Question about doing Masters first

[psych844]

So I'm curious about one thing.

If someone does a School Psychology Masters (with a thesis), would they get any credit for that if they apply for a Clinical Psych Phd? (ie move directly to Phd years)

Cheers

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[psych844]

Sorry if it's a dumb question since it's technically in a different area, (so makes sense that you wouldn't get credit), but just making sure. I'm interested in both School Psych and Clinical Psyc, and I was thinking of using the Masters as a test to see how i handle graduate school, and if I'd be happy enough to do just School Psych. The program I want to do is 2yrs (with a thesis) and at a good University. It suck to finish these 2yrs though and still have to do 6yrs of a Clinical Psych if i decided on that!

 

[CheetahGirl]

So I'm curious about one thing.

If someone does a School Psychology Masters (with a thesis), would they get any credit for that if they apply for a Clinical Psych Phd? (ie move directly to Phd years)

Cheers

In my experience, most clinical psych Ph.D. programs will accept a varying amount of minimal credits (for example, my program was no more than 6 credits) from your prior master's degree (check the student handbooks which are usually posted on the program's website). This was true from me, and my program director and I looked over my transcripts from my first MA to choose which ones would be transferable. Then I had to produced the course syllabi from those classes for approval that the material was comparable and I would not be missing out on that particular course material at the doctoral level. The doctoral level courses, like Child Psychopathology, were much more in depth, so added to much of the knowledge base I already had.

Sorry if it's a dumb question since it's technically in a different area, (so makes sense that you wouldn't get credit), but just making sure. I'm interested in both School Psych and Clinical Psyc, and I was thinking of using the Masters as a test to see how i handle graduate school, and if I'd be happy enough to do just School Psych. The program I want to do is 2yrs (with a thesis) and at a good University. It suck to finish these 2yrs though and still have to do 6yrs of a Clinical Psych if i decided on that!

IMO you would attempt to use broad topic courses to transfer like Social Psych or Developmental Psych. Doctoral programs want to train you from beginning to end, so unless you are completing the doctorate at the same place you got the masters, then I could see programs still requiring minimal transfer of credits (like only 6 credits/ 2 classes). It did suck to finish a Masters and have to earn another Masters along the way with my doctorate, but you do what you have to do when you really want what you want, right?

 

[Aestheticism]

I looked at some universities in Florida (Where I live) requirements for entry into the Clinical Psychology programs, some said they accept under 20 credits and some said they do not accept any credits at all so it all depends on the school. There are schools that have dual degree programs in School Psychology/Counseling Psychology or School Psychology/Clinical Psychology where you get training from both fields. For ex: University of Virginia I believe has this dual program and I am going to apply there as well as other schools because I am interested in both fields as well.

I'll post a link to a thread made in 2009 about School Psychology.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/school-psychology-masters-vs-psyd-phd.861230/

I am going to start my bachelor's program in the upcoming Fall semester in 2016 and I'm going to try and get research experience so I can AVOID going through a masters for the same reason you are thinking. Who wants to do 2-3 years getting a masters than another 4+ years getting a doctorate when it is avoidable? If I do not get accepted into any doctoral programs because of whatever reasons, I will get a masters in School Psychology or Higher Education then apply again after.

Another option could be Social Work? MSW and DSW.

 

[psych844]

I am going to start my bachelor's program in the upcoming Fall semester in 2016 and I'm going to try and get research experience so I can AVOID going through a masters for the same reason you are thinking.

I actually wouldn't be doing the Masters because I was missing research experience, it be more an alternative option to the Phd road (as it is a long road). I'm in Canada and there are some good Masters programs at respected schools for School Psych. The research in these programs would certainly be a plus should I decide to do a Phd.

I'm still interested in the Phd route, but I see a Masters as a test run to gauge the difficulty and environment of grad school. (ie is it for me). If I knew that I'd get full credit for those couple of years (and be able to enter Phd year 1) directly (or at least get a year worth of credits), it be worth it!

 

[Aestheticism]

The programs I looked at didn't accept no more than 30 credits so yea, I'm not sure about Canada schools. A masters as a test run is a good idea though to get your feet wet.

