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2012-2013 Argosy University Academic Catalog—Graduate Programs | Volume 3, Issue 9 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degree Program—Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg
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Program Overview
The Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Psychology degree program has been designed to educate and train students to enter a professional career as master’s-level practitioners. The Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg provides for its master’s degree students an educational program that is designed to provide the necessary theoretical and clinical elements that will allow them to be effective members of a mental health team. The program introduces students to basic clinical skills that integrate individual and group theoretical foundations of applied psychology into appropriate client interaction and intervention skills.
In addition, the program offers excellent preparation for those considering application to the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology degree program.
Eligibility for Licensure
Graduates of the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program may wish to pursue licensure in Illinois as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). With the addition of two counseling courses, the program curriculum includes courses in each area of study required by the department of professional regulation for master’s-level licensure in Illinois. In order to qualify for the LCPC examination, graduates of the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program must complete two years of supervised clinical work after receiving the master’s degree. For more information and application materials to apply for licensure in the state of Illinois, see the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Web site at www.idfpr.com.
Master’s-level licensure varies from state to state. It is the student’s responsibility to determine the requirements for professional licensure in the state they wish to practice. Students interested in pursuing licensure in states other than Illinois should contact their state’s department of professional regulation for information. The American Counseling Association frequently publishes information on professional issues of importance to |professional counselors, including licensure, on their Web page: www.counseling.org.
Foundation Courses
Applicants should have completed the five undergraduate courses, or their equivalent:
Abnormal psychology or psychopathology
General or introductory psychology
Personality theories
Statistics or research methods
Psychological assessment or tests and measures
Students who have not completed these courses prior to admission must complete them before the beginning of the second semester of the student’s first academic year. These courses are designed to provide a foundation for the doctoral degree program’s clinical psychology curriculum and in certain areas offer perspectives and information that complement those of the clinical program.
Argosy University, Schaumburg offers non-credit courses in most of the above subject areas, which are available to first-year students periodically during the academic year. Courses in psychological testing require completion of the tests and measures course either before or concurrent with enrollment in the first testing course.
Enrollment Requirements
Students have the option to maintain a fulltime 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
Students must make satisfactory progress towards a degree by maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0. All students must complete the program within five years after entry into the program. Clinical students must take the Master’s Therapy Practicum no later than the third year after entry into the program.
Students who receive a grade below “B-” in a core course must retake the course during the next academic year or sooner. Students who have grades lower than “B-” in doctoral program core courses and are subsequently accepted into the doctoral clinical psychology program will be required to retake those courses.
Students who entered the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program in Fall 2004 or later are required to complete the semester equivalent of 50 credit hours (44 credit hours of courses and 6 credit hours of practicum and practicum seminar). The suggested minimum amount of work that a student should complete each year following matriculation to complete the program appears as follows:
Suggested Incremental Time Frame Rates
| End of Year One |
12 credit hours |
| End of Year Two |
22 credit hours |
| End of Year Three |
32 credit hours (including practicum and practicum seminar) |
| End of Year Four |
42 credit hours |
| End of Year Five |
50 credit hours |
Graduation Requirements
To be eligible for graduation, students must meet the following requirements:
- 50 semester credit hours which must be successfully completed by the end of the fifth year of matriculation. The total hours must include:
- 50 credit hours of required courses (includes practicum seminar and professionalization groups credit hours)
- 2 semesters of Professionalization Group
- 6 credit hours (generally one academic year) of practicum and practicum seminar
- Successful completion of the Clinical Competency Examination (CCE)
- Successful passing of the master’s Comprehensive Exam
- Obtaining a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0
- A completed Petition to Graduate submitted to campus administration
Program Requirements
The MA in Clinical Psychology degree program requires the satisfactory completion of 50 semester credit hours distributed as follows: assessment requirements, 9 credit hours; clinical intervention and psychotherapy requirements, 6 credit hours; ethics and professional conduct requirements, 5 credit hours; human development requirements, 6 credit hours; psychopathology requirements, 6 credit hours; psychotherapy requirements, 9 credit hours; statistics and research methods requirements, 3 credit hours; and practicum and practicum seminar requirements, 6 credit hours.
