PSYCHOLOGY
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Contact: Graduate Program Director
Application Deadlines:
SD (Fall only - Feb 1st for external applicants, July 1st for those already attending SIUE); MA/MS (Fall only – Feb 1st); NOTE: If you are a new graduate student and you intend to apply for a Competitive Graduate Award (CGA), the deadline for having all of your application materials turned in moves up to January 15th. If you apply for the CGA but your SIUE application is incomplete, your application for the Competitive Graduate Award will be removed from consideration.
SPECIALIST DEGREE
The Psychology Department offers the Specialist Degree in school psychology. This program provides advanced academic and professional training for students pursuing a career in school psychology. The program leads to certification as a school psychologist in the State of Illinois and follows the guidelines recommended by the National Association of School Psychologists.
ADMISSION
Admission to this program requires a master's degree in psychology or a related field. The current admission standards of the master's degree programs also apply to the Specialist Degree. Prospective students must submit applications to the SIUE Graduate School and the Psychology Department and must submit scores on the Graduate Record Examination. For complete information, see "Admission" under the master's degree portion later in this section.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
The Specialist Degree in school psychology requires a minimum of 32 hours beyond the Master of Science degree.
Required Courses (15 hours): PSYC 539, 544, 545, 594 plus one education course (selected in conjunction with adviser).
Required practicum (4 hours): PSYC 524.
Internship (10 hours): PSYC 596.
Thesis (3 hours): PSYC 599.
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Candidates for the Specialist Degree must submit a thesis proposal for approval by a thesis advisory committee, carry out the proposed thesis, submit a written report, and complete an oral examination.
PSYCHOLOGY
MASTER OF ARTS
MASTER OF SCIENCE
The Department of Psychology offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Arts degree in psychology (Clinical-Adult, and Industrial-Organizational specializations) and the Master of Science degree in psychology (Clinical Child and School specialization).
The Clinical-Adult specialization is intended for students who seek to acquire master's level training appropriate for clinical work with adult clients. This training often leads to employment in organizations providing clinical psychological services (e.g., community mental health agencies, hospitals, mental health facilities) or continued education in doctoral training programs.
The Industrial-Organizational specialization provides knowledge and skills to analyze and solve problems of motivation, leadership, communication, job satisfaction, productivity, training, and others faced by business and organizations. Training in this specialization leads to possible employment in administration, supervision, organizational development, and personnel positions.
The Clinical Child and School specialization trains students to work in organizations serving children, adolescents, and families. Graduates work as clinical child psychologists in community mental health agencies, corrections, hospitals, and residential treatment centers. This specialization provides the foundation for entry into the specialist degree program for students intending to be certified as school psychologists.
ADMISSION
Individuals satisfying the requirements for admission to the Graduate School may apply for admission to psychology graduate programs. A separate application form is required and can be obtained from the Department of Psychology or it can be accessed from our website at www.siue.edu/education/psychologygraduate/apinfo.shtml. Admission is thus dependent upon approval by both the Graduate School and the Psychology Department. In addition to other requirements, applicants must submit scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) verbal, quantitative, and writing areas to the Psychology Department.
All application materials must be submitted by February 1 in order for the applicant to be considered for admission for the following fall semester. Applicants are not admitted for enrollment in the spring or summer terms.
Completing an undergraduate major or minor in psychology is the desirable and typical undergraduate preparation for a graduate degree in psychology. Qualified applicants from other academic backgrounds may enter the psychology graduate program provided they have completed the prerequisites. In addition to completing at least one course each in general psychology, experimental psychology, statistics, and psychological tests and measurements, each specialization has additional required courses that must be completed prior to beginning the graduate program. Information on these courses can be obtained from the Department of Psychology.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
The Master of Arts degree program requires 42 semester hours of graduate credit to complete the specializations in Clinical-Adult, and Industrial-Organizational psychology. The Master of Science degree with a specialization in Clinical Child and School psychology requires 40 semester hours for completion.
Clinical-Adult Specialization
Required courses (27 hours): PSYC 514, 520, 521, 531, 535, 537b, 538, 541b, 543b.
Required practicum (6 hours): PSYC 523.
Electives: (6 hours).
Thesis (3 hours): PSYC 599.
Industrial-Organizational Specialization
Required courses (27 hours): PSYC 520, 521, 571, 572, 573, 574, 575, 576, 580 plus one course selected from a 400 or higher-level management course approved by your adviser (3 hours).
Required practicum (3 hours): PSYC 525.
Electives: 6 hours.
Thesis (3 hours): PSYC 599.
Clinical Child and School Specialization
Required courses (30 hours): PSYC 514, 520, 521, 537a, 541a, 543a, 553, 556, 557, 565.
Required practicum (7 hours): PSYC 524.
Thesis (3 hours):PSYC 599, or
Final Project (3 hours): PSYC 598.
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Candidates for the Master of Arts must submit a thesis proposal for approval by a thesis advisory committee, carry out the proposed thesis, submit a written report, and complete an oral examination. Candidates for the Master of Science degree who do not intend to pursue the Specialist Degree must also successfully complete a thesis. MS candidates intending to pursue the Specialist Degree may choose to complete an acceptable research paper rather than a thesis.
GERONTOLOGY
GRADUATE SEQUENCE (CERTIFICATION OF COMPLETION)
The interdisciplinary graduate sequence in gerontology was developed by the All-University Committee on Gerontology to help meet the personnel needs in the field of aging. Qualified students and community professionals can obtain a Graduate Certificate of Completion in Gerontology by successfully completing the interdisciplinary gerontology sequence.
The gerontology program is a member of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, Partnerships for Aging, the National Council on Aging, and the Gateway Geriatric Education Center of Missouri and Illinois. Faculty and staff also hold numerous individual memberships in local, state, and national organizations concerned with research, training, and service programs in the field of aging.
The gerontology sequence provides students and community professionals from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and professional programs with a working knowledge of the basic processes of aging; the needs, characteristics, and problems of the aging; and a practicum experience utilizing programs, agencies, and institutions serving the aging.
Individuals who complete the gerontology interdisciplinary graduate sequence are qualified for positions in a variety of agencies and organizations serving older persons. These agencies and organizations include area agencies on aging, business and industry, senior citizen centers, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, hospitals, mental health centers, social service organizations, nutrition sites for the elderly, hospice programs, retirement centers, local and state government, recreation programs, and churches and synagogues.
ADMISSION
Degree-seeking graduate students who are officially admitted and in good standing with the Graduate School may enroll in courses in the gerontology sequence provided they have the approval of their degree program academic advisor and the gerontology program director. Community professionals with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree who are not planning to pursue a graduate degree may take the interdisciplinary graduate sequence in gerontology upon admission to the Graduate School and with approval of the gerontology program director. Unclassified graduate students must have the approval of the gerontology program director prior to registration in any of the gerontology courses. All students seeking the Graduate Certificate of Completion in Gerontology must complete the application for admission to the gerontology program and submit three letters of recommendation.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
The four courses comprising the sequence in gerontology are PSYC 487 (Psychology of Aging), GRN 587 (Interdisciplinary Seminar in Gerontology), GRN 588 (Programs, Services, and Resources in Aging), and GRN 598 (Practicum in Gerontology). The sequence may be taken either in conjunction with a graduate degree program or independently. Students also may access gerontological education and training by participating in the workshops, conferences, public lectures, and seminars sponsored by the gerontology program.
Gerontology Program applications, letter of recommendation forms, Dialogue schedules, conference information (including dates, program schedules and registration forms), gerontology job listings, class schedules and information and links to other gerontological websites are available on the Gerontology Program web page at www.siue.edu/education/gerontology/.