminar in Sociology will be required of all students selecting the master's project option.
3. Internship Option (total hours = 36)
SOCI 5131 Contemporary Sociological Theory 3 hoursCore Classes: Students must take at least 9 hours of core sociology classes (listed below)
Electives 9 hours3The Seminar in Sociology will result in a 35-40 page paper that is based on internship-related data (it must be in American Sociological Association format, use real data and contain a literature review). The Seminar in Sociology will be required of all students selecting the master's internship option.
*Pending Coordination Board approval
Students must take a minimum of nine hours selected from the following:
SOCI 5136 Women and the Law SOCI 5236 Religion and Global ChangeGraduate Sociology students are also encouraged to structure their plans of study to reflect concentrations within the discipline. The following concentrations have been developed by the Sociology faculty to help students better plan for their career and/or doctoral educational goals.
1. Graduate Concentration in Diversity (must successfully complete all 3):
SOCI 5333 Minorities and Majorities2. Graduate Concentration in Work and Occupations (must successfully complete all 3):
SOCI 5337 Complex Organizations3. Graduate Concentration in Urban Studies (must successfully complete all 3):
SOCI 5333 Minorities and MajoritiesThe graduate programs in Professional Psychology lead to the master of arts (MA) degree. These plans provide a background in psychology as an academic discipline along with specific course work and specialized training in one of three areas: (1) Clinical Psychology, (2) Family Therapy or (3) School Psychology. While completing a Professional Psychology Plan does not automatically qualify graduates for any specific license or clinical credential, many of our graduates have been successfully licensed in Texas as a Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and/or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or by a number of other professional boards or associations. For further information about certification and licensure, contact the Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Professional Psychology or the advising coordinator.
Admission into a Professional Psychology Plan will be offered only to the most qualified applicants. The ordinary minimum standard for admission is an overall 3.250 grade point average, the prerequisite psychology preparation for each program as listed in the plan description below and evidence of clinical aptitude. The percentage of applicants accepted into the professional plans generally ranges between 25% and 75% depending on the program.
The application process is restricted to only one plan. There is an application fee for the plan application payable to the University of Houston-Clear Lake as described below, which is in addition to the application fee for university admission. All application materials must be submitted in a single envelope, including recommendations and transcripts, submitted as described below. Applicants submit GRE scores to the university following the standard reporting procedure as well as entering them onto the plan application form. Applicants are advised that they must complete a university Application for Admission and submit it and all required fees and documents to the university Admissions Office before beginning the plan, in addition to the plan application described here.
Application for admission to a Professional Psychology Plan:
Applicants should note the following courses that are restricted to students formally admitted to one of the Professional Psychology plans. Restricted courses may not be taken by graduate students in the General Psychology plan or transitional students not yet admitted into a Professional Psychology Plan.
PSYC 5234 Family Life Cycle PSYC 5236 Family AssessmentContinuation in a clinical plan requires satisfactory academic performance and the acquisition of appropriate clinical and professional skills and personal attributes. Students admitted to the plans will be evaluated annually for academic progress and appropriate professional behavior and development. An unsatisfactory evaluation may lead to probation or, in extreme cases, termination from the plan. The policies and procedures for each plan contain further information regarding these matters and may be obtained from the convener for each plan.
Only courses in which a grade of "B-" or better is earned may be applied toward any Professional Psychology Plan requirement. Grades of "C+" or below are not acceptable.
The Clinical Psychology Plan prepares students to work in the mental health field and includes theoretical training and practical experience in psychological assessment and psychotherapy with emphasis on adults and couples. The plan is a member of the Council of Applied Master's Programs in Psychology (CAMPP) and adheres to the academic and training standards of CAMPP. Graduates of the plan regularly meet the requirements for licensure as a Professional Counselor and/or Psychological Associate.
Prerequisites (15 hours)
Fifteen hours of undergraduate psychology course work in Introductory Psychology, Theories of Personality, Abnormal Psychology, Social Psychology and three additional hours of upper-level psychology.
A number of courses below have prerequisite requirements and are restricted to students admitted into a Professional Psychology Plan. See the Course Roster at the end of the catalog for information about prerequisite requirements and the section above on restricted courses.
