Master of Arts in Psychology: Clinical Psychology

Cleveland State University's program in Clinical Psychology is designed primarily for students interested in the field of psychological service, broadly conceived to embrace community, clinical, and educational settings.

The Clinical specialization offers two tracks of study to accommodate the interests of students:

  1. Doctoral preparation track, which requires the completion of a research (typically, data-based) thesis; and
  2. Practitioner track, which allows students more flexibility in elective coursework.

Each track requires the student to complete a 50 credit hour program of coursework and clinical field experiences. The program requires full-time study for two academic years. No courses are offered during the summer, though students in the doctoral preparation track frequently work on their theses during the summer between the first and second years of the program.

Both tracks emphasize core content and basic skills in the first year, and practical experience and professional skills in the second year. The curriculum emphasizes human development and its deviations, as well as the methods and techniques of assessing and influencing this development in clinical contexts.

college of science and health professions

Department of Psychology
Phone: 216.687.2544
psychology@csuohio.edu

 

Admission Requirements

  • Application Form
  • Application Fee
  • Undergraduate Transcripts
    • Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • GRE Test Scores
    • Satisfactory Verbal and Quantitative scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test are expected; preference given to scores at the 50th percentile or better.
  • Resume
  • Statement of Purpose
    • Describe your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in clinical psychology, and this program in particular; Prepare a brief (200 words) typewritten autobiographical sketch stressing (a) events or experiences that provide evidence that you will be an effective mental health professional (e.g., work experience; most important learning in Psychology; breadth of background; personal philosophy), and (b) a description of your goals and interests as a future mental health professional in Psychology, and how you anticipate that the CSU program will help you satisfy them.

*Admission to the program is based on a combination of a candidate’s undergraduate GPA and the GRE score.  

-International students are required to have met at least one of the following English language proficiency requirements:

  • TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based): 78 & at least 17 in each section
  • TOEFL PBT (Paper-Based): 550
  • IELTS: 6.0 and at least 5.0 in each section
  • PTE (Pearson’s Test of English): 50
  • iTEP: 3.8

Admission Deadlines

All applications must be submitted and complete on the following application deadline dates:

  • Domestic Students
    • Rolling
  • International Students
    • Fall Semester – February 1st

 

Program Requirements

  • PSY 511 - Univariate Statistics and Experimental Methodology
  • PSY 535 - Clinical Interviewing Practicum
  • PSY 538 - Intellectual Assessment and Practicum for Clinical Assessment
  • PSY 555 - Adult Psychopathology
  • PSY 604 - Concepts and Methods of Individual Psychotherapy
  • PSY 611 - Advanced Data Analysis With Computer Applications
  • PSY 651 - Clinical Psychopharmacology
  • PSY 660 - Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues
  • PSY 696 - Special Problems In Psychology (for doctoral preparation track students), OR
  • PSY Elective (for practitioner track students)
  • PSY 587 - Personality Testing and Laboratory
  • PSY 690 - Fieldwork Placement
  • PSY 699 - Research and Thesis (variable credit) (for doctoral preparation students), OR
  • PSY Elective (for practitioner track students)
  • PSY 525 - Social Psychology
  • PSY 691 - Fieldwork Placement II
  • PSY 699 - Research and Thesis (variable credit) (for doctoral preparation students)  OR
  • PSY Elective (for practioner track students)
Did You Know?

The median annual wage for psychologists was $79,010 in May 2018.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

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Career Outcomes

  • Licensed clinical psychologists work in hospitals, behavioral health care clinics, private practice settings, residential treatment centers, addiction treatment centers, forensic settings, and in other settings. Nationwide, roughly 45% of clinical psychologists are self-employed (i.e., work in private practice settings).
  • It is likely that you will be able to provide psychotherapy services after graduation, but you should note that master's-level clinical psychology graduates are not eligible for a psychology license in Ohio at present (such licensure is possible, however, in certain states outside of Ohio). As such, graduates wanting to provide psychotherapy and/or assessment services in Ohio must work under the supervision of a licensed professional (typically, a licensed psychologist).
  • These are some of the local companies that are hiring CSU grads: Cleveland Clinic, Cuyahoga Community College, Confidential, New Directions, Psycho Social Therapies, SAFY of America, and the U.S. Air Force.