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DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY

Psychology Program

DEGREE PROGRAMS

The Department of Psychology and Philosophy offers Master of Arts degrees in General Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and School Psychology, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Clinical Psychology.

The Master of Arts in Psychology

The Department of Psychology and Philosophy offers Master of Arts degrees in General Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and School Psychology. The General track is a 36-hour program that concentrates on the scientific sub-disciplines of psychology. Several electives are allowed and a thesis is required, providing students the opportunity to pursue personal academic and research interests. Two different options are available for training in Clinical psychology. The first is a 45-hour program that includes a thesis, and the second is a 48-hour non-thesis program that replaces the thesis with additional specified course work. Both of the Clinical tracks are applied programs that include 450 clock hours of supervised practicum experience, and both prepare students either for ultimate licensure as Psychological Associates or Licensed Professional Counselors in Texas. The School Psychology track is a 60-hour program that provides the training needed for certification by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and licensure as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology in Texas. It includes 300 hours of practicum experience and a yearlong internship in public schools and is accredited by NASP.
The Clinical and School programs are designed to produce effective Master’s-level practitioners. The General program does not involve training in the delivery of psychological services, but does — like the Clinical and School programs — prepare students for further graduate study and/or junior college teaching.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

Requirements for admission include:

1. 18 hours of course work in undergraduate Psychology that includes a course in Research Methods and a course in Statistics
2. a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average
3. three letters of recommendation
4. a statement of personal interests and goals
5. submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores.

Ordinarily, the most useful letters of recommendation come from university faculty who are able to describe the applicant’s potential for success in graduate study; ask your referees to send letters on their own letterhead directly to the Coordinator of the Master’s programs, whose address is below.

Scores of 500 on the Verbal and Quantitative portions of the GRE (or a score on the MAT must be submitted) are recommended. In the last five years, students admitted to master’s study in Psychology at SHSU have had a mean undergraduate GPA of 3.4 and a mean GRE score (V & Q total ) of 1080. If your scores are not that high, you may still wish to apply. We recognize that students do not always demonstrate their potential for professional success through such traditional criteria. We seek promising students from all backgrounds who will enhance our program and, later, professional psychology. High test scores and grades do not guarantee acceptance, and students whose lower scores are offset by other exceptional qualifications may be admitted. In any case, but all applications must be complete (with test scores and letters) before any form of admission is possible.

Students may begin study at the beginning of any semester or summer session. The application deadline for admission to the fall semester is July 1. The deadline for spring admission is November 1, and the deadline for summer admission is April 1. (But please note: We do not always have space remaining in our programs when an application deadline arrives. You should always apply for admission as soon as possible.) Please also note that several of our admission requirements, policies, and deadlines differ from those of other programs at SHSU.
In addition, once they have completed their first 18 hours of graduate study, all students must be admitted to candidacy for the Master of Arts degree before continuing their graduate course work. As part of this process, students are asked to submit satisfactory scores on the Advanced Psychology Test of the GRE. Unsatisfactory performance on the exam, in one’s classes, or in one’s practicum training, ordinarily blocks a student from further graduate training.

Inquiries about the Psychology Master’s programs and application materials can be sent to:

Rowland Miller
Coordinator of PSY Master’s Study
Department of Psychology and Philosophy
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX 77341-2447
Telephone: (936) 294-1176
Email: miller@shsu.edu

The Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology

Mission

The Clinical Psychology program seek s to train professionals with a broad knowledge of scientific psychology who will be skilled clinicians. Consistent with the training model first enunciated by the American Psychological Association at the Boulder Conference in 1949, the program's educational philosophy is to produce scientist/practitioners who possess expertise in both research and clinical practice. The department believe s that experience in applied settings produces scientists who are sensitive to pragmatic issues and who are on the cutting edge of research questions essential to practitioners in the field. Conversely, clinicians who have been trained as scientists understand emerging research results and assimilate them into their daily practice. Consistent with the Boulder Model, psychology's dominant training model, all students are required to complete a dissertation and to be enrolled full-time. The demands of the program's training are not amenable to part-time or weekend course schedules.

Clinical psychology is the psychological science that seeks to understand, assess, and treat psychological disorders and conditions. Sam Houston State University Psychology students' published research has examined test development, personality assessment, psychopathology, gender and minority issues, and public policy. The students' practicum experiences have involved work with severely disturbed patients, people with brain injuries, persons with addictions, troubled adolescents, and children and families. Practicum settings have included a variety of hospitals (VA, neuropsychiatric rehabilitation, and university medical center), private psychological practices, and university counseling centers. In addition, the program operates its own Psychological Services Clinic where students encounter a broad range of community clientele.

