DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY
PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM
Course Descriptions
Degree Programs
The Department of Psychology and Philosophy offers Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees in General Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and School Psychology, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) 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 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.
Admission Requirements
Requirements for admission include:
- 18 hours of coursework in undergraduate Psychology that includes a course in Research Methods and a course in Statistics;
- a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average;
- three letters of recommendation;
- a statement of personal interests and goals; and
- submission of scores on the General Test of Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
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. The Department does not use a recommendation form; ask referees to send letters on their own letterhead directly to the Coordinator of the Master's programs, whose address is below.
Students admitted to the Master's programs in Psychology at SHSU have average undergraduate GPAs of 3.4 and average GRE scores (Verbal & Quantitative combined) of 1085. Those whose scores are not that high 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, all applications must be complete (with transcripts, GRE scores, letters, and a personal statement of interests and goals) before any form of admission is possible.
Students are admitted each fall and are expected to begin their studies during the fall semester. Review of complete applications for the MA programs will begin on April 15th and offers of admission are made as quickly as possible. Please note that several of our admission requirements, policies, and deadlines differ from those of other programs at SHSU.
Applications are evaluated when they are complete, and offers of admission are made on a rolling basis, so 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 coursework. As part of this process, students are asked to submit satisfactory scores on the Psychology Subject Test of the GRE. Unsatisfactory performance on the exam, in one's classes, or in one's practicum training may block a student from further graduate training.
Inquiries about the Psychology Master's programs and requests for application materials can be sent to:
A. Jerry Bruce, Ph.D.
Coordinator of PSY Master's Study
Department of Psychology and Philosophy
Sam Houston State University
Box 2447
Huntsville, TX 77341-2447
Telephone: (936) 294-1173
Email: bruce@shsu.edu
Information and materials are also available at www.shsu.edu/~psy_www/ma.htm.
Degree Requirements
Students in all of our master's programs must pass a written Comprehensive Exam at the close of their training in order to claim their M.A. degree. Students must be enrolled in the University during the semester or summer session in which the comprehensive exam is administered.
M.A. in Clinical Psychology
There are two plans of study in our Clinical track. The first involves 45 hours of coursework and includes a Master's thesis. The second is a non-thesis option that involves 48 hours of study and that replaces the thesis with selections from a group of approved courses. 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 as Licensed Professional Counselors in Texas.
Thesis Option: 45 hours
| Required General Core: | ||
| A. | Your choice of: | |
| PSY 532 | Advanced Social Psychology or | |
| PSY 597 | Advanced Developmental Psychology | |
| B. | Your choice of: | |
| PSY 536 | Advanced Cognitive Psychology, | |
| PSY 560 | Advanced Physiological Psychology, or | |
| PSY 581 | Advanced Learning Theory | |
| C. | PSY 587 | Advanced Statistics |
| Required Clinical Core: | ||
| A. | PSY 533 | Theory and Research in Psychotherapy I |
| B. | PSY 530 | Psychopathology |
| C. | PSY 594 | Psychometrics, |
| PSY 595 | Assessment of Intelligence and Achievement, and | |
| PSY 596 | Assessment of Personality and Psychopathology | |
| D. | PSY 691 | Practicum I, |
| PSY 692 | Practicum II, and | |
| PSY 693 | Practicum III | |
| Thesis Courses: | ||
| A. | PSY 698 | Thesis I and |
| PSY 699 | Thesis II | |
| Two Electives: | ||
| These may be any graduate courses on campus. | ||
Non-Thesis Option
| Required General Core: | ||
| A. | Your choice of: | |
| PSY 532 | Advanced Social Psychology or | |
| PSY 597 | Advanced Developmental Psychology | |
| B. | Your choice of: | |
| PSY 536 | Advanced Cognitive Psychology, | |
| PSY 560 | Advanced Physiological Psychology, or | |
| PSY 581 | Advanced Learning Theory. | |
| C. | PSY 587 | Advanced Statistics |
| Required Clinical Core: | ||
| A. | PSY 533 | Theory and Research in Psychotherapy I |
| B. | PSY 530 | Psychopathology |
| C. | PSY 594 | Psychometrics, |
| PSY 595 | Assessment of Intelligence and Achievement, and | |
| PSY 596 | Assessment of Personality and Psychopathology | |
| D. | PSY 691 | Practicum I, |
| PSY 692 | Practicum II, and | |
| PSY 693 | Practicum III | |
| Two Electives: | ||
| These may be any graduate courses on campus. | ||
| Supplemental Practitioner Courses: | ||
| Three courses in addition to those above selected from: | ||
| PSY 534 | Theory and Research in Psychotherapy II | |
| PSY 539 | Advanced School Psychology | |
| PSY 561 | Neuropsychopharmacology | |
| PSY 581 | Advanced Learning Theory | |
| PSY 582 | Advanced Industrial/Organizational Psychology | |
| PSY 694 | Practicum in Psychometrics | |
M.A. in School Psychology
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 year-long internship in public schools. The program is approved by NASP.
