Graduate Catalog: Psychology and Counseling Programs

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Psychology and Counseling Programs

General Program Information
Counseling Programs: MS Counselor Education || Elementary School Counselor || MA Mental Health Counseling
Psychology Programs: MA Psychology || School Psychology EdS || CAGS
Doctoral Program: PsyD

Chairperson: Edward J. Crawley, Ph.D.

The Department of Psychology and Counseling provides a range of programs designed to serve the interests and professional orientations of varied human service practitioners. Marywood has been involved in the preparation of psychologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals for over 50 years.

Specifically, the Department strives:

To educate students in understanding the complexity and diversity of human behavior.
To educate students to develop and implement assessment and intervention strategies to assist clients in attaining a higher quality of life.
To facilitate students’ understanding of the varied roles, obligations, and ethics of human service providers.
To develop competencies to critically evaluate and contribute to research in the fields of counseling and psychology.
To train practitioners who strive to maintain the highest standards of professional conduct while continually updating their skills in chosen concentration areas.

Programs have sufficient flexibility to permit individual students, under advisement, to plan part-time or full-time schedules appropriate to their individual needs and professional priorities. (Please note that the Psy.D. program is available only to fulltime students.) Competencies are developed through formal courses, independent study, and extensive supervised practica and internships, both on and off campus.

Student advisement and review are essential components of the overall training program. Trainee progress is monitored by the faculty during periodic student progress review sessions. In order to acquire the required competencies, a student may need more than the minimum credits required. The department has a long tradition of preparing professionals for service in the educational setting. Educational Specialist certificates and/or degree programs are available in secondary school counseling, elementary school counseling, and school psychology. Those interested in a broader area of service may consider the Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling with an applied emphasis in diverse settings. Also available are concentrations in Child Clinical/School and in Clinical Services leading to the Master of Arts in Psychology. Other psychology degree options are available for those who wish to develop a systematic understanding of human behavior for purposes of self-enrichment, pre-doctoral preparation, and other related purposes. Finally, a doctoral program leading to the Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) degree is offered.

Graduates of the Department of Psychology and Counseling have enjoyed excellent career opportunities and placements. Graduates are employed in institutions of higher education, public and private agencies, independent practices, and elementary or secondary schools throughout the eastern United States. In addition, a number of graduates are doctoral students, continuing their education at major universities in the United States (e.g., University of Missouri, University of Connecticut, Brandeis University, Florida Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, Penn State University, Brown University, etc.).

Master’s and Post-Master’s Certification Programs in Counseling and Psychology

Psychology Admission Requirements

Master’s degree and certification students in Counseling or Psychology must meet the general admission requirements of the University. While a strong undergraduate back ground in psychology is preferred, capable students with course work in general psychology, developmental psychology, and statistics will be considered.

All applicants must submit either a Miller Analogies Test score or a Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test score. Scores at or above the 50th percentile are preferred for the Miller Analogies Test or the Graduate Record Exam. Additionally, degree applicants may be required to participate in an on-campus interview. No more than six credits earned prior to full admission may be applied to a degree in the Department of Psychology and Counseling.

Counseling Admission Requirements

Degree seeking students in Counseling must meet the general admission requirements of the University.

All applicants must submit either a Miller Analogies Test score or a Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test score. No more than six credits earned prior to full admission may be applied to a degree in the Department of Psychology and Counseling. Admission to the program is based upon a holistic review of undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, and test scores.

Advisement

The faculty of the Department of Psychology and Counseling believe that advisement is a critical component of graduate training. As such, faculty are available to students during posted times. While the student’s advisor is an essential part of the student’s progress throughout the program, students are reminded that it is the student’s responsibility to schedule appointments, to register for courses in a timely manner and to submit various departmental and graduate forms (Candidacy, Comprehensive Exams, Professional Contribution, Internship, and Graduation). Students should be very familiar with the Student Handbook in their program of study and consult with their advisor on a regular basis.

Counseling Candidacy and Degree Requirements

To be eligible for candidacy in Counseling, students must meet the following requirements:

Fulfill any and all Admissions Committee requirements.
Complete twelve credits at Marywood with a QPA of 3.00 or better.
Apply for candidacy after completing twelve credits in the department.
Submit a career goal statement.
Receive departmental approval of a planned 48 or 60 credit program.
Successful completion of semi-annual performance of academic, interpersonal, and professional behavior.

Degree requirements include a practicum, internship and final comprehensive examination. Details regarding these requirements can be found in course descriptions and in the Student Handbook.

