WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) -
Two new doctoral programs are coming to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The new programs aim to help meet mental health care needs in the state.
During Friday morning's meeting, The UNC Board of Governors approved the programs leading to a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.
With the addition of these two degrees, UNCW will now offer four doctoral programs. The university also offers a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration, and a doctorate in Marine Biology.
“The academic community of UNCW is excited and pleased to have the UNC Board of Governors approve these new doctoral programs,” Interim Provost Marilyn Sheerer said. “These degree programs signify that UNCW has the faculty expertise in both of these areas and that the graduates coming out of these programs will address significant state needs. Currently, the university produces master’s-level practitioners in nursing and psychology, but the new terminal degrees will provide an increased scope of independent practice and compensation for individuals in these fields."
UNCW officials say the Ph.D. program in psychology will address critical behavioral health care needs of the citizens of North Carolina by helping reduce the significant shortage of psychologists in the state.
The program will train psychologists to provide services in the areas of substance abuse treatment, developmental disabilities, dementia, and psychological services in the correctional system.
Citing a growing market for nurse practitioners in North Carolina, university officials say demand is expected to grow, especially in rural areas with few medical professionals.
The N.C. Institute of Medicine projects that the state is likely to experience a shortage of nurse practitioners and other primary care providers within the next 10 to 20 years. Through its Doctor of Nursing Practice program, UNCW will focus on training health care providers to serve residents of rural and underserved communities.
Both programs are tentatively expected to begin fall semester of 2016.
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