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B.A. in Psychology
Q: What is psychology/what do psychologists do?
A: Many textbooks offer a definition of psychology reflecting the
fact that it is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
This covers a lot of territory, and psychologists specialize in
many different areas! Psychology is both a science and a profession.
Some psychologists conduct research to learn more about how people
think, feel and behave. Other psychologists focus on helping people
resolve problems and promote well-being. Psychologists are employed
in many different settings, including business and industry, universities,
hospitals and private practice.
Q: How can I learn more about a career in psychology?
A: The American Psychological Association has an online brochure,
Psychology: Scientific Problem Solvers - Careers for the 21st Century,
that provides information about what psychologists do and the different
types of psychology degrees. There is also a good book by Robert
Sternberg, Career Paths in Psychology: Where Your Degree Can Take
You.
Q: Are there any good psychology resources on the internet?
A: A good starting point is to check out the websites for the two
largest psychology organizations, the American Psychological Association
and the American Psychological Society.
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Q: Does the OLLU undergraduate program provide research opportunities
for students?
A: Absolutely. All students are required to complete a practicum
course, which provides them with "real world" experience
in their field. To fulfill this requirement, students may elect
to take the Research Practicum course in which they conduct research
with a professor on campus or psychologist conducting research off-campus.
Also, all students complete two courses in research methods, in
which they conduct their own psychological research projects. Finally,
some psychology students become involved with the McNair Scholars
Program (add link), which provides tremendous research opportunities
and support for students who plan to pursue doctoral work.
Q: Does the OLLU undergraduate program provide counseling/clinical
training at the undergraduate level?
A: This is one of hallmarks of our program. Students can elect to
take two courses in counseling, Counseling I (theories and techniques
of individual counseling) and Counseling II (theories and techniques
of group counseling). Students can also elect to take a practicum
course in which they are supervised in providing mental health services
at an off-campus mental health or social service agency.
Q: What is the biliterate degree option?
A: The biliterate degree option offers students with conversational
proficiency in Spanish the opportunity to develop professional proficiency
in Spanish. Requirements for the biliterate degree option include
three semesters of specialized Spanish courses, two general education
and two Psychology courses taught in Spanish, and practicum in a
Spanish speaking setting.
M.S. in Psychology
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Q: What are the strengths of your program?
A: The practicum training offered at the department’s
training clinic, Community Counseling Service (CCS),
provides intensive, yet supportive training in psychotherapy.
At CCS, students have the opportunity to observe faculty
and peers conduct psychotherapy and to receive immediate
feedback on their work through live supervision. The
CCS practicum emphasizes the application of brief, systemic,
postmodern approaches to psychotherapy, which are the
theories emphasized in coursework. All programs emphasize
multicultural competence including specialized training
for students who are conversationally proficient in
Spanish.
Q: Can I attend the M.S. program part-time?
A: Yes. Most students attend the program full-time (9-12
hours per semester), but the minimum requirement is
6 hours per semester. Please note that each semester
of practicum requires a commitment of 16-20 hours per
week, even though practicum is a 3 semester hour course.
Q: When are classes held?
A: Classes are held in the evening during the Fall and Spring semesters.
When more than one section of class is offered, the second section
is often scheduled in the afternoon. Due to the limited time in
the summer session, classes are scheduled in both the day and evening.
Q: What is the comprehensive examination?
A: Students have two options to complete the comprehensive examination
requirement. The most common is to take a six-hour examination that
consists of applied clinical questions. The second option is to
publish an article in a refereed journal and take an oral examination.
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Q: What are the practicum requirements?
A: Marriage and Family Therapy students are required
to complete 500 direct service hours over four semesters
of practicum. Students begin their practica by working
on supervised teams in the Psychology Department’s
training clinic, the Community Counseling Service (CCS).
After two semesters at CCS, students are placed in off-campus
practicum sites in community agencies, schools or hospitals.
School Psychology students complete a minimum of 350
hour practicum over one semester and a minimum 1200
clock-hour internship over two semesters.
Q: What are the CCS treatment teams?
A: Teams consist of 4-6 graduate students and a faculty supervisor.
Generally two students serve as co-therapists while the remaining
students and the supervisor observe behind a one-way mirror. Midway
through the session, the therapists take a break to consult with
the team. The supervisor may also phone in suggestions during the
session.
Q: How do I choose a concentration?
A: Concentrations should be selected based on your anticipated
area of employment. If you are interested in working
primarily with adults, Counseling Psychology is the
best concentration. The Marriage and Family Therapy
concentration is appropriate for those who plan to work
with children, families or couples. School Psychology
is appropriate for those interested in providing assessment,
therapy, consultation in public schools, and educational
settings.
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Q: Can I change concentrations after I begin the program?
A: Yes. Students from all three concentrations take
the same course for the first semester. Switching between
Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Psychology
is possible later in the program as the degree plans
for these concentrations vary only by two courses. School
Psychology is the concentration that has the most unique
courses. Switching to or from School Psychology after
the first year generally requires extra coursework.
Q: What kind of jobs do your graduates obtain?
A: Graduates find employment in community mental health
centers, hospitals agencies, community colleges, and
schools. Graduates often obtain employment through their
off-campus practica sites.
Q; Do you offer financial aid?
A: Financial aid is limited, but the Psychology Department hire
M.S. students as Graduate Assistants. Graduate Assistants are paid
the equivalent of 6 hours of tuition for working 12 hours per week.
Q: Why does
you program require more hours than the minimum required
for the Texas licensing boards of LMFT and LSSP?
A: The goal of the OLLU M.S. program is to graduate highly skilled
practitioners. We do not believe that the licensing minimums are
sufficient to train competent practitioners.
Q: How long does it take to complete the program?