Psychology Candidacy and Degree Requirements

To be eligible for candidacy in Psychology, students must meet the following requirements:

Fulfill any and all Admissions Committee requirements.
Complete twelve credits at Marywood with a QPA of 3.00 or better (3.25 in Clinical Services and Child Clinical Services programs).
Apply for candidacy after completing twelve credits in the department.
Receive departmental approval of a planned 45-48 credit program. Note that students are not formally accepted into the Clinical Services or Child Clinical/ School programs until they have completed candidacy review (after completing twelve credits).
Students may also be required to complete a personal interview.

Degree requirements include a comprehensive examination and a closure experience (professional contribution, thesis, or internship). Details regarding these requirements can be found in course descriptions and in the Student Handbook.

Department Requirements and Student Handbook

Grade Point Average Requirement: If a Counseling or Psychology student’s QPA falls below a 3.00, that student is given one semester to bring his/her QPA up to 3.00. Two program tracks in the master’s programs require a minimum QPA of 3.25 (Clinical Services, Child Clinical Services).

Students who plan to apply for doctoral training programs after completing their master’s degrees are advised to review admissions requirements for the doctoral programs that they hope to attend. Graduation requirements at the master’s level may or may not meet the requirements of admissions for specific doctoral programs. Students may need to select particular electives in order to meet doctoral admissions requirements.

Specific details regarding tentative two-year course schedules, course sequencing,program, and degree requirements are outlined in student handbooks for each program of study (Counseling Programs, M.A. Psychology and School Psychology Programs, Psy.D. Program). Students receive a copy of the handbook for their program of study at the time of admission to the program and should consult their handbook to insure timely completion of the program. Student handbooks are available in either on-line or printed formats. Students should check with the department for information regarding access to the Student Handbook for their program of study.

Endorsement Policy

The faculty of the Counseling programs limits its endorsement to those students who have completed one of the three CACREP-based programs. Students will be endorsed only for the programs they have successfully completed.

Professional Conduct

The department requires students to conduct themselves as professionals-in-training. As such, students are expected to act in a manner that displays the highest regard for human dignity and ethical standards. This professional behavior is expected both in and out of the classroom.

Students with a Counseling major are required to adhere to the ethical code of the American Counseling Association (ACA). Students with a psychology major are required to adhere to the ethical code of the American Psychological Association (APA). Students in the Counseling and Clinical Services and Child Clinical Services tracks in Psychology are also required to demonstrate the requisite interpersonal and professional behavioral skills that the graduate faculty in these tracks determine to be essential to operate effectively as a clinician in contemporary society. Students who violate any of the ACA or APA requirements or who fail to show the required interpersonal and professional behavioral skills may be placed on probation. In the case of egregious violations of ethical requirements, students maybe dismissed immediately. Students on probation will be required to successfully complete a corrective action plan in order to be released from probationary status. This plan will be tailored to remediate the specific deficiencies demonstrated by the student and will be authored by a committee of at least three graduate psychology faculty, in consultation with the college dean. Students who do not successfully complete the corrective action plan in the time frame articulated by the plan may be dismissed from the program. Students may dispute departmental decisions in this area by following the appeals procedures of the college. Further details about this policy are contained in the student handbooks that students receive upon matriculation into the Counseling and Psychology programs.

Students in counseling programs and in the clinical/school programs in psychology will be expected to obtain clearances from the Pennsylvania State Police (criminal record clearance) and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (child abuse and neglect clearance); the department also reserves the right to require other local, state, or national clearance. Details are available in program handbooks. Students whose clearances come back with indications of a criminal record or an allegation of child abuse or neglect that was determined to be founded may be subject to a corrective action plan or dismissal from the program. Presence of a criminal record or founded instances of child abuse or neglect may prevent the student from completing practicum and internship courses.

Certification/Licensure

Current Pennsylvania State regulations require a minimum of sixty (60) credits to be considered for licensure as a professional counselor. In order to assist both counseling and psychology graduates to academically meet this qualification, the Psychology and Counseling Department offers a specialized licensure compliance program. The program is individualized for counseling and psychology graduates and is based on the educational requirements of the National Board of Certified Counselor’s (NBCC) for counseling graduates or the North American Association of Masters in Psychology (NAMP) for psychology graduates. Credit requirements are solely based on the individual graduate’s needs. The Licensure Compliance program is open to both Marywood and non-Marywood graduates. For further information, contact the department.

The Master of Science in Elementary School Counseling and Secondary School Counseling requires a minimum of 48 credits. The Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling is a 60 graduate credit program. Students in this 60 credit program meet the academic requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania. Similarly, students in the Master of Science Counselor Education Elementary and Secondary programs may also design a 60 credit program to meet LPC Standards. Note that these standards require supervised counseling experience after earning the degree and passing a national licensing exam (NBCC).

The Elementary School Counseling, Secondary School Counseling, and Mental Health Counseling Programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP). Graduates from these programs thus meet all requirements for National Certified Counselor (NCC) status and can complete the NCC certification examination immediately upon completion of the program.