Required Plan Core Courses (21 hours)
PSYC 5031 Human Growth and DevSociocultural Elective (select one course, 3 hours)
PSYC 5437 AgingAssessment Requirements (two courses, 6 hours)
PSYC 6032 Intellectual AssessmentTherapy Requirements (four courses, 12 hours)
PSYC 5231 Psychotherapy Theory/ResTherapy Electives (select two courses, 6 hours)
PSYC 5233 Intro to Family TherapyOther courses may be substituted with consent of advisor.
Free Elective (3 hours)The Family Therapy Plan provides theoretical and applied training in family systems theory and family therapy and is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. The Family Therapy curriculum is outlined below.
Applicants must submit all materials as listed in the Professional Psychology Plan section. All applications are initially reviewed by the Family Therapy faculty. Selected applicants are invited for group interviews during which they are evaluated on their performance in response to questions by the Family Therapy faculty. Approximately 20 successful applicants are selected into the plan each year.
Prerequisites (18 hours)
Eighteen hours of undergraduate Behavioral Sciences course work, including Introductory Psychology, Theories of Personality, Child Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Research Design and Statistics. No undergraduate courses may be counted toward degree requirements in Family Therapy.
A number of courses below have prerequisite requirements and/or are restricted to students admitted into a Professional Psychology Plan. See the Course Roster at the end of the catalog for information about prerequisite requirements and the section above on restricted courses.
Required Courses (49 hours)
PSYC 5233 Intro to Family Therapy PSYC 5234 Family Life Cycle1This course is taken for four semesters (one credit hour per semester).
Elective (select one course)
PSYC 5031 Human Growth and Dev PSYC 5032 Family PsychologyOther courses with consent of advisor
Internship (9 hours)
PSYC 6636 Clinical InternshipThree semesters with a minimum of 1000 hours, including 500 hours of direct client contact and supervision by an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy approved supervisor.
Total Hours 61
NOTE: Students are also expected to join the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and to attend two national or state professional meetings (AAMFT or the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy) while they are in the program.
The School Psychology Plan is based on a collaborative data-based, problem-solving model of training. The focus of the specialty is on the psycho-educational needs of children. The emphasis of the plan is on training students who will work as specialists in School Psychology within public schools. The plan is broadly designed and may also be appropriate for students who may be working with children in other settings (e.g., public agencies). The plan strives to produce school psychological specialists who have high standards of ethical, professional conduct; engage in empirically based and collaborative decision making as part of a multidisciplinary team; have a high level of competency in assessment, intervention and consultation; and have sensitivity to and respect for the uniqueness, dignity, culture and worth of each individual.
The School Psychology Plan at UHCL is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). The plan requires a minimum of 69 hours of course work, 57 of which are exclusive of internship.
TSBEP: Students seeking credentialing by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (TSBEP) can develop a modified plan in consultation with their advisor and the Director of the School Psychology Plan. These students must formally apply to the plan and be accepted as outlined for all students. The plan will be designed according to requirements set forth by TSBEP and the UHCL NASP-Approved Plan. At a minimum, such students will take the School Psychology Professional Seminar, Practicum, Consultation and Internship courses.
NCSP: Students seeking credentialing as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) can develop a modified plan in consultation with the Director of the School Psychology Plan. These students must formally apply to the plan and be accepted as outlined for all students. The plan will be designed according to requirements set forth by the NCSP board. Such individuals will have to complete the substantial equivalent of the UHCL plan and NCSP requirements.
1It must be emphasized that TSBEP and NCSP credentials are granted by boards and not by any academic plan. Upon completion of the re-specialization plan of study, students must apply to the appropriate Board.
The School Psychology Selection Committee accepts only a limited number of students into the plan based on review and evaluation of the criteria required for application. These criteria include: complete application (application form, vita, essay and three letters of reference); official transcripts of all previous course work; GPA of 3.250 or above; GRE of 900 or above preferred; 12 hours of undergraduate Behavioral Sciences course work which must include Introductory Psychology, Child Psychology, Theories of Personality and Abnormal Psychology. These prerequisites may be waived for students who possess graduate degrees and, in some cases, a similar course may substitute for a prerequisite.
Admission to the plan as described above is not synonymous with acceptance to candidacy. Students will be evaluated for Candidacy by the primary School Psychology faculty upon completion of Practicum. Candidacy evaluation includes a feedback interview if appropriate.
The School Psychology Plan recognizes the internship as the culminating experience in specialty training. The internship consists of a minimum of 1200 hours, 600 of which must be done in a school setting. The internship occurs during the final year of training and is designed to be accomplished on a full-time basis over a period of one academic year. Interns receive a stipend during this final year of training.