Additionally, students have the opportunity to apply clinical skills in a variety of forensic settings. Students have researched psychopathology within correctional settings and the relationship between crime and mental disorder, treated victims and perpetrators of crime, and conducted a variety of forensic assessments.

Program Goals

Students will receive broad and general training in Clinical Psychology. Graduates will:

• have a broad knowledge of scientific psychology
• have the skills to perform meaningful psychological research
• demonstrate expertise in evaluation, assessment, and report writing
• provide psychotherapy to an array of diverse clients
• instruct, supervise, and consult with students and fellow professionals
• promote respect for ethnic diversity
• understand and adhere to ethical standards of practice
• acquire licensure as Psychologists through the various state licensing boards

Admission to the Clinical Psychology Program at Sam Houston State University

Furnish the following materials by January 20:

1. Application to Graduate Studies at SHSU with non refundable $20 application fee.
2. Application to the Clinical Psychology Program with non refundable $20 fee. (Please use a second, separate check.)
3. Official transcripts from all universities attended. Neither photocopies nor forms that are "issued to student" will be accepted; please instruct the Registrar to send transcripts directly to Sam Houston State University .
4. An official score report of the Graduate Record Examination.
5. An official score report of the Advanced Psychology Test of the GRE.
6. Three letters of recommendation that speak to applicant's promise for doctoral study in clinical psychology. References should be address ed directly to SHSU and should be written on the referrer's letterhead .
7. An essay of no more than two pages explaining applicant's interest in (a) clinical psychology and (b) SHSU's Clinical Psychology program.
8. Applicant resume or vita.
9. Applicant publications (if available).

Please note: SHSU's Office of Graduate Studies has its own application process, so two application forms and two checks are necessary.

The typical academic profile of students in the Clinical Psychology program present a 3.7 undergraduate GPA and 1200 GRE. However, promising students from all backgrounds who will enhance the program and, later, professional psychology are sought . High test scores and grades do not guarantee acceptance, and students whose lower scores are offset by other exceptional qualifications may be admitted. New students may join the program with either a baccalaureate or a master's degree. For application forms or further information, write or call:

Clinical Psychology Program
Department of Psychology and Philosophy
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville , TX 77341-2210
Telephone: (936) 294-1210
E - mail: psy_std@shsu.edu

Or visit https://www.shsu.edu/~psy_www/phd.htm

REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION OF THE PH.D. PROGRAM

All formal requirements for completion of the Ph.D. are described in the Doctoral Student Handbook and may vary from one student to another depending on previous academic preparation. The following guidelines are offered to demonstrate the nature of the doctoral program and should not be misconstrued as representing the formal requirements for a Ph.D.

1. A course of study beyond the master's degree designed in consultation with the Director of Clinical Training that will provide the student with in-depth knowledge in the areas of research and statistics, the broad bases of psychology, and clinical psychology. This course of study is sequential, cumulative, graded in complexity, and designed to prepare students for further organized training.
2. Enrollment as a full-time student (i.e., a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester) on campus for at least four consecutive long semesters.
3. An average of 3.0 " B " must be maintained by the student in all courses in which he/she registers after admission into the doctoral program. Students should consult the Doctoral Student Handbook for a more detailed description of policies regarding academic standards.
4. Passing a written comprehensive examination or successfully defending a Major Area Paper.
5. Completion and defense of a doctoral dissertation that is the product of original scholarly research and is of such quality as to represent a meaningful contribution to knowledge in the field of psychology.
6. Completion of a year - long pre doctoral internship, during which the student works full-time in an applied clinical setting.
7. Completion of the degree within 6 years from the first semester of registration as a doctoral student.

Curriculum*

PSYCHOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

PSY 530 PSYCHOPATHOLOGY. An advanced study is made of behavioral disorders, their development, diagnosis, and treatment.

PSY 531 GRADUATE SEMINAR IN GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY. This course surveys the science of psychology, studying the biological, perceptual, developmental and social determinants of behavior, emotion, and cognition.

PSY 532 ADVANCED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY . A study is made of social factors that influence individual behavior. Consideration is given to social perception, prejudice and sexism, aggression, interpersonal attraction, conformity, and group behavior.

PSY 533 THEORY AND RESEARCH IN PSYCHOTHERAPY I. This course is a comparative analysis of different systems and techniques of psychotherapy. The role of therapist, client, and setting are examined along with ethical principles.

PSY 534 THEORY AND RESEARCH IN PSYCHOTHERAPY II. Selected techniques of psychotherapy are examined in detail. Topics may include therapy for sexual dysfunction and principles of group therapy.

PSY 535 SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN PSYCHOLOGY. This is a course designed for studies in individually selected topics not specifically provided for in the formal course offerings. Prerequisite: Consent of department chair and instructor.

