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College of
Graduate Studies
Kimbrough, Room 203
P.O. Box 4458
Clarksville, TN 37044

Phone (931) 221-7414
Toll Free (800) 859-4723
Fax (931) 221-7641
Graduate Admissions
(931) 221-7662

Main Office Hours:
Monday thru Friday
8 am to 4:30 pm

Psychology (M.A.)

(34 - 63 semester hours)

Industrial/Organizational Psychology Concentration
Counseling Concentration
Community Counseling Concentration
School Counseling Concentration
Education Specialist (ED.S.)

The following three concentrations are available: industrial/organizational psychology, community counseling and school counseling. The prerequisite for pursuing this degree is 18 hours in psychology, which is equivalent to a minor. Students should plan a specified program with their graduate committees. If seeking a master’s degree in psychology in any of these concentrations, candidates must request admission to candidacy before completing nine hours of graduate course work.

Admission: In addition to meeting the requirements of the College of Graduate Studies, students must meet the following four conditions to be offered regular admission to the Psychology Department: 1) achieve a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 on undergraduate work taken as part of a bachelor's degree, AND 2) achieved a minimum GRE - Verbal score of 300, AND 3) achieved a minimum GRE - Quantitative score of 300, AND 4) attain a calculated score of 2000 or greater based on the following formula: (GPAx400) + GRE-V + GRE-Q >=2000. All four conditions must be satisfied to be offered regular admission. Provisional admission may be granted to an applicant who fails to meet any of the first three conditions, but whose calculated score using the formula in condition 4 is 2000 or above. The Psychology Department does not grant conditional admissions. Review of applications for Fall admission begins March 1st and for Spring admission begins November 1st. Later applications will be considered based upon openings. Applicants to the Department of Psychology must be formally admitted to the department before they can enroll in classes.

Thesis: The student must complete a minimum of 30 hours, including the research foundations course (5000-3hours) and a three or six semester hour thesis. A thesis proposal must be approved by the student's graduate committee and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. The penultimate draft of the thesis must be approved by the student's graduate committee and be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies no later than three weeks prior to the end of the semester in which the student expects to complete degree requirements. All final theses must be approved by the graduate dean. It is the student's responsibility to duplicate four copies of the thesis. Information regarding the duplication and binding of theses is available in the College of Graduate Studies office.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology Concentration (34)

This degree is now offered completely online.

The industrial/organizational psychology concentration will educate students to design, develop, implement and evaluate psychologically based human resources interventions in organizations. The scientist-practitioner model will be employed in the belief that effective practice is grounded in a solid exposure to research. The primary goal of the program is to prepare graduates for entry-level positions as “master’s level I/O practitioners” in business, industry or government. The program has been developed in accordance with the Guidelines for Education and Training at the Master’s Level in Industrial/Organizational Psychology published by Division 14 of the American Psychological Association.

Required: (34 Hours)

Foundation Courses (10):

PSY 5000        Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology (3)
PSY 5070        Foundations of Applied Psychology (3)
PSY 5530        Measurement in I/O Psychology (3)
PSY 5501        Orientation to Industrial/Organizational Psychology (1)

I/O Psychology Core (18):

PSY 5510 Performance Management (3)
PSY 5520 Personnel Assessment and Selection (3)
PSY 5540 Training and Development (3)
PSY 5550 Leadership and Organizational Change (3)
PSY 5560 Organizational Psychology (3)

PSY 5570 Personnel Psychology (3)

Research (3 - 6):

PSY 5950 Research Paper (3)* or PSY 5960 Applied Research Paper*

PSY 5990 Thesis (6)

*Electives (3):

Students who elect the research paper or applied research paper option, must complete one elective course. Electives may come from the psychology department or other departments offering graduate programs. Specific courses must be approved by the I/O psychology program coordinator (Dr. Uma Iyer) or the student's major professor. PSY 5730 Practicum in Industrial/Organizational Psychology may be taken as an elective course.

Total: 34

Counseling Concentrations
Applicants pursuing a concentration in counseling have two choices: Community Counseling or School Counseling. The prerequisite for pursuing this degree is 18 hours of psychology or psychology related courses that should include general psychology, abnormal psychology, human development, and statistics. Candidates should plan a specified program with their graduate committees. If seeking a master's degree in counseling in either of these concentrations must request admission to candidacy before completing nine hours of graduate course work.

Possible changes in Tennessee certification requirements or accreditation may significantly alter this program of study. Please consult with the Coordinator of School Counseling (Dr. Luannette Butler) for current information.

