Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
Credit hours: 48
Length of program: two years
Model: scientist practitioner
The Clinical Psychology master's program provides training consistent with the scientist-practitioner model and includes a foundation in abnormal psychology, psychotherapy, and assessment. Students complete a 400-hour internship during their second year. In addition, students are strongly encouraged to complete a thesis or other independent research project.
Our primary mission is to prepare students for doctoral study. Because we accept a maximum of only 8 students each year, our class sizes are relatively small, and students easily can collaborate with faculty on research projects.
Graduate Assistantships
Many of our students are funded by an assistantship.
Internship
Internship training begins in your second year. Our internship coordinator will assist you in choosing and applying to an internship site. Options include the university counseling center, community mental health centers, Riley Children's Hospital, the Veteran's Administration Hospital, facilities serving children and adolescents, and many more.
Research
Our graduate faculty welcome the opportunity to conduct research with students, and we recommend that all students get involved in research projects. Often our graduate assistants are assigned to work on faculty research projects, but any student can work with the professors. For more information, see the faculty research interests page.
Master's Level Licensure
Our mission is to prepare students for doctoral study. If you are interested in obtaining licensure to work as a master's level therapist, our program would not be a good fit for you.
Sample Courses (some but not all courses below are required):
PSYS 632 - Abnormal Psychology
Introduction to adult psychopathology with emphasis on contemporary systems of classification of behavior disorders, expression of behavior disorders in the context of cultural factors, problems associated with diagnostic decision making, and current research concerning descriptive boundaries, etiology, course, and prognosis. Prerequisite: PSYSC 284; permission of the department chairperson. Prerequisite recommended: PSYSC 317. Open only to students in the clinical MA program.
PSYS 640 - Introduction to Psychological Assessment
Theoretical and practical implications of psychodiagnostic tools including age, gender, ethnicity, language, disability, and culture factors related to the assessment and evaluation of individuals and groups. Emphasizes issues of reliability, validity, and ethics, plus the development of basic diagnostic skills. Prerequisite: PSYSC 623, 632. Open only to students in the clinical MA program.
PSYS 644 - Advanced Psychological Assessment
Continuation of PSYSC 640 with emphasis on the selection, administration, interpretation, and use of objective and projective personality assessment devices in conjunction with other techniques. Emphasizes development of advanced diagnostic skills and ethical considerations. Prerequisite: PSYSC 623, 632, 640.
PSYS 652 - Introduction to Psychotherapy
Introduction to treatment of abnormal behavior using individual psychotherapy. Selected theories and techniques are surveyed. Emphasizes development of basic therapeutic skills, therapist and client characteristics that influence helping processes, ethical considerations, and implications of sociocultural, demographic and lifestyle diversity. Prerequisite: permission of the department chairperson.
PSYS 653 - Advanced Topics in Psychotherapy
Selected topics in psychotherapy and related interventions are examined, including crisis intervention, medications, prevention, and community intervention. Also covered are historical, legal, financial, and ethical considerations, procedures for determining accountability, and public policy issues related to mental health services. Prerequisite: PSYSC 632, 652; permission of the instructor. Open only to students in the clinical MA program.
PSYS 682 - Orientation to Professional Clinical
A 100-hour clinical practicum in a mental health setting. Designed to introduce students to issues involved with professional practice, including history, roles, organizational structures, ethics, standards, and credentialing. Prerequisite: permission of the department chairperson. Open only to clinical graduate students in psychological science.
PSYS 685 - Clinical Internship
Supervised applied clinical experience in one or more appropriate settings. Students must have earned 20 hours of graduate credit in psychological science, at least half of which should be from the clinical sequence. Prerequisite: permission of the department chairperson. A total of 6 hours of credit may be earned. Open only to students in the clinical MA program.
PSYS 687 - Advanced Clinical Internship
Supervised advanced clinical experience in one or more appropriate settings. Emphasizes the development of advanced skills, the integration of professional knowledge, and skills appropriate to professional practice. Prerequisite: PSYSC 685. Open only to students in the clinical MA program.
Psychology Core Requirements: 26 credit hours (including electives)
PSYS 616 - Perception and Cognition
Analysis of research and theories of perception, cognition, and language. Covers information processing, attention, verbal learning and memory, problem solving, concept formation, and psycholinguistics. Prerequisite: PSYSC 284 or 584.
OR
PSYS 623 - Theories of Personality
Review and comparison of theories of the structure, development, dynamics, and assessment of normal personality, with emphasis on empirical data presented by proponents of various theoretical positions. Prerequisite recommended: PSYSC 241.
PSYS 668 - Physiological Psychology
Introduction to the physiological basis of behavior, involving the nervous system, its structure, biochemistry, and function. Emphasis on basic neuroscience and research methods. Includes a survey of the role of neurophysiology and neuroanatomy in functions of consciousness and mental disorders. Prerequisite: PSYSC 284, 584.
PSYS 680 - Research Methods in Psychology
Overview of research methods in psychology, including experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational, single-case, and program evaluation techniques. Prerequisite: PSYSC 241, 284 or their equivalents; permission of the instructor.
PSYS 691 - Systems of Psychology
The major concepts of various schools of psychological thought and contemporary theoretical systems as they have evolved from their historical origins.
PSYS 696 - Seminar on Diversity
Introduces the application of diversity perspectives to psychological research and practice. Race, ethnicity, economic status, national origin, disability, gender, sexual identity, age, and religious beliefs will be considered. Emphasizes why all psychological subdisciplines need to understand diversity issues. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
EDPS 642 - Intermediate Statistics
An extension of elementary descriptive and inferential statistics through basic statistical research designs, including analysis of variance and covariance. Prerequisite: PSYSC 241 or EDPSY 641 or a proficiency test administered within the department.