A: Students who attend full-time (9-12 hours per semester,
including summer) graduate in August of their second
year or third year for School Psychology.
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Q; Do I have to take the GRE?
A: No, either the GRE or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) may be
taken for admission to the M.S. program.
Q: I am fluent in Spanish. Does your program offer training to
prepare me to provide services to Spanish-speaking clients?
A: Yes, OLLU offers an optional certificate in Psychological Services
for Spanish Speaking Populations (PSSSP). In order to obtain this
certificate, students take the following courses: Professional/Technical
Spanish, Latino Psychology, Cultural and Language Variables in Interviews
and Assessment with Latinos, Sociocultural Foundations of Counseling
Mexicans and Mexican Americans (taught in Mexico), and complete
a portion of their practica in Spanish language settings.
PsyD in Psychology
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Q: What are the strengths of your program?
A: The practicum training offered at the department’s training
clinic, Community Counseling Service (CCS) provides intensive, yet
supportive training in psychotherapy. At CCS, students have the
opportunity to observe faculty and peers conduct psychotherapy and
to receive immediate feedback on their work through live supervision.
The CCS practicum emphasizes the application of brief, system, postmodern
approaches to psychotherapy, which are the theories emphasized in
coursework. The program emphasizes multicultural competence including
specialized training for students who are conversationally proficient
in Spanish. Elective concentrations are available in Health Psychology,
Psychological Services for Spanish Speaking Populations, and Child,
Adolescent, and Family Therapy. Coursework in consultation and program
evaluation provide students with marketable skills.
Q: Is the PsyD program accredited?
A: Yes, the doctoral program in Counseling Psychology program is
fully accredited by the American Psychological Association. The
University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools.
Q; Does the program prepare you for licensure?
A: Yes, the program meets the academic requirements for licensure
as a Psychologist in Texas and most other states.
Q: What theories are emphasized in the PsyD program?
A: The program emphasizes brief, systemic, postmodern approaches
to psychotherapy.
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Q: How long does the program take?
A: Students admitted with a master’s degree generally take
four years to complete the coursework followed by one year of internship.
Students admitted with a bachelor’s degree will have five
years of courses followed by one year of internship. Students must
successfully defend their dissertation proposal prior to applying
for internship and are strongly encouraged to finish their dissertation
before leaving for internship.
Q: Can I attend the PsyD program part-time?
A: No, the doctoral program in psychology is a full-time program.
Students who need to work outside while in the program need to be
sure that their employer will allow flexibility in scheduling.
Q: Do I have to have a master's degree in psychology to apply for
the program?
A: No. Typically, students are admitted to the PsyD program after
obtaining a master's degree in psychology or a closely related discipline.
However, exceptional students may be admitted to the PsyD program
with a bachelor's degree.
Q; Do I have to take the GRE?
A: Yes, applicants to the PsyD program must take the GRE verbal
and quantitative tests and the GRE Psychology Subject Test.
Q: Is the PsyD program offered on the weekends?
No, the PsyD program is part of the regular University program.
For the most part, classes are held M-F during the fall, spring,
and summer semesters.
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Q: Do you offer financial aid?
A: Financial aid is limited. One full-tuition scholarship is offered
each year to a student who has the potential to increase diversity
in the field. The department offers several Graduate Assistant positions
that pay the equivalent of 6 hours of tuition for working 12 hours
per week. PsyD students may also be hired as part-time faculty members
to teach undergraduate courses. Most PsyD students use student loans
to finance a portion of the program.
Q: What are the qualifying exams?
A: Both written and oral qualifying exams are required for the PsyD
program. To fulfill the written qualifying examination requirement,
students must score a 600 or higher on the GRE Psychology Subject
Test or a 70 percent on the Examination for the Professional Practice
of Psychology.
Q: Is a dissertation required?
A: Yes. Students are required to complete a dissertation on a topic
related to the practice of counseling psychology.
Q: What are the practicum requirements?
A: Students admitted with a master’s degree are required to
complete at least 500 direct service hours. They begin practicum
in the spring semester of the first year at the Psychology Department’s
training clinic, the Community Counseling Service. During the semester
of their student year, they are eligible for off-campus practica
placements. Students are expected to engage in 12-20 hours of practica
each semester for their second, third, and fourth years. Students
admitted with a bachelor’s degree are required to complete
500 direct service hours of practica at the master’s level
before beginning doctoral practica in the spring semester of their
third year. An additional 500 direct service hours are required
in doctoral practica. They are expected to complete 12-20 clock
hours of practica each semester of their fourth and fifth years.
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Q: What are the internship requirements?
A: One year (1,900-2,000 hours) of pre-doctoral internship experience
is required. The internship may be completed by working half time
over two years. Students must complete their internships in programs
that are either APA accredited or that meet the minimum requirements
set forth by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
Application for predoctoral internships in psychology is a competitive
process governed by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and
Internship Centers (APPIC) to which the program belongs. Information
about the internship application process can be found at http://www.appic.org.
Q: What kind of jobs do your graduates obtain?
A: As licensed psychologists, our graduates work in a variety of
mental health settings including community mental health centers,
community agencies, university counseling centers, and medical and
psychiatric hospitals.
Q: I am fluent in Spanish. Does your program offer training to
prepare me to provide services to Spanish-speaking clients?
A: Yes, OLLU offers an elective concentration in Psychological Services
for Spanish Speaking Populations (PSSSP). In order to obtain this
certificate, students take the following courses: Professional/Technical
Spanish, Latino Psychology, Cultural and Language Variables in Interviews
and Assessment with Latinos, Sociocultural Foundations of Counseling
Mexicans and Mexican Americans (taught in Mexico), and complete
a portion of their practica in Spanish language settings.
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