The community counseling concentration prepares students to work in a variety of community agency settings and/or eventual private practice. Students completing this concentration will have met the educational requirements for licensure in Tennessee as a Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider status.

Required (60 - 63 Hours):

PSY 5000 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology

PSY 5040 Behavior Modification: Theories and Practice (3)
PSY 5080 Advanced Abnormal Psychology (3)
PSY 5090 Social and Community Psychology (3)
PSY 5110 Lifespan Development (3)
PSY 5190 Psychological Assessment (3)
PSY 5320 Learning and Behavioral Disorders (3)
PSY 5400 Theories of Counseling (3)
PSY 5410 Counseling Techniques (3)
PSY 5411 Skill Development in Counseling (3)
PSY 5420 Advanced Counseling Techniques (3)
PSY 5421 Advanced Skill Development in Counseling (3)
PSY 5430 Group Theories and Techniques (3)
PSY 5440 Diversity Issues in Counseling (3)
PSY 5600 Theories and Counseling in Career Development (3)

PSY 5720 Internship in Community Counseling (6)

PSY 6010 Professional Seminar-Counseling (3)

Research Requirement:
PSY 5950 Research Paper (3)

PSY 5990 Thesis (6)

Total: 60 - 63

For more information about the Community Counseling program, please contact Dr. Nicole Knickmeyer for current information, or call at 931-221-6407.

School Counseling Concentration (48 - 53 semester hours)
The school counseling concentration is designed to prepare graduates for school counseling positions at elementary, middle/junior high and high school levels. Graduates will meet the current licensing requirements for the Tennessee Board of Education. The curriculum requirements include coursework, a 600-hour internship, school observation hours for those who have not taught, and a thesis or research paper.

Required (48 - 53 hours):
PSY 5000 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology (3)

PSY 5110 Lifespan Development (3)

PSY 5190 Psychological Assessment (3)

PSY 5400 Theories in Counseling (3)

PSY 5410 Counseling Techniques (3)

PSY 5411 Skill Development in Counseling (3)

PSY 5420 Advanced Counseling Techniques (3)

PSY 5421 Advanced Skill Development in Counseling (3)

PSY 5430 Group Theories and Techniques (3)

PSY 5440 Diversity Issues in Counseling (3)

PSY 5600 Theories and Counseling in Career Development (3)

PSY 5640 Practicum in School Counseling (2)

PSY 5725 Internship in School Counseling (6)

PSY 6015 Foundations of School Counseling (3)*

Research Requirement:

PSY 5950 Research Paper (3)

PSY 5990 Thesis (6)

One course should be taken from the following:

PSY 5010 Death, Dying, and Bereavement (3)

PSY 5040 Behavior Modification (3)

PSY 5080 Advanced Abnormal Psychology (3)

PSY 5090 Social and Community Psychology (3)

PSY 5320 Learning and Behavioral Disorders (3)

*Required for students with no teaching experience as determined by program coordinator.

Education Specialist (ED.S.)
The Education Specialist program is designed to permit students to achieve a degree level higher than the master's. The major is Education with concentrations available in Administration and Supervision, Counseling and Guidance, Elementary Education, and Secondary Education.
The psychology department offers one concentration, School Counseling, under the Educational Specialist Programs of Study. The School Counseling consists of 32 to 33 hours of course work beyond the master's degree.

Required Core (18 - 19 hours):
EDUC 6500 Curriculum Improvement and Construction (3)
EDUC 6800 Seminar on Teacher Effectiveness (3)

OR
PSY 5070 Introduction to Educational Psychology (3)
EDUC 5611 Educational Computer Applications (3)

OR
EDUC 5612 Computers for School Administrators (3)
SPED 5550 Trends and Issues in Special Education (3)

OR
SPED 5750 Classroom Management of Disabled Learners (3)

OR
PSY 5320 Learning and Behavioral Disorders (3)
EDUC 6050 Seminar on Research (2)

OR
PSY 5000 Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology(3)
EDUC 6990 Field Study (4)

OR
PSY 6990 Field Study (4)

School Counseling Concentration Requirements (32 hours):

EDUC 5010 Curriculum Development: Elementary (2)

EDUC 5050 Curriculum Development: Secondary (2)

EDUC 5310 Organization and Legal Foundations (3)

PSY 5090 Social and Community Psychology (3)

PSY 5320 Learning and Behavioral Disorders (3)

PSY 5430 Group Theories and Techniques (3)

PSY 5725 Internship in School Counseling (6)