Master of Science in Behavioral Health Psychology

Jessica Lahner

Director of the Master of Science in Behavioral Health Psychology Program; Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology

The Master of Science (MS) in Behavioral Health Psychology (BHP) prepares master’s-level clinicians and scholars with grounding in the counseling and clinical psychology knowledge and skills required of today’s behavioral health professional. Inspired by the scientist-practitioner model, graduates are prepared to work in a variety of healthcare settings with clinical populations, to conduct applied behavioral health research, or pursue doctoral training.  The program is guided by the four following themes: 

• Evidenced-based treatment:  With scientific psychology at its core, students learn to critically evaluate and apply evidence-based assessment and interventions with a variety of clients.  Competent in critically evaluating science, students use research to inform their clinical practice.
• Decreasing Behavioral Healthcare Disparities: Guided by the biopsychosocial-spiritual model, students consider behavior from a holistic lens, and are motivated to ensure that behavioral healthcare is inclusive and accessible. The program of study prepares compassionate, self-reflecting clinicians sensitive to the developmental, biological, psychosocial, and spiritual contributions to the behavioral health outcomes of diverse populations.  
• Experiential learning in a variety of settings:  Immersed in experiential learning, students apply their knowledge and skills in research laboratories, classroom labs, and practical settings under the supervision of seasoned professionals.  Students team with Carroll faculty and community partners to advance their skills in research, practica, and internship settings assessing and responding to unique clinical needs in varied populations.  
• Specialization:  Students may choose to specialize in one of several concentrations relevant to today’s mental health professional - Clinical Assessment, Adult and Geriatric Behavioral Health, Youth Behavioral Health, or Applied Research.  Students’ elective coursework, practica and internship placements, and thesis/comprehensive projects are all tied to their chosen area of specialization. As such, graduates will have developed expertise in their chosen area - an opportunity rarely found in Master’s programs preparing clinicians for licensure.  

Students choosing the Applied Research concentration are required to complete an empirically-based thesis that provides an original contribution to the field; students choosing other concentrations are strongly encouraged, but not required, to do so.  

In lieu of an empirically-based thesis, these students complete a comprehensive project related to the student’s chosen concentration area.  Graduates choosing all but the Applied Research concentration are eligible for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Wisconsin, provided they pursue the post-graduate supervised practice obtained under a Professional Counselor Training license. Those choosing the Applied Research concentration are well-prepared to apply for seats in psychology-related doctoral training programs or to pursue applied research careers. 

Program Mission

The MS in Behavioral Health Psychology Program prepares compassionate, self-reflective individuals with the foundational counseling, clinical, and research skills to provide compassionate, evidence-based behavioral health care to diverse populations.

Admission Criteria

Students must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education prior to matriculation. An undergraduate major or minor in the social sciences is preferred (e.g., psychology, education, sociology).

Minimum 3.0 cumulative and prerequisite GPA

If minimum is not met, candidates may submit a petition outlining the exception they are requesting and associated justification.

• Justification may include any of the following, but is not limited to
• 3.0 GPA in last four semesters of full-time undergraduate work
• 3.2 GPA in social science major or MS in Behavioral Health Psychology prerequisite coursework   
• GRE with minimum Verbal score of 150 or 48th percentile, Analytic Writing score of 3 and Quantitative Reasoning score of 145 or 20th percentile  

Prerequisite Coursework:

• Statistics course and/or research methods course in the social sciences
• Abnormal psychology

Required Application Materials*:

1. Carroll University Graduate Application
2. Official transcripts from each institution attended
3. Résumé 
4. Personal Statement  addressing the following questions:
   • What experiences have influenced your choice of a career in behavioral health psychology?
   • Understanding that your specific goals may change, where do you see yourself in five years? Specifically, what work do you envision yourself doing and with whom will you be working?
   • What competencies do you possess that will support your completion of the graduate program and meeting your goals? Provide behavioral examples of these competencies.  
5. Three letters of recommendation. These should be from individuals able to comment on your competencies as they relate to:
   • Your ability to excel in human services work, and 
   • Aptitude to complete a graduate program. 

Recent undergraduates are encouraged to submit at least two of the three letters from sources familiar with your academic work, such as an advisor or professor. A third letter from a supervisor, character reference or coach is suggested. Applicants with discipline-related experiences and who graduated more than three years ago are welcome to submit two of the three letters from sources familiar with your professional work and a third from someone who can speak to your academic potential.

