Frequently Asked Questions

You apply through the UW Graduate School’s online application, select the Applied Child & Adolescent Psychology program and pay your application fee. (Fee waivers are available.)

Required materials include unofficial transcripts, a statement of purpose, a resume, relevant work experience, three letters of recommendation, and proof of English proficiency if applicable.

• Visit our Admissions page for full requirements and instructions.

No, GRE scores are not required for admission to the UW Master of Arts in Applied Child & Adolescent Psychology: Prevention & Treatment program. If submitted, we do not review or consider GRE scores in the admissions decision.

• See the Admissions page for current application requirements.

The program’s acceptance rate has ranged from 12–17% in recent years.

• Learn more about our consideration process, including interviews with faculty, on our Admissions page.

Admissions decisions for the Applied Child & Adolescent Psychology: Prevention & Treatment master’s program are made using a holistic review process. Reviewers consider academic preparedness, relevant experience working with children or adolescents, reasons for applying to the program, and alignment with the program’s goals, not just GPA.

• See How to Apply for each step in the graduate application and review process on our Admissions page.

While there is no formal minimum hour requirement, competitive applicants typically have at least a year of relevant experience working with children, adolescents and/or families in educational, clinical or community settings. Experience also helps demonstrate your readiness for our program’s applied training in the internship and capstone project.

• See relevant experience info on the Admissions page.

Recommenders may include supervisors, professors, or professional connections who can speak to your academic preparation, professional experience and interest in working with children and adolescents. Choose people who know you well enough to describe what you can bring to the field.

• Find more guidance on recommendations on the Admissions page.
• Explore How to Get Great Letters of Recommendation for Grad School from the UW Professional and Continuing Education.

The program is full time over five consecutive quarters (summer through the following summer). You’ll take a structured sequence of courses and complete a required internship.

For visa classification and financial aid disbursement purposes, the program may be considered part time because at least one quarter involves taking less than 10 credits.

• Learn more about the program format on the Academic Experience page.

The program is completed in five consecutive quarters over approximately 15 months. Students begin in summer quarter and graduate the following summer as part of a cohort.

• Review the program timeline and course sequence on the Courses & Requirements page.

The University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

The Applied Child & Adolescent Psychology: Prevention & Treatment program has not sought specialized accreditation from national accreditation bodies such as CACREP. CACREP primarily accredits counseling programs, not psychology programs, and alignment with CACREP standards does not reflect our program’s focus on evidence-based psychological training.

The American Psychological Association (APA) is currently developing accreditation standards for master’s programs in psychology.

• Learn more in the program overview on the About page.

Students are admitted once per year and all begin in summer quarter. There isn’t an option to apply for admission during any other quarter than summer. A cohort progresses together through five consecutive quarters and graduates at the end of the following summer.

• Review our application cycle and start dates on the Admissions page.

No. The program is only offered in-person on the UW Seattle campus. It is not available online or remotely.

• Learn more about the program on the Academic Experience page.

Course descriptions and requirements are available on the Courses & Degree Requirements page. Classes are typically held on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and evenings, with a more intensive schedule (3–5 days a week) during the first summer.

When you begin your internship assignment starting in autumn quarter, the times are generally during normal business hours (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.),16–20 hours per week at an internship site in the greater Puget Sound Region.

• You’ll find tentative class schedules in our PSYCAP student handbooks by academic year on our Student Resources page.

Our program is short but intensive, and students are generally advised to only work part time in a flexible role, if at all.

The time commitment per quarter for this program, including class time and estimated coursework, generally follows the UW academic credit format, which assumes 3 hours of outside coursework for each credit hour (credit hour x 3). This estimate does not include time adjusting to the rigor of graduate school, commutes, etc.  

Time commitments increase once internships begin in autumn quarter to include 16–20 hours per week at an internship site.

• Review expected workload information on the Program Format, Courses & Requirements, and Internship & Capstone pages.

The UW Master of Arts in Applied Child & Adolescent Psychology: Prevention & Treatment program is fee-based, meaning our cost per credit is the same regardless of residency status.

• Visit the Costs & Aid page for current costs.

You may be eligible for several options to help cover your degree costs including federal financial aid (FAFSA), state grants, scholarships, work study and private loans.

• See funding resources on the Costs & Aid page.

Yes. The UW Applied Child & Adolescent Psychology: Prevention & Treatment program is designed to prepare graduates for applied mental health roles and to meet educational requirements for the Licensed Mental Health Counselor credential in Washington state. It emphasizes prevention, assessment and treatment of mental health disorders with children and adolescents.

• Learn more on the Careers page.

Our program meets Washington state educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor* (LMHC). Graduates may apply for the LMHC Associate (LMHCA) credential in Washington state while completing post‑graduate supervised hours. Typically, it takes our graduates 2-3 years to complete those hours and be ready to apply for full licensure (LMHC).

For licensure outside Washington state, our student handbook identifies how our program aligns with the educational requirements. Each state has its own licensing procedures.

• Learn more about licensure on the Careers page. 

*LMHC is a licensing designation conferred by Washington state, not the university.

Graduates work in community mental health, healthcare, schools and related settings with the majority of graduates working as therapists and mental health counselors for youth. Salary varies by role and experience. Recent alumni surveys report strong employment outcomes after graduation.

• Explore more alumni outcomes on the Careers page.

It depends. Our program may make a PhD applicant more competitive by providing additional education and field experience, but it does not include the research focus of PhD programs.

While we consider this program to be a terminal master’s degree, about 5% of our program graduates later pursue PhD or PsyD programs. Those students typically use their time in our program to refine their interests or specializations — and many practice as an LMHCA/LMHC during their PhD or PsyD studies.

• Learn more on the Careers page.

International applicants to the UW Applied Child & Adolescent Psychology: Prevention & Treatment program must hold a four‑year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a foreign institution that meets the UW Graduate School minimum requirements.

• Review degree requirements on the Admissions page.

Applicants whose native language is not English must meet the UW Graduate School English proficiency requirements. Official test scores must be sent directly to the University of Washington.

• Follow the guidance on English proficiency requirements on our Admissions page.

International students must have a visa status that allows for academic study at the University of Washington. To participate fully in the program, your visa needs to allow for part-time study and internship participation.

The UW cannot provide consultation on visa statuses it doesn't sponsor.

• Review the international student information on the Admissions page.