Radford University took another step toward establishing its first doctoral program Tuesday when the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia unanimously approved a proposal to establish an applied doctoral program in psychology at the school.

Radford must still wait for approval from the General Assembly and the governor next year for the program, which would begin in the fall of 2007. The program would focus on rural mental health, giving Radford the only PsyD counseling program with that focus in the country.

Radford, which currently offers only undergraduate and master's degrees, first considered granting doctoral degrees in the 1990s. In 2004, then-president Douglas Covington decided to pursue the PsyD program, which would focus on preparing students for practicing psychology as opposed to a more research-focused doctoral program.

"They were very clear that they were not trying to become a research university; they're trying to serve their region," said Alan Edwards, SCHEV's policy studies director and acting director of academic affairs.

The new program would make Radford the 10th public university in the state to offer a doctoral degree. There are 15 four-year public universities in Virginia.

The program would be funded largely through funds used for the university's counseling psychology master's program, which would be phased out when the new PsyD program begins. That would also free up space for the program on Radford's campus. Additional state funding for the university approved during the last General Assembly session would also go toward the program.

In its proposal, the university cited recent studies that pointed to a shortage of mental health professionals in rural areas. Surveys conducted by the university indicate 10 students would enroll in the program in its first year. Enrollment would grow to 35 by the 2010-2011 school year.

The program would involve three years of course work and a one-year full-time internship. The university hopes to receive full accreditation for the program from the American Psychological Association before the first students receive degrees in the spring of 2011.

Edwards said the council looked at eight criteria when considering the proposal, ranging from institutional need and student demand to adequate space and financial resources. He said the council was concerned that students who completed the program actually practice psychology in the area, or at least in a rural area. That's something SCHEV would look at closely when reviewing the program, Edwards said.

"If the program is successful then it will contribute to Southwest Virginia and Southside Virginia in very positive ways," he said.

SCHEV also approved Tuesday two new degree programs proposed by Virginia Tech. A new bachelor of arts in humanities, science and the environment would emphasize the role of science in identifying environmental problems and shaping public policy. The university also plans to offer a bachelor of science in construction engineering and management, marrying parts of Tech's business, building construction and civil and environmental engineering programs.