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2012-2013 Argosy University Academic Catalog—Graduate Programs | Volume 3, Issue 2 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degree Program—Texas School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Dallas
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Program Overview
The Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Psychology degree program is designed to meet the needs of both those students seeking a terminal degree at the master’s level and those who eventually plan to pursue a doctoral degree. The MA in Clinical Psychology degree program at the Texas School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Dallas is designed to introduce students to basic clinical skills that integrate individual and group theoretical foundations of applied psychology into appropriate client interaction and intervention skills. Additionally, it offers excellent preparation for those considering application to the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program.
Program Objectives
Specific objectives of the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program include the following:
- Entry level preparation for practitioners of professional psychology capable of delivering effective and ethical diagnostic and therapeutic services to diverse populations of clients in need of such treatment.
- The development of students who will demonstrate their knowledge and competence in addressing the needs, values and experiences of people from diverse populations by recognizing and distinguishing people from such subpopulations, differentiating their experiences and prioritizing their needs.
- Training of entry level practitioners of professional psychology capable of systematically evaluating the effectiveness of their services through utilization of the existing and evolving body of knowledge and methods in the practice and science of psychology to enhance the applications of psychology throughout their careers.
- The education of students who will be familiar with the current body of knowledge in cognitive-affective, biological and socio-cultural bases of human behavior.
- The development of entry level practitioners who are capable of assuming leadership both in the health care delivery system and in the training of mental health professionals in healthcare and other organizational systems.
Eligibility for Licensure
Graduates of the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program may wish to pursue licensure in Texas as a Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA), a subdoctoral license for qualified individuals to practice psychology under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. It is the student’s responsibility to determine the qualifications and requirements for professional licensure in the specific state in which they wish to practice. For more information and application materials, please contact the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (333 Guadalupe, Tower 2, Room 450, Austin, Texas, 78701, 512.305.7700).
Faculty Advisement
Students are assigned an academic faculty advisor upon admission to the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program. Academic advisors are available to discuss matters related to professional development and progress in the program. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisors when they have questions or problems in these areas.
Clinical Training Overview
Clinical training involves the supervised out-of-class student contact with a clinical population. Through this contact, students apply their theoretical knowledge, implement clinical techniques based on this knowledge, and develop the professional and personal attitudes of master’s level clinical psychology practitioners. By the end of clinical training, Texas School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Dallas students possess effective assessment and intervention skills, and practice in a highly ethical manner.
Foundation Courses
Applicants are expected to have completed the following undergraduate foundation courses, or their equivalents:
- Introduction to Psychology (3)
- Abnormal Psychology (3)
— or—
- Maladaptive Behavior and Psychopathology (3)
- Statistics or Research Methods (3)
- Two additional psychology courses (6 credit hours)
These courses provide a foundation for the required curriculum and offer perspectives and information that complement those of the clinical psychology program. Students who have not completed these courses prior to admission must do so no later than the end of the first year of enrollment. Students may not be eligible to register for certain courses in their program for which one or more of these courses serve as prerequisites.
Argosy University offers online undergraduate courses in all of the above subject areas. Students who have completed one or more foundation courses after being admitted to the program must submit an official transcript documenting their completion to the Student Services Department.
Deferral Policy
An applicant admitted to the Texas School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Dallas who finds that pressing and unforeseen circumstances prevent him or her from matriculating during the semester for which he or she was admitted, may request a deferral of admission for up to one year from the semester for which he or she was admitted. A student who wishes to request a deferral should send a letter to the Admissions Department indicating his or her special circumstances, along with the required non-refundable tuition deposit, by the deadline indicated in the acceptance letter. If deferral is granted, an additional $200 non-refundable deposit is required, for a total deposit of $400.
Enrollment Requirements
Students in the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program have the option to maintain a full-time or part-time course load. Students are encouraged to register for a minimum of 6 credit hours each semester. The most effective way of achieving the program’s objectives is to take the theoretical and practical courses over a two- or three-year period in the order recommended by the faculty.
