PSYCHOLOGY

There are several areas of concentration in the master's program: General (Experimental), Counseling, Counseling- Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and Industrial-Organizational. In addition to general university requirements, students seeking the M.A. degree in psychology must meet general departmental requirements and those additional requirements outlined in the Psychology Student Handbook for their specialization program.

Course descriptions are listed alphabetically by prefix in the back of this catalog.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applications for admission for summer, fall, and spring semesters are due on the preceding February 1. This application deadline is for the Department of Psychology only, and supersedes all other published deadlines. Files completed after the published deadline may not be reviewed in time to enroll in the desired semester. Each applicant must complete the University application and provide the Department of Psychology three letters of recommendation; scores on the general test and the psychology subject test of the GRE, both taken within the last 5 years; a letter of intent indicating reasons and goals for pursuing the M.A. degree in psychology; and a completed departmental supplementary data form. Application files will not be complete and will not be reviewed if scores on the general test and the psychology subject test of the GRE are absent. Applicants can assume that their files are incomplete until they receive a letter from the department indicating that files are complete.

The following are the minimum admission requirements:

1. A bachelor's degree in psychology (preferably) or a bachelor's degree with the completion of at least general introductory psychology, experimental psychology, 3 semester hours of statistics, and a psychology course in the area of intended master's emphasis. Any of these requirements may be waived if the student demonstrates competence in the area. Although a student may be admitted with deficiencies, the requirements must be fulfilled before the student is admitted to any 6000-level course. In addition, certain graduate courses have specific undergraduate prerequisites.
   
2. If admitted, students are required to have EXP 4404 or its equivalent to complete the Acquired Bases of Behavior core in the M.A. program.
   
3. Students entering the counseling psychology concentration may be interviewed individually or within an applicant group.

Non Degree-Seeking Students
Non degree-seeking students may not take 6000-level courses if not fully admitted into the master's program, except with permission of the department chairperson. They may, however, take 5000-level courses, and the department may be
petitioned to apply up to 12 semester hours earned as a non degree-seeking student toward the M.A. degree if the student is later admitted into the graduate program.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Graduate students should develop their degree plans with their advisors during the first semester of graduate work. All students must complete University requirements and a planned degree program of at least 42 semester hours with a "B" average and with these stipulations:

1. Only 6 semester hours may be at the 3000- or 4000-level. Usually these hours may NOT be in psychology, especially prerequisites to the graduate program.
   
2. Only with approval of the advisor may courses outside the psychology department (except required courses) be taken toward the total semester hours requirement.
   
3. All students must complete PSY 6217 and STA 5206 or STA 5207 or STA 5166 (with advisor's permission) and at least one course from each of the four core areas.
   
4. Although 42 semester hours are required for the M.A., additional coursework is necessary for students in the Licensed Mental Health Counselor Program.

Psychology Graduate Core (12 sh)
Choose one course in each area.

Toward the end of graduate work, the student must have an integrative experience consisting of 6 semester hours of PSY 6971 or PSY 6948 (PCO 6948 for counseling students). For each semester that the student is working on the thesis or internship, the student must register for at least 1 semester hour of thesis or internship credit. A maximum of 6 semester hours of thesis or internship credit may be counted toward the 42 semester hours degree requirement. Students doing an internship are required to submit a portfolio and paper as described in the Psychology Student Handbook. Upon completion of the thesis or internship, the student must present an oral defense to a master's committee of at least two psychology faculty members.

With the advisor's approval, a student may apply a maximum of 6 semester hours of graduate work taken at another university
toward the degree. With the approval of the department chairperson, a maximum of 10 semester hours may be accepted toward the degree.

All master's work must have been taken within seven years preceding completion of the degree requirements or the student may be required to pass an examination covering the expired course work.

GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY CONCENTRATION

The General Psychology concentration is designed for those students who wish to do graduate work in psychology in any area other than counseling or industrial-organizational psychology. Graduates may find employment in junior college teaching, industry, community mental health clinics, and research centers (military, corporate, etc.).

The 42 semester hour curriculum provides depth in basic content areas, theory and experience in research design and implementation, and specialization through the selection of electives and thesis or internship topic. The program will prepare students to pursue a Ph.D. (for any area of psychology except industrial-organizational) or to enter many occupations requiring an M.A. degree.

With a faculty advisor, each student develops an individualized program. Courses used to meet departmental core requirements may not be used to meet general psychology specialization requirements. Examples of areas of possible student specialization include behavior modification, biological psychology, sensation and perception, developmental psychology, behavioral medicine, cognitive science, and social psychology.

COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY CONCENTRATION

The Counseling Psychology Concentration is a 42 hour graduate program designed primarily to prepare individuals for admission to a doctoral program in Clinical or Counseling Psychology. Students must complete the core departmental requirements, taking PCO 6216 to meet the Individual Bases of Behavior portion of the core, and the following:

COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR

The Licenced Mental Health Counselor Option is a 60 hour program with requirements comparable to the requirements established by the Florida state board for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor. Upon graduation from the licensure option, the individual should be in a position to qualify to register with the state licensing board as an intern and to obtain the two year post-degree supervised experience required by the board for licensure. Students must complete the core departmental requirements, taking PCO 6216 to meet the Individual Bases of Behavior portion of the core, and the following:

Eight additional courses are required by the current Florida law in the areas of developmental psychology, human sexuality, vocational counseling, multicultural counseling, mental health counseling, assessment, substance abuse, and community settings.

INDUSTRIAL-ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CONCENTRATION

The 42 semester hour Industrial-Organizational (I-O) concentration combines traditional personnel psychology (selection, performance appraisal, test construction and validation, fair employment practices, and legal issues) with the more interpersonal emphasis of organizational psychology (motivation, job satisfaction, leadership, interpersonal communication, organizational diagnosis and change). The program includes an optional specialization in Organizational Development, offered in collaboration with the Department of Management. The curriculum meets the needs of students who plan to be employed at the master's level in organizational settings as well as those who wish to pursue a doctoral program in I/O psychology at another university.

Additional Courses (10 sh)
Students must complete at least 10 semester hours of elective courses relevant to I/O and chosen in consultation with the advisor

Students should enroll in SOP 5665 upon beginning their graduate work unless their undergraduate preparation in I/O is very strong. Recommended electives include SOP 5617, SOP 5665, SOP 6069, INP 5131, INP 6325, INP 6255, INP 6944, SOP 6944, additional statistics, or courses in Organizational Development (OD) offered in collaboration with the Management Department. Students who choose to complete the ODL Certificate Program should choose their electives to include the courses required by the Management Department.

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