Students are required to take a graduate comprehensive examination upon successful completion of plan requirements (minimum GPA of 3.000; grades of "B-" or better in all course work; grades of "C+" or below are not acceptable toward the degree). The comprehensive examination has been designated to be the National Certification Examination in School Psychology. This is a nationally standardized examination designed to assess the entry-level knowledge and skills that might be expected of a master's degree-level school psychologist. This exam must be taken after students are accepted to candidacy. It is recommended to be taken during the first semester of internship placement. For graduation, students must obtain a score not less than ½ standard deviation below the NCSP criterion (pass) score. In addition to the national examination, each student must also submit a portfolio documenting competencies in each of the NASP domains of practice. The portfolio is submitted a few months prior to graduation. Additional information regarding this requirement is provided in the Student Handbook.
The course work is designed to provide preparation in each of the NASP Domains of Practice. Any course substitutions or use of transfer credits must be approved by the School Psychology Plan faculty.
Recommended Course Sequence:
YEAR 1
Summer
PSYC 5031 Human Growth and DevelopmentSemester 1 (Fall)
PSYC 5131 Psychopathology of ChildhoodSemester 2 (Spring)
PSYC 6032 Intellectual AssessmentYEAR 2
Summer
PSYC 5233 Introduction to Family TherapySemester 3 (Fall)
PSYC 6039 Practicum in School PsychologySemester 4 (Spring)
PSYC 6034 Consultation in School PsycYEAR 3
Summer
PSYC 6132 Seminar in Professional School PsychologySemester 5 (Fall)
PSYC 6666 Clinical InternshipSemester 6 (Spring)
PSYC 6666 Clinical InternshipThis plan is designed for students looking for career preparation as leaders in public service organizations. Public service leaders can be teachers, trainers or they may be officials in municipal departments such as fire fighting or policing or persons interested in serving in public office. The purpose of the plan is to provide individuals with knowledge and skills in such areas as managerial principles, leadership, conflict resolution and organizational communication.
Lower-Level Course Work (60 hours)
Students will ordinarily be expected to complete 60 hours of lower-level credit prior to coming to UHCL. Recommended lower-level course work for this degree includes:
Texas Core Curriculum 42 hr.courses include Introductory Psychology and Introductory Sociology.
Upper-Level Course Work (60 hours)
The following nine hours must be completed with grades of "C" or better.
Grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable.
Three semester hours in WRIT 3037 Advanced Writing
Three semester hours selected from Basic Texts in the Western Tradition I and II and Basic Texts III: Non-Western Tradition:
HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 and HUMN 3035
Three semester hours in
PHIL 3331 EthicsSix semester hours in statistics and research methodology are required. This requirement is ordinarily met by taking the two-semester sequence PSYC 4631/PSYC 4632 Research Design and Statistical Measurement I and II or PSYC 4730 Behavioral Statistics and PSYC 4731 Social Science Research Techniques or equivalent. These courses should be taken in the first year.
Three semester hours on minorities:
FRAD 4437 Managerial Issues in DiversityThree hours in anthropology:
ANTH 3131 Contemporary Cultural AnthropologyThree hours in psychology selected from the following:
PSYC 3331 Theories of PersonalityThree hours in sociology selected from the following:
SOCI 4132 Social StructureThe following 21 hours are required for this plan:
SOCI 3532 Urban Sociology or SWRK 4031 Intro to Social WorkGeneral Electives: 12 hours1
1Students entering UHCL with more than or less than the expected 60 hours of transfer credits will take a different number of general electives to complete their degrees.
Individuals interested in focusing on Fire Services Administration will follow the requirements for the Public Service Leadership Plan. For core courses in Organizations in Society, Social Conflict and Mediation, Public Service Management, Public Service Leadership, Strategic Planning and
Organizational Communication, students will enroll in these classes under FRAD (Fire Services Administration). Course work under FRAD will focus on these issues from the perspective of fire fighting professionals.
The undergraduate plan in Political Science leads to the bachelor of science degree. The Political Science plan is for students seeking a broad understanding of government and the political process. It is especially relevant to students wishing to teach government, enter graduate programs in political science or attend law school.
