Master of Arts in Clinical/Community Psychology Overview The objective of the UNC Charlotte master's degree program in Clinical/Community Psychology

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1 Master of Arts in Clinical/Community Psychology Overview The objective of the UNC Charlotte master's degree program in Clinical/Community Psychology is to train psychologists in the knowledge and skills necessary to address problems encountered in modern living. The Program Leading to the Master of Arts degree, the program provides a firm foundation in the research methods and content of basic psychology as well as training in the applied skills of professional practice. The relatively small, competitively selected student body receives individual attention from faculty members who maintain rigorous standards of academic excellence. Students develop knowledge and skills in psychological assessment, learn various treatment and intervention strategies, and work with a variety of populations in consultation, evaluation and research. An extensive practicum component utilizes the Charlotte area as a setting for applied experience. The program prepares students for the North Carolina psychology licensure exam and for positions in diverse settings such as community mental health centers, correctional facilities, and other human service programs. We strongly prefer students who plan to seek the doctoral degree in clinical, community, or health psychology in the future. The Department The Clinical/Community Psychology program is one of two Master's degree programs in Psychology offered at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The department also offers Ph.D. degrees in Health Psychology and Organizational Science. With a modem, growing campus, UNC Charlotte offers a rich environment for students of psychology to learn and develop. The Department of Psychology has an energetic and dynamic faculty of more than 30 psychologists who are committed to education and have established an excellent record of productivity in all the major areas of psychological research and professional practice. The Psychology Department is in the Colvard Building, which features classrooms, demonstration rooms, animal housing areas, a

2 workshop and laboratories designed to provide opportunities for faculty and students to conduct both human and animal research. The facilities include many small testing rooms, and training and interview rooms equipped with one-way mirrors for direct observation and audio intercommunications. New office and laboratory space is available for students in the M.A. and Ph.D. programs. The psychometric laboratory has a large inventory of current tests of intelligence, personality and interests. The 10-story Atkins Library contains over 1,000,000 bound volumes and many journals in psychology and related fields. There are currently more than 1000 under-graduate majors and approximately 100 graduate students actively enrolled in the Psychology Department. The Curriculum The Clinical/Community Psychology program requires a minimum of 48 semester hours of graduate course work. Full-time students should be able to complete the program in two calendar years. Basic Knowledge and Methods in Psychology A core of 14 semester hours of courses in basic knowledge and methods in psychology is required. Listed below are the courses and credit hours: Research Design and Quantitative Methods in Psychology (3) Ethical and Professional Issues in Psychology (2) Thesis (3) Two general psychology courses (G hours) must be selected from the following: Topics in Leaning and Cognition (3) Topics in Perception and Physiological Psychology (3) Topics in Development Psychology (3) Topics in Social Psychology and Personality (3) Clinical/Community Course Work The following courses covering Clinical/Community Psychology are also required: Topics in Psychological Treatment (3) Intellectual Assessment (4) Personality Assessment (4) Applied Research Design and Program Evaluation (3) Psychological Treatment (4) Behavior Disorders (4) Community Psychology (3) Practicum in Clinical Psychology (3) Practicum in Community Psychology (3) OR Practicum in Clinical Psychology (3) Elective (3) All students are required to successfully complete comprehensive examinations covering research design, ethics as well as basic information o n clinical/community psychology. Additional courses or more practicum work may be required for

