Certificate in Psychological Services and Deafness

There is a nationwide shortage of psychologists trained to provide mental health services to persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.  The Certification in Psychological Services for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing program at Eastern Kentucky University is designed to prepare master's level clinical psychology practitioners to meet this need.

Individuals who complete the certification program will be capable of providing a range of psychological services, including psychotherapy and psychological assessment, to deaf and hard-of-hearing children, adolescents, and adults.  The required course work for certification is coordinated with the curriculum for the M.S. in Clinical Psychology program so that students enrolled in the M.S. program can concurrently participate in the certification training without disruption of their progress toward the master's degree.   It is also possible for individuals who already hold the master's in clinical psychology to participate in the certification program.

The certification program provides training in American Sign language, course work in social, educational, cultural,and psychological aspects of hearing impairment, and a seminar covering a variety of clinical issues relevant to working with deaf and hard-of-hearing clients.  Participants also complete a practicum and internship in a mental health facility that serves deaf clients.  For individuals enrolled in the clinical M.S. program are Eastern, this involves an additional 18 hours of course work completed during the two summer sessions and one intersession.  A model curriculum, describing the sequence of courses required to complete the clinical psychology M.S. and certification program concurrently is listed below.

In order to be admitted to the certification program, an individual must either be enrolled in (or at least admitted to) the clinical psychology master's degree program or already hold the master's degree in clinical psychology.  there are a limited number of spaces available in the certification program and admission is competitive.   Admission to the clinical psychology master's degree program does not guarantee admission to the certification program.

For more information about the certification program contact the Department of Psychology or call (606) 622-1105 or V/TDD 606-622-2356.

Clinical Psychology Curriculum

Deaf Certification Program (8/98)

Semester I (Summer)

• ASL 101                     American Sign Language I                                             3hrs
• ASL 102                     American Sign Language II                                            3hrs

Semester II (Fall)

• PSY 824                     Intellectual Assessment                                                   3hrs
• PSY 825                     Personality Assessment                                                   3hrs
• PSY 826                     Professional Concerns                                                     1hr
• PSY 841                     Abnormal Behavior                                                         3hrs
• PSY 850                     Psychotherapy & Behavior Change I: Basic Techniques  3hrs
• ASL 201                     American Sign Language III                                            3hrs (AUDIT)

Semester III (Spring)

• SED 830                     Survey of Edu. for the Hearing Impaired (or SED 115)   3hrs
• PSY 847                     Topics in Individual Differences                                       3hrs
• PSY 843                     Practicum                                                                       3hrs
• PSY 846                     Behavior Therapy                                                           3hrs
• ASL 202                     American Sign Language IV                                            3hrs

Intersession

• PSY 843                     Practicum                                                                        1hr
• PSY 827                     Proseminar in Assessment                                                1hr

Semester IV (Summer)

• PSY 837                     Social Psychology and Cultural Diversity                           3hrs
• PSY 840                     Cognitive Bases of Behavior                                             3hrs
• PSY 862                     Research in Professional Psychology                                 3hrs

Semester V (Fall)

• SED 115                     Heritage and Culture of the Deaf (or SED 830)                 3hrs
• PSY 857                     Interventions with Children & Families                               3hrs
• PSY 853                     Biological Bases of Behavior                                             3hrs
• PSY 860                     Psychotherapy & Behavior Change II:
                                     Advanced Techniques and Theories                                   3hrs

Semester VI (Spring)

• PSY 820                     Statistics and Research Design                                           3hrs
• PSY 843                     Practicum (with Deaf/HH population)                                 3hrs
• PSY 845                     Seminar on Clinical Issues and Deafness                             3hrs

Semester VII (Intersession and Summer)

• PSY 899                     Internship in Clinical Psychology                                         6hrs

Total number of required hours:  75hrs