Lower-Level Course Work (60 hours)
Students will ordinarily be expected to complete 60 hours of lower-level credit prior to coming to UHCL. Recommended lower-level course work for this degree includes:
Texas Core Curriculum 42 hr.recommended courses include Introductory Psychology and Introductory Sociology)
Upper-Level Course Work (60 hours)
The following nine hours must be completed with grades of "C" or better.
Grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable.
Three semester hours in WRIT 3037 Advanced Writing
Six semester hours selected from Basic Texts in the Western Tradition I and II and Basic Texts III: Non-Western Tradition:
HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 and HUMN 3035 or
Three semester hours in Basic Texts HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 or HUMN 3035 and one of the following courses:
ARTS 3831 West Art: Prehist thru Middle Ages ARTS 3832 West Art: Ren to Contemp ArtSix semester hours in statistics and research methodology are required. This requirement is ordinarily met by taking the two-semester sequence PSYC 4631/PSYC 4632 Research Design and Statistical Measurement I and II or equivalent. These courses should be taken in the first year.
Three semester hours in a course on minorities selected from the following:
ANTH 3535 Peoples of Asia ANTH 3537 Peoples of AfricaThree hours in anthropology:
ANTH 3131 Contemporary Cultural AnthropologyThree hours in psychology:
PSYC 4131 Social PsychologyThree hours in sociology selected from the following:
SOCI 4132 Social StructurePolitical Science Core Requirements (21 hours)
LEGL 3133 Intro to Law & Amer Legal System POLI 3532 Policy Making ProcessGeneral Electives: 12 hours1
1Students entering UHCL with more than or less than the expected 60 hours of transfer credits will take a different number of general electives to complete their degrees.
The undergraduate plan in Criminology leads to the bachelor of science (BS) degree.
The academic goal of the plan is to provide students with an understanding of crime: why it occurs, how it is measured and how it might be controlled. An additional goal is to help students develop the skills needed to obtain successful careers within the criminal justice system or advance in their current careers.
Lower-Level Course Work
Students will ordinarily be expected to complete 60 hours of lower-level credit prior to coming to UHCL. Recommended lower-level course work includes:
Texas Core Curriculum 42 hoursUpper-Level Course Work
The following nine hours must be completed with grades of "C" or better. Grades of "C-" or below are not acceptable.
Three semester hours in WRIT 3037 Advanced Writing
Six semester hours selected from Basic Texts in the Western Tradition I and II and Basic Texts III: Non-Western Tradition:
HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 and HUMN 3035 or
Three semester hours in Basic Texts (HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 or HUMN 3035) and one of the following courses:
ARTS 3831 West Art: Prehist thru Middle Ages PHIL 3433 Phil and KnowledgeSix semester hours in statistics and research methodology are required. This requirement is ordinarily met by taking the two-semester sequence PSYC 4631/PSYC 4632 Research Design and Statistical Measurement I and II or equivalent. These courses should be taken in the first year.
Three semester hours in a course on minorities selected from the following:
*CRIM 4335 Race and JusticeSix hours of the overview courses in criminology:
CRIM 3132 CriminologyThree hours of the overview courses in sociology selected from the following:
SOCI 3135 Sociological Thinking SOCI 4132 Social StructureThree hours in anthropology:
ANTH 3131 Contemporary Cultural AnthropologyThree hours in psychology selected from the following:
PSYC 3331 Theories of PersonalityA minimum of 15 hours from the following courses in criminology:
CRIM 4133 Juvenile Delinquency CRIM 4333 Probation and ParoleA three hour capstone class in Criminology:
*CRIM 4930 Contemporary Issues in Criminology1
General Electives: 9 hr.2
1 The capstone course requires the prior completion of at least 80 credit and at least four courses in criminology.
2Students entering UHCL with more than or less than the expected 60 hours of transfer credits will take a different number of general electives to complete their degrees.
*Pending Coordinating Board approval
The graduate plan in Criminology leads to the master of arts (MA) degree. This degree requires 36 hours with a thesis, project or internship; or 39 hours with the course work option.
The academic goal of the plan is to provide students with a comprehensive, in-depth understanding of crime: why it occurs, how it is measured and how it might be controlled. An additional goal is to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to attain successful careers within the criminal justice system or advance in their current careers.
