Graduate Studies in Psychology
Program Overview
Admission Requirements
M.A. in Clinical Psychology
M.A. in Applied Research Psychology
Course Descriptions
Application for Graduate Scholarships and Assistantships
Graduate Handbook (Revised November 2009)
Information on Applied Psychology Laboratory
Overview
The Psychology Department offers two M.A. prorgams: Clinical Psychology and Applied Research Psychology. These programs provide advanced training for recent graduates as well as for individuals who have been in the work force for a number of years. Graduates from our MA programs are provided with instruction related to working in a wide range of settings, including mental health centers, juvenile detention centers, child service agencies, specialized school services, residential treatment facilities, family counseling agencies, governmental and community agencies, teaching in community colleges, or preparing for study at the doctoral level.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must provide three letters of reference, must have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general aptitude test, and meet minimum University requirements. Two of the three letters of reference should be from past professors who are in a position to evaluate the applicant's qualifications for graduate school. Applicants also are required to submit a letter of intent of no more than two typed pages, which explains reasons for applying to the Master's program in Psychology. The applicant should also indicate his/her reasons for selecting UTPB and his/her preferred option of either clinical or applied research studies.
Four upper level (12 hours minimum) undergraduate psychology courses are required for admission to the Graduate Program in Psychology. These four courses must include one course in statistics, one course in experimental psychology (or research methods in psychology), and one course in biological foundations of behavior. In addition, students interested in the Clinical Psychology program are encouraged to take Tests and Measurements, as it is required for several graduate courses in Clinical Psychology. Students with deficiencies in these prerequisites must take the appropriate courses and earn a minimum grade on a B during the first two semesters the student is enrolled provisionally in the graduate program. Students may enroll in the necessary undergraduate courses and in selected graduate courses concurrently.
Note: Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. All application information should be completed by April 22nd for admission to the subsequent Summer or Fall semester, and by October 22nd for admission to the subsequent Spring semester. Late applicants may be reviewed in July for enrollment in the subsequent Fall semester, providing sufficient faculty are present to constitute the "Graduate Acceptance Committee."
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
(45 to 48 hours)
The Clinical Psychology program offers training in child, adolescent, and adult disorders. The program is grounded in the scientist-practitioner model and thus involves training in theory, research design and statistics, and the application of principles to the provision of psychological services.
Successful completion of the M.A. in Clinical Psychology program is designed to provide students the education requirements needed to take state examinations required for the Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) in the State of Texas (45 hours minimum; for more information see: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/counselor/default/shtm). In addition to completing the requirements for the M.A. degree, the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) also requires an additional 3000 supervised hours after completing the M.A. degree. Both licensures, the LPA and LPC, require the successful passage of an examination called for by the licensing body after the completing of the M.A.
Course Requirements
For about half of the courses listed below there are course prerequisites. If a course does not have a prerequisite listed, then there are none and hte student may enroll in that course at any time.
A. Required Foundation Courses (9 hours):
Research Methodology (PSYC 6302)
Advanced Statistics I (PSYC 6304)
Ethics and Professional Issues (PSYC 5324)
B. Concentration Courses (21 hours):
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (PSYC 6305)
Psychopathology (PSYC 6321)
Current Psychotherapies (PSYC 6322)
Intellectual Assessment (PSYC 6350)
Personality Assessment (PSYC 6351)
Practicum (PSYC 6392) (6 hours)
C. Elective Psychology Courses (12-18 hours):
These courses are selected in consultation with the advisor, consistent with certification or licensure objectives.
D. Master's Thesis (3 hours):
Each student must complete a master's thesis which consists of research in the application of principles and theories of behavior to some problem of interest. Problems are investigated under the supervision and direction of student's graduate committee comprised of faculty, with the student's advisor ordinarily serving as chairperson. The student will later defend the thesis before the committee.