PSY 536 ADVANCED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY. This course is designed to give an in-depth examination of the study of mental operations. Topics to be covered will include brain organization, neural bases of attention, memory, language, knowledge representations, hemispheric asymmetry, and artificial intelligence.

PSY 539 ADVANCED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY. A study is made of the psychologist's role in public schools in the diagnosis and treatment of disordered behavior.

PSY 560 ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY. This course is designed to advance the student's knowledge of the biological substrates of behavior. Particular attention is given to psychoactive chemical effects.

PSY 561 NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY. This course includes a study of the field of behavioral pharmacology: the systematic study of the effects of drugs on behavior and the way in which behavioral principles can help in understanding how drugs work. The focus is on the neurophysiologic mechanisms of action of various psychoactive drugs and on the various neurotransmitter systems within the nervous system. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Credit 3.

PSY 581 ADVANCED LEARNING THEORY. This course is a close inspection of the paradigms and phenomena of learning and their theoretical underpinnings.

PSY 587 ADVANCED STATISTICS. This course is an advanced study of statistical methods including topics such as complex designs, parametric and nonparametric methods and multivariate statistics.

PSY 588 INTRODUCTION TO EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN. This course is an advanced study of principles of research design in psychology, with an emphasis on randomized and factorial designs.

PSY 592 HISTORY AND SYSTEMS OF PSYCHOLOGY. This course examines the history of psychology as well as the different philosophical traditions that have shaped the field. Students gain insight into some of the basic assumptions that inform psychology and the different perspectives within the field.

PSY 594 PSYCHOMETRICS I: GROUP TESTS. This course covers principles of psychometric theory and applications, including reliability, validity, and test construction. A study is made of group tests and scales that measure achievement, aptitude, intelligence, interest and personality. Limited practicum is required.

PSY 595 PSYCHOMETRICS II: INDIVIDUAL TESTS OF INTELLIGENCE. The course provides supervised instruction and practice in the administration, scoring, reporting of results, and interpretation of the Stanford-Binet and Wechsler Scales. Prerequisites: PSY 594 or equivalent.

PSY 596 PSYCHOMETRICS III: INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT. A study is made of the use of the Rorschach and other instruments expected to be found in a complete clinical battery.

PSY 597 ADVANCED DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY. The course provides an advanced study of growth and development processes throughout the life cycle. It includes a study of physical, social, and psychological factors involved in life change.

PSY 671 MASTER'S INTERNSHIP IN PSYCHOLOGY. This course is designed to be the culmination of the master's level training in applied psychology. Students will be required to demonstrate their ability to integrate and apply their knowledge.

PSY 691 PRACTICUM I. The practicum experience is designed to provide the graduate student with an introduction to psychotherapy, an opportunity to bring theory and practice together and to develop his/her skills as a psychologist. The first practicum course begins with the assumption that the student has had little to no experience in this domain. Ethical issues are also covered in detail.

PSY 692 PRACTICUM II. The practicum experience is designed to provide the graduate student with an opportunity to bring theory and practice together and to develop his/her skills as a psychologist in meeting the needs of those experiencing difficulty in living, e.g., emotional problems, inadequate functioning in a learning environment, etc. Ethical issues in treatment of are also covered in detail.

PSY 693 PRACTICUM III. The practicum experience is designed to provide the graduate student with an opportunity to bring theory and practice together and to develop his/her skills as a psychologist in meeting the needs of those experiencing difficulty in living, e.g., emotional problems, inadequate functioning in a learning environment, etc. Ethical issues are also covered in detail.

PSY 694 PRACTICUM IN PSYCHOMETRICS. The practicum experience is designed to provide the graduate student with an opportunity to develop skills in administration, scoring, and interpretation of psychological tests.

PSY 698 THESIS I. This phase of the Thesis investigation includes review of the literature, foundation of the research design, collection of pilot data, etc.

PSY 699 THESIS II. This phase of Thesis work includes data collection, writing, and defense of Thesis.

PSY 730 CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY PROSEMINAR. This course introduces doctoral students to the field of clinical psychology and to the research programs and clinical interests of the core faculty in the Clinical Psychology Program. The course requires students to begin working with a faculty member of their choice. The course also introduces students to current topics in clinical psychology and the areas in which clinical psychologists practice and conduct research.

PSY 733 LAW AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY. This course applies social psychological theory and research to the legal system. The course will focus on such topics as jury decision-making and group dynamics, the role of prejudice in judgments of guilt, and line-up identification and eyewitness testimony.

PSY 734 FORENSIC PSYCHOPATHOLOGY. This course will examine forms of psychopathology that are of concern to the criminal justice system. Considerable emphasis will be placed on psychopathy and conduct disorder. The course will also examine issues like schizophrenia and dangerousness, and the ways other personality disorders (e.g., Narcissistic, Borderline) and mood disorders (e.g., Bipolar disorder) may contribute to legal difficulties.

