Graduate Catalog

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND PSYCHOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELING
Henry Schreiber, Chair

The Department of Psychology offers three graduate degrees: (1) The Master of Science (M.S.) in Clinical Psychology, with optional specializations in school psychology or neuropsychology; (2) The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling Psychology, with an optional specialization in marriage and family counseling; and (3) The Master of Arts (M.A.) in School Counseling.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
The clinical psychology program provides the opportunity for the student to understand, evaluate, and counsel persons with psychological problems, and to draw upon community resources for assistance in working with these persons. During completion of the M.S. degree and approved internship, the student is provided the opportunity to administer psychological tests and use various techniques of counseling and psychotherapy, behavior therapy and biofeedback. Students who complete all requirements in the clinical area, and who become licensed, often work in psychiatric hospitals, in mental health centers, or with doctorate-level psychologists in private practice.

Students may complete a general program of study in clinical psychology or may choose one of two specializations. A specialization in neuropsychology is available for graduate students completing a clinical psychology emphasis. The clinical neuropsychology specialization is also available for students with a master's or doctoral degree who desire training in neuropsychology. The sequence of courses includes brain functioning and neuroanatomy, psychopharmacology, organic mental diseases, diagnosis and neuropsychological assessment. Upon completion of the 15 hour sequence, a certificate will be awarded.

The school psychology specialization provides the opportunity for the student to evaluate, counsel, prescribe and implement remedial procedures for students with behavioral, intellectual, and emotional problems. Because of the broad scope of this program, graduates may not be limited to employment in school settings. Many community mental health centers and other service centers employ graduates with school psychology training.

MASTER OF ARTS IN COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY
The M.A. in Counseling Psychology is intended to prepare students to counsel persons experiencing distress, rather than severe psychological disturbances. Students receive instruction in group processes, human development, and guidance counseling, in addition to instruction in assessment and counseling techniques. Students who complete their degrees and meet state certification or licensing requirements may be employed in settings similar to those employing clinical psychology graduates and other mental health professionals.

Students may specialize in marital and family counseling. These students are instructed in systems theory and in assessment and counseling techniques that pertain to marriage, divorce and family problems, including child sexual abuse and family violence.

MASTER OF ARTS IN SCHOOL COUNSELING
The M.A. in School Counseling is intended for teachers who wish to become counselors in educational settings. This degree program does not prepare its graduates to counsel in social service or mental health agencies or in private practice. Students in the M.A. in School Counseling program receive instruction in developing appropriate comprehensive guidance plans to promote the educational, personal, social and career development appropriate to elementary and secondary students. They are instructed in assessment and counseling techniques, including legal and ethical standards, practices and issues. Students complete their practicum in a public or private school.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Deadlines for application are October 1 for spring admission and February 1 for fall admission. Students may complete up to twelve credit hours of graduate courses prior to admission, with permission of their faculty advisor, the psychology graduate advisor, or the department chair. Exceptions to the 12-hour maximum must be approved by the University's Coordinator of Graduate Studies.

In addition to the Graduate Admission Requirements listed in this catalog, to be considered for admission, applicants must submit:

An official transcript and Application for Graduate Studies should be sent to the Office of
Graduate Studies. All other materials, including a second transcript (official or student copy), should be sent to the Senior Graduate Advisor, Department of Psychology, UT Tyler.

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis. Admission is competitive and based on multiple criteria including letters of reference, work experience, GRE scores and grade point average (GPA) in the last sixty hours of undergraduate work. Successful applicants usually have a GPA of 3.0 or better (on a four point scale) and GRE scores which exceed the fiftieth percentile when compared to an appropriate reference group. Students who have not participated in traditional educational experiences may find that their performance on standardized tests does not adequately reflect their ability for graduate study. Applicants who believe their grade point average or their scores are not valid indicators of their ability should explain their concerns in a letter to the psychology graduate advisor. The department may elect to require additional assessments, including interviews, of individual applicants. Consideration for admission is also given to one or more of the following: the applicant's demonstrated commitment of his or her chosen field of study, socioeconomic background, multilingual proficiency, geographic region of residence, first generation of family to graduate from an undergraduate program, and involvement and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, or family responsibility of raising children.

Students seeking admission to the clinical and counseling psychology degree programs should consult the psychology graduate advisor or should have completed the following undergraduate prerequisites: Introductory Psychology, Psychological Statistics and Laboratory, Experimental Psychology and Laboratory, Learning and Conditioning, Tests and Measurement, and Abnormal Psychology. Additionally, students seeking to enter the Master of Science degree program should complete Physiological Psychology, and, if seeking the specialization Certificate in Clinical Neuropsychology, should complete Psychopharmacology also. Students seeking admission to the school counseling degree program should consult the school counseling graduate advisor or should have completed the following prerequisites: Abnormal Psychology, Learning and Conditioning or equivalent, and Cultural Diversity of Clients or equivalent. Applicants must have a current teaching certificate.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND EXAMINATIONS
The Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology degree programs require 60 credit hours of course work. The specialization in School Psychology in the Master of Science in Clinical Psychology degree program requires 66 credit hours of course work. The Master of Arts in School Counseling degree program requires 42 credit hours of course work. Each is organized hierarchically into two tiers.

First Tier
The first tier is comprised of basic general, clinical and counseling courses that provide, in conjunction with the undergraduate prerequisite courses, the basis and foundation for the second tier courses.

