Psychology, Master of Arts (092)
Department website: http://www.wku.edu/psychology/
Program Coordinator
Frederick G. Grieve, rick.grieve@wku.edu, (270) 745-4417
This program prepares students to pursue careers in clinical psychology and/or to enter a doctoral program. M.A. graduates are eligible in Kentucky for licensure as Psychological Associates.
Concentrations
- Clinical (MACL)
Program Admission
Program admission is based on a comprehensive evaluation of a candidate’s application file and an interview. Applicants must submit:
- Undergraduate transcript of an earned undergraduate degree with a minimum of 18 hours of psychology coursework including statistics or research methods (3 hrs), abnormal (preferred) or personality psychology (3 hrs) with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 and 3.00 in psychology coursework
- Three letters of recommendation from professionals attesting to the applicant’s potential for success in the program
-
A personal statement that includes the following three sections. Each section should be answered in multiple paragraphs. Additional information can be added at the student's discretion, but the personal statement MUST address the following: Section 1: The student should describe their long-term professional goals. What does the student see themselves doing as a master’s-level practitioner. The student should discuss the experiences they have had that have prepared them for these goals. Section 2: The student should describe their research interests and experiences. The student should discuss what they have done in the area of research. If students have presentations or publications, include the APA-style citation for them. The student should explicitly state with whom in the department they would like to work. Section 3: The student should describe their clinical experiences. The student should discuss how they have been exposed to therapeutic work and what they have learned about therapy. The student should discuss the theoretical orientation to which they feel most attracted at this time.
- Resume or curriculum vita
- Psychology Department application
- Criminal background check
Graduate Studies Admission
Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate Studies admission requirements.
Program Requirements (48 hours)
The clinical psychology program prepares students to be successful performing both research and therapy. The degree offers a broad foundation for the professional who will render a wide variety of psychological services at the MA level and/or prepare students to pursue further education at the doctoral level. Clinical psychology graduates have the credentials necessary to pursue licensure in the state of Kentucky. Practicum and internship (9 hours) are required. There is a thesis and a non-thesis option. A criminal background check will be required of successful applicants during the first semester of graduate study at the applicant's expense. Grades lower than B may not be used to satisfy requirements for courses in the clinical training sequence (PSY 560, PSY 640, PSY 641, and PSY 660), or practicum and internship (PSY 562, PSY 592, and PSY 662). Practicum/internship sites may have additional requirements before allowing students to complete placements; these might include, but are not limited to, vaccinations, additional background checks, and health screenings.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| EDFN 500 | Research Methods | 3 |
| or EDLD 722 | Research Design for Improvement Science | |
| EDFN 501 | Educational Statistics | 3 |
| or EDLD 712 | Introduction to Research Methods | |
| PSY 511 | Psychology of Learning | 3 |
| PSY 520 | Individual Differences and Human Diversity | 3 |
| PSY 541 | Professional Issues and Ethics in Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 560 | Assessment of Individual Intellectual Functioning:Theories and Issues | 3 |
| PSY 562 | Practicum in Psychological Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 640 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY 641 | Theories of Psychotherapy | 3 |
| PSY 646 | Social Psychology for Applied Practice | 3 |
| PSY 651 | Clinical Neuropsychology for Applied Psychologist | 3 |
| PSY 660 | Assessment of Personality and Socio-Emotional Functioning | 3 |
| PSY 662 | Practicum in Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 592 | Psychology Internship | 3 |
| PSY 590 | Readings of Research Psychology (3 hours AND 3 hour elective approved by advisor for nonthesis option. ) | 6 |
| or PSY 599 | Thesis Research | |
| Total Hours | 48 | |