Mission Statement

The mission of the Master of Science program in Clinical Psychology is to prepare students for the practice of clinical psychology and to provide a foundation for further graduate study.  The program is based on the scientist-practitioner model and offers training in basic psychological principles and theory, general clinical skills, professional ethics and standards of behavior, and research methodology. The curriculum reflects a strong commitment to experiential learning and incorporates extensive opportunities for closely supervised clinical experience.  Through course work, and by example, the faculty encourages students to place public interest above guild and personal interests.  Graduates are prepared to work with a broad range of client populations in a variety of treatment settings, to be sophisticated consumers of research.  In addition, the program is structured to lay the foundation for doctoral level training.   

Educational Learning Objectives.

            To accomplish the mission, the objectives of the program are that all graduates will develop a substantial understanding of and competence in the following areas:

1. The breadth of scientific psychology.   To achieve this end, the students shall develop a substantial understanding of and competence in the current body of knowledge in the following areas:  the biological aspects of behavior; the cognitive and affective aspects of behavior; social aspects of behavior; and research methodology.

2. The scientific, methodological and theoretical foundations in the substantive areas of clinical psychology  To achieve this end, the students shall develop a substantial understanding of and competence in the current body of knowledge in the following areas:  individual differences in behavior; human development; dysfunctional behavior and psychopathology; and professional standards and ethics.

3. Diagnosing problems through psychological assessment and measurement, and formulating intervention strategies (including training in empirically supported procedures).   To achieve this end, the students shall develop a substantial understanding of and competence in the current body of knowledge in the following areas:  theories and methods of assessment and diagnosis; effective interventions; and evaluating the efficacy of interventions. 

4. Issues of cultural and individual diversity that are relevant to clinical psychology. 

5. Attitudes essential for life-long learning, scholarly inquiry, and professional problem solving as psychologists in the context of an evolving body of scientific and professional knowledge.