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Clinical Psychology

Program Overview/Mission

The Clinical Psychology program at University of Houston-Clear Lake offers a MA degree and provides academic coursework and clinical training that prepare graduate students for careers in the mental health field. The coursework and training also meets the requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Psychological Associate in Texas.  

The 63-hour program features courses in individual and group therapy, assessment of cognitive and personality functioning, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. You can also take courses to gain more specialized training in behavioral medicine, behavioral parent training, and the development and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, and pediatric psychology.
                  

Goals and Objectives

The field of psychology, this program, and its individual faculty highly value diversity, understanding, inclusiveness, compassion, equal human rights, and strongly reject and condemn violence, intimidation, discrimination, and judgmental action towards groups or individuals in all forms. Given our field's acute focus and understanding of the human toll exacted by these societal problems, psychology has an important ethical role in advocacy and educating the broader public in hopes of minimizing these problems for individuals and groups in our societies. Review the APA Advocacy page to learn more about some of these important areas and how they can be supported.


Program Degrees

Admission Requirements

  • Clinical Psychology M.A.
  • Admission Deadline
    • Fall Only
      • Final Deadline: January 25 
  • Application
    • Apply online through Apply Texas for admission to the University of Houston-Clear Lake as a graduate student.
      • Select Four-year College/University and Graduate School.
      • Program application is only available within the selected Fall semester.
      • Select "HSH-Clinical Psychology" as your first choice major only. 
    Documents for admission are submitted after completion of the Apply Texas application. All required documents are due by the program application deadline.  
  • Requirements
    • GRE Scores Optional for 2023-24 Cycle:
      • If you would like to take the General GRE Exam, please visit their website www.gre.org.
      • UHCL GRE Code: 6916 – UNIV HOUSTON CLEAR LAKE – Grad
    • Official Transcripts: Students should submit official transcripts from every college or university attended to the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Office of Admissions or International Admissions.
      • Please review New Student Admissions in the Graduate Catalog under Transcripts and Records Information to learn how to submit an official college transcript to UHCL.
      • Prerequisites: The program requires five prerequisite undergraduate psychology courses (15 hours): Introductory Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and three courses (9 additional hours) of upper-level psychology courses. Upper-level psychology courses that may provide good preparation for the program include, but are not limited to, Social Psychology, Theories of Personality, Human Growth and Development, and Research Methods and Statistics. Preference is given to applicants with all prerequisites completed.
    • Required Additional Supporting Documents: The following documents should be emailed to the Clinical, Health & Applied Sciences department assistant (Shelly Matejka) at clinicalschool@uhcl.edu:
      • Curriculum Vitae: An expanded résumé describing previous education; all work experience; relevant course work and relevant volunteer activities; any honors, presentations, papers, avocations or other relevant life experiences.
      • Statement of purpose and goals (not to exceed 1,000 words): describing your reasons for wanting this degree and how it fits into career goals.
      • Three (3) letters of recommendation and recommendation forms should be submitted directly by the recommenders to clinicalschool@uhcl.edu. Recommendations from academic faculty and/or work supervisors who know the applicant well are preferred.
    • Program Application Fee: In addition to the university application fee, there is an additional program application fee of $35 for the Clinical Psychology M.A. program. The program application fee may be paid by credit card online or by check payable to "University of Houston-Clear Lake" and sent to:

      Clinical Psychology Program Applications
      University of Houston-Clear Lake
      2700 Bay Area Blvd., Box 73 
      Houston, TX 77058
  • Admission Review Process 

    After initial review of the application materials (application, recommendations, and supplemental material) an admissions committee will invite selected applicants to campus for an interview. Interviews will typically be scheduled in March. Applicants will be notified of their program admission status by April 15. 


Additional Admission Information

Admission is competitive. The program accepts a new cohort of approximately 10 students each year. Students wishing to enroll in this degree plan must formally apply. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the faculty coordinator.

Program Faculty

Sarah Griffin
Sarah Griffin

Sarah Griffin

Assistant Professor of Health Service Psychology & Clinical Psychology,
Human Sciences and Humanities

Contact number: 281-283-3355
Email: griffins@uhcl.edu
Office: B2617.08

Sarah Griffin Faculty Bio

Sean Lauderdale

Sean Lauderdale

Assistant Professor of Health Service Psychology & Clinical Psychology,
Human Sciences and Humanities

Contact number: 281-283-3305
Email: lauderdale@uhcl.edu
Office: HSB 1508.15

Sean Lauderdale Faculty Bio

Ashley MacPherson

Ashley MacPherson

Assistant Professor of Health Service Psychology & Clinical Psychology,
Human Sciences and Humanities

Email: macpherson@uhcl.edu
Office: Bayou 1508.03

Ashley MacPherson Faculty Bio

Mary B. Short

Mary B. Short

Professor of Clinical Psychology, and Director of Clinical Training,
Human Sciences and Humanities

Contact number: 281-283-3324
Email: ShortMB@uhcl.edu
Office: Bayou 1508.26

Mary B. Short Faculty Bio

Curriculum and Instruction

While enrolled in our program, you would have many significant training experiences outside the classroom. For example, you would participate in a two-semester clinical practicum in our on-site Psychological Services Clinic and a 500-hour internship placement under the supervision of a psychologist. In addition, you may have the opportunity to work with faculty on research projects, especially research related to the faculty member's research expertise. Through research experiences, you may have the opportunity to present at local and national conferences, and possibly co-author manuscripts.

Please read the Clinical Psychology Program information and Frequently Asked Questions about our program for more details.                         

Student Resources

Information for Current Students

University Student Resources


Additional Information

A doctorate in Health Services Psychology (combined Clinical and School Psychology) is also offered at University of Houston-Clear Lake. A separate admissions process is required for enrollment in this program. For information, please contact the Department Assistant III for the program, Shelly Matejka, 281-283-3491 or Matejka@uhcl.edu.

For information on admission to the Clinical Psychology Program, please contact:
Dr. Sean Lauderdale
Clinical Psychology Program Director
lauderdale@uhcl.edu