Graduate Faculty Committee Document 1273 Approved May 13, 2013

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1 Graduate Faculty Committee Document 1273 Approved May 13, 2013 RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON GRADUATE COURSE AND CURRICULUM, AND THE COLLEGE OF LETTERS AND SCIENCE ACADEMIC POLICIES AND CURRICULUM COMMITTEE AND THE FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY FOR CHANGES TO THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY I. Current Graduate School Bulletin Copy Application Application must be made to both the Graduate School and the Department of Psychology. In addition to materials required by the Graduate School, the applicant should send, or have sent, to the Graduate Admissions Committee of the Department of Psychology, transcripts of all undergraduate and previous graduate work (although the Graduate School requires official copies, the Department accepts unofficial copies); GRE examination scores; letters of recommendation; and the completed departmental application form. Applicants are admitted only at the beginning of each academic year. Applications should be submitted by December 7 (clinical doctoral program) or December 31 (other graduate programs). Admission An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus the following departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program: *The completion of an undergraduate major in psychology. *Submission of scores on the General Test and the Subject Test of the Graduate Record Examination. *Positive recommendation by the Admissions Committee. Specialization in Health Psychology The specialization in health psychology offers training in research and theories relevant to health promotion, stress and its management, the patient in the treatment setting, management of pain, and management of chronic illness, as well as causes and consequences of disorders such as coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and arthritis. The program of studies consists of core health psychology coursework, research coursework, psychology breadth coursework, and an optional field placement. The course of study consists of at least 36 credits, distributed as follows: Twelve credits are required in core health psychology courses. All students must take 955 (Seminar in Social Psychology and Health). Students must also choose any three of the following courses: 754 Proseminar in Biological Psychology 756 Psychophysiology 711 Current Topics in Psychology (health-related topic) 833 Neuropsychology 854 Behavioral Neuroscience 954 Seminar in Physiological Psychology Research coursework consists of 15 credits: 510 Advanced Psychological Statistics 610 Experimental Design 932 Seminar in Evaluation Research and 6 credits of 790 Master's Research.

2 Graduate Faculty Committee Document 1273 p. 2 Approved May 13,2013 Breadth coursework consists of 9 credits: Chosen from among those listed in the department's Master's Specialization Handbook Specialization in Behavior Analysis Behavior analysis emphasizes environmental control of the individual organism. The specialization in behavior analysis introduces students to this science and its application through coursework in conceptual foundations, basic principles, and research methods. Students may focus on either basic or applied research, and conduct either laboratory or field research. The course of study consists of at least 31 credits, distributed as follows: Thirteen credits in behavior analysis, which must include 502 Applied Behavior Analysis 714 Conditioning and Learning 724 Proseminar in Behavior Analysis Students must also choose one of the following: 914 Seminar in Stimulus Control 915 Seminar in Operant Behavior or 919 Seminar in Classical Conditioning Nine credits in research methods coursework: 510 Advanced Psychological Statistics 610 Experimental Design 620 Single-Subject Research Methods Nine credits in 790 Master's Research Thesis The student, under the direction of an advisor, must develop an acceptable thesis based on empirical research. The student must pass an oral examination in defense of the thesis. II. Summary of Proposed Changes 1. Add the departmental website link to the admissions instructions. 2. Delete the GRE subject test from admission application requirements. 3. Update the description (to more accurately reflect available research areas) and course requirements for the health psychology specialization. Specifically, add Psych 578 and Psych 930 to the list of core health psychology courses, and indicate that as one of the required research courses, students may take Psych 932 or an equivalent course as determined by area faculty. 4. Substantially revise the course requirements and capstone requirement for the behavior analysis specialization. The old curriculum has been replaced with a new curriculum that meets the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB) requirements. The change to the capstone project is that we have switched from requiring an empirical thesis to requiring either an empirical thesis or an empirical project. Students focusing on basic studies must complete a thesis. Depending on the recommendation of the student's adviser, students focusing on applied studies will complete either a thesis or a project that demonstrates the student's competence in delivering services.

