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Master of Arts - Psychology

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the graduate program, the candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum of 21 hours of undergraduate psychology courses including an introductory psychology course (or passing CLEP exam score), a statistics course, a research methods or experimental laboratory course, a course in abnormal psychology, and three upper division psychology courses. Students lacking required courses may be admitted on a provisional basis with the understanding that they must complete any deficiencies before being fully admitted into the program.

Application Procedures

Students who wish to apply must submit:

  • A completed online admission form, which can be found on the Graduate Degree page of the Psychology Department website.
  • Unofficial copies of all undergraduate transcripts.
  • Three letters of recommendation are required. After a completed application has been submitted, the system will generate an email to each letter writer. That email will direct the letter writers to a link where they will upload their letters.

Deadline for submission of all application materials for fall admission is March 15. Spring and late admission requests will be considered on a space-available basis. Please email the department chair to inquire about the possibility of spring or late admission.

Official transcripts of all college work should be on file with the Office of Admissions before the student enrolls in his or her first graduate class. It is the student’s responsibility to have transcripts transferred, and the University may drop a student whose transcripts are not on file within six weeks from the date of initial enrollment.

Special Student Admission

Several psychology graduate courses are available to social workers, nurses, teachers, and members of other professional groups eligible for continuing education credit. In addition, the department accepts students as part-time, non-degree candidates, or students presently enrolled in other graduate programs who need graduate courses in psychology. Students who were not competitive for regular admission may use special student status to prove that they are capable of graduate work, improving their regular application.

Students who wish to enroll with special student status email psychology@washburn.edu and request a special student application.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credits will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Students requesting transfer credit should contact the Department Chair and be prepared to provide detailed documentation of the content of graduate-level courses completed at other institutions. Consistent with the requirement that 2/3 of the 60 semester credits required to complete the Master's in Psychology must be completed at Washburn University, a maximum of 20 credits can be considered for acceptance as transfer credits.

Degree Requirements

In order to meet graduation requirements, the student must complete a minimum of 60 hours, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0, take at least two-thirds of the semester hours required for the degree at Washburn University, and complete all course work within six (6) calendar years.

Program Requirements

The student must complete a minimum of 60 hours including:

Core Courses
PY 610Intermediate Statistics3
PY 611Graduate Research Design2
PY 612Scientific Writing1
PY 602Advanced Physiological Psychology3
PY 635Ethics Psychological Practice2
PY 720Seminar in Psychology2
PY 603Advanced Health Psychology3
Subtotal16
Clinical Courses
PY 632Psychological Assessment of Adults3
PY 633Psychological Assessment of Children3
PY 625Advanced Psychopathology3
PY 640Introduction to Psychotherapy Techniques3
PY 670Individual Adult Psychotherapy3
PY 690Group Therapy: Theory & Application2
PY 700Child and Family Therapy3
Subtotal20
Seminar
PY 720Seminar in Psychology2
Subtotal2
Practicum Courses
PY 615Counseling Skills and Interviewing Techniques1.5
PY 631Psychological Assessment of Adults Practicum1.5
PY 634Psychological Assessment of Children Practicum1.5
PY 641Psychotherapy Practicum I1.5
PY 671Psychotherapy Practicum II1.5
PY 691Group Therapy Practicum1
PY 701Child and Family Therapy Practicum1.5
Subtotal10
Internship Courses
PY 780Internship (courses)6
Subtotal6
Thesis/Case Study6
Complete an acceptable thesis or empirically supported case study:
Thesis
Subtotal6
Total Hours60

Suggested Schedule for the Master of Arts Degree

Sample Two Year Plan

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
PY 635 Ethics Psychological Practice 2
PY 720 Seminar in Psychology 2
PY 615 Counseling Skills and Interviewing Techniques 1.5
PY 625 Advanced Psychopathology 3
PY 670 Individual Adult Psychotherapy 3
PY 611 Graduate Research Design 2
PY 671 Psychotherapy Practicum II 1.5
 Hours15
Spring
PY 603 Advanced Health Psychology 3
PY 640 Introduction to Psychotherapy Techniques 3
PY 641 Psychotherapy Practicum I 1.5
PY 632 Psychological Assessment of Adults 3
PY 631 Psychological Assessment of Adults Practicum 1.5
PY 612 Scientific Writing 1
PY 610 Intermediate Statistics 3
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall
PY 690 Group Therapy: Theory & Application 2
PY 633 Psychological Assessment of Children 3
PY 634 Psychological Assessment of Children Practicum 1.5
PY 602 Advanced Physiological Psychology 3
PY 799 Thesis 3
PY 780 Internship 3
 Hours15.5
Spring
PY 637 Diversity Issues Treatment & Assessment 2
PY 700 Child and Family Therapy 3
PY 701 Child and Family Therapy Practicum 1.5
PY 691 Group Therapy Practicum 1
PY 799 Thesis 3
PY 680 Psychological Assessment: Personality and Behavior 3
 Hours13.5
 Total Hours60

