Psychology Schools in Nevada
The following guide to psychology schools in Nevada, which includes profiles of undergraduate and graduate psychology programs, provides essential information to help you identify the best psychology program for your academic and career goals. Nevada’s colleges and universities allow students to earn a general psychology degree or to specialize in a variety of areas, including behavior analysis and clinical psychology. Students who are unable to pursue a traditional psychology degree may consider an online psychology program. Many universities also offer undergraduate and graduate online psychology degree programs.
Quick Facts
- There are 6 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Nevada.1
- 2 schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 4 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 2 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- No schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values for 2019.2
- No schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018.3
- No schools ranked in PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs.4
- No schools ranked in Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2019.5
For not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs.
Continue reading to learn more about several of the popular undergraduate and graduate psychology programs offered at Nevada’s colleges and universities.
Schools in Nevada with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Nevada State College
Psychology majors at Nevada State College may pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology or a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. Both programs require 120 credits in general, major, and elective coursework and generally take four years to complete. Students are required to complete such core psychology courses as general psychology, introduction to statistical methods, foundations and principles of psychology, and applied methods and populations. Psychology faculty at Nevada State College generally hold a doctorate in the area in which they teach. Graduates of the undergraduate program generally move on to graduate study or begin entry-level work in a variety of fields, including business and education.
Sierra Nevada College
Sierra Nevada College confers the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology to students who successfully complete the four-year, 120-credit undergraduate program. Psychology majors must take general college coursework in addition core psychology courses and psychology electives, including human development, social psychology, abnormal psychology, research methods, experimental psychology, and counseling and clinical psychology. Students must also complete a capstone project and a senior project to fulfill degree requirements. The psychology department hosts activities, such as the psychology research fair, throughout the academic year.
Traditional Graduate Programs
University of Nevada at Reno
The University of Nevada at Reno awards the Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology with students able to pursue a specialization in behavior analysis, clinical psychology, or cognitive brain sciences. The behavior analysis program focuses on animal and human behavior and features courses on such topics as basic research in animal behavior, instructional design and technology, and parent and teacher training. The clinical specialization prepares students to move on to doctoral studies, providing a firm foundation in research and analytical thinking. Students pursuing a specialization in cognitive brain sciences undertake research and coursework in such areas as cognitive neuroscience; memory, sensation, and perception; and lifespan development.
National University in Nevada
National University in Nevada’s Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling Psychology program offers two tracks: LCPC and MFT. Students pursuing the LCPC track will gain the necessary credentials to become a licensed counselor through the Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Professional Counselors. MFT-track graduates will be eligible to sit for the license exam to become a certified marriage counselor in the state. Graduate students will complete such core courses as adulthood and aging, diagnosis and assessment, relational violence, treatment of addiction, and legal and ethical issues. A practicum is generally recommended to allow for hands-on experience.
Online Psychology Programs
Sierra Nevada College
Sierra Nevada College’s fully online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology offers students a three-semester schedule – fall, spring, and summer – that can accelerate the time to degree completion. Courses are taken in six-week modules with two modules per semester, allowing students to focus on one or two courses at a time. Similar to on-campus students, online psychology majors have opportunities to gain real-world experience through internships for credit. Online students also complete an original research project, supported by three courses in the curriculum dedicated to developing independent research skills. Online students receive a reduced tuition rate and may be eligible for need-based financial aid.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
The University of Nevada-Las Vegas is home to an online Master of Science in Educational Psychology program that prepares graduates for careers in educational settings as well as for doctoral study. The curriculum focuses on learning, cognition, and development and teaches students advanced research skills, test construction and validation, and evidence-based intervention strategies. Courses in the program include Human Growth and Development; Foundations of Learning and Cognition; and Descriptive and Inferential Statistics. Opportunities are available to specialize in specific areas of educational psychology through the selection of electives. The program is competitive and requires students to maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to graduate. Students must also pass a culminating experience, which may take the form of a thesis or comprehensive exam. All requirements for the degree must be completed within six years from the start of the program.
