Offered in: Roosevelt Online

Roosevelt offers both master's and doctoral degrees in psychology. The MA degrees are in the areas of general, clinical (counseling practice), and industrial/organizational psychology (including an option for combined IO MA/MBA); the PsyD is in clinical psychology.

The General Psychology MA program is designed to provide students with a foundation in clinical psychology, which can lead to potential advancement in the workplace, expertise in a research setting, or preparation for doctoral studies. This is a 30-credit hour master’s degree offered in General Psychology that may be completed online in the course of one year (Fall, Spring, Summer). Courses are offered in either 8- or 16-week format. No research thesis is required for the degree. Competencies follow APA guidelines for MA degrees including: 1) Knowledge Base in Psychology, 2) Scientific Mindedness, 3) Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World 4) Communication, and 5) Professional Development.

Graduates of this program are NOT eligible to apply for licensure as a professional counselor. This is a 30-credit hour program that provides broad-based training in psychological intervention as well as in the theory and research that supports these practices. This program is designed for those who are currently employed in fields such as social work, counseling, nursing, or business and wish to broaden their areas of expertise. Students who wish to seek the professional counselor’s license (LPC, or later, LCPC) should apply to the Clinical Psychology (Counseling Practice) MA program.

Admission Requirements

To be considered admission into the MA General Psychology  program, applicants  must have the following: GPA 3.0 (B)average; It is recommended that applicants have completed the following prerequisite courses with at least a 3.0 (B) average: (a) psychological theories, (b) personality or abnormal psychology, and (c) research methods or an advanced level psychology course.

Applications are considered on a rolling basis. The final application deadline for the fall semester is August 1. The final application deadline for the spring semester is  January 1. Applicants may contact the admissions office for more information.

Classes are offered in an 8- or 16-week format online.

Standards

• General GPA standards: Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 (B) grade point average. No more than two grades of C+, C, or C- (six credit hours) will be counted toward the MA degree. For additional information concerning grading and academic discipline, see the general University regulations.
• Time limit: Students are allowed six years in which to complete the MA degree and only courses completed within six years of the time the student enters the program will be counted toward the degree.
• Competency requirement. The competency requirement is designed to ensure that all students seeking the MA degree demonstrate an acceptable level of mastery of general psychology. It is a prerequisite for all 600-level courses. The competency requirement must be met within the first 18 credit hours of graduate credit. Students who fail to satisfy the competency requirement within this time period will be considered for dismissal from the program. Students can meet the competency requirement in one of the two ways detailed below
  1. Grade point average method. Students must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.0 in the following courses:, PSYC 516 PSYCHOPATHOLOGY and PSYC 530 ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS. All courses that count toward meeting the competency requirement must be taken at Roosevelt University.
• Academic integrity. The Department of Psychology holds graduate students to professional standards of academic integrity. The department considers actions that present the work of another as one’s own to be unethical and inappropriate. Cheating and plagiarism are never tolerated. The department defines plagiarism as presenting the ideas or words of another as one’s own. Students must follow the rules for appropriate citation and quotation of the words of others, as outlined in the current edition of the American Psychological Association’s publication manual, in all papers and theses. Students who violate these standards regarding cheating and plagiarism will be considered for dismissal from the program.
• Ethical, professional, and interpersonal competency. Because the psychology programs prepare mental health practitioners, the department is accountable to the public regarding the development of professional and ethical behavior. Thus, in addition to the evaluation of academic performance, students will be evaluated regularly on appropriate professional and interpersonal behavior. Students who fail to meet academic standards or fail to meet expectations of appropriate professional and interpersonal behavior will be considered for dismissal from the program.

Program Governance and Personnel

The Department of Psychology appoints a Program Evaluation Group (PEG) to oversee the administration and development of the MA programs in General Psychology and Clinical Psychology (Counseling Practice). The PEG is led by the director of Clinical MA Programs and several other faculty members appointed each academic year. 

Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 (B) grade point average. No more than two grades of C+, C, or C- (six credit hours) will be counted toward the MA degree. There is no residency requirement for this program.

Program Curriculum

Students must complete the following courses to complete the MA degree:

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different. No more than two grades of C (not C-) may be applied toward the 30 hours used for the degree. A graduate course can only be repeated once; no more than two courses can be repeated.

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different. No more than two grades of C (not C-) may be applied toward the 30 hours used for the degree. A graduate course can only be repeated once; no more than two courses can be repeated.