| Psychological Foundations (21 hours) | |
| PSY 530 | Psychopathology |
| PSY 560 | Advanced Physiological Psychology |
| PSY 581 | Advanced Learning Theory |
| PSY 587 | Advanced Statistics |
| PSY 597 | Advanced Developmental Psychology |
| PSY 760 | Multicultural Psychology or BSL 571 or CNE 592 |
| SPD 535 | Education of Individuals with Disabilities |
| Educational Foundations (6 hours) | |
| ASE 532 | Administration and Organization of Public Schools |
| SPD 568 | Teaching Methods for Learners with Mild to Moderate Disabilities |
| Assessment (12 hours) | |
| PSY 594 | Psychometrics |
| PSY 595 | Assessment of Intelligence and Achievement |
| PSY 598 | Advanced Child Assessment |
| PSY 694 | Practicum In Psychometrics |
| Intervention (6 hours) | |
| PSY 533 | Theory and Research in Psychotherapy I |
| PSY 538 | Consultation in School Psychology |
| Professional Practice (15 hours) | |
| PSY 539 | Advanced School Psychology |
| PSY 691 | Practicum I: Counseling Practicum |
| PSY 692 | Practicum II: School Practicum |
| PSY 671A | Master's Internship in Psychology: Part I |
| PSY 671B | Master's Internship in Psychology: Part II |
M.A in General Psychology
The General track is a 36-hour program that concentrates on the scientific sub-disciplines of psychology. Both a thesis track and non-thesis option are available. Both tracks allow several electives, providing students the opportunity to pursue personal academic and research interests.
M.A. in General Psychology-Thesis Option
This plan involves 36 hours of coursework that includesa Master's thesis. It does not allow training in the delivery of psychological services, but it does provide more elective flexibility than our other programs do.
| Required General Core: | ||
| A. | PSY 532 | Advanced Social Psychology |
| B. | PSY 536 | Advanced Cognitive Psychology |
| C. | PSY 560 | Advanced Physiological Psychology |
| D. | PSY 581 | Advanced Learning Theory |
| E. | PSY 587 | Advanced Statistics |
| F. | PSY 597 | Advanced Developmental Psychology |
| Thesis Courses: | ||
| A. | PSY 698 | Thesis I and |
| PSY 699 | Thesis II | |
| Four Electives: | ||
| These may be any graduate courses on campus. | ||
| M.A. in General Psychology-Non-Thesis Option | ||
| A. | PSY 531 | Graduate Seminar in General Psychology |
| B. | PSY 532 | Advanced Social Psychology |
| C. | PSY 536 | Advanced Cognitive Psychology |
| D. | PSY 560 | Advanced Physiological Psychology |
| E. | PSY 581 | Advanced Learning Theory |
| F. | PSY 587 | Advanced Statistics |
| G. | PSY 588 | Introduction to Experimental Design |
| H. | PSY 597 | Advanced Developmental Psychology |
Four Electives:
These may be any graduate courses offered by SHSU. Concentrations in Criminal
Justice, Business, or any other field are possible. Any Psychology courses on campus
other than PSY 595, PSY 596, and the Practicum courses are also open to you.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology
Mission
The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program seeks 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 scientists/ practitioners who possess expertise in both research and clinical practice. The department believes 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, among other topics. The students' practicum experiences have involved work with severely disturbed clients, people with brain injuries, persons with addictions, troubled adolescents, children and families, and persons in the legal system. Practicum settings have included a variety of inpatient and residential settings (neuropsychiatric, rehabilitation, and university medical center), private psychological practices, and university counseling center. In addition, the program operates its own Psychological Services Center where students encounter a broad range of community clientele.
Additionally, the Ph.D. Program exposes all students to applications of clinical psychology within the legal system (such as explaining psychopathology to the courts, intervening with families in the social service system, providing psychological treatment to victims and offenders) such that students who desire substantial expertise in forensic psychology will have the basic preparation they need to pursue postdoctoral specialty training and conduct legally-relevant clinical psychology research.
Program Goals
Goal 1: To produce graduates who have a broad knowledge of scientific psychology including its history of thought and development, research methods, and applications.
Goal 2: To produce graduates with the skills to conduct meaningful research that adds to the current body of knowledge in psychology.
Goal 3: To produce graduates who have the knowledge and skills to excel in the practice of clinical psychology.
Goal 4: To provide opportunities for researching and applying clinical psychology to the legal arena.
Admission Requirements
Furnish the following materials by December 1:- Application to Graduate Studies at SHSU with nonrefundable $20 application fee.
- Application to the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program with nonrefundable $20 fee. (Please use a second, separate check.)
- 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.
