Department of Psychology
Robert A. Haaf, Chairperson
Rickye S. Heffner, Associate Chairperson
Robert K. Elliott, Director of Clinical Training
Requirements for the Master's Program
Students enrolled in the doctoral program earn the M.A. degree in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Ph.D. degree. For these students, requirements for the M.A. degree are an integral part of the doctoral program.
Students not enrolled in the doctoral program may apply for admission to the master's program in general psychology. Applicants must satisfy admission requirements of the Graduate School, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the department. Each applicant must submit an application, transcripts of previous academic work, three letters of recommendation, and Graduate Record Examination scores (including the advanced psychology test).
A minimum of 35 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree is required. Each student must complete specific course-related requirements, including research practicum experience, and must complete a master's thesis. Although the program is designed to provide broad training in general psychology, it is expected that the thesis will be conducted within one of the following domains: cognitive psychology and language, developmental psychology, psychobiology and learning, social psychology.
Requirements for the Doctoral Program
A minimum of 92 semester hours of course work is required in the Ph.D. program in Psychology, 47 hours of core requirements and a minimum of 45 hours in one of two areas of concentration: behavioral science or clinical psychology. Training in clinical psychology, which is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association, provides students with a broad educational foundation in the science and the practice of clinical psychology. Training in behavioral science allows students to focus on various aspects of cognitive psychology and language, developmental psychology, psychobiology and learning, and social psychology.
The purpose of doctoral program is to prepare students for careers in academia (teaching, research, clinical work), in mental health programs, in clinical intervention settings, as well as in other settings. Doctoral training emphasizes the inculcation of scientific attitudes with regard to (a) the gathering and evaluation of information, (b) the solving of basic and applied research problems, and (c) clinical assessment and psychotherapy. Each student must complete specific course-related requirements, a master's thesis, doctoral examinations, and a doctoral dissertation; the department's foreign language requirement must also be completed succeessfully. An individual plan of study is developed by the student in consultation with the academic adviser and advisory committee.
Applicants must satisfy admission requirements of the Graduate School, and the department. Each applicant must submit an application, transcripts of previous academic work, three letters of recommendation, and Graduate record Examination scores (including the advanced psychology test). A brief biological sketch is also required from each applicant in clinical psychology.