Additional Requirements for Academic Progress
Each student must make satisfactory progress toward their master’s degree by maintaining a GPA of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0), as well as proceeding through the course of study at a pace leading to completion within a maximum time period of five years. The minimum accumulation of credit hours suggested for satisfactory progress is as follows:
Suggested Incremental Time Frame Completion Rates
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| End of Year One |
14 credit hours |
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| End of Year Two |
28 credit hours |
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| End of Year Three |
40 credit hours |
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| End of Year Four |
50 credit hours |
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| End of Year Five |
50 credit hours |
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Students who receive a grade below “B-” in a core course must retake this course no later than the end of the next calendar year. Core courses in the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program include all courses except the required psychotherapy courses.
Students who receive a grade below “B-” in a required psychotherapy course must either retake the same course or substitute the remaining option from the required psychotherapy courses in order to satisfy the program requirement. However, it is in the student’s best interest to retake the same course, since only the second higher grade is used to calculate the cumulative grade point average. Also, students who are subsequently admitted to the doctoral degree program must receive a grade of “B-” or better in all required psychotherapy courses.
Graduation Requirements
To be eligible for graduation, students in the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program must successfully complete the following:
- 50 semester credit hours of coursework (including 6 credit hours of practicum and practicum seminar)
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Program Requirements
The MA in Clinical Psychology degree program requires the successful completion of 50 semester credit hours distributed as follows: assessment requirements, 9 credit hours; clinical intervention and psychotherapy requirements, 15 credit hours; diversity requirement, 3 credit hours; ethics and professional conduct requirements, 5 credit hours; human development requirement, 3 credit hours; psychopathology requirements, 6 credit hours; statistics and research methods requirement, 3 credit hours; and practicum and practicum seminar requirements, 6 credit hours. Assessment Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Assessment Requirements — 9 Credit Hours
Clinical Intervention and Psychotherapy Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Students Choose Three of the Following
Clinical Intervention and Psychotherapy Requirements — 15 Credit Hours
Diversity Requirement — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Diversity Requirement — 3 Credit Hours
Ethics and Professional Conduct Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Ethics and Professional Conduct Requirements — 5 Credit Hours
Note:
Professionalization groups must be taken in the first two semesters of the student’s enrollment
Human Development Requirement — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Human Development Requirement — 3 Credit Hours
Psychopathology Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Psychopathology Requirements — 6 Credit Hours
Statistics and Research Methods Requirement — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Statistics and Research Methods Requirement — 3 Credit Hours
Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements —Students Are Required to Take the Following
Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements — 6 Credit Hours
Professionalization Group Requirements
During the first year, students participate in weekly Professionalization Groups that focus on topics related to professional psychology. Through readings and discussions led by a faculty member, students can begin to develop a professional identity and become familiar with current issues in clinical psychology. The groups are designed to provide a comfortable environment in which students can freely exchange concerns, questions, and issues relevant to their studies and their future careers. Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements
The practicum is an opportunity for Texas School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Dallas students to work under supervision with a clinical population in a mental health delivery system. The practicum requires the student to adjust to and work in an established program in a way that is mutually beneficial to the training site and to the student’s professional growth. The learning that takes place in such an environment will transfer to other clinical situations, and becomes an integral part of the foundation for sound clinical practice in the future. Each practicum requires a minimum of 250 hours (500 over two sites—approximately 20 hours per week) of clinical training. Some practicum sites may require additional hours beyond this minimum requirement. It is expected that at least 75 hours of the practicum hours should involve direct service, including diagnostic or intervention sessions with clients, psychological evaluations, and preventive or outreach services. The practicum/ seminar carries 3 credit hours per semester, or 6 credit hours per academic year. Some practicum sites require placement for 12 months per calendar year. All Texas School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Dallas students enrolled in practicum attend a weekly one-hour practicum seminar led by a faculty member. A practicum may not be done in a student’s place of employment, nor are practicum requirements waived. Practicum Eligibility
