Psychology

Master of Arts in Psychology
Mission Statement
Programs and Courses

David Carlston
Chair, Psychology Department

Michael Vandehey
Graduate Coordinator

Graduate Faculty:

Carlston, Guthrie, Tempelmeyer, Vandehey

Master of Arts in Psychology

The Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a Master of Arts with a major in psychology. Students complete a 60-hour curriculum designed to satisfy the requirement for licensure in the State of Texas as either a Licensed Professional Counselor and/or Licensed Psychological Associate.

Students may transfer up to (12) hours of graduate psychology graduate credits from other institutions with approval of the Psychology Department Chair, the Graduate Program Coordinator, and the Dean of the Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Mission Statement

The purpose of the Midwestern State University Graduate Program in Psychology is to provide the highest quality of training in the assessment and treatment of psychological disturbance whether found in children, adolescents, adults, families, or the community. Students leave the program with training in personal, interpersonal, educational, and vocational areas that impact individuals, families, and communities. The main focus is on the master’s level practitioner; however, we actively encourage our students to pursue doctoral training, and we see our program as a first step toward that goal.

Careful attention is paid to the values which provide a foundation for our approach to graduate training in psychology. Our values encompass the following domains: (1) scientific conceptualization - the application of scientific investigation and development of new knowledge to problem identification and problem-solving, (2) clinical objectives - the application of psychological theory and efficacious treatment to individual difference including cultural diversity, gender, age, socio- economic status, etc., (3) ethics - exemplary personal and professional conduct that betters the field of psychology, and (4) interpersonal ability - ways in which one’s behavior fosters trust, empathy, and self-awareness.

Our faculty members come from diverse theoretical orientations and professional experiences. Therefore, students can expect to become knowledgeable in a variety of psychological theories and practices.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

Required application materials include an Application for Admission to The Graduate School at Midwestern State University (https://msutexas.edu/academics/graduate-school/how-to-apply.php), official transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) and official Graduate Record Examination scores. Additional application materials, such as letters of recommendation and personal statements are optional but may strengthen an application. All application materials must be submitted to:

Graduate Coordinator Psychology Department
c/o The Dr. Billie Doris McAda Graduate School
Midwestern State University
3410 Taft Blvd.
Wichita Falls, TX 76308
940-397-4920

Completed applications will be distributed by the Psychology Department Graduate Coordinator to the other members of the Psychology Graduate Admissions Committee for their consideration.

Applications for fall admission will be evaluated beginning March 1st. Should positions remain open after the March 1st evaluation, applications will be evaluated as received. Although applications received or completed after these deadlines will be considered, no guarantee can be made that processing will be finished in time for registration or that remaining positions will be available. Early applicants will receive first consideration for admission, competitive scholarships, out-of-state tuition waivers, as well as financial aid.

Unless special arrangements have been made with the Department Chair, Graduate Coordinator, and with the instructor of record, no student will be allowed to enroll in any graduate psychology course unless he or she has applied for admission and has been accepted into the program. Under no circumstances may students continue in graduate psychology classes beyond the first semester of enrollment without applying to and being accepted into the program.

Admission standards are somewhat flexible, but the following guidelines are used by members of the Psychology Graduate Admissions Committee in making admission decisions:

Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. This degree need not be in psychology, but non-majors can anticipate a substantial amount of leveling work, if they have not completed sufficient psychology related coursework while fulfilling their undergraduate degree requirements.

Ideally, applicants will have completed course work in the following areas of psychology with a grade of C or better: introductory psychology, statistics, learning, research methods, and one or more courses in the clinical area of psychology (e.g., clinical, abnormal, personality).

Note: It may be possible for some of these courses to be completed as leveling work at Midwestern, and in some cases, this may be accomplished while the student is enrolled in graduate psychology courses.
Graduate Record Exam: Students must submit current (within five years), official Graduate Record Exam scores. Although Graduate Record Exam scores are not the sole criterion for admission consideration, they are required.