Maybe a MA or EdS in School Psychology and check out if they have any certificates related to Clinical/Counseling Psychology? You'll still get experience in maybe 15 credits.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I've seen programs accept 0-12 credits from MA/MS programs, which is obviously not that many. There may be a program that accepts more, but there are plenty that won't accept any, so I wouldn't consider pursuing a Masters first as a good idea in lost circumstances. Bringing up a list GPA maybe, but rarely as s stepping stone otherwise. Programs generally prefer to train ppl in their approach, so they aren't keen on waiving credits.

 

[Chalupacabra]

You'd have better luck going from MA/EdS in School Psych to School Psych doc (speaking purely in terms of credit transfer, of course). Most programs I interviewed at had a pretty high cap (30-45 credits) that you could transfer, and the opportunity to waive/substitute courses if you surpassed the transfer limit. Clinical programs appear to be much more stringent about credit transfer.

 

[sms06h]

In what I've heard from other students, it really depends on the program. I'm in a school psych/counseling psych combined program and many students do get some credit from their Master's degrees, but there was a cap. Often times, they had to show their syllabus from each class in order to get credit, so I would highly recommend saving a copy of your course syllabus from each class.

I am actually in the position where I do not have a Master's, but was able to enter into the Ph.D. program through what my program calls "fast-tracking." I was a school psych student in the Master's/Education Specialist combined degree program and was able to gain admission into the doc program in the same department after my first year without obtaining the M.S./Ed.S.. All of those courses applied to my doctorate program requirements. In some ways, skipping the Master's degree was great, as I saved time and money. However, there were several internships I could not apply to due to not having a Master's degree. Even so, I ended up with multiple interviews from great programs. Just something that may be helpful to take into consideration if you're considering by-passing the Master's degree.

 

[PsychMajorUndergrad18]

Hey psych844,

Maybe instead of doing a school psych MA/MS you could apply to a regular psych master degree and then if you are interested in school psych you could do a Ed.S or even a PhD in School psych or just do straight into a clinical program.

PsychMajorUndergad21

 

[DRMomma]

I agree with others input. My program accepted 600 hours (6 credits) of my master's program related to internship experiences and all of my regular courses (after showing syllabus/course work) when I transferred into the doctoral program I applied to. You might want to identify a doctoral program that interests you and see what they would accept?

 

[ClinicalABA]

Here's a link to the Clinical Psychology Department Handbook fro an APA approved program (UMass Amherst):

http://psych.umass.edu/uploads/sites/0/Files/Program Handbook 2015-2016.pdf

In it you'll find the coursework and other requirements, which are generally in line with licensure requirements in the jurisdiction. You can most likely find similar info online for other doctoral programs. Comparing this information with requirement from a School Psych Masters program should give you an idea of overlap and what courses may be applicable to the doctoral program. Schools may have other standards or limitation regarding what and how many courses can transfer (e.g. only so many credits can transfer; minimum required years in residence on campus; must take their specific course) but this should give you a starting place for comparison.

 

[psych844]

Here is the actual programs content..what do you guys think gets accepted as credit/what doesn't?


Year 1 – Fall Term

• EDPS 653 – Professional Practice of School Psychology
• EDPS 654 – Neuropsychological & Development Bases of Learning
• EDPS 655 – Advanced Child Development
• EDPS 659 – Academic Assessment & Intervention

Year 1 – Winter Term

• EDPS 614 – Professional Ethics in Educational Psychology
• EDPS 609 – Research Design and Statistics II
• EDPS 651 – Disorders Learning & Behaviour
• EDPS 665 – Cognitive Assessment & Intervention

Year 1 – Spring Term

• EDPS 669 – Social-Emotional Assessment & Intervention

Year 1 – Summer Term

• Thesis

Year 2 – Fall Term

• Thesis
• EDPS 618 – Multivariate Analysis
• EDPS 662 – Psychology Practicum I
• EDPS 683 – Consultation in School Psychology

Year 2 – Winter Term

• Thesis
• EDPS 663 – Psychology Practicum II
• EDPS 685 – Child & Adolescent Counselling

Year 2 – Spring

• Thesis

 

[President_LeslieKnope]

Here is the actual programs content..what do you guys think gets accepted as credit/what doesn't?