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Assessment Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Assessment Requirements — 9 Credit Hours
Clinical Interventions and Psychotherapy Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Clinical Interventions and Psychotherapy Requirements — 6 Credit Hours
Ethics and Professional Conduct Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Ethics and Professional Conduct Requirements — 5 Credit Hours
Human Development Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Human Development Requirements — 6 Credit Hours
Psychopathology Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Psychopathology Requirements — 6 Credit Hours
Psychotherapy Course Requirements — Students Are Required to Take 3 of the Following
Therapy Requirements — 9 Credit Hours
Note:
* Recommended if pursuing LPC/LCPC licensure with the MA in Clinical Psychology degree. † No more than 3 credit hours. Prerequisites must be met. Statistics and Research Methods Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Statistics and Research Requirements — 3 Credit Hours
Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements — Students Are Required to Take the Following
Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements — 6 Credit Hours
Practicum and Practicum Seminar Requirements
The goal of the practicum at the master’s level is to train students in the application of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes developed by their academic experience. This experience includes the direct observation, interviewing, and treatment of clients. Certain sites also afford some students with the opportunity of limited exposure to psychological testing procedures. The master’s in clinical psychology degree program Therapy Practicum stresses therapeutic intervention. Because there is such a wide range of therapy experience available, students should not expect to experience the total spectrum of therapies during the practicum. The practicum is the first opportunity provided to students for clinical field training. The practicum is designed to provide students with opportunities to work under supervision with a clinical population within a mental health delivery system. The practicum is designed to provide an essential part of clinical training and all students are required to participate in the practicum experience. Liability insurance is charged at the time of registration. The practicum is a required 750-hour training experience that takes place during an academic year, normally beginning in the Fall and concluding at the end of the spring semester or summer I semester. The practicum is treated as a course and carries 3 credit hours per semester or 6 credit hours for the academic year. A practicum may not be done in a student’s place of employment, nor may any student waive the practicum requirements. Students who come to the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg with extensive clinical backgrounds may pursue placement in practicum sites in areas where they have an interest and do not have previous experience. The MA in Clinical Psychology degree program practicum is not intended to substitute for PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree program practicum. Students who intend to apply to enroll in the doctoral degree program after completing the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program may not waive doctoral-level practicum on the basis of their master’s-level practicum. Practicum Prerequisites and Requirements
All students who enter the practicum application process must be in good academic standing, have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and have completed the academic planning which will allow for all the practicum prerequisite courses to be completed prior to the beginning of the practicum. No student may begin a practicum without being in attendance at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg for a minimum of two semesters. The following courses are practicum prerequisite courses and must be completed and/or waived prior to beginning the practicum: The Clinical Training Department and the program chair of the Clinical Psychology program have the discretion to make decisions on any probationary student who is beyond the first year of attendance. This would include the student activities of both seeking a practicum and attending a practicum. If a first-year student is placed on probation based on fall semester grades, the student may not look for a practicum during the spring semester. If the student has achieved a satisfactory GPA (3.0 on the 4.0 scale) when the spring semester grades are available, the student, at the discretion of the Clinical Training Department and the director of the master’s in clinical psychology program, may look for a practicum. If a first-year student who has accepted a practicum is placed on probation after spring grades are received, the student may not attend the practicum if the GPA is below the minimum requirement after the summer Igrades are received. If the GPA is satisfactory after the summer I grades are received, the student, at the discretion of the Clinical Training Department and the director of the master’s in Clinical Psychology program, may begin the practicum. Practicum Seminar
All students enrolled in a practicum must also concurrently enroll in a practicum seminar. The seminar meets weekly throughout the academic year and allows the student to reflect on various practicum experiences and to acquire additional skills and attitudes useful in field training. The specific content and emphasis of the seminar varies according to the practicum setting, the focus of the enrolled students, and the professional expertise of the faculty member. Practicum Evaluation
Evaluation of student progress in clinical field training focuses on three areas: theoretical knowledge base, clinical skills and professional attitudes. A thorough review of site and seminar evaluations is conducted by the Clinical Training Department, and an overall grade of “Credit” or “No Credit” is included in the student’s academic record. Comprehensive Examination Requirements
All MA in Clinical Psychology degree program students are required to successfully complete a Comprehensive Examination. The information assessed by the examination covers the courses and material required of students during the two years of study at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg. The Comprehensive Exam is generally held in July at the conclusion of the second year of study. Students wishing to sit for the LCPC exam may request an earlier exam date (i.e., May or June) to ensure they have completed application by the LCPC exam deadline provided they have completed all of the necessary requirements prior to the exam date. Students must have successfully completed all required coursework, with the exception of practicum and practicum seminars, to be eligible to take the Comprehensive Exam. Additional information regarding registration, qualification, format, and dates of the exam can be obtained from the Student Services Department or program chair of the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program. Students who are unable to pass the Comprehensive Examination will be allowed to retake the exam a maximum of two additional times. The exam may be retaken during the next scheduled administration of the exam. Students will receive information from the director of the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program concerning their performance on the examination and assistance from faculty in constructing additional experiences and instruction aimed at enabling them to pass this program requirement. A third failure will result in dismissal from the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program. Clinical Competency Examination Requirements
