Utah Tech University has received approval to offer a Master of Arts in Counseling and Clinical Psychology and an Associate of Science in Nutrition beginning Fall 2027, according to a October 21 report. The new programs are designed to meet workforce demands for mental health and nutrition professionals in Southern Utah and beyond.
The master's level psychology program is being developed by Drs. Lisa Scott and Natalie Noel. According to John Jones, chair of Utah Tech’s Psychology Department, the program is being built around rigorous standards for clinical practice with the intent to pursue American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation. This comes as the APA recently expanded accreditation to include master’s-level programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology.
Currently, only six master’s programs nationwide hold APA accreditation. Utah Tech intends to pursue this accreditation as the program becomes eligible. Students in the program will receive training in counseling, diagnosis, ethics, supervision, and cultural responsiveness, while also examining the use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in mental health care. The curriculum will include focused coursework in a specialty area such as Trauma, Spirituality and Religion, or Aging and Grief.
The Associate of Science in Nutrition will be offered by the Department of Family Studies and Human Development. This degree will complement a nutrition minor and an emphasis in integrated studies that was added this past fall.
Nica Clark, an assistant professor of family studies and human development-nutrition, stated that the program will prepare students with practical knowledge for careers such as dietetic technician, Registered Dietitian, or family/life coach. The curriculum focuses on the role of nutrition in promoting health and preventing chronic disease by teaching food, nutrients, and eating behaviors.
Both the new psychology and nutrition programs have received approval from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities as well as the Utah Tech University Board of Trustees. The psychology program will be housed within the university's Psychology Department, which already offers undergraduate programs in psychology and graduate training in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Applications for the psychology program are expected to open soon. Further details regarding the program can be found at psychology.utahtech.edu, while general information on academic offerings is available at academics.utahtech.edu.
