Graduate Degree Programs
THOMAS G. BOWERS, Graduate Program Coordinator
Penn State Harrisburg
W-311 Olmsted Building
777 West Harrisburg Pike
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6063
dvo@psu.edu
www.hbg.psu.edu
M.A.
The Master of Arts in Applied Clinical Psychology program helps students prepare to work as mental health professionals in a variety of settings and is intended to provide a broad training program in empirically validated clinical psychology which, when accompanied by an additional 12 credits in advanced graduate studies in psychology and/or counseling, can provide the academic training necessary for graduates to apply for master's level licensing as a professional counselor in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The M.A. program requires 48 credits of course work. An optional 12-credit certificate program is available in the area of clinical health psychology through the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education for students seeking licensure.
The overall model emphasizes the scientific bases of behavior, including biological, social, and individual difference factors. The training model is health-oriented rather than pathology-oriented and emphasizes the development of helping skills, including both assessment and intervention.
The degree program is intended for both part-time and full-time students. Admission is possible for the fall or spring semesters. The deadline for fall admission is May 1 and the deadline for spring admission is November 1.
Students will be admitted on a competitive basis and must submit the following:
The applicant must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited academic institution or the equivalent, must have completed at least 18 credits in psychology, and must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or above in the last 60 credits of course work. The undergraduate work must include a statistics course and a psychology research methods course with grades of B or higher. A personal interview is required.
All applicants whose first language is not English or who have not received a baccalaureate degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), www.toefl.org. The test must be passed with a score of 550 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test) or higher.
All students with international credentials must submit transcripts to Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) for a "Course by Course" academic evaluation of transcripts and degree. An ECE application can be obtained on the Web at www.ece.org.
Penn State allows for the approval of up to 10 transfer credits to graduate programs.
Students must have a 3.00 grade-point average to graduate from the program.
There is a limited number of scholarships and research grants available, as well as graduate assistantships. Many students work full-time and take classes part-time. In many cases, employers have a tuition-reimbursement plan paying for partial or full tuition. To find other options available to you, contact the Financial Aid Office at 717-948-6307.
The M.A. in Applied Clinical Psychology requires 48 credits of coursework. Included in the core courses are 100 hours of clinical practicum, 600 hours of supervised internship experience, and a master's research paper.
Psychology Core Courses (23 credits) provide a foundation in professional ethics, individual differences and cultural diversity, the scientific bases of behavior, and scientific research skills. These courses are intended to facilitate the development of an awareness of the context in which clients live and in which interventions must work.
Clinical Core Courses (25 credits) provide a general background in clinical diagnosis, assessment, and interventions with appropriate supervised experience to allow students to develop the clinical skills appropriate for master's level practitioners.
Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.
Last Revised by the Department: Fall Semester 2004
Blue Sheet Item #: 32-07-018
Review Date: 6/15/04
Last updated by Publications: 1/20/09