All students who enter the practicum application process must be in good academic standing, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0), and have completed the academic planning which will allow for the following practicum prerequisite courses to be successfully completed prior to the beginning of the practicum (see following). Students must demonstrate the readiness to assume a professional role and interact appropriately with clients. Personal adjustment issues, interpersonal difficulties, poor communication skills, or other behavioral problems may reflect on a student’s ability to interact with clients in a competent and ethical manner. Students on probation are not eligible to make application to practicum or to begin practicum. Students placed on probation during practicum must petition the director of Clinical Training regarding their eligibility to continue practicum. Practicum Prerequisites
All students enrolled in a practicum also must attend a practicum seminar. The seminar meets weekly throughout the academic year and allows the student to reflect on practicum experiences and to acquire additional skills and attitudes useful in field training. The specific content and emphasis of the seminar series varies according to the practicum setting and focus of the enrolled students. To be eligible for practicum, a student must have successfully completed (or transferred, if applicable) the following courses: Course/Credit Transfer
Transfer of Courses/Credit to the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degree Program from other Institutions
Students who have completed graduate coursework at another institution may petition for transfer of courses into the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program up to a maximum of 15 credit hours (five courses). For a course to be considered eligible for transfer, the following conditions must be met: - Course descriptions and syllabi must demonstrate that the course taken by the student is identical to the Texas School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Dallas course in content, skill areas, and rigor.
- The course must be from a regionally accredited institution and must have been taken within five years of the date applied for transfer credit (unless using them as part of employment and can verify competence in some objective way).
- The student must meet a grade requirement of “B” or better for all courses, with a grade requirement of “A” for skills courses (see courses that may transfer after additional review).
- Syllabi must accompany course descriptions to assist faculty in evaluating the courses.
- Assessment courses will only be considered for transfer credit under unique circumstances and evidence indicating a student has an expert level of proficiency in test administration and interpretation. A sample protocol and report must accompany an application to transfer assessment credit.
- All transfer credit decisions are final. The following is a list of courses that may transfer upon demonstration that the student learned the identified skill in addition to learning about the topic. These courses must have either a skills component noted in the syllabus and/or a sample report attached. The student also must have earned a grade of “A” in the skills course.
All course transfer requests must be submitted to the Student Services Department before or during the first semester of enrollment in the program. Transfer Request Forms are available from the Student Services Department. A separate form must be submitted for each course request. The transfer request must be accompanied by a transcript reflecting completion of the course and the grade received, along with other supporting documentation, such as course description, syllabus, and work samples. The request will be reviewed and a decision rendered within four weeks of the request. If approved, the transferred course and credits will appear on the student’s transcript as a “transfer course” under the corresponding course number and title. Courses that May Transfer After Additional Review
Non-Transferable Courses
Following is a list of courses that will not be reviewed for transfer. Transfer of Courses/Credit from another Argosy University Campus
Students who transfer from one Argosy University campus to another may receive credit for a course taken at the original campus, if the course is substantially similar (80 percent or more) to the one offered at the transfer campus. In cases where the course is similar but not identical, the campus has the option to review for approval or denial. Students at the Texas School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Dallas who wish to submit course transfer requests for courses taken at another Argosy University campus must do so before or during the first semester of enrollment at the Texas School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Dallas. Transfer of Courses/Credit to the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology Degree Program from the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degree Program
All courses successfully completed in the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program that are also required in the PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program curriculum will be applied toward that degree program. Other coursework completed in the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program will be considered for transfer to the doctoral program on a case-by-case basis. Recommended Course Sequence for the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degree Program at the Texas School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Dallas
Student progress through the clinical psychology program at the Texas School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Dallas is intended to be sequential and cumulative. Certain courses are offered to first-year students that provide a theoretical and practical foundation for courses that will follow in subsequent years. In addition, certain advanced courses require the student to have the background of more basic courses in order to benefit fully from the course experience. Students must satisfy all stated prerequisites for a course before a registration for that course can be considered official. This catalog and registration material contains the prerequisites for any given course. Note:
*Clinical Interventions and Psychotherapy Elective Requirements–students choose 3 of the 6 courses listed
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