3 an individual student's program of study. Admission T o be considered for admission to graduate study in psychology, a student must meet the following minimum requirements: Completed application (Deadline: March I--check our website for planned changes to this deadline) Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution 18 hours of undergraduate psychology including: Introductory Psychology and Research Methods, and an undergraduate course in Statistics Grade point average above 2.8 overall and 3.0 in psychology Verbal and Quantitative GRE scores Advanced GRE test in psychology for applicants without the psychology major Official transcripts from each university/college you have attended after high school. 3 letters of recommendation Statement of professional goals Admission to the program is very competitive, with only 5 students entering the program each year. Most students who are admitted have much better records than the minimum required.,. Applicants whose native language is other than English must offer acceptable scores o n the Test o f English as a Foreign Language. The primary application deadline is March 1 for admission in the fall semester, but if space is still available, late applications will be considered until May 1. Students may not begin the program during the spring semester. Financial Assistance A wide variety of resources are available for financial assistance. These include teaching assistantships for general psychology laboratory, research assistantships for faculty grants, and graduate assistantships in other campus units such as the Center for Academic Excellence and the Office of Disability Services. These range in pay from $4500 to $12,000 per year. Information o n loans, grants, and employment opportunities is available from: Office of Student Financial Aid, UNC Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC Telephone: (704) Clinical/Community Faculty Lawrence G. Calhoun, Ph.D. Professor. Colvard 4027, Icalhnjr@uncc.edu. Clinical Psychology: Social perception of problems of clinical relevance, crisis intervention, the aftermath of suicide, psychological reaction to crisis situations, humor, clinical applications of social psychology, posttraumatic psychological growth. James R. Cook, Ph.D. Associate Professor. Colvard 4042, jcook@uncc.edu. Community Psychology: Development and evaluation of prevention programs, citizen participation and neighborhood organization, support for family caregivers, community attitudes towards disabilities. George Demakis, Ph.D. Associate Professor. Colvard 4013, gdemakis@uncc.edu. Clinical Psychology: Neuropsychological assessment, malingering, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, meta-analysis. Virginia Gil-Rivas, Ph.D. Associate Professor. Colvard 4009, vgilriva@uncc.edu. The role of cognitive, emotional, and social factors on individuals' psychological adjustment and quality of life following exposure to major stressful events (e.g., disasters, loss of a loved one, chronic illness). Factors associated with health-behavior change and maintenance among adolescents and adults. Mason Haber, Ph.D. Assistant Professor. Colvard 4040.

4 Clinical and community psychology. Interests: Community-based support for youth with serious mental health conditions during the transition to adulthood. Tailoring of evidence-based interventions to developmental needs of transitioning youth and young adults. Secondary prevention and early intervention to reduce risk behavior problems of adolescents and young adults. Reducing vulnerability to homelessness in late adolescence and young adulthood. Ryan Kilmer, Ph.D. Associate Professor. Colvard 4011, Clinical/Community Psychology: Child resilience, development of at-risk children, factors that facilitate sound adaptation under risk conditions. risk factors of childhood. development and evaluation of prevention and wellness enhancement programs. Richard D. McAnulty, Ph.D. Associate Professor. Colvard 4047, Clinical Psychology: Sexual behavior and disorders, sexual abuse, forensic psychology. Amy Peterman, Ph.D. Associate Professor. Colvard 4028, Clinical Health Psychology. Response to cancer and other major health problems. Richard Tedeschi, Ph.D. Professor. Colvard 4037, Clinical Psychology: Psychological trauma, bereavement, personality change and growth. Jennifer Webb, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Colvard 4024, Her research program is interested in identifying biopsychosocial risk and resilience factors (e.g., body image, ethnic identity, stress, positive emotionality, emotion regulation style, eating behavior) for weight gain among ethnically diverse women at important developmental transitions (e.g., during college and pregnancy). Research is also concerned with exploring how Eastern-based therapeutic technologies (e.g., mindfulness meditation, acceptance) may positively impact weight, eating, appetite and metabolism among overweight and obese individuals. For More Information For more information about the academic program, contact: Dr. Richard Tedeschi, Graduate Coordinator Department of Psychology University of North Carolina at Charlotte 9201 University City Boulevard Charlotte, N C Phone: (704) d rtedesch@ .uncc.edu Apply on-line at Graduate Admissions University of North Carolina at Charlotte 9201 University City Boulevard Charlotte, NC Phone: (704) Fax: (704) gradadm@ .uncc.edu Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the cost for a semester of graduate work? Fall 2008 tuition and fees for full time students totaled $2, for North Carolina residents and $7, for out-of-state students. These fees change annually. Books cost approximately $100 to $150 per class. You can also expect to spend money to make copies of reserved materials in the library. Parking fees are $295 per 2. Are assistantships available in the psychology department? A wide variety of resources are available for financial assistance.