Psychological Services Center

The Psychology and Counseling Department operates a training clinic, the Psychological Services Center (PSC), which provides quality, low cost mental health services to the university and local communities while providing students with supervised training as part of their graduate studies in counseling and psychology. As part of their training, students in the master’s programs of the department may be asked to assess and treat clients in the PSC, under appropriate supervision, to meet course requirements. Final determination of course requirements in this regard lies with individual course instructors in consultation with the PSC Director.

Counseling Programs

ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL COUN SEL OR PROGRAMS, leading to the Master of Science in Counselor Education degree, are designed to provide the counselor-in-training with the per son al and professional skills necessary for developing competencies in individual and group counseling, consultation, educational planning, and career development. Both programs meet the certification requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education for Educational Specialist I.

MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM IN MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, prepares counselors for careers in settings such as mental health, child welfare, and family counseling agencies; institutions for the aging; employment and personnel offices; parishes; college counseling centers; and fields dealing with chemical dependency and other addictions.

Master of Science in Counselor Education

Secondary School Counselor

48 semester hours

I. CORE COURSES

6 semester hours

EDUC 501 Research Theory
3

PSY 514 Human Development
3

II. COUNSELING CONCENTRATION
42 semester hours

COUN 504 Philosophical Foundations of Counseling and Psychotherapy
3

COUN 505 Career Development I
3

*COUN 518 Applied Practice I
3

COUN 525 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
3

COUN 530 Ethics and Professional Development
3

COUN 532 Multicultural Issues for Counseling Professionals
3

COUN 543 The Group Process in Counseling
3

*COUN 544 Counseling Techniques
3

*COUN 545 Applied Practice II in Secondary School Counseling
3

COUN 546 Organization and Administration of Counseling Services
3

*COUN 552A,B,C Internship in Secondary School Counseling
3 total

COUN 572 Counselor Education Seminar-Secondary
3

COUN 561 Introduction to Psychological Testing
3

S ED 507 Characteristics of the Mildly Impaired
3

* “B” grade required

Elementary School Counselor

48 semester hours

I. CORE COURSES
6 semester hours

EDUC 501 Research Theory
3

PSY 514 Human Development
3

II. COUNSELING CONCENTRATION
42 semester hours

COUN 504 Philosophical Foundations of Counseling and Psychotherapy
3

COUN 505 Career Development
3

*COUN 518 Applied Practice I
3

COUN 521 The Role of the Counselor Consultant in the Elementary School
3

*COUN 523 Applied Practice II in Elementary School Counseling
3

*COUN 524A,B,C Internship in Elementary School Counseling
3 total

COUN 525 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
3

COUN 530 Ethics and Professional Development
3

COUN 532 Multicultural Issues for Counseling Professionals
3

COUN 543 The Group Process in Counseling
3

*COUN 544 Counseling Techniques
3

COUN 572 Counselor Education Seminar – Elementary
3

COUN 561 Introduction to Psychological Testing
3

S ED 507 Characteristics of the Mildly Impaired
3

*“B” grade required

Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling

60 semester hours

I. CORE COURSES
6 semester hours

PSY 514 Human Development
3

PSY 503 Research Methods and Statistics I
3

II. COUNSELING CONCENTRATION
45 semester hours

COUN 504 Philosophical Foundations of Counseling and Psychotherapy
3

COUN 505 Career Development
3

COUN 507 Principles and Practices of Mental Health Counseling
3

*COUN 518 Applied Practice I
3

COUN 525 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
3

COUN 530 Ethics and Professional Conduct in Counseling and Psychotherapy
3

COUN 532 Multicultural Issues for Counseling Professionals
3

COUN 543 The Group Process in Counseling
3

*COUN 544 Counseling Techniques
3

*COUN 545 Applied Practice II in Counseling
3

*COUN 553A,B,C,D Internship in Mental Health Counseling
6 total

PSY 531 Psychopathology
3

COUN 561 Introduction to Psychological Testing
3

PSY 572 Introduction to Group Psychotherapy
3

* “B” grade required

III. ELECTIVES
9 semester hours
Nine credits are taken in counselor or related disciplines, depending on the experiential background, interests, and professional goals of the student.

Sequence of Counseling Courses

Students are reminded that certain courses are sequential and may not be taken out of sequence. Students are not permitted to take Applied Practice II and Internship simultaneously. Students who are seeking their M.A. degrees in Mental Health Counseling must complete their degrees prior to applying for and enrolling in school certification programs. The counseling sequence is:

COUN 504	Philosophical Foundations of Counseling & Psychotherapy
COUN 518	Applied Practice I
COUN 525	Theories of Counseling & Psychotherapy
COUN 544	Counseling Techniques
COUN 523/COUN 545	Applied Practice II
COUN 524/COUN 552	Internship

Certain courses (i.e., COUN 544, COUN 523 and COUN 545) are not available during summer sessions. Some courses (i.e., COUN 521 and COUN 543) are summer only courses. Internship (excluding M.A. program) courses are not available during summer sessions.