At the master’s level, the Clinical Competency Examination (CCE) consists of a competency-based evaluation designed to evaluate the student’s mastery of basic clinical assessment and therapeutic skills. Students should be capable of demonstrating clinical competence via the Master’s Psychotherapy CCE both conceptually and in application. The Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg also expects that students who have learned theoretical and applied concepts in classroom courses will have made use of out-of-class clinical contacts (i.e., practicum, practicum seminar group, visiting lecturers) to refine and extend the skills to be evaluated by the CCE. Therefore, passing the seminar and site evaluation do not guarantee a passing grade on the CCE. Descriptions and Procedures for Successful Completion
Procedures for the Master’s Psychotherapy CCE require the student to submit a tape, a transcript, a client assessment and progress report, and a self-critique of a therapy session that the student has conducted with a client. The student will have received supervision on this therapy session from the practicum site supervisor, but this session must not have been submitted for review, supervision or critique at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg or elsewhere prior to submission for satisfying the requirements of the CCE. The Psychotherapy CCE is graded “High Pass/Pass/Pass” with “Revision/Fail.” In the event that a student passes the CCE with revision, the practicum seminar leader will develop a remediation plan with the student. All revisions must be completed within one semester of the original CCE. In the event that a student fails the examination, she or he must seek remediation, and will be permitted to retake the examination the spring semester of the following year. The Clinical Training Committee, in consultation with the initial examining faculty member, will recommend a program of remediation to address concerns noted in the first CCE. The student’s progress in remediation will be taken into account. A student may retake the CCE one time. A second failure will result in dismissal from the school. Detailed explanations of these procedures are contained in the Master’s Therapy CCE Advisories which are distributed to practicum seminar faculty and students at the beginning of the fall semester. Course Requirements for Counselor Licensure
Those MA in Clinical Psychology degree program students who wish to take the required coursework to qualify for Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) will need to adjust their programs as follows: - Add Career and Lifestyle Development (PC6600 )
- Add additional course, Counseling Theory (PC6000 )
- Program will require an additional 6 credit hours of courses, for a total of 56 semester credit hours.
- Select the following courses as the three therapy course choices:
Group Psychotherapy (PP8060 ) Family and Couples Therapy (PP8050 ) Assessment and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders (PP8650 ) Recommended Course Sequence for the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degree Program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg
Student progress through the program is intended to be sequential. First-year students are offered certain courses which provide a theoretical and practical foundation for courses that will follow. In addition, certain advanced courses require the student to have the background of more basic courses or practicum experience 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. Recommended course sequences for spring starts are available through the program chair or advisor. Summer Semester
- Third of three required psychotherapy courses* (3)
- Comprehensive Examination (0)
- Clinical Competency Examination (0)
Course/Credit Transfer
Transfer of Courses/Credit into the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology Degree Program from other Institutions
Like other institutions that offer graduate degrees, the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg does not automatically transfer credit from graduate coursework taken at other institutions. Students who have taken graduate courses elsewhere may petition to have these courses apply toward a transfer of courses in the curriculum. For a course to be considered eligible for transfer, the following conditions must be met: - The course must have been taken no more than five years before the student’s entry into the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg, except when students present evidence of ongoing work experience or continuing education in that area, or when students pass a transfer exam for the course.
- The course must have been a graduate-level course, taken for graduate level credit at a regionally accredited college or university. In the case of institutions outside the United States, the appropriate state or national accreditation is required.
- Any course submitted towards a transfer of a 3-credit course must have itself carried 3 or more graduate credit hours.
- A student must have earned a grade of “B” or better on any course submitted for a transfer.
- A maximum of five courses (15 credit hours) may be waived towards the MA in Clinical Psychology program.
The school does not accept any credit earned as military credit, credit by examination, credit by correspondence, credit for life experience, or graduate credit from non-accredited schools. Any student who desires to submit a course for transfer review should notify the Student Services Department and obtain the appropriate transfer request form. This form should be completed and returned to the Student Services Department. Requests must be made in writing. Transfer requests may be submitted any time during the admission process until the end of the first year of matriculation. Transfers are not reviewed or officially granted until a student is officially accepted. Transfers are not recorded on the transcript until the student has paid a transfer fee for each approved transfer. Students petitioning for transfer are requested to provide course descriptions, syllabi, exams, diagnostic test protocols and write-ups. Transfer are normally granted by the faculty if there is an 80 percent overlap in course content and objectives between the course submitted for transfer and the course as it is offered at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg. Students may obtain the procedures to be observed in submitting transfer requests from the Student Services Department. Non-Transferable Courses
In each program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Schaumburg the requirements to successfully complete certain courses may not be met by transfer of credit based on coursework from other institutions. The following are nontransferable courses in the MA in Clinical Psychology degree program: |
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