Argosy University, Hawai‘i
Program Overview
The Master of Science (MS) in Psychopharmacology degree program incorporates coursework and clinical practice and is designated to comprehensively train postdoctoral psychologists to prescribe medications independently, appropriately, effectively, and safely. It is a 32 credit hour program with a practicum component requiring treatment of 100 patients. Upon successful completion of the program, students will have the education and experience to prescribe psychopharmacological medications consistent with state and federal laws, and work collaboratively with physicians, nurses, and other health care providers in order to coordinate care. This program is intended to prepare students for the psychopharmacology Exam for Psychologists (PEP).
Admission Requirements
Students must be currently licensed/certified/ registered psychologists at the independent level based upon a doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) in psychology from a regionally accredited institution in psychology and licensed in the state/province/territory where services are provided. Additionally, students must be currently qualified as health service providers in psychology, or be credentialed by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology or the Canadian Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, or designated as Health Service Providers in the applicable states, or possess credentials satisfying either of the following conditions: Doctoral degree in psychology meeting ASPPB/National Register Designation Criteria; one year of internship meeting APA, CPA, APPIC, or National Register criteria; and one year of postdoctoral supervised experience in health service meeting APA, APPIC, ASPPB, or National Register criteria.
An exception to the above admission criteria will be made for Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) and other post-doctoral fellows, who are in a post-doctoral degree programs sponsored by the U.S. military.
Before beginning the program, students must also possess sufficient knowledge of human biology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, neuroanatomy and psychopharmacology to ensure an adequate foundation for successful completion of the postdoctoral degree program. This will be determined by a review of the applicant’s transcripts and by possible use of competency examinations.
A “Health Service Provider in Psychology” is a psychologist currently and actively licensed/ certified/registered at the independent practice level, who is trained and experienced in the delivery of direct, preventive, assessment and therapeutic intervention services to individuals whose growth, adjustment or functioning is impaired or who otherwise seek services. All applications for admission must be submitted to the Admissions Department. An admissions representative is available to assist interested applicants in completing the following required documentation:
- Application fee (Non-refundable, except in California and Arizona. In the state of Arizona, the application fee is refundable if the application is canceled within three business days of the applicant signing the Enrollment Agreement.)
- Personal/professional goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession
- Current resume
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
Graduation Requirements
Students must complete a curriculum involving 32-credit hours for the MS in Psychopharmacology degree program. This includes:
- Satisfactory completion of 32 semester credit hours beyond the doctoral degree, including 30 credit hours of coursework and 2 credit hours of practicum
- A grade point average of 3.0 or higher (on a scale of 4.0), and a grade of “B-“ or better in all required courses
- Satisfactory completion of two semesters of practicum and practicum seminar requirements which include:
- Supervised treatment of 100 patients over 250 hours
- Weekly participation in weekly campus based seminar while enrolled in practicum
- Completion of these requirements within 5 years of matriculation into the program
- A completed Petition to Graduate submitted to campus administration.
Program Requirements
The MS in Psychopharmacology degree program requires the satisfactory completion of 32 semester credit hours distributed as follows: core requirements, 30 credit hours; practicum requirements, 2 credit hours
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