- Joined
- Oct 19, 2012
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
Hello! I know some variations of these questions may have been asked elsewhere, but after looking through some older posts, I couldn't find any that were answered in a very definite way, and I was worried I might get overlooked if I resurrected a thread from years ago.
I am currently looking at Masters programs in the hopes of continuing on to a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Here are my questions:
1) I understand the differences between a terminal and non-terminal Masters, but I have gotten mixed messages about whether having a terminal Masters matters or not when applying to doctorate programs. It seems like it was frowned upon by admissions to doctoral programs in the past (http://psych.hanover.edu/handbook/masters2.html) - is this still the case? Because some programs are listed as strictly terminal, while others are non-terminal, and I don't understand why if it makes no difference in the end. The number of non-terminal programs is very limited, and it would really open up my geographical options if the terminal degrees made no difference.
2) I have been flipping through my 2012 APA Graduate Study in Psychology book looking for non-terminal Masters programs. There are not many. Then, I go online and see other non-terminal Masters programs available that are not listed in the book - does this mean they are not APA-accredited? Should I steer clear of them?
3) If you get your Masters in a sub-field of psychology other than what you want your doctorate in, does this hurt you when applying to doctorate programs? E.g. If I got an MA in Developmental or Consulting Psych and then applied for a PhD in Clinical.
4) How do doctorate programs look upon candidates applying with Masters from foreign countries? There are some schools in Canada listed in the APA book, but I read in another book that the interchangeable U.S./Canada degrees in psychology setup was being phased out.
THANK YOU!!
I am currently looking at Masters programs in the hopes of continuing on to a PhD in Clinical Psychology. Here are my questions:
1) I understand the differences between a terminal and non-terminal Masters, but I have gotten mixed messages about whether having a terminal Masters matters or not when applying to doctorate programs. It seems like it was frowned upon by admissions to doctoral programs in the past (http://psych.hanover.edu/handbook/masters2.html) - is this still the case? Because some programs are listed as strictly terminal, while others are non-terminal, and I don't understand why if it makes no difference in the end. The number of non-terminal programs is very limited, and it would really open up my geographical options if the terminal degrees made no difference.
2) I have been flipping through my 2012 APA Graduate Study in Psychology book looking for non-terminal Masters programs. There are not many. Then, I go online and see other non-terminal Masters programs available that are not listed in the book - does this mean they are not APA-accredited? Should I steer clear of them?
3) If you get your Masters in a sub-field of psychology other than what you want your doctorate in, does this hurt you when applying to doctorate programs? E.g. If I got an MA in Developmental or Consulting Psych and then applied for a PhD in Clinical.
4) How do doctorate programs look upon candidates applying with Masters from foreign countries? There are some schools in Canada listed in the APA book, but I read in another book that the interchangeable U.S./Canada degrees in psychology setup was being phased out.
THANK YOU!!