Full-time students in the Counseling Programs should expect to spend a minimum of five (5) academic semesters (six for Mental Health concentration) in order to complete their degree requirements. Admission to Applied Practice II and Internship require permission of the academic advisor or applied practice/internship instructor. All degree students must take a minimum of six credit hours (part-time) or nine credit hours (full-time) per semester and follow the program cohort model (see Counseling Programs Student Handbook for details).

Psychology Programs

Master of Arts in Psychology

Graduate study in Psychology at Marywood at tempts to provide the student with an in-depth view of the scientific foundations and professional applications of the discipline. The curriculum serves the needs of students who wish to apply psychological principles and techniques in varied professional settings. The master’s level program is also an appropriate preparation for those who wish to pursue further study at the doctoral level in a more specialized area. Program concentrations leading to the Master of Arts in Psychology are available in the following areas:

General/Theoretical Psychology
Clinical Services
Child Clinical Services

A School Psychology – Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) and a post-masters program are also offered in School Psychology.

The Clinical Services and Child Clinical Services concentrations require a minimum of 48 graduate credits, while the General/Theoretical concentration requires a minimum of 45 credits. The specialty completed will be given a transcript designation. A student with aspirations to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania is advised to complete one of the 48 credit programs and to consult with his/her advisors and with the Pennsylvania Department of State licensing board for Professional Counseling (http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa) so as to facilitate the most efficient completion of licensing requirements. Students who graduate from one of the 48 credit psychology programs will need to complete a minimum of 12 additional graduate credits in order to meet licensing requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania. More information about licensing issues is presented in the Student Handbook.

In order to be admitted into the Clinical Services, Child Clinical Services, and School Psychology program tracks students must (1) have a QPA of at least 3.25; (2) submit a supportive letter from at least one psychologist in the department (other supportive letters may be submitted as well); and (3) obtain clearance from the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. Such clearances are required before the student can register for internship or practicum courses. Applicants to these tracks may also be required to complete a personal interview with a faculty review committee as part of the review process.

I. CORE COURSES
21 semester hours

PSY 503 Research Methods and Statistics I
3

PSY 504 Research Methods and Statistics II
3

PSY 508 Biological Bases of Behavior
3

PSY 514 Human Development
3

OR

PSY 518 Advanced Human Development
3

PSY 517 Personality Psychology
3

PSY 521 Social Psychology
3

PSY 522 Cognitive/Affective Bases of Behavior
3

OR

PSY 523 Contemporary Learning Theories
3

These courses are required for both concentration areas listed below. Students are encouraged to complete core courses early in their program of study.

The program stresses development of competencies. Alternate courses may be approved for those who can demonstrate competency in a required area. Test-out procedures should be discussed with the advisor or department chairperson for those who seek course waivers of required courses. The student should understand that program adjustments will not diminish the number of credits required for a degree; they will, however, allow the student to take more advanced specialty courses as part of the program of study.

Psychology students are encouraged to take their comprehensive examinations upon completion of the seven required courses. Further details regarding the comprehensive exam are available in the Student Handbook.

II. GENERAL/THEORETICAL CONCENTRATION
45 semester hours

This concentration is intended for those students who wish to develop a broad-based understanding of psychology for varied purposes (not necessarily involving clinical applications). Students select an appropriate set of elective courses from available department offerings with the approval of an advisor. The Professional Contribution requirement for this concentration may involve either Psychology 555 or Psychology 556.

III. CLINICAL SERVICES CONCENTRATION
48 semester hours

This concentration is intended for those who wish to function in a mental health agency or other human services setting where the psychologist provides a range of consultative, assessment, and therapeutic functions. In consultation with the advisor, selection of electives in this concentration may focus on specific client populations and areas of expertise. A course of studies can be designed that emphasizes work with children and adolescents and/or work with adults. Students with primary interests in working with children and adolescents should consider the Child Clinical Services, or School Psychology tracks described below. Students considering admission into the Psy.D. program at the post-master’s level should apply for admission into the Clinical Services or Child Clinical Services program. Choice of electives and their sequencing should be discussed with the advisor and/or chairperson.

