Accelerated B.A-M.S. Program, Clinical or Counseling Thesis Track

In accordance with the learning aims of the undergraduate psychology major, students are provided with a unique degree of flexibility in selecting courses from seven required areas to prepare them best for graduate programs or careers of their choice.

Requirements for the Program

Majors intending to pursue graduate studies who achieve a GPA of 3.500 or better (both overall and in the major) are eligible to apply for the department's accelerated B.A.-M.S. program in either clinical or counseling psychology (thesis or practitioner track). This program enables students to take graduate courses during their senior year that count toward both the bachelor's and master's degrees. Students accepted into the accelerated program take the following graduate courses during their senior year, in addition to the necessary undergraduate courses:

Clinical or Counseling Thesis Track

Fall Semester

PY 620 - Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
PY 746 - Research Methods in Psychology I
PY 761 - Thesis Guidance I

Spring Semester

PY 621 - Principles and Practices in Psychotherapy with Lab
PY 747 - Research Methods in Psychology II
PY 762 - Thesis Guidance II

Notes:

Students enrolled in an accelerated thesis track may count PY 746 and PY 747 as fulfilling Group I requirements; and PY 620 and PY 621 as fulfilling the PY elective requirements.

Required Prerequisites

Students with an interest in any of the accelerated tracks who meet the GPA requirement are encouraged to apply. Students are required to successfully complete the following courses prior to applying to the B.A.-M.S. program:

Applying to the Accelerated B.A.-M.S. Program

Candidates are selected based on GPA; letters of reference; GRE scores; participation in departmental and college activities (e.g., conducting research, holding an office in Psi Chi); relevant clinical experience (e.g., volunteer work, externship experience); and an interview conducted by a member of the Master's Program Committee. Master's program thesis and practitioner track applications may be obtained from the department's website. Applications must be completed by February 1 of the student's junior year. Questions should be addressed to the director of master's education, practitioner track or the director of master's education, thesis track.

Honors in Psychology

An honors option is available to psychology majors who meet the requirements listed below. Entry into the honors option is contingent upon the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Education. A 3.700 GPA in the major and a 3.500 GPA overall. This GPA determination is based upon cumulative grades and is confirmed in the student's second to last semester.

Students will complete one of three possible two-semester sequences

PY 300 - Independent Study in Psychology I and
PY 400 - Independent Study in Psychology II (wherein an individual research project is completed)
or
PY 418 - Research Seminar in Psychology I and
PY 419 - Research Seminar in Psychology II
or
PY 435 - Field Experience in Psychology I and
PY 436 - Field Experience in Psychology II

Seminal Project

Students will present a seminal project related to their chosen course sequence in a professional forum (e.g., Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Colloquium, Psi Chi Induction, professional conference).