Master of Arts in Applied Research Psychology
(39 hours)
The Applied Research program focuses on advanced psychological theory (i.e., developmental, personality, social, etc.), research methods statistics, and manuscript/grant preparation. All students are expected to be involved in research activities throughout their graduate program. Research activies are coordinated with faculty members depending, in part, on the student's interests. During the first year, students (with their faculty committees) develop a plan of study for their graduate prorgam. The plan specifies students' long-range goals, the specialties they expect to pursue in Psychology, the fields of Psychology or related disciplines in which they will become proficient, the kins of research skills they intend to acquire, the sequence of courses, research, and teaching experiences they hope to follow, the kinds of examinations by which they will demonstrate mastery of different kinds of material, and an approximate timetable for accomplishing these ends. The details of these plans can be changed by agreement among the student and his/her committee. This plan is to be completed during the first semester after admission and forms the basis of the Graduate Study Plan students must submit by the end of their first year.
Successul completion of the M.A. in Applied Research is designed to provide students with a broad background in general Psychology and research methods that will prepare them for employment in a variety of settings. Graduates from this program will have developed critical thinking skills, communication skills (both oral and written), and problem-solving skills, as well as extensive training in advanced research methods and statistics. This program will prepare those students wnating to pursue further education for various Ph.D. prorgams in Psychology, but will provide those students wanting to work in more applied settings with invaluable skills for other occupations, including positions in business, mental health and social services, research, granting agencies (e.g., NIH, NSF, NIMH), industry, advertising and marketing, consulting, and even government agencies.
Course Requirements
A. Required Foundation Courses (12 hours):
Research Methodology (PSYC 6302)
Advanced Statistics I (PSYC 6304)
Advanced Statistics II (PSYC 6314)
Ethics and Professional Issues (PSYC 6324)
B. Elective Psychology Courses (15 hours):
These courses should be chosen in consultation with the Faculty Advisor and be consistent with the students' overall goals. Up to 6 hours of Contract Study (PSYC 6391) may be included in these hours.
C. Research Courses (9 hours)
Practicum (PSYC 6392) (3-9 hours)
Contract Study (PSYC 6391) (3-9 hours)
D. Master's Thesis (3 hours)
Each student must complete a master's thesis which consists of research in the application of principles and theories of behavior to some problem of interest. Problems are investigated under the supervision and direction of the student's graduate committee, comprised of faculty, with the student's advisor ordinarily serving as chairperson. The student will later defend their thesis before the committee.
Course Descriptions
Tests and Measurements (PSYC 6301)
Survey of major personality, intelligence, and achievement tests with emphasis on their construction, reliability, and validity. Prerequisite: Introductory Statistics.
Research Methodology (PSYC 6302)
Foundations of research planning, methodology, analytic techniques, interpretation, and reporting of psychological research. Prerequisite: Introductory Statistics.
Advanced Statistics I (PSYC 6304)
Application of statistical methods in the design and analysis of psychological research. Topics include analysis of variance models, correlation and regression, and multivariate techniques. Prerequisite: Introductory Statistics.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (PSYC 6305)
A survey of current behavioral and cognitive therapies used to facilitate effective change in children and adults.
Clinical Psychopharmacology (PSYC 6306)
This course is designed to provide the student with a foundation in neurophysiology, psychopharmacology, and principles of pharmacodynamics. May be substituted for the undergraduate course prerequisite in Physiological Psychology. Prerequisites: Psychopathology.
Group Psychotherapy (PSYC 6312)
A survey of theories of group therapy including the application and evaluation of basic group techniques.
Advanced Statistics II (PSYC 6314)
Application of statistical methods in the design and analysis of psychological research. Topics include multiple regression, factor analysis, path analysis, and discriminant analysis. Prerequisites: Introductory Statistics and Advanced Statistics I, or permission of the instructor.
Psychopathology (PSYC 6321)
A survey of the manifestations of abnormal behavior and psychological processes. Detailed analysis of the clinical and experimental literature concerning psychological and psychiatric disorders and their etiology.
