Applied Clinical Psychology

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.

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- and full-time students. Students are admitted fall semester only. The deadline for applications is April 30.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

The language of instruction at Penn State is English. English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS) may be required for international applicants. See GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information.

Students will be admitted on a competitive basis and must submit the following:

• completed Graduate School application form with the application fee
• official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
• three professional letters of recommendation, two of which need to be from academic letter writers
• a brief (two-page) interest statement

GRE scores are not required for admission, but students who do not submit GRE scores will not be eligible for most graduate assistantships and/or scholarships.

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 undergraduate 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.

Applications are processed on a rolling basis with admission to the program granted only in a fall semester.

Transfer Credits

Credits earned at other institutions but not used to earn a degree may be applied toward the requirements for a graduate degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit.

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Policies.

The M.A. in Applied Clinical Psychology requires 48 credits of course work. At least 20 credits must be earned at the established graduate campus where the program is offered. Included in the core courses are 100 hours of clinical practicum, 600 hours of supervised internship experience, and a master's research paper completed in association with PSYC 530.

Psychology Core Courses (21 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 and are grounded in research.

Clinical Core Courses (27 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.

Grade-Point Average

Students must have a minimum 3.00 grade-point average to graduate from the program.

Minor

A graduate minor is available in any approved graduate major or dual-title program. The default requirements for a graduate minor are stated in Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Policies and GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies, depending on the type of degree the student is pursuing:

• GCAC-611 Minor - Research Doctorate
• GCAC-641 Minor - Research Master's
• GCAC-709 Minor - Professional Doctorate
• GCAC-741 Minor - Professional Master's

Student Aid

Graduate assistantships available to students in this program and other forms of student aid are described in the Tuition & Funding section of The Graduate School’s website. Students on graduate assistantships must adhere to the course load limits set by The Graduate School.

There are a limited number of scholarships and research grants available, as well as graduate assistantships.

Courses

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 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.

Psychology (PSYC) Course List

Learning Outcomes

1. KNOW. Graduates will be able to demonstrate conceptual understanding and proficiency in clinical psychology and counseling at the level required to contribute to the discipline.

2. RESEARCH/THINK. Graduates will be able to develop and use appropriate research methods and techniques to apply knowledge or create new knowledge aimed at significant questions in clinical psychology and counseling.

3. COMMUNICATE. Graduates will be able to effectively communicate research and practice applicable to the field in formal presentations and in written works.

4. CRITICAL THINKING. Graduates will be able to conceptualize therapeutic cases in a theoretical framework.

5. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. Graduates will demonstrate the ability to work effectively and ethically in a clinical/counseling setting with actual clients.

Professional Licensure/Certification

Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.

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