5 These include teaching assistants for general psychology laboratory, research assistants for faculty grants and graduate assistantships in other campus units such as the Center for Academic Excellence and the Office of Disability Services. Assistantships within the department are generally awarded to a limited number of first-year students upon admission to the program. Other assistantships require application directly to those programs. Additional information on loans, grants, and employment opportunities is available from the Financial Aid Office: (704) , 3. If I cannot take the GRE before March, can I be considered for fall admission? The GRE is now taken on computers and you get your results immediately, so you may be able to take it before the deadline. The primary application deadline is March 1st for the following fall semester. All materials must be received by that date to ensure consideration for fall. The secondary application deadline is May 1st. Materials received between March 1st and May 1st will be considered only if there are any unfilled vacancies after the March admissions. Your application may not be reviewed if your tile is not complete by March 1st. Your application will not be reviewed without GRE General test scores. Deadlines for admission may change, so check the website for the latest information. 4. D o I need to take the advanced psychology GRE test? No. But if you did not have an Undergraduate Psychology major, the psychology GRE is recommended. If you have not taken the Advanced Psychology portion in time for it to be received before the March 1st deadline and everything else has been received, your application will still be reviewed. The absence of these scores might decrease your chances of acceptance, depending on other aspects of your record. You must provide scores on the Advanced Psychology GRE before you can be fully admitted to the program. 5. How soon will I know if I have been accepted into the program? If your materials are received by March 1, you should be notified of our decision by approximately April 15th. Late applicants will be notified of our decision by early August. 6. Can students begin the program in January for the spring semester? No. Most courses in the spring require prerequisites from the fall. 7. I do not test well. How much do the GRE scores count? The scores are important in the decision. The average combined verbal and quantitative score for students accepted into our program is over The usual minimum for Verbal and Qualitative combined is If you think that your GRE scores do not reflect your ability, we suggest that you take it again. You may also prepare for these exams by taking special

6 review courses or using commercially prepared study guides. Workshops to prepare for the GRE are offered through the Office of Continuing Education: or (704) Preparation and repeated testing may help your performance on the exam. GRE Application, free pamphlets, and low-cost books on taking the GRE General and Psychology tests are available by writing to: Graduate Record Examinations, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, NJ GRE applications can be obtained from the Office of Graduate Admissions. 8. If I meet all minimum standards will I be accepted? Not necessarily. Admission to the program is quite competitive. We normally admit a maximum of 5 students each year, and we typically receive about 150 applications each year. The usual minimum standards are a GPA of 2.8 overall and 3.0 in psychology, a Verbal GRE of 500, a Quantitative GRE of 500, and a combined Verbal plus Quantitative GRE of We look for the candidates with the strongest records, considering GRE scores, letters, grades, interests, experience, etc. Our students are generally far above all the minimum standards. 9. How important is the essay that is part of the application? What should I include in it? We are interested in whether your goals are realistic and if this program could help you achieve them. Describe your experience and your plans for the future. 10. I have been out of school for several years. Who would be the best people to ask to write letters of recommendation? It is best to have people who know you well and who know your professional and work abilities to write letters of recommendation. It is especially helpful to have professors and/or psychologists write letters for you. 11. Are there any older or part-time students in the program? Yes. We have a variety of students in the program. Most students attend school fulltime, but there is a wide range of age and experience represented among our students. 12. I need to take some undergraduate classes. What courses would you recommend to help me prepare for the graduate program? In addition to the required courses (Introductory Psychology, Statistics and Research Methods), we recommend that students planning to enter the program in the Clinical/Community track take courses in Personality, Abnormal Psychology, or Community Psychology. However, many different psychology courses could be helpful to you, so take any psychology courses that will provide you with a solid background in general psychology. To take additional undergraduate courses at UNC Charlotte, apply as a post-baccalaureate (no degree) student through Graduate Admissions. Before taking many undergraduate classes, you might wish to take the GRE to see if you score in