*Some clinical placement sites (especially hospitals and other facilities offering medical care) require TB tests, vaccinations (including COVID-19 vaccinations) and other medical tests before a practicum and/or internship placement can begin. Acceptance of a placement at a practicum and/or internship site assumes compliance with the site’s medical testing and vaccination requirements. 

Behavioral Health Psychology Program Academic Progression

BHP graduate students must demonstrate satisfactory progress in both their coursework and professional dispositions to remain in good standing.

Satisfactory ongoing assessment of dispositional skills are essential to the work of behavioral health professionals and not subject to accommodation per Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act and ADA. Advisors and faculty are committed to supporting students’ development along these dispositional criteria, but students will not be allowed to complete the degree program if assessments remain unsatisfactory. In this case, advisors and faculty will work closely with the student to generate meaningful alternative post-baccalaureate training options.  

Course Progression

A grade of B/C or better is required in all Behavioral Health Psychology courses. A letter grade of C, D, F in a Behavioral Health Psychology course requires the student to repeat the course before progressing to subsequent courses for which the failed course is a prerequisite. When repeating a course, a student may be required to successfully complete ancillary learning experiences or clinical competencies/practicums that validate theoretical knowledge. Due to course sequencing, repeating a course may delay progression through the program by one semester to one year. A course may be repeated only one time. A student receiving a C, D, F or U in the same Behavioral Health Psychology course twice may be dismissed from the program. 

Students must achieve and maintain a minimum cumulative and semester GPA of 3.0 If a student earns a semester grade point average below 3.0, they are placed on academic probation. To be removed from academic probation the student must earn a GPA of 3.0 or better in the following semester.

If a student is placed on academic probation a second time during their tenure in the program, they may be dismissed. Students who cancel or withdraw from the Behavioral Health Psychology program forfeit their position in the program. Students wishing to re-enter the graduate program after cancelling or withdrawing must go through the full re-application process.  

Professional Dispositions

Satisfactory ongoing assessment of dispositional skills are essential to the work of behavioral health professionals and not subject to accommodation per Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act and ADA. Advisors and faculty are committed to supporting students’ development along these dispositional criteria, but students will not be allowed to complete the degree program if assessments remain unsatisfactory. In this case, advisors and faculty will work closely with the student to generate meaningful alternative post-baccalaureate training options.

Faculty advisors formally provide feedback on students’ ability to display competency in the professional dispositions each semester.

If the faculty advisor determines there is a significant concern(s) in this area, the student and advisor will work toward the development of a plan to address the concerns. The plan will include clear descriptions of the areas of concerns, clear descriptions of the desired outcomes, and specific plans/steps toward goal attainment. The advisor and student will develop a realistic timeline for goal attainment. The written plan will be forwarded to the program director for approval.

The following progression of interventions will ensue when 1) formal professional disposition remediation plans have been put into place as described above, or 2) when a specific student behavior occurs that is clearly in opposition to the professional dispositions and could have serious consequences for a practicing behavioral health professional and for which the faculty advisor and program director jointly agree warrants such action.

1. First incident:

A formal professional disposition remediation plan is created as described above, OR the student will meet with the program director and their advisor to discuss the behavior. The program will document the behavior in writing which will remain on the student’s permanent record.Remediation as determined by the program will be appropriate to the behavior in question.

   2. Second incident:

The student will meet with the program director and their advisor. The behavior (new or continuing) will be documented and become part of the student’s permanent record. The program will then meet to determine the appropriate course of action which may include further remediation as determined by the program, probation, or dismissal from the program.

   3. Third incident:

The student will meet with the program director and their advisor. The behavior will be documented and become part of the student’s permanent record. They will determine the appropriate course of action which will likely result in dismissal from the program. In this case, advisors and faculty will work closely with the student to generate meaningful alternative post-baccalaureate training options.

Clinical Experience and End-of-Program Evaluation

Students must be deemed competent in skill pre-practicum and pre-internship skills by the BHP faculty before students may start practicum or internship. Likewise, they must display competency in the post-practicum and internship skills to satisfy the practicum and internship requirements of the program.

To graduate from the program, students must pass a final competency evaluation by the faculty in the student’s clinical skills, scientific competency skills, and professional dispositions.