- An official score report of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
- An official score report of the Advanced Psychology Test of the GRE (recommended, not required).
- Three letters of recommendation that speak to applicant's promise for doctoral study in clinical psychology. References should be addressed directly to SHSU and should be written on the referrer's letterhead.
- An essay of no more than two pages explaining applicant's interest in (a) clinical psychology and (b) SHSU's Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program.
- Applicant resume or curriculum vitae.
- Applicant publications (if available).
Please note: SHSU's Office of Graduate Studies has its own application process, so two separate application forms and two separate checks are necessary.
The typical academic profile of students in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program includes a 3.7 undergraduate GPA and 1200 (combined total Verbal and Quantitative) 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 Ph.D. Program
Department of Psychology and Philosophy
Sam Houston State University
Box 2210
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 Clinical Psychology Doctor of Philosophy Program 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.
- 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.
- Enrollment as a full-time student (i.e., a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester) on campus for at least four consecutive long (i.e., Fall, Spring) semesters.
- 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 Program Handbook for a more detailed description of policies regarding academic standards.
- Passing a written comprehensive examination or successfully defending a major area paper which integrates at least 3 core areas.
- 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.
- Completion of a year-long pre-doctoral internship, during which the student works full-time in an applied clinical setting.
- Completion of the degree within 6 years from the first semester of registration as a doctoral student.
Degree Requirements:
The Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology
The Doctoral Curriculum
| General Psychology Courses | ||
| PSY 560 | Advanced Physiological Psychology | 3 SCH |
| PSY 592 | History and Systems of Psychology | 3 SCH |
| PSY 587 | Advanced Statistics | 3 SCH |
| PSY 787 | Multivariate Statistics in Psychology | 3 SCH |
| Total: | 12 SCH | |
| Cognitive-Affective Basis of Behavior | ||
| PSY 532 | Advanced Social Psychology | 3 SCH |
| PSY 536 | Advanced Cognitive Psychology or | |
| PSY 581 | Advanced Learning Theory or | |
| PSY 792 | Emotions | 3 SCH |
| PSY 588 | Introduction to Experimental Design | 3 SCH |
| PSY 597 | Advanced Developmental Psychology | 3 SCH |
| PSY 760 | Multicultural Psychology | 3 SCH |
| Total: | 15 SCH | |
| Required Clinical Psychology Courses | ||
| PSY 530 | Psychopathology | 3 SCH |
| PSY 533 | Theory and Research in Psychotherapy I | 3 SCH |
| PSY 594 | Psychometrics | 3 SCH |
| PSY 595 | Assessment of Intelligence and Achievement | 3 SCH |
| PSY 596 | Assessment of Personality and Psychopathology | 3 SCH |
| PSY 730 | Clinical Psychology Proseminar | 3 SCH |
| PSY 736 | Mental Health Law | 3 SCH |
| PSY 739 | Developmental Psychopathology | 3 SCH |
| PSY 762 | Ethics in Clinical Practice | 3 SCH |
| PSY 770 | Empirically Supported Treatments | 3 SCH |
| PSY 860 | Forensic Assessment I | 3 SCH |
| Total: | 33 SCH | |
| Clinical Psychology Elective (select 2 of 3) | ||
| PSY 534 | Theory and Research in Psychotherapy II | 3 SCH |
| PSY 596 | Assessment of Personality and Psychopathology | 3 SCH |
| PSY 733 | Law and Social Psychology | 3 SCH |
| PSY 735 | Law and Psychology | 3 SCH |
| PSY 774 | Human Neuropsychology | 3 SCH |
| PSY 861 | Forensic Assessment II | 3 SCH |
| Total: | 6 SCH | |
| Practica and Internships | ||
| PSY 691 | Practicum I | 3 SCH |
| PSY 692/693 | Practicum II/III, or | |
| PSY 882 | Doctoral Clinical Practicum I (two sections needed) | 6 SCH |
| PSY 882 | Doctoral Clinical Practicum I | 3 SCH |
| PSY 883 | Doctoral Clinical Practicum II | 9 SCH |
| PSY 890 | Internship I | 1 SCH |
| PSY 891 | Internship II | 1 SCH |
| PSY 892 | Internship III | 1 SCH |
| Total: | 24 SCH | |
| Thesis | ||
| PSY 698 | Thesis I | 3 SCH |
| PSY 699 | Thesis II | 3 SCH |
| Total: | 6 SCH | |
| Dissertation | ||
| PSY 896 | Dissertation I | 3 SCH |
| PSY 897 | Dissertation II | 3 SCH |
| PSY 898 | Dissertation III | 3 SCH |
| PSY 899 | Dissertation IV | 3 SCH |
| Total: | 12 SCH | |
| Grand Total: | 108 SCH | |
* Students entering with a master's degree in psychology and have completed similar courses as part of their degree may have courses waived at the discretion of the Ph.D. Program faculty.