Sample Three Year Plan

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
PY 635 Ethics Psychological Practice 2
PY 720 Seminar in Psychology 2
PY 615 Counseling Skills and Interviewing Techniques 1.5
PY 625 Advanced Psychopathology 3
PY 690 Group Therapy: Theory & Application 2
 Hours10.5
Spring
PY 637 Diversity Issues Treatment & Assessment 2
PY 640 Introduction to Psychotherapy Techniques 3
PY 641 Psychotherapy Practicum I 1.5
PY 631 Psychological Assessment of Adults Practicum 1.5
PY 632 Psychological Assessment of Adults 3
 Hours11
Second Year
Fall
PY 670 Individual Adult Psychotherapy 3
PY 671 Psychotherapy Practicum II 1.5
PY 633 Psychological Assessment of Children 3
PY 634 Psychological Assessment of Children Practicum 1.5
PY 611 Graduate Research Design 2
 Hours11
Spring
PY 610 Intermediate Statistics 3
PY 612 Scientific Writing 1
PY 700 Child and Family Therapy 3
PY 701 Child and Family Therapy Practicum 1.5
PY 691 Group Therapy Practicum 1
 Hours9.5
Third Year
Fall
PY 602 Advanced Physiological Psychology 3
PY 799 Thesis 3
PY 780 Internship 3
 Hours9
Spring
PY 603 Advanced Health Psychology 3
PY 799 Thesis 3
PY 780 Internship 3
 Hours9
 Total Hours60

Course Offerings

Prerequisite for admission to all professional courses is graduate standing in the Psychology Department. Only those courses with prerequisites listed as consent are open to senior psychology majors and students with special student status. Consent may be obtained by contacting the Psychology Department prior to registration .

PY 602  Advanced Physiological Psychology  (3)  

Critical issues within cognitive and behavioral neuroscience are discussed, including neuronal physiology, functional neuroanatomy, and methods used in psychophysiological research. Special emphasis is placed on biological foundations of psychopathology and psychopharmacology. Prerequisite: Consent.

PY 603  Advanced Health Psychology  (3)  

Advanced health psychology examines how biological, psychological, and social factors interact with and affect the efforts people make in promoting good health and well-being as well as preventing illness. Advanced study includes reviewing and discussing contemporary empirical research related to the science and practice of health psychology. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.

PY 610  Intermediate Statistics  (3)  

Survey of basic statistical principles including parametric and non-parametric hypothesis testing techniques, correlation, and an introduction to computer statistical packages. Prerequisite: Consent.

PY 611  Graduate Research Design  (2)  

Advanced, detailed study of research design, including experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs. Issues of ethics, sampling, reliability, validity, and analysis will be discussed. Students will also develop skills in critiquing and reporting scientific research. Prerequisite: Consent.

PY 612  Scientific Writing  (1)  

Scientific writing is a unique form of writing and vastly different from the manner students typically write. Students in this course will be exposed to the various nuances that define APA style scientific writing, be exposed to the common errors made when writing scientifically, and will develop their skill in writing in a scientific manner. Prerequisite: PY 611.

PY 615  Counseling Skills and Interviewing Techniques  (1.5)  

The purpose of this course is to assist students in developing necessary skills to be an effective interviewer/therapist. This will be done through readings, self-exploration, and practicing therapeutics skills of motivational interviewing and other therapeutic and information-gathering techniques. Prerequisite: Consent.

PY 625  Advanced Psychopathology  (3)  

Theory, research, and clinical approaches to problems of adulthood and childhood. Prerequisite: Consent.

PY 631  Psychological Assessment of Adults Practicum  (1.5)  

This practicum, which is a co-requisite of PY 632 Psychological Assessment of Adults, is designed to provide students with the applied skills required to competently administer, score and interpret various adult psychological assessments. Students will also utilize related information gathering techniques toward the goal of validly and reliably assessing the intellectual, personality, and, to a lesser degree, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of adults. Prerequisite: Departmental permission.

