MS PSYCHOLOGY  – 2005-07 Catalog
Psychology & Child Development Department
Faculty Office Bldg. (47), Room 24
805 756-2033

General Characteristics

The Master of Science in Psychology is a 90-quarter unit professional degree program designed to provide the state of California with highly competent master-level clinicians who are academically prepared to obtain the marriage and family therapy (MFT) license. The program places a heavy emphasis on clinical skill training and applied experience that begins early in the program and culminates with an intensive supervised internship in a community mental health setting.

The M.S. in Psychology is accredited in the area of marriage and family counseling/therapy by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA).

Admission to the Program

In addition to the general requirements of the University, specific requirements for admission to classified graduate standing are:

§         an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional association;

§         a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the last 90 quarter units (60 semester units) attempted;

§         satisfactory performance on the General Tests (Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical) of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); the GRE Advanced Test in Psychology is not required;

§         four letters of recommendation;

§         autobiographical information;

§         an on-campus screening interview.

Related work or volunteer experience is highly desirable as is having received professional counseling.

Prerequisites.  Coursework in abnormal psychology, abnormal child psychology, personality, introductory statistics, and research methods in psychology (or related discipline). Candidates who have not completed such courses will not be denied admission to the University, but will be required to remove deficiencies within three quarters of admission.

Classified Standing.  For admission as a classified graduate student, a student shall have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the last 90 quarter units (60 semester units) attempted and shall have earned an acceptable baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a regional association. Additionally, the student must have satisfactorily met the professional, personal, scholastic, and other standards for graduate study, including qualifying examinations, as the appropriate university authorities may prescribe. Only those applicants who show promise of success and fitness will be admitted, and only those who continue to demonstrate a satisfactory level of scholastic competence and who possess appropriate personal qualities will be eligible to continue in the program.

Conditionally Classified Standing.  The student may enroll in a graduate degree curriculum if in the opinion of the M.S. Program Committee the student can remedy any deficiencies by additional preparation.

Advancement to Candidacy.  Advancement to master's degree candidacy requires completion of a minimum of 30 quarter units of required courses in residence, specified in a formal program of study, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0, fulfillment of the Graduation Writing Requirement, and the formal recommendation of the M.S. Program Committee. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all coursework completed subsequent to admission to the program.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

The student must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better in all courses taken subsequent to program admission. Calculation of the grade point average will include all grades, though only the units in courses with grades of A, B, or C will be counted to satisfy requirements for the degree. Required courses with a grade of D or F must be repeated.

All candidates must meet the current Graduation Writing Requirement.

Forty-five quarter units must be completed in residence. Transfer credits will be allowed if acceptable for master's degree credit at the offering institution and approved by the M.S. Program Committee.

The Master of Science degree in Psychology requires a culminating experience that includes either the completion of a thesis or the supervised comprehensives. Each candidate must file a formal program of study by the end of the first quarter as a classified graduate student. The professional and personal growth of each graduate student is of major importance; consequently, candidates are encouraged to seek the experience of personal therapy. Students must be very aware of course prerequisites and check the catalog carefully to assure enrollment in required courses.

MFT LICENSING

The Master of Science in Psychology is designed to meet the educational requirements for the Marriage and Family Therapist license (MFT) in the State of California. Students are advised to acquire and read the laws governing MFT licensure from the Board of Behavioral Science Examiners, 400 R Street, Suite 3150, Sacramento, CA 95814-6240.  See the program coordinator for the procedure required for application for this license.  State documents must be filed by the applicant within 30 days of program graduation.

Grades.  If a candidate for University recommendation for MFT licensure has more than one grade of C or lower among the courses to be verified for the Board of Behavioral Sciences, that form will not be approved by the Chief Academic Officer Designee of Cal Poly.

Field Experience.  Field experience or internship courses represent the student's demonstration of the clinical skills basic to marriage, family and child counseling.  A student who receives a grade of NC in field experience is on probation regarding continuation in the program.  A second grade of NC will disqualify the student from the program and University recommendation for the license.  Further candidates may be disqualified from this program for academic-related actions judged by the M.S. Program Committee to reflect unethical, unprofessional or incompetent clinical skills.

CURRICULUM FOR MS PSYCHOLOGY

PSY 450 Family Intervention

4

PSY 459 Lifespan Theories

4

PSY 504 Psychopharmacology

4

PSY 555 Counseling and Communication

4

PSY 556 Multicultural Counseling and Psychology

4

PSY 558 Career Counseling

4

PSY 560 Individual Therapy: Theory & Applic.

4

PSY 564 Ethics and the Law: MFC Counseling

4

PSY 565 Diagnosis/Treatment Psychopathology

4

PSY 566 Group Therapy: Theory and Application

4

PSY 569 Counseling Clinic Practicum

3,3

PSY 571 Family Therapy: Theory and Application

4

PSY 572 Child/Adolescent Therapy: Theory & Appl

4 

PSY 574 Psychological Assessment

4

PSY 575 Gender, Couple & Sexual Dysfunc.Therapy

4

PSY 576 Traineeship: Marital & Family Counseling

16

PSY 585 Research Methods-Counseling Psychology

4

PSY 590 Research Appl. Psych. & Human Services

4

1  PSY 599 Thesis or approved electives and written comprehensive examination

4

 

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90

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1  Must register for thesis credit each quarter of advisement.