Program Description: There are three tracks in the M.A. in Psychology: Clinical, School, and General Experimental.
The purpose of the clinical program is to prepare students to pursue further training at the doctoral level. The faculty members have been very successful in placing students in doctoral clinical psychology programs. Students who do not wish to pursue further studies are eligible to apply for licensure in North Carolina as a psychology associate.
School psychology provides students with academic and field experiences that prepare them for employment as school psychologists in public school settings or related areas, working with children and adolescents.
Successful completion of the program will lead to recommendation for Level II licensure by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (and similar certification in states with reciprocity). In addition, graduates are eligible for national certification by the National Association of School Psychologists and for licensure as Psychological Associates of North Carolina.
The focus of the General Experimental Graduate Program is twofold. The first focus is on students whose interests are to attend a Ph.D. program in General Experimental but whose undergraduate record does not reflect their preparation for advanced graduate work. As such, the program is heavily research oriented. There are numerous Ph.D. programs who will accept students from master's level programs after successful completion.
The second focus is applied and on students who wish to seek employment with a master's degree. It will provide interdisciplinary coursework in applied areas such as Human Resource Development and Consumer Behavior.
Required Standardized Test: GRE General Exam
Minimum Admissions Requirements: Minimum GPA of 3.0 on last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework and a minimum GRE score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative sections.
Additional Admissions Criteria: Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation and a personal goal statement. Finalists will be invited for an interview with program faculty (both the clinical and school programs)
Application Deadline: February 1
Prerequisites: For students without a psychology degree, 12 hours of specified psychology courses will be added to the program of study.
Number of Graduate Faculty: 7
Number of Students: 30
Location of Course Offerings: Primarily in Cullowhee
Graduate Program Directors:
Dr. Alvin Malesky (Clinical Psychology)
Department of Psychology
828-227-3357
malesky@email.wcu.edu
Dr. Lori Unruh (School Psychology)
Department of Psychology
828-227-2738
lunruh@email.wcu.edu
Dr. Millicent H. Abel (General Experimental)
Department of Psychology
828-227-3369
abel@wcu.edu
Departmental Website: Psychology