The M.A. in clinical psychology requires 60 credits of coursework. This coursework includes 100 hours of clinical practicum, 600 hours of supervised internship experience, and a master’s paper (akin to a thesis).

Transfer Credits

Penn State allows for the approval of up to 10 transfer credits to graduate programs.

Courses

Psychology Core Courses (21 credits) provide a foundation in professional ethics, individual differences and cultural diversity, the scientific bases of behavior, and scientific research skills. These courses are intended to facilitate the development of an awareness of the context in which clients live and in which interventions must work and are grounded in research.

  • PSYC 500 - Ethics and Professional Practice in Psychology and Counseling (3)
  • PSYC 501 - Cultural Competency in Psychology (3)
  • PSYC 502 - Applied Social Psychology (3)
  • PSYC 520 - Research Methods (3)
  • PSYC 521 - Statistics (3)
  • PSYC 524 - Biological Basis of Behavior (3)
  • PSYC 573 - Career Counseling: Research, Assessment, and Intervention (3)

Clinical Core Courses (33 credits) provide a general background in clinical diagnosis, assessment, and interventions with appropriate supervised experience to allow students to develop the clinical skills appropriate for master's level practitioners.

  • PSYC 509 – Substance Use and Addictions
  • PSYC 510 - Human Growth and Development (3)
  • PSYC 517 - Psychopathology (3)
  • PSYC 518 - Interviewing and Counseling (3)
  • PSYC 519 - Theories and Models of Psychotherapy (3)
  • PSYC 540 - Group Interventions (3)
  • PSYC 571 - Tests and Measurement (3)
  • PSYC 841 - Couple and Family Theories and Therapeutic Interventions 
  • PSYC 895A - Clinical Practicum (3): Includes a minimum 100 hours of on-site, supervised experience
  • PSYC 895B - Clinical Internship (6): Includes a minimum of 600 hours of on-site, supervised experience, taken over 2 semesters

  • PSYC 530 - Research Paper (3)

400-level courses may be taken for graduate degrees and in this program may only account for nine credit hours total. The flexibility in offerings here allows students to meet licensing requirements in a variety of states. Additional 500 and 800-level courses specific to the Clinical Psychology program at Harrisburg and Behrend will also occasionally be offered to fulfill elective needs.