Six hours selected from the following core courses:
CRIM 5133 Advanced Juvenile Delinquency 3 hoursMaster's Options
Students can select one of the following options:
CRIM 6739 Graduate Internship 6 hoursStudents choosing one of these three options must select nine hours of electives from Criminology and/or other relevant disciplines with the approval of their academic advisor for a total of 36 hours.
or
Course Work Master's Option
Students selecting the course work option must take CRIM 6735 Seminar in Criminology plus 15 hours of electives from Criminology and/or other relevant disciplines for a total of 39 hours. Students may not enroll in CRIM 6735 until they have successfully completed at least 24 hours of their degree plan.
Available Criminology Electives:
CRIM 5135 The Death Penalty 3 hoursCourses from the core course list not utilized to fulfill the core requirement may be used as electives.
Graduate students may not apply more than six semester hours of online graduate course work toward the M.A. in Criminology.
The fully-accredited undergraduate plan in Social Work leads to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. Social work foundation content is found in nine interrelated areas-human behavior and the social environment (HBSE), social welfare policy, social work research, social work values and ethics, diversity, promoting social and economic justice, working with populations-at-risk, social work practice and field placements. Considerable attention is focused on the vulnerable populations found in the Houston/Galveston metropolitan area.
The integration of diversity, values, ethics and social justice content throughout the curriculum is facilitated by the adoption and implementation of the generalist practice perspective. Generalist practice is defined as "the application of a wide variety of theoretical perspectives reflecting an integrated bio-psycho-social approach, professional values, and ethics and skills with diverse persons, families, groups, organizations and communities utilizing the Planned Change Process."
Lower-Level Course Work (60 hours)
Students will ordinarily be expected to complete 60 hours of lower-level credit prior to coming to UHCL. Candidates to the BSW Plan must have completed:
Texas Core Curriculum 42 hr.Within the Texas Core, students must have completed Human Biology, or General Biology or Anatomy and Physiology as three hours of their Natural Science requirement. Students must take SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology as their Social and Behavioral Science Texas Core Requirement.
PSYC 2301 Introduction to Psychology 3 hr.and Multicultural Studies are highly recommended for students interested in the BSW Plan.
Upper-Level Course Work (63 hours)1
Following their admission to the university, students may apply to the BSW Plan. Applications are available from the HSH Advising Office and BSW faculty. Transfer students will be considered for admission into the BSW Plan once they have been admitted to the university and their transcripts have been reviewed by the HSH Advising Office and the BSW faculty. Prospective and current students should note that the BSW Plan is accredited through the Council on Social Work Education. Multiple criteria are used in the admissions process including GPA, letters of recommendation, an autobiographical statement and faculty observation of students in the classroom. An interview may also be required as part of the admissions process.
Ordinarily students must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.50 in course work taken prior to applying to the BSW Plan. However, applicants will be considered who lack a 2.50 GPA, but who have had successful experiences in areas related to social work practice.
BSW Professional Foundation courses, including prerequisites, must be completed with grades of "C" or better. Grades of "C-" or below do not count toward graduation requirements. Social Work majors must maintain a minimum 2.50 grade point average in Foundation courses, including prerequisites.
Prerequisites:
SWRK 4031 Introduction to Social WorkOnce admitted to the BSW Plan, students must complete the following BSW Professional Foundation courses:
SWRK 4134 Diversity and Human Dev Through the Life Cycle (HBSE)Students must also complete the following requirements:
Six hours selected from Basic Texts in the Western Tradition I and II and Basic Texts III:
Non-Western Tradition: (HUMN 3031, 3033 and HUMN 3035) or
Three semester hours in Basic Texts (HUMN 3031, HUMN 3033 or HUMN 3035) and one of the following courses:
ARTS 3831 West Art: Prehist thru Mid Ages ARTS 3832PHIL 3331 West Art: Ren to Contemp ArtEthicsUpper-Level Writing Requirement:
WRIT 3037 Advanced Writing
Psychology Requirement (Select one of the following):
PSYC 3231 LearningHowever, students interested in a Women's Studies Certificate must select
PSYC 4334 Psychology of Women.Sociology requirement:
SOCI 4132 Social Structure: Class, Status & PowerAnthropology requirement:
ANTH 3131 Contemporary Cultural AnthropologyHowever, students interested in a Women's Studies Certificate should instead select the following course:
ANTH 4431 Women in Society.Certificate in Women's Studies Option:
Students pursuing a BSW degree who would also like to receive an undergraduate certificate in Women's Studies s