Program Overview

The MA in Psychology program is designed to prepare students for further study at the doctoral level and/or for careers in psychology and the helping professions. Students choose one of three tracks that best serves their educational goals:

• Clinical (with applied emphasis): a 48 credit program designed for students interested in developing clinical skills; it emphasizes diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of psychological and behavioral disorders, and it culminates in a semester-long practicum placement in an applied setting. *Please note that this track is currently on hiatus.  No new students are being accepted to this track.*
• Clinical (with research emphasis): a 39 credit program designed for students who want to move on to PhD programs, usually in clinical psychology; it emphasizes diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of psychological and behavioral disorders, but students in this track also engage in research; the culmination is a Master's thesis based on empirical research, rather than a practicum.
• General: a 30-36 credit program designed for students who want to move on to PhD programs, usually in non-clinical areas of psychology; through independent study and active research collaboration, this track provides the most opportunities for working closely with faculty mentors; the culmination is a Master's thesis based on empirical research.

All three tracks share a core set of courses, taken in the first year and building upon students’ undergraduate experiences, that provide advanced knowledge of scientific psychology, often in a seminar format. In the clinically-focused tracks, students are trained as scientists and practitioners, concerned with the application of psychological principles to the treatment and prevention of behavior disorders. Courses provide theoretical and practical training in contemporary methods of assessment, behavioral and cognitive-behavioral clinical intervention, and program evaluation.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Analyze the biological, developmental, and contextual determinants of behavior
  • Analyze the relationship between biological bases of behavior and human functioning
  • Describe the process of human development and acquisition of learned behaviors across the lifespan
  • Analyze how individuals' knowledge exists in the context of their environment (e.g., social, geographical, familial, institutional, cultural, etc.) and how the environment affects their functioning
• Critique and apply principles of research methods
• Apply psychological principles and evidence-based theories to practical problems in the field of psychology
• Synthesize clinical coursework and apply it outside the classroom (Applied Track)
• Produce a substantive research paper describing data that elucidates a psychological topic (Research Tracks)
• Apply ethical and professional standards to relevant research and/or clinical situations
• Explain the role of social and cultural diversity in human characteristics, experiences, and behavior
• Select appropriate intervention techniques, correctly administer tests, and accurately interpret results (Clinical Tracks)