Year 1 – Fall Term

• EDPS 653 – Professional Practice of School Psychology
• EDPS 654 – Neuropsychological & Development Bases of Learning
• EDPS 655 – Advanced Child Development
• EDPS 659 – Academic Assessment & Intervention

Year 1 – Winter Term

• EDPS 614 – Professional Ethics in Educational Psychology
• EDPS 609 – Research Design and Statistics II
• EDPS 651 – Disorders Learning & Behaviour
• EDPS 665 – Cognitive Assessment & Intervention

Year 1 – Spring Term

• EDPS 669 – Social-Emotional Assessment & Intervention

Year 1 – Summer Term

• Thesis

Year 2 – Fall Term

• Thesis
• EDPS 618 – Multivariate Analysis
• EDPS 662 – Psychology Practicum I
• EDPS 683 – Consultation in School Psychology

Year 2 – Winter Term

• Thesis
• EDPS 663 – Psychology Practicum II
• EDPS 685 – Child & Adolescent Counselling

Year 2 – Spring

• Thesis

In my program (clinical PhD) there was a small department committee that met to determine what courses would be waived/transferred. They reviewed the contents of the syllabus and compared it to what the professor would be doing if you took the course again. So although a lot of these classes might overlap with PhD classes, you really wouldn't know which would get transferred until they reviewed your syllabi (hope you kept those!) I was able to have 1 MA class waived (Psychopathology) in the program but was not approved to transfer any other credits.

 

[PsychPhDone]

Here is the actual programs content..what do you guys think gets accepted as credit/what doesn't?


Year 1 – Fall Term

• EDPS 653 – Professional Practice of School Psychology
• EDPS 654 – Neuropsychological & Development Bases of Learning
• EDPS 655 – Advanced Child Development
• EDPS 659 – Academic Assessment & Intervention

Year 1 – Winter Term

• EDPS 614 – Professional Ethics in Educational Psychology
• EDPS 609 – Research Design and Statistics II
• EDPS 651 – Disorders Learning & Behaviour
• EDPS 665 – Cognitive Assessment & Intervention

Year 1 – Spring Term

• EDPS 669 – Social-Emotional Assessment & Intervention

Year 1 – Summer Term

• Thesis

Year 2 – Fall Term

• Thesis
• EDPS 618 – Multivariate Analysis
• EDPS 662 – Psychology Practicum I
• EDPS 683 – Consultation in School Psychology

Year 2 – Winter Term

• Thesis
• EDPS 663 – Psychology Practicum II
• EDPS 685 – Child & Adolescent Counselling

Year 2 – Spring

• Thesis

Depends on the PhD program. Mine would only accept non-clinical breadth courses and stats (i.e., social, cognitive, etc.). So, assuming you were to enroll in my program, they *might* give you credit for Multivariate Analysis if the syllabus was similar enough. That's probably it. I know they have waived the masters thesis requirement for folks who did a clinical or counseling masters, not sure what they would do with a school psych masters. I think they would consider it as long as it was original empirical work.

 

[psych844]

Thanks guys. I might just apply for School Psych and some Clinical Phd programs and see what happens. I may not have enough research experience for some schools anyways, so the extra couple years of School Psych solves that issue, along with giving me an alternative area to practice. I could practice as a Psychologist at a Masters level in many provinces (and could transfer to any province and maintain that designation in any province in Canada)

 

[Aestheticism]

Here is the actual programs content..what do you guys think gets accepted as credit/what doesn't?


Year 1 – Fall Term

• EDPS 653 – Professional Practice of School Psychology
• EDPS 654 – Neuropsychological & Development Bases of Learning
• EDPS 655 – Advanced Child Development
• EDPS 659 – Academic Assessment & Intervention

Year 1 – Winter Term

• EDPS 614 – Professional Ethics in Educational Psychology
• EDPS 609 – Research Design and Statistics II
• EDPS 651 – Disorders Learning & Behaviour
• EDPS 665 – Cognitive Assessment & Intervention

Year 1 – Spring Term

• EDPS 669 – Social-Emotional Assessment & Intervention

Year 1 – Summer Term

• Thesis

Year 2 – Fall Term

• Thesis
• EDPS 618 – Multivariate Analysis
• EDPS 662 – Psychology Practicum I
• EDPS 683 – Consultation in School Psychology

Year 2 – Winter Term

• Thesis
• EDPS 663 – Psychology Practicum II
• EDPS 685 – Child & Adolescent Counselling

Year 2 – Spring

• Thesis

From my research before, I would most likely think that the following courses would be "accepted" but this is just my opinion:
Advanced Child Development
Research Design & Statistics II - If you already took an advance stats/research class
Neuropsychological & Development Bases of Learning - MAYBE

The rest are too focused on this program.