Masters that allow for research

[yeti2213]

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Hi all,

I'm planning to apply to PhD's in Counseling Psychology. I have good GRE score (testing at about 1400, gonna take it for real soon), a horrible ugrad GPA (2.66), and no psych background (was an engineer in ugrad) so have been advised to get a Masters first. BUT a masters that allows for some research experience as well. I've been looking around and have put a couple on the list, if you have other places I should be looking I'd be grateful for the feedback.

So my geographic limitations are, Maryland, since I would get in-state tuition there. Or somewhere warm. I really love the southwest and parts of cali, so looking around there. But for 2 years I would consider anywhere not freezing and decently close to an ocean (so portland would do). On my list so far

MS from Frostburg State - clinical degree but explicitly talks about research on its website. Leads to a MFT license.

Loyola College in Baltimore - offers a research oriented counseling psych degree. the thing i don't like about this program is that it seems like the research and clinical tracks are mutually exclusive. i definitely want the exposure to clinical externships. after all that is what's driving me to switch careers.

Arizona State - everyone is admitted to the practitioner option. but if you find a prof to work with you can do the research option. This is probably my top choice if I can get in

Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo - I would totally love to live here. The program leads to and MFT and they a percentage of their students (about 15%) seem to be in the same boat as me, in that they go on to get a PhD.

Lewis and Clark College in Portland - Similar deal to ASU. You get admitted to the practitioner track but after words can add a research component.

Any other suggestions or ideas? Any one here come through the programs I just listed. If so, I'd love to hear from you about them.

-S

 

[futureapppsy2]

Moved to the PhD/PsyD section, as that seems to be your end goal. FWIW, I'd go with the cheapest pretty good looking option, as most Psych Masters' aren't, AFAIK, funded, and there's no point taking on any more than debt than you absolutely can't avoid (preferably none, the lower, the better). When you say a program leads to an MFT licensure, are they actual MFT programs? I would think at least some psych PhD programs may look a bit more skeptically at MFT programs than they would at Psych or Counseling programs, but I can't really speak with any authority on this.

 

[PsychPhDone]

Doesn't meet your geographic criteria, but Villanova's experimental masters is pretty much designed as a stepping stone to a PhD elsewhere and offers some funded spots.

 

[PrisonPsych]

Augusta State University in Georgia has assistantships available that waive tuition and provide a (very small) stipend in exchange for pretty minimal work. That's where I got my master's, and I was out of state. Cost of living is *very* reasonable, too. They do have a research track (or at least they did when I went there).

 

[PrisonPsych]

Also, Texas Woman's University. No funding for master's students, but it's a very rigorous program and many of our master's students are able to get into our doctorate program afterward. There can be a research focus if you want, although it's more of a practitioner program.

 

[CharmedDiamond]

Look up general or experimental psych MS programs, those will be more focused on research than a clinical psych or MA degree. To ensure that a program has adequate research, talk to the professors in the department to make sure they are currently in the midst of research that you can get in on. See what kind of tasks you will be doing, hopefully more than just data entry! At smaller schools this can be a problem, at least from my experience. Most of your research will be done outside of the classroom, so really make sure you can find a professor you can work under (hopefully in your area of research interest). Also make sure that you will be completing a thesis.

I'm not familiar with MS programs in your area, but around the Midwest, I'm a strong advocate of DePaul, though I've heard Ball State has a really solid program. Indiana State and Western Illinois have experimental MS programs too. I'm not sure about funding though, but for me it was more important to stay local and make connections than to escape without debt

 

[cara susanna]

If you want to be in the Midwest, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh has a funded Experimental MS. I know for a fact that a lot of their graduates go on to doctoral programs.