Further details regarding the Clinical Services concentration are provided in the Student Handbook. (http://www.marywood.edu/EDH/Psych%20gradbook.pdf)

A. Assessment and Diagnostic Methods (9 credits minimum)

PSY 531 Psychopathology[1]
3

PSY 532 Child Psychopathology[2]
3

PSY 562 Cognitive Assessment (elective)
3

PSY 580 Assessment of Adult Personality and Psychopathology (elective)
3

PSY 581 Socio-emotional Assessment of Children and Adolescents (elective)
3

B. Intervention Methods (9 credits minimum)

* PSY 571 Individual Psychotherapy (required)
3

* PSY 577 Practicum (required)
3

PSY 526 Community Psychology (elective)
3

* COUN 518 Applied Practice I (elective)[2]
3

COUN 584 Marital Counseling and Therapy (elective)
3

PSY 572 Group Psychotherapy (elective)
3

PSY 573 Therapy with Children (elective)
3

PSY 574 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (elective)
3

C. Electives (3-9 credits)[3]

Selection of elective courses in the department is in consultation with the advisor.

D. Closure Experience

Students, in consultation with their advisor and the department chairperson, may select one of the three alternatives listed below to meet the Closure Experience requirements of this concentration. Two of these (PSY 556, 578) are credit-bearing courses which reduce the number of elective credits from nine to six (see above).

PSY 555 Professional Contribution
0

PSY 556 Master’s Thesis
3

PSY 578 Internship (variable credit, 3 credit minimum)
3

Students should note that the internship option requires permission of the advisor and the department chairperson. Further details regarding these alternatives are available in the Student Handbook.

IV. CHILD CLINICAL SERVICES CONCENTRATION
48 semester hours

This concentration is intended for those who wish to work with children or youth in a variety of settings. These included mental health or human services agencies, elementary and secondary school settings, family and educational counseling practices, and child development centers. This course of study provides the best preparation for further training in school psychology or in a Ph.D./Psy.D. program in child clinical or Ph.D. in developmental psychology. Counselors and psychologists who are already working in clinical settings but who wish to enhance their skills with children and adolescents will also benefit from courses in this concentration.

A. Assessment and Diagnostic Methods (12 credits minimum)

PSY 532 Child Psychopathology (required)
3

PSY 581 Socio-Emotional Assessment of Children and Adolescents (required)
3

PSY 531 Adult Psychopathology (elective)
3

PSY 561 Introduction to Psychological Testing
(required if not taken as an undergraduate with grade of “B” or higher; may be taken as an elective)
3

PSY 562 Cognitive Assessment (elective)
3

PSY 563 Assessment of Learning (elective)
3

PSY 580 Assessment of Personality and Psychopathology in Adults (elective)
3

B. Intervention Methods (12 credits minimum)

** COUN 518 Applied Practice I (required)
3

OR

** PSY 571 Introduction to Individual Psychotherapy (required to take one or the other)
3

* PSY/S ED 539 Behavior Management Approaches
3

* PSY 585 Family – School Interventions
3

** PSY 577 Practicum – Child Clinic / School Placement (required)
3

PSY 573 Therapy with Children (elective)
3

PSY 572 Group Psychotherapy (elective)
3

PSY 574 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (elective)
3

COUN 574 Family Therapy (elective)
3

COUN 584 Marital Counseling and Therapy (elective)
3

C. Closure Experience (0-3 credits) – Complete one of the following three options.

PSY 555 Professional Contribution
0

PSY 556 Master’s Thesis
3

PSY 578 Internship (variable credit, 3 credit minimum)
3

[1] Students are required to complete either Psychology 531 or Psychology 532.
[2] Students may take Psychology 559 or Counseling 518 as an elective, but not both courses.
[3] Number of elective credits will depend on whether students take PSY 556 and/or PSY 578 ( see section D).
* “B” Grade required for this course.
*Students are required to complete either PSY/S ED 539 or PSY 585. Students may elect to take the 539 course either in Psychology or in Special Education.
**“B” or better grade required for this course.

School Psychology Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree Program

The Marywood University Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Program in School Psychology is interdisciplinary in nature and is intended for students who seek state certification as a K-12, school psychologist. The Ed.S. degree program is designed as a 68 graduate credit program for students who wish to work in schools or related agencies. Students will follow an integrated and sequential course of study beginning post baccalaureate, earn a Master of Arts degree in psychology, complete the Educational Specialist degree and then are recommended for state certification. The integrated and sequential program is based on national standards and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) standards.

The program is competency-based and aims to train professionals who can provide the wide range of services expected of school psychologists. Emphasis throughout the program is on a realistic integration of didactic instruction and experiential learning, with the candidate expected to demonstrate continual progress toward independent professional functioning.

