Click here to view the current Psychology Graduate Handbook 

Program Requirements

Both the Masters’ in Clinical Psychology with thesis and without thesis require satisfactory completion of 48 semester credit hours, a written comprehensive examination, and a 480-hour internship under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. The Master’s in Experimental Psychology requires satisfactory completion of 36 semester credit hours, a written comprehensive examination, and a thesis. Both full-time and part-time enrollment are acceptable.

Students may not receive more than a total of two course grades of “C” during their entire Graduate Psychology Program. Upon receiving a third “C” the student shall automatically be dropped from the Program and from the UTPA Graduate College. Additionally, students may not receive a letter grade of “C” for the following list of courses. Students may retake courses listed below but may not graduate from the Graduate Psychology Program with a “C” as a final course grade in the following courses:

PSY 6305 Advanced Psychopathology
PSY 6336 Advanced Psychological Measurements
PSY 6354 Individual Psychotherapy
PSY 6356 Group Psychotherapy
PSY 6363 Professional and Ethical Issues
PSY 6364 Practicum I
PSY 6366 Practicum II

Course Scheduling Information

The course schedule for the year will be available before the registration period for the Fall semester.   An effort is made to offer the following courses each Fall and Spring semester:

Licensure Process and Examinations

The Master’s in Clinical Psychology prepares students to pursue either the Licensed Psychological Associate or the Licensed Professional Counselor Texas state licenses. Other states often have similar licenses for Master’s level providers that our graduates may be qualified to pursue. In general, pursuing such licensure involves finishing the appropriate coursework and the Master’s degree, taking and passing state or nationally administered tests, and completing a number of supervised clinical hours after the Master’s degree is awarded. The rules of licensure will be covered in Psy 6363 (Ethical Principles). The Texas Administrative Code (TAP) which covers licensure is accessible on the internet: http://www.sos.state.tx.us./tac. Click “TAC Viewer” to the right. Then click Title 22, Licensing Boards, Part 21 for psychologists and Part 30 for professional counselors.

Licensed Psychological Associate. Completing either of the Clinical Psychology degree Master’s degrees (with or without thesis) will qualify you to sit for the licensing exams for the Licensed Psychological Associate. More detail about the licensure process for psychological associates is obtainable from the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists web site, www.tsbep.state.tx.us/licensed.html; information about the written, multiple choice licensing exam is at www.asppb.org/store/publications.aspx

Licensed Professional Counselor. Careful selection of “designated electives” is important to qualify for licensure as a Professional Counselor. Completing the degree Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology (non-thesis track) will qualify you to sit for the counselor’s exam if you choose the following two designated electives: Psy 6330 (Developmental Psychology) and EPSY 6366 (Lifestyles and Career Development) as part of your degree. More detail about the licensure process for licensed professional counselors is available from the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, www.dshs.state.tx.us/counselor/default.shtm. Information about the written, multiple choice licensing exam is at http://nbcc.org/nce.