PY 632  Psychological Assessment of Adults  (3)  

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to choose, administer, and interpret various instruments and information gathering techniques with the goal of assessing the intellectual, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of adults. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PY 633  Psychological Assessment of Children  (3)  

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to choose, administer, and interpret various instruments and information gathering techniques with the goal of assessing the intellectual, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PY 634  Psychological Assessment of Children Practicum  (1.5)  

This practicum will focus on the application of child and family assessment skills acquired in PY 633 Psychological Assessment of Children. The practicum will involve a combination of lecture, discussion, role plays, supervision, and practical experience with clients in the Psychological Services Clinic. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PY 635  Ethics Psychological Practice  (2)  

This course will explore contemporary aspects of professional practice germane to master's level psychologists. The primary focus will be on the understanding and application of the APA Ethics Code when providing psychotherapy and psychological assessment services. Special topics such as requirements for licensure and career options may also be explored. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.

PY 637  Diversity Issues Treatment & Assessment  (2)  

Introduction to diversity issues in counseling and psychological/educational assessment, including culture, gender, language, and related issues. Training in models for providing effective psychological services to clients, taking into account their unique background. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PY 640  Introduction to Psychotherapy Techniques  (3)  

Theory and practice of basic interviewing and therapy skills, with an emphasis on the cognitive behavioral approach for treatment of anxiety disorders. Must be taken with PY 641. Prerequisites: Graduate standing.

PY 641  Psychotherapy Practicum I  (1.5)  

Students are expected to demonstrate and master a variety of clinical techniques involving therapeutic skills being taught concurrently in PY 640. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in PY 640.

PY 653  Psychological Assessment of Children  (3)  

The purpose of this course is to provide students with the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to choose, administer, and interpret various instruments and information gathering techniques with the goal of assessing the intellectual, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PY 670  Individual Adult Psychotherapy  (3)  

Theory and practice of psychotherapeutic intervention skills with an emphasis on interpersonal, cognitive, and brief therapy approaches for treatment of mood disorders. Must be taken concurrently with PY 671. Prerequisites: PY 630 and PY 640.

PY 671  Psychotherapy Practicum II  (1.5)  

Students are expected to demonstrate and master a variety of clinical techniques involving therapeutic skills being taught concurrently in PY 670. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in PY 670.

PY 680  Psychological Assessment: Personality and Behavior  (3)  

Research bases and clinical applications of objective psychological instruments, projective techniques, and behavioral assessment designed to measure child, adolescent, and adult personality, affect, and psychopathology. Prerequisite: Consent.

PY 690  Group Therapy: Theory & Application  (2)  

This course provides foundational knowledge and experience to support the facilitation of group approaches to psychotherapy. Didactic instruction will be supplemented with an experiential training component. Prerequisites: Consent.

PY 691  Group Therapy Practicum  (1)  

The faculty is committed to the belief that the integration of theoretical knowledge and practical experience is an integral part of the curriculum. This practicum will focus on application of group therapy theory and skills acquired in PY 690 Group Therapy: Theory and Application. PY 691 will involve a combination of lecture, discussion, and practical experience with clients in the Psychological Services Clinic. Prerequisite: PY 690.

PY 700  Child and Family Therapy  (3)  

Theory and practice of family and child management interventions. Prerequisite: PY 670.

PY 701  Child and Family Therapy Practicum  (1.5)  

This practicum will focus on the application of child and family therapy theory and skills acquired in PY 700 Child and Family Therapy. The practicum will involve a combination of lecture, discussion, role plays, and practical experience with clients in the Psychological Services Clinic. Concurrent enrollment in PY 700 is required. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

PY 720  Seminar in Psychology  (2)  

Selected topics of relevant psychological, clinical, and professional issues. May be repeated with different topics. Prerequisite: Consent.

PY 780  Internship  (1-4)  

Field training experience oriented toward development of skill in assessment and therapeutic intervention, consultation experiences, preventive applications, and group and family interventions. Repeated to a maximum of 12 hours toward the degree. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy status and consent of instructor.

PY 795  Directed Research  (1-3)  

Independent supervised research. Does not count toward graduation. Prerequisite: 6 completed hours in PY 799.

PY 799  Thesis  (1-3)  

Independent supervised research. Repeated to a maximum 6 credit hours toward degree. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy status.