7 the range that is accepted at UNC Charlotte. 13. Will taking either undergraduate or graduate classes at UNC Charlotte improve my chances of being admitted to the program? Taking classes at UNC Charlotte will not enhance your chances of being admitted to the program if your other qualifications are weak. Your application will be viewed along with those of all other applicants and judged on its merit. However, it is important that you have a good track record of doing well in school. If you do not have that, then taking undergraduate classes (and doing well) can help you demonstrate to the selection committee that you have the ability to be successful in school. If those classes are take" at UNC Charlotte, it does provide you with the ability to get to know our faculty and for them to get to know you. It can help to get involved in research opportunities on campus and/or to gain relevant volunteer or work experience. 14. I can't be admitted until next fall, but I would like to get started sooner. Can I take graduate courses before I am admitted to the program? Will any of the classes I take count towards the degree? Students who are not in the program are rarely allowed to take graduate courses that are required for the Master's program. We generally do not have the capacity to take students who are not in the program. A maximum of six hours of work completed before entering the program may be accepted toward the degree even if the courses were taken at UNC Charlotte and are required courses. To take classes as a non-program student you must: (1) be admitted to UNC Charlotte as a post-baccalaureate student; (2) complete a "Request to Take 6000 Level Courses" form (available from the Psychology Department office); (3) call the Department of Psychology at (704) during the registration period at the beginning of the semester to see if permission has been granted; and (4) obtain a signed permission form from the Graduate Coordinator. Final decisions may not be made until the second day of classes of the semester, when enrollment figures are available. 15. How long will it take me to finish the program? It depends upon the course load you take each semester. The program requires 48 semester hours, a thesis, and comprehensive exams. If you are a full time student, and attend during the summers, you can finish the program in two years. Part-time students wd! take longer. University rules specify that the degree must be completed within six years. 16. Can I complete the program in the evening while working days? No. Most course work and all practica are conducted during the daytime. Many courses meet during two- to three-hour blocks of time. 17. I have a number of hours in another master's program. Will they all be accepted toward the master's at UNC Charlotte? A maximum of six hours may be accepted from another institution. Whether or not any hours are transferred is entirely at the discretion of the department. There are only three hours of electives in the program. 18. I really want to go into private practice in clinical psychology. Will a master's degree in clinical/community psychology allow this? Yes, but you will be restricted to performing intellectual and educational assessments under the stipulations of the licensing law in North Carolina, unless you are supervised by a Doctoral-level psychologist. Many M.A. psychologists work in organizations that include Ph.D. psychologists who provide supervision. 19. I need to obtain a license to practice psychology in North Carolina. Will this program help me fulfill these requirements? Yes, the program satisfies all of the educational requirements for licensing in the state of North Carolina as a Psychological Associate. You must also pass the state licensing examination. 20. Is the program accredited? The American Psychological Association does not have an accreditation process for master's degree programs. The University is fully accredited. Our 48-hour degree

8 requirement is consistent with the general standards of training adopted by the Council of Applied Master's Programs in Psychology which require at least 40 semester hours. 21. I would like to get a Ph.D. but I cannot leave the Charlotte area now. Will having a master's degree speed the process of getting a Ph.D. later? Some Ph.D. programs will accept your Master's course work, but others will not. You should check with the individual institutions regarding their policies. Some of our M.A. graduates go on to study in the Health Psychology Ph.D. offered in the department. However, a separate admissions process is necessary. 22. How do I obtain information about the UNC Charlotte Ph.D. program in Psychology? Contact Dr. Virginia Gil-Rivas at or vgilriva@ernail.uncc.edu or go to the department website. 23. Are there other graduate programs in the area for me to consider? UNC Charlotte has several other related masters programs: Community Counseling, School Counseling, Social Work, Public Administration and Business Administration. For a complete listing of programs and contact information see A master's program in School Psychology is offered at Winthrop University: Rock Hill, SC 29733, (803) , w w w. w i n t h r o p. e d u / p s y c h o l o g y /Gra d u a t e / ~. Other Ph.D. programs in psychology are offered at UNC Greensboro: Greensboro, NC 27412, (336) , and at the University of South Carolina: Columbia, SC 29208, (803) , Do graduate students teach undergraduate psychology courses? Some graduate students proctor the undergraduate general psychology laboratory course, which involves having major responsibility for classroom activities. Generally undergraduate courses are taught by the regular faculty. 25. What kind of research facilities are available for student research? We have extensive laboratory and computer facilities available for a variety of animal and human research studies. 26. Is housing available for graduate students on campus? What about family housing? Very little graduate housing is available on campus; however, there are many apartment complexes dose to campus which are available at a fairly reasonable cost. The Housing and Residence Life Office has some information about available housing, (704) , The Psychology Department has compiled a list of apartment complexes which we send to accepted students. 27. How may I contact currently enrolled graduate students? While the department cannot release names and numbers of current students, you may contact Dr. Tedeschi, the Clinical/Community Graduate Coordinator, (704) , rtedesch@ .uncc.edu to see if any current students are available. 28. How will I know if all of my application materials have been received? The Psychology Department will not receive any of your materials from Admissions until your folder is complete. You may monitor your application status on-line at http: //