Graduate Catalog 2023-2024

Psychology, Master of Arts (092)

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/psychology/


Program Coordinator

Frederick G. Grieve, rick.grieve@wku.edu, (270) 745-4417

This program prepares students to pursue careers in clinical psychology and/or to enter a doctoral program. M.A. graduates are eligible in Kentucky for licensure as Psychological Associates.

Concentrations

  • Clinical (MACL)

Program Admission

Program admission is based on a comprehensive evaluation of a candidate’s application file and an interview. Applicants must submit:

  1. Minimum GRE scores of 142 Verbal, 142 Quantitative, and 4.0 Analytic Writing1 
  2. Undergraduate transcript of an earned undergraduate degree with a minimum of 18 hours of psychology coursework including statistics or research methods (3 hrs), abnormal (preferred) or personality psychology (3 hrs) with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 and 3.00 in psychology coursework
  3. Three letters of recommendation from professionals attesting to the applicant’s potential for success in the program
  4. Personal statement describing professional interests, expectations for the degree, and career goals
  5. Resume or curriculum vita
  6. Psychology Department application
  7. Criminal background check

Graduate School Admission

Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate School admission requirements.

Program Requirements (48 hours)

The clinical psychology program prepares students to be successful performing both research and therapy. The degree offers a broad foundation for the professional who will render a wide variety of psychological services at the MA level and/or prepare students to pursue further education at the doctoral level. Clinical psychology graduates have the credentials necessary to pursue licensure in the state of Kentucky. Practicum and internship (9 hours) are required. There is a thesis and a non-thesis option. A criminal background check will be required of successful applicants during the first semester of graduate study at the applicant's expense. Grades lower than B may not be used to satisfy requirements for courses in the clinical training sequence (PSY 560, PSY 640, PSY 641, and PSY 660), or practicum and internship (PSY 562, PSY 592, and PSY 662). Practicum/internship sites may have additional requirements before allowing students to complete placements; these might include, but are not limited to, vaccinations, additional background checks, and health screenings.

Required Courses
EDFN 500Research Methods3
or EDLD 722 Measurement and Survey Methods for Educational Leaders
EDFN 501Educational Statistics3
or EDLD 712 Research Methods and Design for Educational Leaders
PSY 511Psychology of Learning3
PSY 520Individual Differences and Human Diversity3
PSY 541Professional Issues and Ethics in Psychology3
PSY 560Assessment of Individual Intellectual Functioning:Theories and Issues3
PSY 562Practicum in Psychological Assessment3
PSY 640Psychopathology3
PSY 641Theories of Psychotherapy3
PSY 646Social Psychology for Applied Practice3
PSY 651Clinical Neuropsychology for Applied Psychologist3
PSY 660Assessment of Personality and Socio-Emotional Functioning3
PSY 662Practicum in Psychology3
PSY 592Psychology Internship3
PSY 590Readings of Research Psychology (3 hours AND 3 hour elective approved by advisor for nonthesis option. )6
or PSY 599 Thesis Research
Total Hours48