Psychology, MA

Clinical Psychology Program

Introduction

The Clinical specialization at Cleveland State may be referred to as a terminal master’s degree program because the department does not currently offer a doctoral degree program in Clinical Psychology. Upon receipt of the Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, graduates may apply to doctoral programs at other institutions. Graduates may also elect to work as a psychology assistant under the supervision of a doctoral-level, licensed psychologist. Psychology assistants work in hospital, forensic, or clinical settings and engage in assessment, treatment and research activities.

The Clinical specialization offers two tracks of study to accommodate the interests of students:

1. Doctoral preparation track, which requires the completion of a research or data based thesis; and
2. Practitioner track, which allows students more flexibility in elective coursework.

Each track requires the student to complete a 52 credit hour program of coursework and clinical field experiences. The program requires full-time study for two academic years. No courses are offered during the summer, though students in the doctoral preparation track frequently work on their theses during the summer between the first and second years of the program.

Both tracks emphasize core content and basic skills in the first year, and practical experience and professional skills in the second year. The curriculum emphasizes human development and its deviations, as well as the methods and techniques of assessing and influencing this development in clinical, community, and educational contexts.

Faculty Research and Publications

The faculty members of the Clinical Psychology specialization have diverse interests, which are reflected in the course content of the classes they teach and in articles written for national and international publications. These interests include child and adult psychopathology; human motivation and attitudes; psychopharmacology; women’s issues; legal and ethical issues in psychology; multicultural issues; cognitive behavior therapy; abnormal psychology; gerontology (normal and pathological aging, health psychology); personality tests assessment; and social competence promotion.

Current faculty information can be located on the Cleveland State University Faculty Profile page.

Career Information

Graduates of the Clinical Psychology specialization typically are employed as psychology assistants in such work settings as hospitals, mental health centers or clinics, private practice, human service agencies, industrial settings, and geriatric facilities. Primary functions include assessment, consultation, and administration. About 30 percent of graduates in this specialization continue on to pursue doctoral degrees.

Admission Information

The Clinical specialization requires of all applicants:

1. Scores from the General Aptitude Test of the Graduate Record Examination;
2. A firm foundation in the basic principles of psychology (e.g., at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA with a major or minor in psychology);
3. A personal statement;
4. Official transcripts for all colleges and universities attended;
5. Two letters of recommendation; and
6. An interview, by invitation, with faculty members of the Clinical Psychology program committee.

For optimal consideration of their application to the Clinical Psychology specialization, prospective students should complete the following course work before enrollment: Introductory Psychology, Personality or Theories of Personality, Abnormal Psychology, Memory and Cognition, Basic Statistics, and Experimental Psychology (Laboratory or Research Design).

Preparation beyond the minimum suggested above will likely strengthen applications. If an applicant received a BA in psychology five or more years ago, he or she is encouraged to update credentials by enrolling in advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate courses. The application deadline is February 15.

Apply Now: http://www.csuohio.edu/gradcollege/admissions/apply.html

The Consumer-Industrial Research Program

Introduction

The Consumer-Industrial Research program (CIRP) prepares students to conduct applied research in business and organizational settings. Students acquire the conceptual tools, research methods, and data analysis techniques to understand consumer product purchasing, responses to advertising, brand image, recruiting, person-job fit, employee selection, job analysis, performance management and related processes.

A second emphasis of the Consumer-Industrial Research program is the application of research methods and data analysis skills within an organization. Students are trained to design, administer, and interpret job satisfaction surveys, organizational climate surveys, and other important measures. Students are also taught how to conduct program evaluations (e.g., assessment of new organizational programs) and work on job analysis projects. Students also receive training in market segmentation, brand positioning, and other related methods that are commonly used.

The base for both areas of applied research is the development of the ability to design applied research, gather and analyze data, and determine the meaning and significance of the results. Therefore, there is an emphasis on statistics and research-methods courses. The content courses in consumer and industrial-organizational psychology build on these courses for specific applications. Electives may be used to augment both research skills and content areas.

This specialization is designed to be completed in one and one-half to two years and culminates with a thesis or research project. While it is expected that all students will have the opportunity to participate in the solution of actual problems under the guidance of faculty, selected students also have the opportunity for field placements in business settings.

The first year of the Consumer-Industrial Research specialization typically consists of the program core, quantitative methods, research design, field research methods, and substantive courses in industrial-organizational psychology and consumer behavior. During the second year, the student typically enrolls in elective courses while working on the thesis.