Students may enter the program post baccalaureate or post master’s degree. Those seeking entrance post baccalaureate, earn the Master of Arts degree in Psychology upon completion of 45 credit hours and other degree requirements for the General Theoretical concentration. Applicants seeking admission post-master’s should expect to complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits. The applicability of prior graduate course work will be evaluated in writing by the director of the School Psychology Program. Full-time students should expect to complete the program, including a 1,200-hour internship, within three academic years. Part-time students, entering post baccalaureate, are expected to complete the program and internship hours within five years. Part-time students are expected to enroll in a minimum of 15 credits per academic year. All students will be admitted annually for the fall semester only. The Field Work Experience of at least 1,200 contact hours is required. The Field Work component includes the internship (school-based experience), but is preceded by a series of practicum (campus-based experience) within the Psychological Services Center. The Educational Specialist in School Psychology program is fully approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Educational Specialist in School Psychology Program Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in an appropriate area.
All undergraduate and graduate transcripts (minimum of 3.25).
GRE
A personal statement citing the applicant’s reasons for entering the profession of school psychology and giving an estimate of potential for success in the field. Include a resume of the applicant’s professional experience (if any).
A personal interview with the director of the school psychology program.
All application materials must be received by the application deadline.

Those admitted to the program are expected to demonstrate continued professional growth. The progress of each candidate is reviewed yearly. Each School Psychology student is required to complete the following course of studies. Some of these courses may have been taken prior to entry into the program during a master’s program. In addition to these courses, students must have completed two college level math and two college level English courses in order to be recommended for certification.

I. HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND DEVELOPMENT
15 semester hours

PSY 508 Biological Bases of Behavior
3

PSY 514 Human Development
3

PSY 517 Personality Psychology
3

PSY 521 Social Psychology
3

PSY 522 Cognitive/Affection Bases of Behavior
3

II. NATURE AND PSYCHOLOGY OF EXCEPTIONALITY
9 semester hours

PSY 532 Child Psychopathology
3

S ED 507 Characteristics and Remedial Strategies
3

S ED 511 Curriculum Adaptations for Special-Needs Learner
3

III. ASSESSMENT PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES
12 semester hours

PSY 561 Introduction to Psychological Testing
3

PSY 562 Cognitive Assessment
3

PSY 563 Assessment of Learning
3

PSY 581 Socio-Emotional Assessment of Children and Adolescents
3

IV. INTERVENTION PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES
12 semester hours

COUN 518 Applied Practice I
3

COUN 532 Multicultural Issues for Counseling
3

PSY 585 Family-School Interventions
3

S ED 539 Behavioral Management Approaches
3

V. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
15 semester hours

PSY 551 School Psychology Law and Ethics
3

PSY 552 School Based Consultation Methods
3

PSY 549 Fieldwork Experience
5

Practicum
3

Internship
2

VI. CURRICULUM AND ORGANIZATION IN EDUCATION
3 semester hours

PSY 547 Introduction to School Psychology
3

VII. RESEARCH AND STATISTICS
6 semester hours

PSY 503 Research Methodology and Statistics I
3

PSY 504 Research Methodology and Statistics II
3

PSY 555 Professional Contribution
0

Course Sequence

Upon entering the Educational Specialist Program post baccalaureate, students will first complete the requirements for the Master of Art Degree in Psychology. To complete the MA in Psychology students will follow the course of studies for the General Theoretical concentration. The MA degree is earned after 45 credits and successful completion of the closure experience (e.g., professional contribution or thesis). Students are advised to refer to the description provided in the Graduate Studies catalog. Upon completion of the MA in Psychology, students will continue to take courses, university based practica, and internship until completion of the
Educational Specialist degree.

In order to be recommended for certification, students must also successfully pass the Praxis I series including the Reading, Math, Writing, and Praxis II School Psychology Sections.

Internship Guidelines

The internship is the culminating training experience. This experience occurs at the completion of all course work and University based practica. The internship is to be 1200 hours in a school setting over one school year or over two years on a part time basis (as least 20 hours per week.). All internships will begin at the start of the fall semester.

An internship site must be approved by the Director of the program. The internship is to be completed during the course of a school year. This means that interns must begin the internship in the Fall semester. Internships must not be conducted at a student’s current place of employment.

Certification of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS)

This program is intended for practitioners of counseling or psychology who are functioning in clinics, agencies, schools, and colleges. Open to holders of master’s degrees in counseling, psychology, social work, or related area, it offers a highly trained practitioner’s certificate at the completion of 24 semester hours of graduate course work and training. CAGS is an individually oriented program designed to meet the needs of its students for advanced study and field work in counseling and is flexible enough to provide training for a variety of specialists. Each student, with an assigned advisor, will plan his/her program of studies and draw up a contract which will be reviewed each semester until completion of the program.

Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Psy.D.)

Consistent with the mission of the University, the APA-accredited* Clinical Psychology Doctoral program endeavors to train high quality students to provide state-of-the-art, ethical, humane, and culturally-sensitive clinical services to diverse populations in contemporary society. On the way to earning a Psy.D. in clinical psychology, the program model teaches students to be research-informed practitioners with general skills who pursue development in specific areas through the selection of electives, practicum sites, research topics, internships, and post-doctoral training. The specific goals of the program are as follows:

To provide students with foundational knowledge of the field of psychology in general, and clinical psychology in particular.
To teach students to view themselves as being life-long learners while also giving them the skills necessary to be critical and sophisticated consumers of research so that they may be able to independently and effectively apply future developments in the field to clinical practice.
To help students advance from novice to the early stages of competent clinician status in assessment, intervention, and supervision/consultation.
To prepare students for the realities of clinical practice in contemporary society and to inspire them to be mission-driven psychologists who try to advance both the organizations in which they are employed and the profession at large.
To train students to be appreciative of both cultural and individual differences in both their attitudes and in their practice so that they may be effective clinical psychologists in an increasingly diverse and interdependent world.

*For further information about the accreditation status of this program, please contact the APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Phone: 202-336-5979.

Psy.D. Program Philosophy and Training Model

In accordance with Marywood University’s tradition of service, the clinical psychology doctoral program follows the Vail model, training students to be scholar-practitioners. The Psy.D. program includes foundation courses in psychology and both academic and applied training in the substantive area of clinical psychology. The use of empirically-supported assessments and intervention techniques is emphasized, as well as a focus on outcome assessment. Although not designed to produce researchers, the Psy.D. program teaches students to be educated consumers of research. To reach this goal, they have both academic training and personal experience in research and statistics. An empirical master’s thesis is required, as well as a doctoral project which is empirically-based. In addition, students complete four courses in research and statistics and an additional course focused on single case design, program evaluation, and outcome assessment. This strong scholarship component is consistent with our scholar-practitioner model, as opposed to the more practice-oriented practitioner-scholar or local clinical scientist models.

Typically, six students are admitted annually at the post-bachelor’s level. These students are in residence for four years prior to internship and are awarded a master’s degree (M.A. in Psychology, Clinical Services) upon degree requirement completion, typically after their second year. As the curriculum is very structured and sequential, we accept only up to 15 transfer credits which may be applied toward the master’s degree. These credits must be approved by the Director of Clinical Training.

Admission Application Process

See the application materials for deadline and mailing address information. All applicants must provide the completed application form, official undergraduate/graduate transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation (at least 2 from psychologists), and a personal statement. All these materials must be sent by the application deadline. Both the general and the Psychology GREs (taken within the last 5 years) are required for post-bachelor’s admission applicants and scores must be received by the application deadline.

Prerequisites

Admission to the Psy.D. program requires at least 18 credits of Psychology course work at the undergraduate level, including: statistics, experimental methods/research design, and abnormal/psychopathology. A major in Psychology is preferred. Combined Verbal and Quantitative GREs greater than 1000 are preferred. Analytical =520, Psychology subtest = 540. A minimum overall GPA of 3.30 on a 4.00 scale is expected, for both general curriculum and psychology courses.

Transfer Credits

Up to 15 transfer credits in graduate Psychology course work will be accepted. All credits transferred must reflect at least a “B” grade, be from a regionally accredited institution, be similar in content and demand of equivalent Marywood courses, and have been earned within the preceding five years. The Director of Clinical Training must approve all transfer credits.

Admission Post-Master’s

Up to two students will be accepted annually at post-master’s degree in psychology, to join the third year doctoral students. Students must have completed their degrees no more than five years prior to application. Demonstrated excellence in academics and clinical work is expected. Applicants also must have completed an empirical master’s thesis. Two of the applicant’s letters of recommendation must be from full-time graduate Psychology faculty at the institution where the master’s degree was completed. All other application procedures are the same as for the post-bachelor’s admissions. Preference will be given to students who completed their psychology master’s degree in the clinical services or the clinical child/school track at Marywood University, to assure that all master’s level course work and experiences are consistent with the Marywood Psy.D. total program.

