Sul Ross State University

Master of Arts Degree in Psychology

The Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Sul Ross State University offers a master's degree in psychology.

Graduates Will Earn a Master's Degree

This is a Master of Arts in Psychology with a Supportive/Clinical Psychology emphasis. The supportive/clinical emphasis is referred to as the Supportive Psychology Training Program or – “the Program.”

The program is based on a scientist – practitioner model incorporating cognitive behavioral change technologies and social self-perception with self management and life enhancement skills. Much of the training and experience will be based on extant clinical psychological theories and practices buttressed by community/social and person change methods.

Program Intent

This program is designed for those

• Seeking training and experience to teach psychology and deliver a broad range of student psychological support services in community colleges
• Preparing for careers in professional applied psychology that require training in clinical psychology
• May be used in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Texas credentialing as a Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA)
• May be used in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential
• Preparing for advanced graduate study in psychology and other human services programs
• Persons who aspire to certain administrative or managerial positions in human service agencies

Course Work Format

• Most courses are offered during the workweek late afternoons and early evenings.
• Some weekend coursework is offered/required.

Program Course Requirements

• 36 semester credit hours per entry catalog
• 6 semester credit hours optional (in keeping with licensing requirements)

Program Experience Requirements

• 9 semester credit hours of supportive/clinical human services (675 supervised clock-hours)
• 3 semester credit hours of college undergraduate teaching (225 supervised clock-hours)

Program Examination Requirements

• Clinical Written and Oral Comprehensive Examination

Psychology Board Requirements for the LPA Credential

• 36 semester credit hours from a regionally approved university psychology program
• 450 supervised hours of clinical experience
• 6 post MA semester credit hours for LPA license

Current Course Offerings

• 5313 Empirical Procedures for Human Services
• 5314 Multicultural Psychology, Ethics and Professional Problems for Human Services
• 5321 Community Psychology: Trauma and Disaster
• 5322 Psychological Interventions
• 5325 Biopsychology for Human Services
• 5326 Assessment of Psychopathology and Human Problems
• 5330 Humanistic Psychology
• 5333 Teaching of Psychology Pro-seminar
• 5339 Topics in Graduate Psychology – may be repeated
• 5040 Readings and Research in Graduate Psychology
• 5341 Psychology Intervention Practicum – may be repeated
• 5342 Teaching of Psychology Practicum– may be repeated
• 5301 Thesis
• 5302 Thesis

Admission Requirements

• 2.8 GPA on last 60 undergraduate semester credit hours
• Personality and mental health appropriate to human service provision, professional appearance and demeanor, positive supportive people skills, etc
• Ability and commitment to participate in practicum and course work, individual and group oriented, requiring personal exploration and insight as required for human service training
• Acceptance of the Program’s right to require mental health treatment as a condition of program continuation when determined to be necessary by the Program
• Practicum participation will require laboratory screening for substance use/abuse and criminal background check
• Three letters of recommendation
• 2 academic references and
• 1 character reference
• Personal interview may be required
• Completed Psychology Program Application
• Admission to the SRSU Graduate School
• Successful completion of the following or the equivalent prior to admission or as leveling work upon conditional admission 
  • Introductory Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
  • Abnormal Behavior
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Biopsychology or Drugs and Behavior

Limited graduate work may be undertaken prior to full completion of undergraduate requirements in some circumstances.

Admission Procedure

This is a two part procedure:

• Apply to the graduate school online, or with hardcopy, for general graduate school admission.
• Upon receipt of the application from the graduate school, the Department of Psychology will send an application for the Psychology Graduate Program to you.

Financial Support

• Five nine-month university supported teaching assistantship/clinical clerkship positions are available
• Occasionally, fulltime positions are available through the program-affiliated mental health center