M.A. in Experimental or Clinical Psychology

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in General/Experimental or Clinical Psychology is aimed at students who wish to pursue a doctorate and want to strengthen their credentials to be competitive for doctoral programs, students who wish to pursue careers that require research skills, or students who wish to gain an understanding of research as it pertains to intervention and prevention. A thesis-based and a exam-based based option is offered. For students who wish to pursue research-related careers and/or increase their competitiveness for Ph.D. programs, the thesis option is recommended. For students who need a Master’s degree for a non-research related career, for example in education, law, or business, the exam-based option is recommended.

Students accepted into this program are expected to be self-supporting and are required to pay tuition.

For the thesis-based option, applicants are required to identify a thesis mentor among the faculty in the Department of Psychological Science. 

For the exam-based option, before applying, potential applicants should email the program director (Professor Donna Toufexis at donna.toufexis@uvm.edu) to discuss whether this option will meet the applicant's career goals.

Note: Our goal is not to train licensed therapists pursuing a career in clinical practice. Hence, this program’s curriculum does not provide any supervised practicum or internship hours necessary for licensure. Students interested in a career as a licensed therapist should pursue that goal via the Master’s program in Counseling through the College of Education and Social Services.

Accelerated Masters Program in Psychology

Learning goals for Accelerated Master’s Program in Psychology students are:

• Development of a foundational understanding in the area of research specialization.
• Critically evaluate strengths and limitations of published research
• Development of effective skills in communicating Psychological Science.
• Thesis option: Development of strong research skills

Thesis-based option 1: Experimental Psychology concentration

• Category A: Research (6 credits).  One of these combinations is required:
• Advanced Statistical Methods I (PSYS 6000) – 3 credits
• Advanced Statistical Methods II (PSYS 6005) – 3 credits

 OR

• Seminar in Psychological Research Methods (PSYS 6010) – 3 credits
• Advanced Statistical Methods I (PSYS 6000) – 3 credits
• Category B: Experimental (minimum of 6 credits).  At least two of the three courses below:
• Biobehavioral Proseminar (PSYS 6400) – 3 credits
• Proseminar in Experimental Social Psychology (PSYS 6500) – 3 credits
• Developmental Proseminar (PSYS 6600) – 3 credits
• Category C: Electives (minimum of 3 credits).  At least one additional PSYS 6000 course.
• Master’s Research (PSYS 6391) – 9-15 credits

Thesis-based option 2: Clinical Psychology concentration:

• Category A: Research (6 credits).  One of these combinations is required:
• Advanced Statistical Methods I (PSYS 6000) – 3 credits
• Advanced Statistical Methods II (PSYS 6005) – 3 credits

OR

• Seminar in Psychological Research Methods (PSYS 6010) – 3 credits
• Advanced Statistical Methods I (PSYS 6000) – 3 credits
• Category B: Clinical (minimum of 9 credits).  At least one course from each pair below is required:
• Child Psychopathology (PSYS 6705) or Adult Psychopathology (PSYS 6720)
• Child & Adol Psych Assess (PSYS 6710) or Adult Psychological Assessment (PSYS 6725)
• Child Behavior Therapy (PSYS 6715) or Adult Cognitive and Behavior Therapy (PSYS 6730)
• Category C: Electives (6 credits).  Two additional PSYS 6000 courses.  Students may substitute one of the following two courses for one of the additional PSYS 6000 courses:
• Advanced Fit Kids: Applied Research (PSYS 3455) – 3 credits
• Advanced Fit Kids: Special Populations (PSYS 3525) – 3 credits
• Master’s Research (PSYS 6391) – 9 credits

Exam-based option

• Category A: Statistics and Research Methods (6 credits).  One of these combinations is required:
• Advanced Statistical Methods I (PSYS 6000) – 3 credits
• Advanced Statistical Methods II (PSYS 6005) – 3 credits

OR

• Seminar in Psychological Research Methods (PSYS 6010) – 3 credits
• Advanced Statistical Methods I (PSYS 6000) – 3 credits
• Category B: Electives (24 credits). Eight additional PSYS 6000 courses.

Comprehensive Examination

For the thesis-based option, a written thesis proposal and an oral examination serves as the comprehensive examination. For the exam-based option, a written examination based on coursework serves as the comprehensive examination. The Comprehensive Examination requirement should be completed by the end of the first semester of the second year in the program. 

Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Arts

Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive examination.

How to Apply

Admissions Requirements

Students pursue the thesis-based option with either a General/Experimental Psychology or Clinical Psychology concentration. The exam-based based option does not have a concentration. For students pursuing the thesis-based option in General/Experimental Psychology, 9-15 credits must be accumulated in Master’s Thesis research, in addition to successful defense of an empirical Master’s Thesis.  For students pursuing the concentration in Clinical Psychology, 9 credits must be accumulated in Master’s Thesis research, in addition to successful defense of an empirical Master’s Thesis. Detailed information on courses of study.