Clinical Psychology, M.A.

Mission

The mission of graduate training in clinical psychology is to provide quality training in the scientist-practitioner model within a small private university setting. Science and practice are regarded as inseparable elements. Practice itself is regarded as the application of the theories, methods, and results of scientific psychology to clinical problems. The science of psychology is construed broadly, and students are expected to develop familiarity with a wide range of psychological theories, methods, and results. We encourage students to understand the limits of human perception, reason, and intuition, and to appreciate scientific methods as correctives to the flaws and biases of natural human judgment.

Learning Objectives

Students who complete the master’s program will: 

• achieve familiarity with foundational knowledge of psychology to include four of the following domains:  biological bases of behavior, development across the lifespan, theories and principles of social psychology, cognitive psychology, emotions, or history of psychology as a science;
• acquire familiarity with empirically supported treatment modalities and assessment tools;
• achieve knowledge of academic, ethical, and professional standards for psychologists as published by regulatory agencies;
• acquire knowledge of individual and cultural diversity, and be prepared to adapt supervised clinical activities; and
• acquire skills that prepare them for doctoral study in clinical psychology or further training in related fields (e.g., counseling, social work).

Admission

Admission to the M.A. degree program in clinical psychology is selective, and because of high demand, not all qualified applicants can be admitted.

Candidates for admission to the Master of Arts (M.A.) program in clinical psychology must meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate School, including language proficiency, found in the Admission section of this Bulletin. In addition, minimum requirements for admission to the program include:

• An undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale;
• Satisfactory test scores on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination.

Candidates for the M.A. degree program in clinical psychology typically have completed a minimum of 18 credit hours of undergraduate coursework in psychology including courses in abnormal psychology, and either statistics, tests and measurements, or experimental psychology.

Applications for admission to the program are evaluated once a year for fall semester matriculation. The application deadline for the M.A. degree program in clinical psychology is December 1.

Curriculum Requirements

The program includes formal course work in the core areas of psychology, research methods, personality and psychopathology, principles of psychological assessment and intervention, and professional issues in clinical psychology. Students are also required to complete six hours of practicum training. There is no thesis requirement. Although much of the program is prescribed, students are allowed some flexibility in choice of electives and practicum placements. In addition to providing a solid foundation for a career in clinical psychology, the program requirements satisfy prerequisites for many doctoral programs in clinical psychology.

Practicum and Field Work

Practical experiences are an important part of the psychology training programs. Both TU psychology clinics and community placements can be accessed to assure students receive a variety of experiences. Students are expected to behave in an ethical, legal, professional, and skilled manner during any practicum placements. Practicum assignments and course management will be arranged by the Coordinator of Practicum Training. The performance of students in Practicum and Fieldwork is carefully monitored and students are expected to regularly attend Practicum except for an appropriately excused absence.

Eligible students must have previously completed the following classes with a grade of B or higher: PSY 7223 , PSY 7113 , PSY 7153 , PSY 7193 , and PSY 7543 . All students will enroll in PSY 7451-6 Practicum I: Clinic Practicum in Clinical Psychology  at the TU True Blue Neighbors Behavioral Health Clinic during the summer after their first year and will remain enrolled through spring of the second year. Students must satisfactorily complete PSY 8063  with a grade of B or higher to continue PSY 7451-6  at the clinic. During the third year of training, the Coordinator of Practicum Training has the responsibility to determine a student’s placement.

Grades below a B in Practicum or Fieldwork are not considered acceptable and will not count towards graduation requirements.  If two grades below “B” are earned in Practicum or Fieldwork, a student will not be allowed to enroll in the course again. This may affect graduation requirements unless the course was being taken for elective credit only.

If a student is removed from a practicum because of poor performance or misbehavior, the Coordinator of Practicum Training may refuse to provide future placements. A single episode of serious misconduct in a clinical placement could result in prohibition from further clinical training and dismissal from the program.

Additional information regarding the management and grading of practicum requirements may be found in the Practicum Manual.