3 Graduate Faculty Committee Document 1273 p. 3 Approved May 13,2013 III. IV. Justification for Proposed Changes 1. The departmental admissions website link is essential, because a departmental application is required in addition to a university application. 2. The department continues to require all M.S. (and Ph.D.) program applicants to take the general test of the GRE but no longer requires any applicants to take the subject test of the GRE. Eliminating the subject test requirement is consistent with current practice in many other psychology graduate programs nationally. 3. Faculty hires in health psychology have led to changes in research areas and additions to the health psychology curriculum. 4. The behavior analysis curriculum and capstone requirements have been substantially revised to align them with requirements of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB). As a result, the BACB has approved our behavior analysis curriculum as meeting the requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination, which will allow our graduates to become BCBA's and licensed behavior analysts. Notably, we have the only BACB-approved curriculum in the State of Wisconsin. Resources Required We will need two faculty when Marshall Dermer and Jay Moore retire. Required additional facilities: none, except for permanent facilities for Jeffrey Tiger, who currently uses temporary facilities in Merrill. V. Proposed Bulletin Copy Application Application must be made to both the Graduate School and the Department of Psychology (see below for the link to the department's admissions website). In addition to materials required by the Graduate School, the applicant should submit to the Graduate Admissions Committee of the Department of Psychology transcripts of all undergraduate and previous graduate work (although the Graduate School requires official copies, the Department accepts unofficial copies); GRE examination scores; letters of recommendation; and the completed departmental application form. Applicants are admitted only at the beginning of each academic year. Applications should be submitted by December 5 (clinical doctoral program) or December 31 (other graduate programs). Important: It is essential to consult the department's website for application forms and important information, including the departmental admissions brochure: Admission An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements and the following departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program: -completion of an undergraduate major in psychology (or neuroscience). -submission of scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); -receipt of positive recommendation by the Admissions Committee. Specialization in Health Psychology Health psychology is concerned with the psychological variables that influence physical health and illness. The M.S. program in health psychology offers training in research and theories relevant to health promotion. The program of study consists of core health psychology coursework, research

4 Graduate Faculty Committee Document 1273 p. 4 Approved May 13,2013 coursework, psychology breadth coursework, and an optional field placement. Current research topics include gender and health, cancer prevention and health education, reproductive health and STD prevention, patient advocacy and self-care behaviors, the effects of stress and mechanisms of coping with it, and child abuse prevention. Research is conducted in the laboratory as well as in clinical settings, and many members of the faculty have strong ties to the Milwaukee community. : The course of study consists of at least 36 credits, distributed as follows: Twelve credits in core health psychology courses. All students must take: Psych 955 (Seminar in Social Psychology and Health). Students also must choose any three of the following courses: Psych 578 Psychology of Race, Ethnicity, and Health Psych 754 Proseminar in Biological Psychology Psych 756 Psychophysiology Psych 711 Current Topics in Psychology (health-related topic) Psych 833 Neuropsychology Psych 854 Behavioral Neuroscience Psych 930 Seminar in Social Psychology Psych 954 Seminar in Physiological Psychology Research coursework consists of 15 credits: Psych 510 Advanced Psychological Statistics Psych 610 Experimental Design Psych 932 Seminar in Evaluation Research or an acceptable equivalent course, as determined by area faculty Psych 790 Master's Research -- 6 cr Breadth coursework consists of 9 credits: Students choose breadth courses in consultation with their advisers. Specialization in Behavior Analysis Behavior analysis focuses on how the interactions between an organism and its environment regulate its behavior. This M.S. specialization prepares students to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts as well as to continue on to advanced studies. Students may focus on either basic or applied studies and must complete a final empirical thesis or empirical project, which may be conducted in laboratory or field settings. Research areas include the study of choice behavior in pigeons; procedures to enhance students' verbal skills (as in acquiring a second language and writing concisely); and the use of behavior analytic techniques to address repetitive behavior disorders and developmental disabilities, including autism. The Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB), Inc has approved our course sequence as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Examination to become BCBA's (nationally) and licensed behavior analysts (in Wisconsin). The BACB also requires applicants to be experienced in providing behavior-analytic services. We have developed relationships with local providers to assist students in completing their practicum hours. The course of study consists of at least 31 credits, distributed as follows: Sixteen credits of core behavior analytic coursework: Psych 502 Applied Behavior Analysis

5 Graduate Faculty Committee Document 1273 p. 5 Approved May 13,2013 Psych 714 Conditioning and Learning Psych 724 Proseminar in Behavior Analysis Psych 725 Ethical and Professional Conduct for Behavior Analysts and any one of the following four courses: Psych 736 Functional Assessment and Intervention Psych 914 Seminar in Stimulus Control Psych 915 Seminar in Operant Behavior Psych 919 Seminar in Classical Conditioning Nine credits of coursework in research methods: Psych 510 Advanced Psychological Statistics Psych 610 Experimental Design Psych 620 Single-Subject Research Methods Six credits of Psych 790 (Master's Research). Depending on students' goals and the advice of their advisers, they also may enroll in Psych 730 (Practicum in Behavior Analysis). Thesis or Project: The student, under the direction of his or her major professor, must develop an empirical thesis or empirical project, which the student must defend in an oral examination. Students focusing on basic studies complete a thesis. Depending on the recommendation of their advisers, students focusing on applied studies complete either a thesis or a project that demonstrates their competence at delivering services. VI. Recommended Action A. Revision of the Master of Science in Psychology program is approved as reflected in the proposed changes and Graduate School Bulletin copy described above. B. Following appropriate administrative approval, the revised requirements are effective for students who begin this program as of Semester III, (Incoming students have been informed of the pending changes.) Currently-enrolled students will have the option of following the old or new requirements.