Best Psychology Schools in New Mexico

How to Find a Psychology Program in New Mexico

Finding the right fit for your psychology education in New Mexico entails multiple factors. Aside from tuition and school prestige, students will want to consider their career goals, prior education level, and more.

Psychology Degree Pathways in New Mexico

Undergraduates have two choices. The associate's degree in psychology is a two-year program ideal for a range of entry-level jobs. These programs can be found at community colleges. The second type – and the most common – is the bachelor's degree in psychology. These four-year programs are available as a BA (bachelor of arts) and a BS (bachelor of science).

For your first step into graduate study, you have the option to earn a graduate certificate in an area of psychology. This one-year program type is not a degree, and is only open to those with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, but it can help students enter niche areas of psychology without the further time and expense of a full degree program.

Th most common type of grad program is the master's degree in psychology (MA or MS). From there, you could go on to a psychology doctorate – the highest level of degree in the field. Doctorate degrees in psychology come in the form of the Ph.D. (suited for research careers) and the PsyD (designed for clinical practice).

Choose a Psychology Specialty

There are many specialty areas of psychology that students can pursue. While it’s not mandatory to specialize, it’s a good idea to think about what areas of psychology interest you before settling on a program. Psychology undergraduate degrees usually do not offer specialization opportunities, although there are some exceptions. Many colleges and universities offer general bachelor's degrees in psychology, the University of New Mexico, for example, has both a BA and a BS.

You are far more likely to have the choice to specialize with graduate study – graduate certificates, master's degrees, and doctorates. New Mexico Highlands University offers an MS in General Psychology and a separate program in Clinical Counseling.

Accreditation

New Mexico students are advised to select a properly accredited psychology program at any degree level for the following reasons:

• Accreditation is a mark of quality and suggests high standards in research, teaching, and curriculum

• Graduates of unaccredited programs are not eligible to apply for licensure for clinical practice

• Non-medical roles, inside and outside healthcare, may prefer or require graduates of accredited psych degree programs

• Professional organizations may only welcome applications from accredited program graduates

In New Mexico, the regional accrediting body is the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Across the U.S., it is the responsibility of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Online vs. Traditional Psychology Programs in New Mexico

Students are able to choose from several psychology degree program delivery methods. The most common way to study is on campus. However, there are more and more fully online degree programs available than ever before. Some psychology programs may also be available in a hybrid format, which combines in-person classwork with online courses.

The benefits of online study include flexibility and choice – the program can fit around your lifestyle, whether that's parenting, caregiving, or working full-time. The drawback is the limited in-person contact with both faculty and other students. Campus study permits all this, but does not offer the same flexibility. In addition, those who don’t live near a college or university may find that commuting to campus is unfeasible.

Students are encouraged to think about their own unique circumstances when deciding on a program format.

Becoming Licensed as a Psychologist in New Mexico

New Mexico only permits those with a doctorate to practice as a clinical psychologist in the state. Both Ph.D. and PsyD grads are eligible.

Before you may practice, you need to complete 3,000 supervised experience hours. The first 1,500 hours should be taken as an internship, while the second 1,500 hours must be part of your supervised post-doctoral experience.

The final phase of your journey to licensure includes two exams. The first is the New Mexico Jurisprudence Examination to be taken at the time of licensure application. The second is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology, which you will take after your license is approved.

List of Psychology Degree Programs in New Mexico

Are you looking for a psychology degree program in New Mexico? Browse our list of psychology programs offering both online and on-campus instruction. Follow the links to learn more about what each school’s psychology program offers.