Applicants may be admitted in two categories: conditional admission or unconditional admission. Conditional admission is infrequently granted by the Psychology Graduate Admissions Committee. Students admitted conditionally are admitted to the degree program, but are provided specific academic requirements (e.g., undergraduate leveling work, minimum GPA attainment) that must be completed during a specified timeframe in order to continue in the degree program. Once these conditions are met, conditionally admitted students will be unconditionally admitted to the degree program.

Unconditional admissions indicates that the applicant has been accepted to the degree program and will remain in the program given satisfactory performance. Continued enrollment in the graduate psychology program is dependent upon continuing satisfactory performance in three areas: academic, assistantship (if applicable), and clinical (when applicable) as discussed below.

Students are expected to participate actively in classes, attend relevant extracurricular training opportunities, and to maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) or higher. It is further expected that students will receive no more than a single grade lower than a B.

Graduate Assistants and Research Assistants are expected to work reliably and with minimal prompting by their assigned faculty and to perform assigned tasks in a timely and satisfactory manner. Students will be evaluated on the discharge of the responsibilities by the faculty member to whom they are assigned. Graduate Teaching Assistants are expected to conform to all University and program standards, policies, and procedures in the performance of their teaching duties. Graduate Teaching Assistants will be evaluated by the instructor of PSYC 6001 .

Clinical skills are monitored by all clinical faculty members. These evaluations include readiness for initial practicum assignment, performance within clinical practicum settings, and observations of behavior outside the practicum. Deficiencies in any of the three evaluation areas will prompt a General Performance Appraisal of the student, at which time deficiencies will be outlined, corrective actions specified, and a timetable established for completing these corrective actions. Failure to rectify deficiencies in a timely and acceptable manner will result in dismissal from the program. Should it be determined appropriate and in the student’s and program’s best interests, a student may be allowed to complete a 50-hour masters degree program. Said students would receive a master’s degree but would not complete PSYC 6152 or PSYC 6203 and would not be qualified for providing clinical services post-graduation.

Admission to Candidacy

Students are automatically admitted to candidacy upon successful completion of 18 hours of graduate psychology credits.

The Final Comprehensive Examination

All students must pass a final comprehensive examination prior to receiving the graduate degree. This examination is to be taken in the semester in which the student intends to complete the requirements for the degree. If unsuccessful in the examination, the student may be re-examined only once during the same semester. If the student fails this second examination, he/she must wait to be re-examined until the semester following the initial examination, except with the permission of the Department Chair. Before the petition for reexamination is granted, evidence of additional preparation must be presented. A student who fails the exam three times will be dismissed from the program.

The Final Oral Examination

When the thesis or applied research paper has received final approval by the Graduate Advisory Committee, the student should schedule the final oral examination. This examination must be completed at least two weeks before the end of the semester. The chairperson of the Graduate Advisory Committee will file in the Office of the Registrar a report on the examination, signed by the members of the Graduate Advisory Committee. This report will also contain a recommendation for or against approval of the candidate for graduation. If unsuccessful in the examination, the student may not be re-examined until the semester following the initial examination, except with the permission of the Department Chair, Graduate Program Coordinator, and Director of Clinical Training. Before the petition is granted, evidence of additional preparation must be presented.

Thesis Requirements

Completion of a thesis is optional, generally recommended for students aspiring to doctoral study. Additionally, completion of a thesis will require three additional hours beyond the 60 hour degree requirement. The thesis is to be completed in a style consistent with the most current Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. The thesis should be submitted to the student’s Graduate Committee at least six weeks prior to the end of the semester (defined as the last day of finals). The final version of the thesis must be approved by the Graduate Committee at the oral examination at least four weeks before the end of the semester. The thesis is submitted at this time to the Dean of the Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences and to the Dean of the Dr. Billie Doris McAda Graduate School. All submitted copies of the student’s thesis must comply with publication and signature requirements as established by the McAda Graduate School.

Programs and Courses

Programs

Major

Psychology, M.A.

Courses

Psychology