PSY 735 LAW AND PSYCHOLOGY. This course explores historical and contemporary applications of social science to inform law. Special emphasis will be placed on the use of information derived from the science and profession of psychology to shape judicial, legislative, and administrative law at both the state and federal levels.

PSY 736 MENTAL HEALTH LAW. This course explores state and federal constitutional, statutory and case law regulating mental health professional practice. Topics include: child abuse/neglect reporting laws, civil commitment, confidentiality and privilege, duty to protect third parties from harm, psychiatric hospitalization of inmates, and state licensing requirements.

PSY 739:  DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY. This course studies psychological disorders among children and adolescents.  Drawing from developmental psychology and general systems theory, the course emphasizes the ways in which biological, social, and psychological processes interact in the development of--or resistance to--psychopathology. 

PSY 760 MULTICULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY. Examination of theoretical and methodological foundations of multicultural psychology through study of human behavior in a broad perspective.

PSY 762 ETHICS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE. This course will review the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct as well as various specialty guidelines. Students will consider case examples where there are ethical conflicts or controversies and processes for resolving ethical dilemmas.

PSY 787 MULTIVARIATE STATISTICS IN PSYCHOLOGY. This course examines the use of multivariate procedures in psychological research. SPSS is used to conduct regression, MANOVA, discriminate analysis, and factor analyses on psychological data, and structural equation modeling and meta-analysis are introduced.

PSY 770 EMPIRICALLY SUPPORTED TREATMENTS. This course examines psychosocial treatments that have received substantial empirical support for specific psychological disorders (e.g., depression, panic disorder). We also examine the methodological, practical, and political controversies that surround the empirically supported treatment movement.

PSY 774 HUMAN NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. This course will examine brain-behavior relationships, especially higher cortical functions. Students will develop an understanding of some of the most common neurological syndromes and the ways in which brain dysfunction is manifested cognitively, affectively, and behaviorally. Students will be introduced to some of the psychological tests that are used to assess neuropsychological disorders. They will also begin to appreciate the issues that must be considered when making a differential diagnosis between psychiatric and neuropsychological disorders.

PSY 792 TOPICS IN FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY. The subject matter for the course will vary from semester to semester depending on the interests of the faculty and students. Topics may include delinquency and conduct disorders, antisocial personality disorder, family violence, eyewitness reliability, the psychology and treatment of sex offenders, psychological syndrome defenses, and substance abuse.

PSY 860 FORENSIC ASSESSMENT I. The course will attend to the issues related to conducting assessments with forensic populations. This will include some of the issues that are unique to forensic settings, such as competency and criminal responsibility, as well as the ways that basic testing issues become more complex in a forensic setting (e.g., how intelligence testing may be used to facilitate an attorney-client relationship). This course will include a practicum component in which students perform assessments with various forensic populations.

PSY 861 FORENSIC ASSESSMENT II. In this course students will continue to develop skills in forensic assessment. Prerequisite: PSY 860.

PSY 882 DOCTORAL CLINICAL PRACTICUM I. Students will be assigned to the Psychological Services Clinic run by the program faculty. The primary focus of the practicum will be on clinical assessment and report writing. The students in this class will receive group and/or individual supervision from a licensed psychologist in the program.

PSY 883 DOCTORAL CLINICAL PRACTICUM II. After successfully completing PSY 892, students will be eligible for Practicum II, where they will continue to engage in clinical work either at the PSC or at various off-campus practicum sites (e.g., The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, ADAPT Counseling, Children's Assessment Center). Students will continue to enroll in this course for at least 3 semesters (minimum 9 credit hours). Students may register for between 1 and 3 credits for the course. Prerequisite: PSY 882

PSY 890 INTERNSHIP I. Placement in an applied clinical setting for a full-year (e.g., September - August) under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. APA-approved sites are preferred. Prerequisites: PSY 882, PSY 883, Consent of Clinical Training Committee

PSY 891 INTERNSHIP II. Placement in an applied clinical setting for a full-year (e.g., September - August) under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. APA-approved sites are preferred. Prerequisites: PSY 890, Consent of Clinical Training Committee

PSY 892 INTERNSHIP III. Placement in an applied clinical setting for a full-year (e.g., September - August) and under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. APA-approved sites are preferred. Prerequisites: PSY 891, Consent of Clinical Training Committee

PSY 893 INTERNSHIP IV. Placement in an applied clinical setting for a full-year (e.g., September - August) and under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. APA-approved sites are preferred. Prerequisites: PSY 892, Consent of Clinical Training Committee

PSY 896-899 DISSERTATION.