(Text Copy of MS Degree Program Overview)

The Clinical program offers a 42 credit option suitable for entering a doctoral program within 3 years after graduation. If you will not be entering a doctoral program within three years OR if you'd prefer to get licensed, you should pursue the 60 credit option to meet the academic requirements in the "Licensed Professional Counselor" (LPC) statute. The LPC law can be read at: www.dos.state.pa.us/social. Questions about licensure are addressed off the Psychology Department homepage at: http://www.millersville.edu/academics/educ/psychology/clinical_licensure.php

All Clinical students MUST take 3 Core courses (9 credits):

• Psyc 530 Child Development in the Family System
• Psyc 612 Research Design and Statistical Analysis
• Psyc 635 Psychopathology 

Core Competency Exams (CCEs): You MUST take CCEs in the 12^th week of the semester in which you are enrolled in your last (3^rd) core course. CCEs are given fall, spring and summer. They are one-hour essays on the core courses, graded anonymously pass/fail. If any CCE section is failed, it MUST be retaken the next semester. Passing all sections of the CCEs is required in order to take Skills II and Skills III courses and to be advanced to degree candidacy.

If a student fails any CCE section twice, the Graduate Committee will decide on the disposition of the student's case. Students should know that one option is dismissal from the program.

The courses below may be taken BEFORE passing all of the Core Competency Exams (CCEs):

Skills I: 6 credits         

• Psyc 630 Group Process and Personality
• Psyc 631 Psychotherapy and Intervention Skills

Advancement to degree candidacy: This means that your academic progress is good enough for you to take advanced courses. Criteria for advancement to degree candidacy are:

1. Obtain a minimum 3.0 QPA in the 3 core courses*
2. Pass all Core Competency Exams (CCEs)
3. Receive a satisfactory evaluation from the Graduate Committee

*Students cannot get a B- in more than one course in order to meet the Graduate Studies minimum QPA requirement of 3.0.

Each semester the Psychology Graduate Committee updates students' candidacy status and gives the list to the Graduate Dean. Check your candidacy status on your DARS report. Concerns about degree candidacy status should be directed to Graduate Studies (872-3030).

After passing all sections of the CCEs students must take:

Skills II: 6 credits (both required)

• Psyc 671 Psychological Assessment (fall, spring, summer)      
• Psyc 673 Personality Assessment (spring , summer)          

Skills III: Selected Therapies: 2 courses/min. 6 credits. (If Psyc 637 Family Therapy is taken for 6 credits, the student must take a second therapy course)

• Psyc 632 Group Counseling and Psychotherapy (fall)
• Psyc 634 Child Psychopathology (summer; limited space for Clinical)
• Psyc 636 Cognitive Therapy (fall)
• Psyc 637 Family Therapy (6 credits as therapy course or 3 credits with no clients; begins in summer)
• Psyc 638 Cognitive-Behavior Therapies (spring) 

**Students must complete ONE of the above therapy courses BEFORE enrolling in practicum.

• Psyc 681 Practicum: 6 credits/600 hours; OFFERED SPRING ONLY. LPC regulations require a minimum of 600 hours in the field. This is the requirement for ALL Clinical students regardless of whether or not they are pursuing the licensure option. In the fall, students should get Practicum Packets with lists of sites and forms. Students are responsible for making site visits to arrange placement, but Dr. Haferkamp, Clinical Program Coordinator, must approve placements and field supervisors. Students may NOT do practicum where they are employed. No exceptions.

42 credit (doctoral program)option:

• Electives: 9 credits                                                    

TOTAL: 42 credits                         

60 credit (licensure)option:

• Electives: 18 credits total
• Licensure courses: 9 credits
• Psyc 537 Ethics and Professional Practice
• SCCN 630 Multicultural Counseling
• SCCN 645 Career Development

TOTAL: 60 credits

Electives: The following PSYC and SCCN courses are available as electives; semester of offering may change:

• Psyc 505 Recent Developments in Psychology (periodically; do NOT repeat)
• Psyc 511 Substance-related Disorders (summer)
• Psyc 515 Physiological Psychology (fall)
• Psyc 517 Tests and Measurements (spring)   
• Psyc 526 Advanced Adolescent Psychology (spring)
• Psyc 536 Applications of Biopsychology (spring)
• Psyc 537 Ethics and Professional Practice (summer)
• Psyc 540 Classroom Intervention (fall; mainly for School Psychology students)
• Psyc 547 Applied Social Psychology (fall)
• Psyc 566 Clinical Hypnosis (summer)
• Psyc 586 Childhood Disorders (fall or spring)
• Psyc 625 Human Growth and Development (spring) 
• Psyc 634 Child Psychopathology and Interventions (4 credits; summer)
• Psyc 637 Family Therapy (3 credits as elective; summer)
• Psyc 646 Consultation (spring; limited space for Clinical)
• Psyc 696 Research Methods in Psychology (3 credit; thesis preparation)
• Psyc 699 Thesis (3-6 credits; take after Psyc 696)
• SCCN 630 Multicultural Counseling (summer, fall)
• SCCN 645 Career Development (summer, fall)

Important Tasks for Clinical students

• Outline your entire program of study with your advisor. Decide early on the 42 or 60 credit options.
• Read the LPC law. Download a copy.
• Get a hard copy of the graduate catalogue EVERY year. It is updated annually and contains all policies, program and course descriptions in effect during your matriculation.
• Save ALL course syllabi. Licensing boards or exam sponsors may request these to determine if educational requirements are met by a particular course.
• Get an OFFICIAL copy of your transcript after graduation. Employers and licensing boards require official transcripts. Check for accuracy and date of M.S. degree conferral.
• Keep a file of all graduate work/info. Documenting education, training, experience is essential for licensure and employment. Keep this information indefinitely.

NOTE: Our graduates have gotten LPC, but NOT without hassles. Any applicant's credentials may get questioned. Stay upbeat and know your facts. Remember: No license is needed in order to have a productive and happy life in this field. That's a matter of attitude.