First tier course work includes the following for clinical and counseling psychology students: PSYC 5312 Counseling Theories, PSYC 5308 Advanced Psychopathology, PSYC 5328 Issues and Professional Ethics, PSYC 5340 Advanced Psychological Statistics and Design, PSYC 5342 Advanced General Psychology, PSYC 5361 Behavior Modification. Depending upon their degree program students may include the following among their first tier course work: PSYC 5320 Advanced Study in Human Growth and Development, PSYC 5345 Group Processes, PSYC 5350 Clinical Neuropsychology, PSYC 5354 Psychopharmacology, PSYC 5366 Assessment of Individual Mental Ability I.

First tier course work for school counseling students includes the following: EDSP 5350 Overview of Special Education, EDUC 5301 Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences, COUN 5334 School Guidance and Counseling, COUN 5335 Career Counseling and Assessment or approved alternative, PSYC 5301 Tests and Measurement, PSYC 5312 Counseling Theories, PSYC 5320 Advanced Study in Human Growth and Development or approved alternatives, and PSYC 5361 Behavior Modification. Other courses may be included in the first tier curriculum as approved by the appropriate graduate advisor and included in the student's degree plan.

Qualifying Examination
Students may progress to enroll in courses in the second tier only after successfully passing the department's Qualifying Examination. Students who do not pass the Qualifying Examination may be dismissed from their degree programs. Also, the department may dismiss students from their degree programs for violations of the ethical and professional standards of the American Psychological Association.

Second Tier
The second tier is comprised of more specialized clinical and counseling courses, and courses which feature the application and practice of clinical skills. Particular second tier courses appropriate for the neuropsychology, school psychology, and marriage and family specializations and for the M.A. in School Counseling degree are specified in the student's degree plan.

Second tier students in clinical and counseling psychology are required to enroll in two consecutive semesters in PSYC 5392/5393 Applied Therapy prior to their required enrollment in COUN/PSYC 5396/5397 Supervised Practicum in Clinical / Counseling Psychology. Students in the school counseling program should enroll in the following second tier courses after completing their first tier courses and prerequisite: PSYC 5330 Counseling Children and Adolescents, PSYC 5345 Group Processes, and PSYC 5366 Individual Assessment of Mental Ability I. Finally, school counseling students must enroll in COUN 5314 Applied School Counseling prior to their required enrollment in COUN 5386 Supervised Practicum in School Counseling.

Comprehensive Examinations
Students will complete an oral comprehensive examination.

The objective of the oral comprehensive examination is to determine the degree candidate's diagnostic and therapeutic skills, clinical insight, understanding of ethical and professional practices and standards, and to ascertain the candidate's general readiness to enter clinical practice. The examination may be scheduled only during the student's last semester of enrollment. During the oral examination the examination committee may elect to question the student's understanding of any part of his or her curriculum of study.

The student must pass the comprehensive examination. If the student is not passed, then he or she will have a second opportunity to take the examination after completing any remedial preparatory work required by the exam committee. Failure to pass the comprehensive examination a second time may result in termination of the student from the master's program or extensive remedial work.

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE
The M.S. in Clinical Psychology can qualify students to take the licensing exam for certification as a Licensed Psychological Associate (L.P.A.) from the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. The M.A. in Counseling Psychology is intended to prepare students for the licensing exam to become a Professional Counselor (L.P.C.) through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. However, following consultation with the Senior Graduate Advisor in Psychology, substitutions in course work or modest additions of course work may qualify graduates for both credentials. For example, many M.S. alumni have the L.P.A. and the L.P.C. The L.P.C. requires three years or 3000 hours of supervised practice after the completion of the master's degree.

Students who complete the School Psychology Specialization can qualify as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (L.S.S.P.) from the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, after passing the licensing exam. The L.S.S.P. requires a 1200 hour supervised internship in an educational setting.

The M.A. in School Counseling can qualify students to meet the course requirements to become School Counselors certified by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification. The school counseling program is intended to prepare students to pass the ExCET (#60). Students who also wish to receive the L.P.C. must complete additional coursework including an additional 100 hour supervised practicum in a clinical setting, and must pass the appropriate oral examination. Applicants must have two years of teaching experience to qualify for the S.B.E.C. School Counselor Certificate. Students matriculating in master's programs other than the M.A. in School Counseling program or students who already have master's degrees should contact the Graduate Advisor in School Counseling regarding the School Counselor Certificate. Students seeking only the S.B.E.C. School Counselor Certificate must meet the admission and other requirements for the M.A. in School Counseling degree programs.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Total Semester Credit Hours = 60

MASTER OF ARTS IN COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY
Total Semester Credit Hours = 60

MASTER OF ARTS IN SCHOOL COUNSELING
Total Semester Credit Hours = 42

Required total for degree and certification is a minimum of 42 graduate hours. Substitutions to meet individual needs and interests are possible with prior advisor approval. Specifics of this program are subject to change by S.B.E.C. or the degree-granting institution. New and currently enrolled students may be required to meet additional or different requirements.

MASTER OF ARTS AND MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREES IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
Psychology may be chosen as one of the three required disciplines for the Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies. The Interdisciplinary Studies degree program is described in the graduate section of this catalog. The Psychology Department participates in interdisciplinary studies only to provide limited preparation in general psychology. Students majoring in psychology in interdisciplinary studies are not prepared to pursue certification or licensing in clinical psychology or professional counseling.

Students majoring in psychology in interdisciplinary studies are required to score in the upper half (fiftieth percentile or better) on the psychology subject test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and to successfully complete PSYC 5342 Advanced General Psychology prior to the semester in which they take their comprehensive examinations.