Mar 28, 2024  
2010-2011 Graduate Catalog 
    
2010-2011 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Clinical Psychology, M.A./Ph.D. in Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Psychology


General Program Information


Graduate School Contact:

Gail Powers; powers@etsu.edu; 423-439-4703

Wallace E. Dixon, Jr., Ph.D., Chair

420A Rogers-Stout Hall
Box 70649
(423) 439-6656
e-mail: dixonw@etsu.edu

Peggy Cantrell, Ph.D., Director of Clinical Training

409 Rogers-Stout Hall
Box 70649
(423) 439-6660
e-mail: cantrell@etsu.edu

Russell W. Brown, Ph.D., General Psychology Coordinator

422B Rogers-Stout Hall
Box 70649
(423) 439-5863
e-mail: brown1@etsu.edu

The Department of Psychology offers a Master of Arts degree in general psychology and a Ph.D. program in psychology with a concentration in clinical psychology.

Clinical Psychology


Articulated Master of Arts/Doctor of Philosophy Program

Contact Information:

e-mail - clinpsyc@etsu.edu
Web site: www.etsu.edu/cas/psychology/academic_programs/grad_programs.php
Phone: (423) 439-4424, Main Psychology Department
Fax: (423) 439-5695
Phone: (423) 439-6660, Peggy Cantrell, Director of Clinical Training

Program Mission and Training Philosophy: The primary objective of the articulated master’s/doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at East Tennessee State University is to provide training in clinical psychology emphasizing Rural Behavioral Health and Practice in the context of integrated primary health care.

The clinical psychology program is guided by the scientist/practitioner model and places a strong emphasis on research and interdisciplinary clinical training. Though diverse in respect to methods of inquiry and areas of study, the faculty is of one mind in promoting scientific inquiry as the foundation of clinical psychology.

The program is designed for full-time study only as a 5-year postbaccalaureate articulated M.A./Ph.D. program, with the fifth year being an off-campus full-time internship in keeping with APA/APPIC requirements.

All students receive a curriculum of general clinical training as well as training in the basic science of psychology. Thus, the first two years of the program are highly structured. Due to the emphasis in primary care and rural health practice as well as adherence to the generalistic model of training, the advanced coursework is more structured than some programs in clinical psychology, but students are afforded the opportunity for individualization through electives, research emphasis, and externship placements.

Full-time Faculty

Core Clinical Faculty:

Peggy Cantrell, Director of Clinical Training; William Dalton; Chris Dula; Jon Ellis; Jameson Hirsch; Jodi Polaha; Jon Webb.

Non-Core Faculty:

Ginni Blackhart; Russell Brown; Andrea Clements; Wallace Dixon, Jr., Department Chair; Michael Floyd, Family Medicine; Stacey Williams.

Admission Requirements

To be accepted into the Clinical program, students must apply for fulltime study. Applicants to the M.A./Ph.D. degree program are evaluated once each year only, for admission in the fall semester; applicants for spring admission are not considered. All application information must have been received by February 1 for a candidate to be considered for admission. Students are admitted from two applicant pools, dependent upon level of preparation. All applications are considered with the expectation that the applicant will pursue the Ph.D. The two applicant pools are as follows:

  1. Students holding a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution will be considered for the M.A./Ph.D. program. Students admitted to the Psychology Ph.D. program complete the requirements for an M.A. in Clinical Psychology (48 hour program of study with thesis) as part of their Ph.D. requirements.
  2. Students already holding the M.A. or M.S. in psychology from a regionally accredited institution may also apply to the M.A./Ph.D. program. The master’s degree must be commensurate with the MA program in Clinical Psychology at ETSU and involve the successful completion of an empirically-based thesis project. Students possessing a master’s degree without an empirically based thesis will be required to complete an empirically-based thesis before being admitted to doctoral candidacy.

The following are required:

  1. Completed department and university application forms;
  2. A grade point average of at least 3.00 (based on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate and/or graduate level work overall and in Psychology courses;
  3. A minimum of 18 semester hours in undergraduate psychology, including courses in statistics, experimental design, personality, history and systems, and abnormal psychology. Students lacking some of these prerequisite courses, but presenting an exceptional undergraduate record, may be granted graduate admission, but they will be expected to remove all undergraduate deficiencies during their first academic year;
  4. GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative, and Written Analysis) are required for application and are taken into account in the admission process;
  5. Letters of recommendation from at least three persons familiar with the applicant’s background and aptitude for graduate study and future performance as a psychologist;
  6. A personal statement of 500-750 words indicating the applicant’s academic experiences, research interests, and career goals. Prior undergraduate research interests and involvement are weighted heavily as is an interest and commitment to working in a rural and/or primary care setting.
  7. A willingness to be interviewed by members of the admission committee.

