Bellarmine University hopes new graduate program will meet critical need in the community

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Bellarmine University will soon offer a new graduate degree to help meet a critical need in the community.

Starting this fall, the university in Louisville will offer its first graduate degree in psychology — a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology.

It will be the first standalone program of its kind in Louisville, and only the fifth in the state of Kentucky.

Bellarmine said Wednesday the new graduate degree builds on its existing undergraduate psychology program. It will be a two-year, 60-hour program conducted in person, allowing graduates to receive certification as licensed psychological practitioners in Kentucky.

The goal is to address the state's need for mental health care providers, which leaders said has increased significantly since the pandemic.

"In Kentucky, there are 390 individuals for every one mental health provider," Dr. Felicia Smith, an assistant professor of psychology at Bellarmine, said in a news release. "With a growing demand for mental health services, the need for well-prepared providers cannot be overstated."

When announcing the new degree, the university cited a 2023 report from Mental Health America that estimated 21.9% of Kentucky adults were reported to have a mental illness compared to 20.8% nationally. The report found more than half of those Kentuckians didn't receive treatment, and that more than three-fourths of young Kentuckians dealing with depression don't receive behavioral health services.

Bellarmine President Susan M. Donovan said the new degree allows the university to take the lead in helping to build a stronger mental health care system.

"With national reports documenting the widespread prevalence of mental health disorders, it is now more important than ever for Bellarmine University to lead in helping to build a stronger mental health system," Donovan said.

Bellarmine said psychology is consistently ranked in the top five undergraduate majors for incoming students. Leaders said the new master's degree will "allow the university to retain graduates with bachelor's degrees in psychology as well as to recruit other top undergraduate students regionally."

Those who graduate with a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology can go on to work as clinical practitioners who offer assessments, diagnosis and therapy, often working in mental health centers, hospitals, schools or in a private practice setting.

Bellarmine said the new degree program still needs approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, as well as the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

To learn more, click here.

Related Stories: