Clinical Psychology M.A.
APPLY NOW REQUEST INFO GRADUATE COLLEGEThe clinical psychology option is designed for those who want to enter a career of mental health service delivery founded on assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems people have, whether they be complex, chronic conditions, or relatively transient, acute problems. As a professional with a M.A. degree in psychology, one would also be eligible to teach psychology on the post-secondary level.
Graduates of our clinical psychology programs are prepared to obtain a license as a psychological associate (i.e., LPA) or to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology or related fields. Demographic analyses show that there is a shortage of licensed clinicians and psychologists in our region. Although the local population is often not aware of the benefits that counseling can provide, there is tremendous growth potential for the career paths of licensed counselors and psychologists in the Rio Grande Valley. There are also a variety of clinician positions available throughout the country for bilingual mental health providers, or clinicians with experience with Hispanic populations, that our students would be well-prepared for. Entry level salaries for Licensed Psychological Associate are generally commensurate with beginning school teachers, but upward earnings potential is much greater.
The department also offers the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) certification, which could be integrated into the degree plan. Students completing a clinical psychology Master’s degree can choose a non-thesis or thesis track:
Clinical Psychology, non-thesis option has the objectives of:
- providing core and broad applied knowledge of psychology to produce a master‘s level, competent, culturally sensitive direct service provider for supervised psychological and counseling services, and
- providing adequate knowledge of the professions of psychology and counseling to pass state licensure exams for Psychological Associate.
Clinical Psychology, thesis option has the objectives of:
- providing core and applied knowledge of psychology to produce a master's level, competent, culturally sensitive direct service provider of supervised psychological and counseling services,
- providing the ability to understand and conduct research in applied areas of psychology,
- preparing students with the necessary background to support continuation of graduate study in clinical psychology doctoral programs, and
- providing adequate knowledge of the professions of psychology and counseling to pass state licensure exams for Psychological Associate.
Advantages and disadvantages of choosing to do a thesis
Advantages: Writing a thesis means that the student has performed a scholarly research project, and has participated in the academic environment. This accomplishment should increase the chance of employment in an institution of higher education, and increase the likelihood of acceptance into a doctoral program.
Disadvantages: Writing a thesis is a great deal more work than the six hours credit one receives. It requires skill, organization, intentionality and persistence. If one's goal is to work in direct service delivery such as assessment and/or psychotherapy, a thesis will probably not be highly relevant; taking more applied courses to help with service delivery would be less effort and more relevant to one's career.
Clinical Psychology (MA) Program Requirements
Overview
The School of Psychological Sciences offers two master's degrees for students interested in graduate studies in psychology. the Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Psychology and the MA in Experimental Psychology. Students who complete either program are prepared to continue a doctoral psychology program.
The MA in Clinical Psychology is a 60-hour program and includes coursework that prepares students for licensure as a Licensed Professional Associate (LPA).
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the graduate program in MA Clinical Psychology, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley, as well as the other requirements listed below:
- Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent in psychology or related field.
- A minimum of 18 credit hours of psychology. Although a variety of psychology courses are acceptable, applicants will ideally have obtained a grade of B or higher in General Psychology, Statistics, Research Methods, and Abnormal Psychology/Psychopathology.
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
- Three letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources.
- Submit a 500-word essay that outlines your educational and professional goals and your qualifications for graduate study. Include the following:
- Discuss your fit with the program as well as your short-term and long-term academic and professional goals.
- Describe any previous fieldwork and research experience or interests and explain how these align with specific faculty work in our department.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at utrgv.edu/gradapply.
Required Courses (36 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 6301 | Statistics for Psychological Research I | 3 |
| PSYC 6305 | Advanced Studies in Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSYC 6330 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 6332 | Research Design | 3 |
| PSYC 6336 | Advanced Psychological Measurement | 3 |
| PSYC 6340 | Cross Cultural Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 6354 | Individual Psychotherapy | 3 |
| PSYC 6356 | Group Psychotherapy | 3 |
| PSYC 6363 | Contemporary Professional Issues and Ethics in Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 6364 | Clinical Practicum I | 3 |
| PSYC 6306 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 6368 | Internship | 3 |
License Preparation (18 Hours)
Students seeking eligibility to apply for the LPA credential should complete the psychological associate requirements.
This degree plan includes courses that appear in more than one section of the degree plan. These courses can only be used to fulfill one requirement on the degree plan and credit hours will only be applied once.
Psychological Associate Requirements
Required Courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 6311 | Advanced Studies in Personality Theory | 3 |
| PSYC 6315 | Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| PSYC 6320 | Neuropsychology | 3 |
| PSYC 6325 | Conditioning and Learning | 3 |
| PSYC 6344 | Learning, Memory and Cognition | 3 |
| PSYC 6352 | Personality Assessment | 3 |
Non-thesis Option (6 Hours)
This degree plan includes courses that appear in more than one section of the degree plan. These courses can only be used to fulfill one requirement on the degree plan and credit hours will only be applied once.
Choose two from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 6304 | Multivariate Statistics | 3 |
| PSYC 6321* | Contemporary Topics in Psychology: Animal Behavior Research | 3 |
| REHS 6385 | Couple and Family Counseling | 3 |
| REHS 6335 | Addictions Counseling in Clinical Rehabilitation | 3 |
| PSYC 6334 | Single Subject Designs | 3 |
| PSYC 6350 | Behavioral Assessment | 3 |
| PSYC 6351 | Behavior Change | 3 |
| PSYC 6355 | Behavior Change and Supervision | 3 |
| PSYC 6362 | Contemporary Professional Issues and Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
*PSYC 6321 may be taken twice when topic varies
With program coordinator’s approval, students who have been accepted into the Applied Behavioral Analysis Certificate can take 6 hours from the certificate.
Capstone Requirement
Written Comprehensive Exam
Non-thesis candidates for the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology will be required to pass comprehensive written examinations encompassing the information and materials in program coursework.
OR
Thesis Option (6 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 7300 | Thesis I | 3 |
| PSYC 7301 | Thesis II | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 60
Applied Behavioral Analysis Certificate Integrated within Clinical Psychology MA
Overview
The Department of Psychological Sciences offers a certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The certificate curriculum is comprised of 21 credits in courses and meets Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®) coursework requirements for certification at the BCBA® level. Students enrolled in the MA Experimental Psychology and the MA Clinical Psychology may concurrently pursue the ABA certificate. Certain coursework may be used towards the master’s degree and the certificate; however, additional credits beyond the master’s degree will be required to meet certificate requirements. The certificate may also be pursued by students concurrently working towards a master’s in a related field or in master’s in education. It may also be pursued by students who have already earned a master’s degree in psychology, education, or related field.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted to the ABA certificate, prospective candidates must meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley. Prospective candidates must also:
Be enrolled in the UTRGV MA Experimental Psychology or MA Clinical Psychology program or have previously earned a master's degree in Psychology from an accredited institution. Students who have or are working towards a master's degree in related will also be considered.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Submit a 500-word essay that outlines your educational and professional goals and your qualifications for graduate study. Include the following:
- Discuss your fit with the program as well as your short-term and long-term academic and professional goals.
- Describe any previous fieldwork and research experience or interests, and explain how these align with specific faculty work in our department.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.
Program Requirements
Coursework fulfilled through Clinical Psychology MA degree
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 6315 | Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| PSYC 6325 | Conditioning and Learning | 3 |
Required Courses Beyond Clinical Psychology MA Degree (21 Hours)
- Non-Thesis Track: Students may apply their two elective courses toward fulfilling certificate requirements, leaving only three additional courses needed beyond the core Clinical Psychology MA degree requirements.
- Thesis Track: Students do not have elective options and must complete five additional courses beyond the core Clinical Psychology MA degree requirements.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 6334 | Single Subject Designs | 3 |
| PSYC 6350 | Behavioral Assessment | 3 |
| PSYC 6351 | Behavior Change | 3 |
| PSYC 6355 | Behavior Change and Supervision | 3 |
| PSYC 6362 | Contemporary Professional Issues and Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 21