For a post-master’s application to be considered, all of the following courses (or their equivalent) must have been completed at the master’s level (unless otherwise indicated) with a grade of “B” or better:

PSY 503	Research and Statistics I	3
PSY 504	Research and Statistics II	3
PSY 508	Biological Bases of Behavior	3
PSY 514	Human Development	3
PSY 517	Personality Theories	3
PSY 521	Social Psychology	3
PSY 522	Cognitive/Affective Bases of Behavior	3
PSY 531	Psychopathology	3
OR
PSY 532	Child Psychopathology	3
AND
PSY 580	Assessment of Adult Personality and Psychopathology	3
OR
PSY 581	Socioemotional Assessment of Children and Adolescents	3
PSY 556	Master’s Thesis	3
PSY 561	Introduction to Psychological Testing (graduate or undergraduate)	3
PSY 571	Introduction to Individual Psychotherapy	3
OR
COUN 518	Applied Practice	3
PSY 574	Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy	3
PSY 577	Practicum I	3
PSY 587	Practicum II	3
OR
PSY 578	Internship	3

Advisement and Student Progress Evaluation

With the exception of electives, the curriculum plan for each student is structured by the Director of Clinical Training at the time of admission and implemented by the student’s academic advisor. Annual written evaluations of the student’s progress in the program are provided by the Director of Clinical Training, who is available to every student for consultation or advisement. Community practicum and internship site preparation and selection, as well as academic advising, occur under the guidance of the Director of Practica and Internships.

Continuation in the Psy.D. program is contingent upon: successful completion of course work and other program requirements, conduct that is ethical and professional, and demonstration of appropriate clinical aptitude and skills. A Corrective Action Plan will be implemented, should there be significant areas of concern in the student’s performance. Refer to the Psy.D. Student Handbook for further information. (Http://www.Marywood.edu/departments/Psyd/)

Curriculum

The Psy.D. curriculum is sequential, cumulative, increasing in complexity, and designed to prepare the student for further formal training. The program requires 113 total credits: (51 at the master’s level; 62 doctoral credits). The Psy.D. program is full-time, with required course work scheduled during daytime and evening hours within the traditional two academic semesters (fall, spring).

There are no required courses scheduled for the summer; however, students may choose to fulfill some of their electives during the summer months. The six-semester (18 credits) on-campus practicum series builds from initial work in the Psychological Services Center (PSC), to later work in which students provide clinical supervision to junior Psy.D. students on work in the clinic. Additionally, in the fourth year, students are involved in a two-semester community-based practicum.

The Psy.D. curriculum includes significant training in both assessment and intervention strategies. The curriculum builds from foundation courses to more specific application courses and experiences. There are opportunities for course work and applied practice with children, adolescents, and adults. Required courses allow for training as a generalist, with elective selection providing the opportunity for focus on child or adult populations. The Psy.D. program primarily is cognitive-behavioral in focus, with additional training provided in interpersonal psychotherapy and exposure to other therapeutic approaches.

The Marywood Psy.D. program follows the guidelines for clinical training as set forth by the American Psychological Association and the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology.

Licensure and Credentialing

The Psy.D. program meets the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards/National Register of Health Services Providers in Psychology “Guidelines for Defining ‘Doctoral Degree in Psychology.’” Therefore, graduates of this designated program who decide to apply for licensing as psychologists typically will meet the educational requirements for licensing. However, in each jurisdiction there are additional requirements that must be satisfied. For exact information, please contact the state or provincial licensing board in the jurisdiction in which you plan to apply.

Once licensed, graduates are eligible to apply for credentialing as a Health Service Provider in Psychology. Graduation from a designated program ensures that the program you completed meets the educational requirements for credentialing by the
National Register. However, there are additional requirements that must be satisfied prior to being credentialed by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology©. For further information, consult the National Registers’ website: www.nationalregister.org.

Comprehensive Examination

Upon completion of the master’s foundational core courses (21 credits), typically at the end of the second year, students are required to pass the Comprehensive Examination, consisting of questions from each of the seven core courses. This Comprehensive Examination must be completed for receipt of the master’s degree and for continuation in the doctoral program. Refer to the Psy.D. Student Handbook for further information.

Qualifying Clinical Examination

At the end of the third year, students are required to pass a Qualifying Clinical Examination (QCE), involving a written case study presentation and oral examination by clinical Psy.D. faculty. Students are required to successfully pass the QCE prior to accepting an internship offer. Refer to the Psy.D. Student Handbook for further information about the QCE.

Sample Schedule

Year 1
Fall Semester (15 credits)

PSY 503	Research Methods and Statistics I	3
PSY 508	Biological Bases of Behavior	3
PSY 531	Psychopathology	3
PSY 561	Introduction to Psychological Testing	3
PSY 700	Professional Ethics	3

Spring Semester (15 credits)

PSY 504	Research Methods and Statistics II	3
PSY 517	Personality Psychology	3
PSY 522	Cognitive/Affective Bases of Behavior	3
PSY 571	Introduction to Individual Psychotherapy	3
	Elective	3

Year 2
Fall Semester (15 credits)

PSY 518	Advanced Human Development	3
PSY 521	Social Psychology	3
PSY 532	Child Psychopathology	3
PSY 554B	Master’s Thesis Proposal	0
PSY 574	Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy	3
PSY 577	Practicum	3