The request to revise M.A. in Psychology and create PSYC 6255 and 6355

Date: February 11, 2016
To: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
From: Office of Academic Affairs
Approved On: January 21, 2016
Approved by: Graduate Council
Implementation Date: Summer 2016

Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.

Catalog Copy

PSYC 6255. Community Interventions. (3) Cross-listed as PSYC 8255. Prerequisite: PSYC 6155 or PSYC 8155. Intensive review of the use of system- and organizational-level interventions to promote and maintain health, prevent illness, and improve quality of life. Presents an historical overview of the effectiveness of different types of interventions, and theoretical and empirical background regarding the conditions and factors that contribute to successful community interventions. Students develop and implement a community intervention, in collaboration with a local organization, and develop a grant proposal that would fund a community intervention. (Fall)

PSYC 6355. Community Research Practicum. (3) Cross-listed as PSYC 8355. Prerequisites: PSYC 6155 or PSYC 8155. Methods for conducting applied community research. Students develop and implement applied research project. (Spring)

MASTER OF ARTS IN 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 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.

Additional Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, 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

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 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.

Degree Requirements

The program requires at least 30 semester hours of graduate coursework. Full-time students should be able to complete the program in two calendar years. A thesis is required.

  1. Core Requirements: (18-21 hours)

A. Methodology (6 credits)

  • Option A (Health)
    • PSYC 8102 Research Methodologies in Behavioral Sciences (3)
    • PSYC 8103 Basic Quantitative Analyses for Behavioral Sciences (3)
  • Option B: (Community)
    • PSYC 6205 Field and Lab Based Quantitative Research Methods (3)
    • PSYC 6145 Applied Research Design & Program Evaluation (3)
  • Option C: (Cognition)
  • Courses in research methods approved by the student’s thesis committee

B. Ethics (3 credits): Choose one of the following

o PSYC 6107/8107 Ethical and Professional Issues in Psychology (3)

o PHIL 6240/8240 Research Ethics in the Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences (3)

C. Specialty area

  • Option A (Health) (6 Credits)
  • PSYC 6200/8200 Health Psychology (3)
  • PSYC 6202/8201 Health Psychology II (3)
  • Option B (Community) (Choose 9 Credits)
  • PSYC 6155 Community Psychology (3)
  • PSYC 6255 Community Interventions (3)
  • PSYC 6355 Community Research Practicum (3)
  • PSYC 6455 Practicum in Community Psychology (3)
  • Option C (Cognition) (Choose 6 Credits)
  • PSYC 6116 Cognition (3)
  • PSYC 6115 Sensation & Perception (3)
  • PSYC 5316 Cognitive Neuroscience (3)

D. 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 (9-12 hours)

o Minimum 9–12 elective hours selected in consultation with the student’s Advisory Committee.

Hours beyond the 30 hours may be required by the academic advisor and 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 fail to complete coursework in a timely basis, or who otherwise perform unprofessionally or unsatisfactorily, may be required to complete additional courses 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.

Assistantships

A variety of resources are available for financial assistance. These include teaching assistantships, research assistantships from faculty grants, and graduate assistantships in other campus units such as the Learning Center and Disability Student Services.

Research Experiences

Students are encouraged to become involved in ongoing research in the department, and they are required to complete a thesis.