What New Degrees Is Utah Tech Adding? Quick Answer
Two programs, both starting Fall 2027. Utah Tech University in St. George has approval to offer a Master of Arts in Counseling and Clinical Psychology and an Associate of Science in Nutrition. Both were approved by Utah Tech's Board of Trustees and by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the university's accrediting body. Utah Tech says the programs are meant to help meet workforce demand for mental health and nutrition professionals in Southern Utah and beyond.
The Master's in Counseling and Clinical Psychology
The graduate program will prepare students to pursue professional licensure and careers providing psychotherapy and other mental health services. Utah Tech says graduates could work for nonprofits, private practices and in-patient programs, or open practices of their own. The university says they would help address the need for mental health professionals in Utah, particularly in regional and rural communities.
What students will study:
- Broad training in counseling, diagnosis, ethics, supervision and cultural responsiveness
- The responsible use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies in mental health care
- Focused coursework in one specialty area: Aging and Grief, Spirituality and Religion, or Trauma
The program will be housed in Utah Tech's Psychology Department, which already offers graduate training in marriage and family therapy and undergraduate psychology programs. Dr. Lisa Scott is the program director, and she and Dr. Natalie Noel are building the program, according to department chair John Jones. Scott said students will learn from faculty who are both researchers and practicing therapists.
Why APA Accreditation Matters
Utah Tech says the program arrives at a significant moment for the profession. The American Psychological Association (APA) recently expanded its accreditation to master's-level programs in clinical, counseling and school psychology, creating what the university calls a new national pathway for professional psychology training. According to Utah Tech, only six master's programs nationwide currently hold APA accreditation.
Utah Tech says it is designing its program from the start around this national model and intends to pursue APA accreditation as the program becomes eligible. The program does not hold that accreditation yet. Jones said clinical psychology is "entering an important new era."
Applications will open soon, the university says. Details will be posted at psychology.utahtech.edu.
The Associate of Science in Nutrition
Utah Tech's Department of Family Studies and Human Development will also begin offering an Associate of Science in Nutrition in 2027. It joins the nutrition minor and the nutrition emphasis in integrated studies that the university says were added this past fall.
According to Utah Tech, the associate degree will:
- Give students a foundation in food, nutrients and eating behaviors for individuals and families
- Emphasize the role of nutrition in promoting health and preventing chronic disease
- Build skills in critical thinking, problem solving and applying nutrition concepts in real-world settings
- Introduce academic and career pathways in nutrition and related fields, including preparation for becoming a registered dietitian, dietetic technician or family/life coach
Nica Clark, an assistant professor of family studies and human development-nutrition, said the program is meant to make nutrition education more accessible to Utah Tech students and to prepare them with practical knowledge for their careers and communities.
What Has Not Been Announced
Utah Tech's announcement does not list tuition, credit-hour requirements, the number of seats, or application deadlines for either program. Check psychology.utahtech.edu and academics.utahtech.edu for updates.
More on Utah Tech
See the Utah Tech University listing in our directory, and read about the university's first NIH grant, for rare childhood brain disease research, and the Fire & Ice Scholarship Gala. For more schools and training in the region, see our education guide and our St. George city guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Utah Tech's master's in counseling and clinical psychology start?
Fall 2027. Utah Tech says applications will open soon, with details at psychology.utahtech.edu.
Is the Utah Tech clinical psychology master's APA accredited?
Not yet. Utah Tech says it intends to pursue APA accreditation once the program is eligible.
What specialties does the program offer?
Students choose focused coursework in Aging and Grief, Spirituality and Religion, or Trauma.
What can you do with Utah Tech's associate in nutrition?
Utah Tech says it introduces pathways in nutrition and related fields, including preparation for becoming a registered dietitian, dietetic technician or family/life coach.
Who approved the new degrees?
Utah Tech's Board of Trustees and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Sources
- Utah Tech University: Utah Tech University adding a master's in counseling & clinical psychology, associate in nutrition (Oct. 13, 2026)
- Utah Tech University Psychology Department
Published October 21, 2026.