Offers and Acceptances

The Department of Psychology subscribes to the “Resolution Regarding Scholars, Fellows, Trainees, and Graduate Students” as adopted by the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States; and to the statement adopted by the Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology which indicates that, “An acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to solicit or accept another offer. Offers made after April 15 must include the proviso that the offer is void if acceptance of a previous offer from a department accepting this resolution is in force on that date.”

Master level Requirements


Total Required Credits: 48 Credit Hours


Doctoral level Requirements


Major Field Core: 25 Credit Hours


One of the following courses: 3 Credit Hours


Other Requirements: 23 Credit Hours


Total Required Credits: 63 Credit Hours


Additional Information:


All students must be competent in the diverse core areas of psychology as specified by the American Psychological Association. Core competence will be demonstrated by completion of coursework covering core areas as well as passing the written comprehensive exam. Core areas include: Biological Aspect of Behavior, Cognitive and Affective Aspects of Behavior, Social Aspects of Behavior, History and Systems, Psychological Measurement, Research Methods, Data Analysis, and Human Development.

Students must also demonstrate proficiency in substantive areas representing the current body of knowledge in the field of clinical psychology in Assessment and Diagnosis,  Psychological Interventions, Theoretical Models of Personality and Treatment, and Behavioral Health.

Transfer of Credit

Students with graduate credit earned at another institution, upon matriculation at ETSU, may petition to have these credits applied toward their degree requirements at ETSU. While such credits are not automatically transferred and must be approved by the Director of Clinical Training and the School of Graduate Studies, a maximum of 9 semester hours earned elsewhere could be applied. For students who have attained a master’s degree in Psychology, a maximum of 48 semester hours may be applied toward the M.A./Ph.D. degree requirements.

Waiving Core Course Requirements

Students may petition to waive specific courses through examination. The designated course instructor, along with the DCT, will review petitions. Students must present vidence of completion of a similar course to that in the petition, transcript evidence, and a course syllabus constitute the required documentation. Upon approval to sit for a waiver examination, students will be provided an opportunity for examination by the designated course instructor, and the course instructor will determine pass or failure of the examination. If the examination is passed, the instructor will recommend a course waiver to the DCT. The total number of degree hours will not be reduced, but an alternate course may then be substituted for degree credit.

Students who enter the Ph.D. program after completing graduate level courses at another university may wish to request waivers of required core courses. Requests for waivers should be made during the student’s first semester of academic study, but may be considered later. Comparability of the prior coursework to the core courses in the department is the primary criteria for granting a waiver. Students should first consult with the current instructor of the course they wish to waive and provide him or her with documentation of the completed course that will serve as basis for the waiver. Normally, this documentation would include copies of:

  1. the transcript (unofficial is acceptable) showing a final grade of B or higher in the completed course;
  2. the completed course syllabus, text, and reading lists;
  3. tests, notes, projects, etc., from the completed course (if available).

Although the instructor may offer an informal opinion on the comparability of the completed course, the instructor does not make the final decision on waiving core courses alone. If the student wishes to pursue the waiver, the student should then submit a formal letter to the Director of Clinical Training requesting the waiver. The written request should be accompanied by the documentation of the course that serves as the basis for the waiver. Requests for waivers of multiple core courses should be submitted with separate cover letters.

The Director of Clinical Training will submit the waiver request and documentation to the Core Curriculum Committee, which consists of the Director of Clinical Training and core course instructors within the department. This committee makes the final decision on the request for a waiver of a core course. The Director will then notify the student of the committee’s decision and also place a letter of notification in the student’s file.

Matriculation Requirements

Students are referred to the ETSU Graduate Catalog for School of Graduate Studies academic requirements. Specific departmental requirements also apply. All students in the M.A./Ph.D. program are expected to be enrolled as full-time students and to devote themselves full time to their graduate pursuits during their enrollment in degree-related activities. Students are expected to be active in research collaboratively with members of the department faculty each semester they are enrolled. In addition to coursework and research, students are required to participate in clinic and field experiences commensurate with their level of training and type of graduate assistantship.

Student Handbook for the ETSU Clinical Psychology Graduate Program

Matriculating students are responsible for adherence to procedures and policies outlined in this catalog as well as those contained in the Student Handbook for the ETSU Clinical Psychology Graduate Program. Refer to that document for critical departmental guidelines and policies concerning Clinical and Professional Learning Experiences, Documentation of Clinical Experience and Supervision, Annual Student Evaluations, additional Ph.D. requirements, Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines, Comprehensive Examination, Oral Defenses, Academic Performance requirements, Academic Probation, Dismissal, and Appeal, Clinic Responsibilities, Graduate Assistantships, and Professional Development.