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Nevada
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Nevada on a variety of factors. Clicking on the arrows in the top row allows you to sort the table. In addition to factors such as focus areas offered and tuition costs, accreditation is an important consideration when researching psychology programs. Depending on the type of program and the ultimate career path you are considering, accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Education Programs (CACREP), or the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) can make it easier to become licensed in your desired area of practice. For more information on these accreditations, see our overview of accreditation for psychology programs. You should also ensure that the program you are considering will meet the licensure requirements in the state where you wish to practice. The Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP), a licensing exam administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), is required in most US states in order to qualify for psychologist licensure. The EPPP results shown below are provided are for the exam period from February 1, 2015 to March 21, 2017.6 Only results from APA-accredited or ASPPB-designated doctoral programs with at least four test-takers during the exam period are included.6
| School | BA/BS | Grad Prog. | Online Prog. | Nat’l Accred.* | Grad Rate** | EPPP Pass Rate6 | # Taking6 | College Factual Under- grad Rank7 | US News Grad Rank8 | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada State College | Yes | No | No | — | 19% | — | — | — | — | $14,073 |
| Sierra Nevada College | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 47% | — | — | — | — | $30,352 |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas | Yes | Yes | Master’s | APA, CACREP, NASP | 43% | 90% | 10 | — | 190^ | $11,693 |
| University of Nevada-Reno | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP | 58% | 89% | 9 | 208 | 131^ | $15,723 |
Schools marked with a caret (^) in US News Best Graduate Psychology Programs ranked in a tie with other programs in their respective positions.
*See our guide to psychology program accreditation for more information on these accrediting bodies.
**The graduation rate is for first-time, full-time undergraduate degree- or certificate-seeking students who began studies in Fall 2012 and is calculated based on the percentage of students earning their degree or certificate within 150% of the normal time for program completion.1
Schools with Psychology Degree Programs in Nevada
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
4505 S Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89154
(702) 895-3011
https://www.unlv.edu/
Student Review: “I attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas starting August 2011. This is my fourth and final year at this school as a biology/psychology double major. I love this school’s ethnic diversity. There are so many people from different backgrounds, races, and beliefs. This makes it an enjoyable social school. The psychology program is great, even though we do not offer many courses that other schools do. Our psychology department has one of the highest graduating rates. I love my professors, and there are really great research opportunities. I am currently in a neuropsychology research program. The professors are pretty harsh and the general level classes are more difficult than the higher-level. That said, I still enjoy most of my classes here. Overall I would give this school a middle rating. It’s not spectacular, not it’s not horrible. You make the most out of it.” – Student at the University of Nevada, Los Vegas
University of Nevada, Reno
1664 N Virginia St
Reno, NV 89503
(775) 784-1110
https://www.unr.edu/
Student Review: “I really enjoyed my experience in the psychology department at the University of Nevada, Reno. While the curriculum was often difficult, it made each student into a critical thinker. The department offered a multitude of courses that allowed each student to dabble in various psychological theories and decide which was going to be best for them. The professors were readily available both in class and through email if questions arose over the weekend. There were also multiple opportunities to work in labs or as an assistant in the classroom in order to broaden the experience outside of the typical teacher/student relationships. Overall, I appreciated every opportunity given to me in my major at the University of Nevada, Reno.” – Student at the University of Nevada, Reno
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Table
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2017.
4. PsychologyDegree411 Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs: https://www.psychologydegree411.com/degrees/online/
5. Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019 – Psychology: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2019/subject-ranking/psychology
6. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/eppp_/2017_Doctoral_Report.pdf
7. College Factual, Best Colleges Offering Degrees in Psychology (Nationwide): https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/psychology/rankings/top-ranked/#
8. US News & World Report Best Graduate Psychology Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/psychology-rankings