Approved by: Graduate Council
Implementation Date: Summer 2014
Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.
Summary
General Administration approved the change of name to Master of Arts in Psychology on May 12, 2014.
Catalog Copy
MASTER OF ARTS IN CLINICAL /
COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY
The objective of the master’s degree program in
Psychology is to train psychologists in the knowledge
and skills necessary to address problems encountered in
modern living. The program provides a foundation in
the research methods and content of basic psychology
as well as training in the applied skills of professional practice
excellent preparation for doctoral programs in psychology.
The relatively small, competitively selected student
body receives individual attention from faculty
members who maintain rigorous standards of
academic excellence.
Students develop knowledge and skills in
psychological assessment, learn various treatment and
intervention strategies, and work with a variety of
populations in consultation, evaluation, and research.
An extensive practicum component utilizes the
Charlotte area as a setting for applied experience.
The program prepares students for the North Carolina
psychology licensure exam and for positions in
diverse settings such as community mental health
centers, correctional facilities, and other human
service programs. We prefer to admit students who
plan to pursue a doctoral degree.
Additional Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to graduate study in
Clinical/Community Psychology, a student must
present the following requirements in addition to
those required by the Graduate School:
1) Completed application by March 1
2) 18 hours of undergraduate psychology including
Introductory Psychology & Research Methods
3) An undergraduate course in statistics
4) Acceptable scores on the Verbal and Quantitative
GRE
5) The GRE subject test in psychology is
recommended for applicants who were not
psychology majors
Admission to the program is very competitive for the
spaces available each year. Most students who are
admitted have much better records than the minimum
required. The primary Clinical/Community
Psychology application deadline is March 1 for
admission in the Fall semester, but if space is still
available, late applications will be considered until
May 1. Students may not begin the program during
the Spring semester.
Degree Requirements
The Clinical/Community Psychology program requires
at least 48 30 semester hours of graduate coursework.
Full-time students should be able to complete the
program in two calendar years. A thesis and
comprehensive exam are is required.
Basic Knowledge and Methods in Psychology (14
hours)
PSYC 6102 Research Design and Quantitative
Methods in Psychology (3)
PSYC 6107 Ethical and Professional Issues in
Psychology (2)
PSYC 6999 Thesis (3)
and two courses (6 hours) selected from the
following:
PSYC 6010 Topics in Learning and Cognition (3)
PSYC 6015 Topics in Perception and Physiological
Psychology (3)
PSYC 6020 Topics in Developmental Psychology (3)
PSYC 6030 Topics in Social Psychology and
Personality (3)
Clinical/Community Coursework (34 hours)
PSYC 6050 Topics in Psychological Treatment (3)
PSYC 6141 Intellectual Assessment (4)
PSYC 6142 Personality Assessment (4)
PSYC 6145 Applied Research Design & Program
Evaluation (3)
PSYC 6150 Psychological Treatment (4)
PSYC 6151 Behavior Disorders (4)
PSYC 6155 Community Psychology (3)
PSYC 6450 Practicum in Clinical Psychology (3)
PSYC 6455 Practicum in Community Psychology (3)
Or a second
PSYC 6450 Practicum in Clinical Psychology (3)
Elective (Selected in consultation with advisor) (3)
1. Core Requirements: (18 hours)
- Methodology (6 credits)
- Option A:
- PSYC 8102 Research Methodologies in Behavioral Sciences (3)
- PSYC 8103 Basic Quantitative Analyses for Behavioral Sciences (3)
- Option B:
- PSYC 6205 Field and Lab Based Quantitative Research Methods (3)
- PSYC 6145 Applied Research Design & Program Evaluation (3)
- Option A:
- Ethics (3 credits): Choose one of the following
- PSYC 6107/8107 Ethical and Professional Issues in Psychology (3)
- PHIL 6240/8240 Research Ethics in the Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences (3)
- Health (6 Credits)
- PSYC 6200/8200 Health Psychology (3)
- PSYC 6202/8201 Health Psychology II (3)
- Thesis (3)
- PSYC 6999
- Thesis committees shall have at least 3 members. At least one member should be a member of the health psychology faculty. The committee must be approved by the student’s advisor and the program director. After submitting the formal written proposal to the committee, a proposal defense will be scheduled. Approval of the thesis proposal by the committee must be unanimous. Following a successful proposal, the student shall execute the study, write and submit the complete thesis to the committee. An oral defense in front of the committee shall then be scheduled. Approval of the completed thesis by the committee must be unanimous.
2. Electives (12 hours)
- Minimum 12 elective hours selected in consultation with the student’s Advisory Committee.
Hours beyond the 48 30 hours may be required by the
academic advisor and the Clinical/Community Program Committee
student’s advisory committee. The faculty conduct a thorough
review of student performance on a regular basis.
Continuation in the program is contingent upon a
favorable review during these evaluations. Students
who consistently show borderline course
performance, who are not developing good applied
skills in the practice of psychology, who fail to
complete coursework in a timely basis, or who
otherwise perform unprofessionally or unsatisfactorily,
may be required to complete additional courses or
practicum work, or may be removed from the
program. The enrollment of a student who receives
three grades of C or one Unsatisfactory (U) grade
during his or her graduate career is automatically
terminated.
Comprehensive Examinations
All students are required to successfully complete comprehensive examinations covering research design, ethics and knowledge of clinical/community psychology. Students who fail the comprehensive exam twice are removed from the program.
Assistantships
A variety of resources are available for financial assistance. These include teaching assistantships to proctor the general psychology laboratory, research assistantships from faculty grants, and graduate assistantships in other campus units such as the Learning Center and Disability Student Services. These range in pay from $8,000 to $12,000 per academic year.
Research Experiences
Students are encouraged to become involved in ongoing research in the department, and they are required to complete a thesis.
Practica
Practica, involving practical experience working with human service agencies in the region, are a required part of the program.
COURSES IN PSYCHOLOGY (PSYC)
PSYC 6200. Health Psychology. (3) Cross-listed as PSYC 8200. Intensive review of the contributions of the discipline of psychology to the promotion and maintenance of health, the prevention and treatment of illness, and the improvement of the healthcare system. The course will examine links between psychology and health by emphasizing interactions among biological, behavioral and social systems that impact health and illness experiences. Topics will include stress, coping, pain, chronic disease and psychoneuroimmunology. Emphasizes the relevance of age, gender, personality, and culture for understanding health related behaviors. (Fall)
PSYC 6202. Methods in Health Psychology II. (3) Cross-listed as PSYC 8201. Prerequisite: PSYC 6102 and PSYC 6200. Continuation of Health Psychology. Advanced review of qualitative and quantitative issues relevant to the conduct of health and behavior research. Topics include: assessment of quality of life; instrument sensitivity, specificity, and responsiveness; and, the evaluation of health service delivery. Emphasizes the development of methodological, analytical, and interpretive skills necessary to evaluate practices, programs, and policies in health psychology. (Spring)