Psychology

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GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED:

Master of Arts—General Psychology
Master of Science—General Psychology
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology

Department of Psychology
Root Hall, room B-204
Phone: 812-237-2445
Fax: 812-237-4378
http://www.indstate.edu/psychology/

Department Chairperson: Dr. Virgil Sheets
M.A./M.S. Program Director: Dr. Veanne N. Anderson
Phone: 812-237-2459

Clinical Training Program Director: Dr. Liz O’Laughlin
Phone: 812-237-2455 

GRADUATE FACULTY

Professors

Anderson, Veanne N., Ph.D., McMaster University
M.A./M.S. Program Director and Professor of Psychology and Women’s Studies
Specializations: Gender, Sexuality, Psychology of Women

Johnson, Thomas J., Ph.D., University of Missouri
Professor of Psychology
Specializations: Addictive Behaviors, Psychology of Music, Substance Abuse Prevention, Cognitive and Constructive Therapies (Clinical Faculty)

Murray, John D., Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of Psychology
Specializations: Cognitive Psychology, General issues in text comprehension

O’Laughlin, Elizabeth, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee
Program Director, Psy.D. Program and Professor of Psychology
Specializations: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,
Developmental Psychopathology, Parenting, Family-based Interventions (Clinical Faculty)

Shriver, Jennifer, Ph.D., University of Alabama
Associate Professor of Psychology and
Specializations: Correctional Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Chronic Pain (Clinical Faculty)

Sheets, Virgil, Ph.D., Arizona State University
Chairperson and Professor of Psychology
Specializations: Interpersonal Relationships, Environmental Preferences, Identity Symbolism, Statistics

Sprock, June, Ph.D., University of Florida
Professor of Psychology
Specializations: Psychopathology, Diagnosis and Classification, Assessment, Personality Disorders, Depression (Clinical Faculty)

Steiger, Thomas L., Ph.D., University of Illinois
Professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies
Specializations: Complex Organization, Gender Stratification, Labor, Political Economy

Associate Professors

Bennett, Patrick, Ph.D., University of Nevada, Reno
Director of Undergraduate Programs and Associate Professor of Psychology
Specializations: Social Psychology, Psychology of Religion, Health, Self and Identity, Statistics, Research Methodology

Bolinskey, Kevin, Ph.D., University of Virginia
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Specializations: Personality Assessment, Psychopathology, Behavior Genetics, Quantitative Methods (Clinical Faculty)

Shin, Jacqueline, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Specializations: Coordinated Action Sequence Learning, Neurodegenerative Disease and Cognition

Assistant Professors

Brez, Caitlin, University of Texas
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Specialization: Children’s Numerical Abilities

Instructors

Brubaker, Brad, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Specializations: Memory, Forgetting, Learning, Perception, Cognition

Murray, Rebecca, Ph.D., Georgia State University
Psychology Instructor and Director of Psychology Clinic
Specialization: Psychotherapy, Groups

HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM

The Master of Arts/Master of Science General Psychology Program has the distinction of being the first graduate program in the Department of Psychology. The primary focus of the program is to prepare students who are interested in a doctoral program. Although many of the department’s master’s students go on to complete doctoral programs in experimental psychology, students also secure jobs in applied research fields where they use the training they received in the master’s program. In 2008 the Department of Sociology merged with the Department of Psychology and their faculty joined the general psychology faculty providing enhanced opportunities for training in social bases of behavior and survey research methodologies. Although there are currently no graduate programs in sociology, the faculty occasionally offer courses at the graduate level to support other programs.

The Doctor of Psychology Program was initiated in the 1981-1982 academic year and evolved from a master of science program in clinical psychology that began in 1973. The students trained in the master of science program were well received in job settings, and comments from students and employers indicated that they were well-trained and very competent practitioners. However, developments in the profession of psychology during the 1970s led to discussions about the value of doctoral level professional training. Since the program already provided foundation and core courses in psychology for the doctoral programs in counseling psychology and school psychology, all the elements for professional training at the doctoral level were present in the department. The Doctor of Psychology Program was authorized in 1981 by the Indiana Higher Education Commission. The program has been accredited as a training program in professional psychology by the Committee on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association since 1985.

GENERAL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Master of Arts/Master of Science General Psychology Program is designed primarily for the student who intends to eventually enter a doctoral program but who is not yet prepared for that step. The program emphasizes basic and experimental psychology and research experience, and allows flexible tailoring of individual courses of study to meet the needs and career aspirations of enrolled students. Students are encouraged to complete the master of arts degree to enhance their career options.

The Doctor of Psychology Program typically involves five years of study, including four years of academic study and one year of internship. Requirements for the degree include successful completion of 96 credits of course work in core clinical and basic psychology areas and a clinical internship. Clinical experience is obtained through clinical practice, third and fourth year off-campus field placements, and the fifth year internship at an American Psychological Association accredited internship training program. Students must also pass written and oral preliminary examinations. A dissertation and oral defense of the dissertation must also be completed. A master’s degree is obtained after two years of study, completion of required courses, and demonstration of basic proficiency in a specified set of clinical and research skills.

MAIN OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of the Master of Arts/Master of Science Program in General Psychology are designed to: provide research experience in general/experimental psychology, to provide students with a strong foundation in the core areas of experimental psychology, and to help prepare students to enter doctoral programs in experimental psychology.

The Doctor of Psychology Program is designed to prepare clinical psychologists to offer a variety of professional services in psychological treatment, assessment, consultation, and administration. The program follows the scientifically based practitioner model of training (practitioner-scientist model).

The program seeks to develop a professional identity that values and pursues: excellence in clinical practice, a spirit of active inquiry and critical thought, a commitment to the development and application of new knowledge in the field, an active sense of social responsibility, an appreciation and respect for the significant impact cultural and individual differences in all aspects of practice and inquiry, and an enduring commitment to personal and professional development.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The minimum criteria for admission to the master’s degree programs are:

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited undergraduate institution. Although the applicant need not have completed an undergraduate major in psychology, she/he should have at least 12 credits of study in psychology. These 12 credits  should include successful completion of courses in introductory psychology, statistics, methods of psychological research (e.g., experimental psychology), and another core course in psychology (e.g., cognition, learning).
2. An undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher and a graduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
3. Graduate Record Examination scores of at least 151 on the verbal and 145 on the quantitative scales.
4. At least three letters of recommendation from individuals who know the applicant well (at least two should be from professors).

Materials should be submitted by March 15 to be assured consideration for fall entrance.

DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The Doctor of Psychology Program admits eight to ten students per year based on Graduate Record Examination scores, grade point average, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and interviews. Entrance requirements for admission to the Doctor of Psychology Program include:

1.  A baccalaureate degree from an accredited undergraduate institution.  Although the applicant need not have completed an undergraduate major in psychology, she/he should have at least 24 credits of study in psychology with courses in abnormal, research methods/expiramental, learning or cognition, personality, and statistics.  Students who lack prerequisite courses are encouraged to complete them prior to admission to the program. 

2.  An undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higheror a graduate grade point average of 3.5 or higher, both on a 4.0 scale. 

3.  Graduate Record Examination scores within the last 5 years must be submitted.  Verbal GRE scores of 153 or above, quantitative GRE scores of 150 or above, and GRE writing scores of 4.0 or above are preferred. 

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