Current Psychotherapies (PSYC 6322)
A critical analysis of various psychotherapeutic systems.
Individual Psychotherapy Skills (PSYC 6323)
Training in the skills necessary to conduct effective therapy with a wide range of clients. Included videotaped practice and evaluation. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Ethics and Professional Issues (PSYC 6324)
Seminar concerning the field of psychology as it relates to current ethical, social, legal, and medical issues. Emphasis is placed on the role of the psychologist in psychotherapeutic relationships and in applied settings.
Cross-Cultural Psychology (PSYC 6330)
An overview of cross-cultural studies from developmental, social cognitive, personality, and perceptual psychology. Topics covered include child-rearing acculturation, work, communication, health, and ethnic and minority groups. The course will emphasize how nature and nurture interact to produce unique behavior for a given culture.
Developmental Psychology I: Social and Personality Development (PSYC 6341)
Lifespan developmental course focusing on the theories and research of intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development as they relate to social and personality development.
Developmental Psychology II: Cognitive Processes (PSYC 6342)
Family Dynamics (PSYC 6343)
A survey of the history, current trends, and theories of family structure and processes in relation to the behavior of the individual.
Intellectual Assessment (PSYC 6350)
An examination of the principles and methods of assessing intelligence in both children and adults. Prerequisite: Tests and Measurements and permission of the instructor.
Personality Assessment (PSYC 6351)
An examination of the principles and methods of assessing personality. Prerequisite: Tests and Measurements and permission of the instructor.
Advanced Social Psychology (PSYC 6371)
An examination of the historical development of theories and methods in social psychology. Designed to provide a thorough background in social psychology and to motivate students to continue exploration of theories and issues in the field.
Psychology and the Law (PSYC 6375)
An examination of psychological effects in the legal system. Topics include: theories of crime, police selection and training, criminal investigation, identification and evaluation of suspects, rights of victims vs. the rights of the accused, the trial process, jury selection and decision-making, and punishment. Advanced Social Psychology is recommended.
Career Counseling and Development (PSYC 6378)
A survey of theory and techniques of career planning and counseling. Includes strategies for career choice, career counseling, and sources of occupational and educational information.
Selected Topics (PSYC 6389)
Graduate courses which will be offered only once, will be offered infrequently, or are being developed before a regular listing in the catalog.
Contract Study (PSYC 6391)
Under the direction of a faculty member, students will design and conduct a research project, analyze data, and submit a finding for presentation of publication. Prerequisite: admission to Psychology graduate program and permission of instructor.
Practicum (PSYC 6392)
Three semester hours (225 clock hours) of supervised practical experience in an appropriate clinic or research setting (depending on area of concentration). Prerequisites for applied research students: Research Methodology, Advanced Statistics I, and Ethics and Professional Issues. Prerequisites for clinical students: Ethics and Professional Issues, Intellectual Assessment, Personality Assessment, 24 hours towards graduate degree, proof of liability insurance, and permission of the instructor. This course may be repeated for a total of 6 hours. Practicum will be graded by S for satisfactory and U for unsatisfactory. The S does not calculate in the GPA; the U calculates as a failing grade in the GPA.
Seminar on Selected Topics (PSYC 6395)
Seminars on topics to be explored in depth as selected by individual professors. Course may be repeated on different topics.
Master's Thesis (PSYC 6399)
Research and preparation of the Master's Thesis. Course may be repeated for a total of 6 hours. Thesis will be graded by S for satisfactory upon completion of all the requirements of the thesis. The S does not calculate in the GPA. If, at the end of the semester, the student has no completed all of the requirements of the thesis but has made satisfactory progress, a grade of Z will be reported, which translates as "work in progress." The Z does not calculate in the GPA. Students desiring to complete the thesis requirements must re-register in the course the next semester.
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