Faculty Research and Publications

Faculty members have contributed over 200 publications, including books, book chapters, journal articles (e.g., Journal of Marketing Research, International Journal of Human Resource Management, Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, Internet Research, Multivariate Behavioral Research, and Academy of Management Review), technical reports, and convention papers, as well as articles in trade periodicals, such as Quirk’s Marketing Research Review and Marketing News. The faculty serve as reviewers for over a dozen professional journals. Illustrative studies focus on occupational stress, measurement of consumer preferences, reactions to advertising, personality aspects of occupational choices, development of performance appraisal systems, computer modeling of individuals’ purchase decisions, job applicant attitudes and behavior, team training, team coordination, work motivation, workforce diversity and cross-cultural issues in the workplace.

Current faculty information can be located on the Cleveland State University Faculty Profile page.

Career Information

The program prepares students to work in organizations that need “people” information, whether it concerns consumers or organizational members. Students completing this program are capable of designing and executing research to answer questions in a manner that will contribute to the functioning of the organization. In the area of consumer behavior, graduates are suited to market research and public opinion research positions and to conduct program evaluation and assessment in public agencies. Additionally, in the industrial-organizational realm, they are prepared for employee surveys, training-effectiveness evaluation, job analysis, developing selection systems, and related research.

Admission Information

Applicants for admission to the Consumer/Industrial Research specialization must submit the following by February 15:

1. An Application for Graduate Admission;
2. Scores on the General Aptitude portion of the GRE;
3. A personal statement;
4. Official transcripts for all colleges and universities attended; and
5. Two letters of recommendation.

Applications are reviewed as they are completed, until the class is filled. Among the criteria used by the committee for selection are the standard indicators of academic promise––prior grades, test scores, and letters of recommendation–– plus indications of particular promise based on skills, personal characteristics, and experiences relevant to work in the Consumer/Industrial Research specialization. Additionally, the committee expects candidates to have completed at least six credits in psychology and to have a command of basic statistical analysis. Preferred candidates will have a strong statistical background, prior experience, and a record of high achievement.

Apply Now: http://www.csuohio.edu/gradcollege/admissions/apply.html

Diversity Management Program

The Diversity Management Program provides mid-career adults the opportunity to develop the change leadership skills and cultural competence necessary to work effectively in today’s organizations. Graduates of this distinctive Master’s in Psychology increase their ability to foster organizational excellence by learning how to lead diverse people in a complex global environment.

Program Description:

The Diversity Management Program is a uniquely designed executive MBA-style format. Classes meet for three intensive days a month for 18 months, allowing for the more effective accommodation of work schedules. Program fee includes books, materials and meals while on-site. Class cohorts begin every August.

Especially geared to the needs of mid-career adult learners, this program includes both classroom instruction and practical application. Using a systems approach, participants will:

• learn how organizations function,
• learn how to accomplish planned change,
• develop critical cultural competence skills,
• learn how to be effective leaders of organizational change,
• learn how to manage a diverse workforce.

Graduates of our program will be able to leverage their skills to influence people and achieve organizational goals. Both line managers and people in staff functions as diverse as purchasing and human resources will benefit from the skills they develop in this program.

Admission Information

This program is geared to mid-career adults interested in enhancing their leadership skills. In addition to all materials required for an application to the Graduate College (i.e., application form, transcripts from all institutions you may have attended), an application to the Diversity Management Program in Psychology must include:

1. Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for the General Aptitude Test
2. A personal statement (see website for full instructions);
3. Two letters of recommendation, preferably from individuals familiar with the applicant’s professional abilities
4. A professional resume

See the website below for complete instructions, program schedule and a link to the Admissions Office. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis for admission into cohorts each Fall.

Apply Now: http://www.csuohio.edu/sciences/dept/psychology/graduate/diversity/introduction.html

Experimental Research Program

Introduction

The goal of the Experimental Research specialization in Psychology is for students to develop skills in research design and analysis, broad knowledge of substantive areas of psychological research, and expertise in one research area. The program consists of both required and elective courses and an individual research experience that culminates in completing a master’s thesis.

Every student is expected to become involved in research when he or she begins the program and to continue this involvement during his or her course of study. Ideally, each student participates in a faculty member’s research program; after developing appropriate knowledge and skills about this domain, the student demonstrates expertise by completing a thesis (with the advice and supervision of that faculty member).

Faculty Research and Publications

Areas of faculty expertise include behavioral pharmacology, cognition (including perception, attention, memory, and decision-making), health psychology, history of psychology, human performance, research methodology, and social psychology. Current areas of faculty research include accuracy of survey self-reports, issues in the history of psychology, motor performance, student evaluations of instruction, consumer behavior, language perception, human sexual behavior, psychosocial interventions for individuals with dementia, successful aging, group processes, and visual perception.

Current faculty information can be located on the Cleveland State University Faculty Profile page.

Research Facilities

Research facilities include testing rooms equipped with microcomputers and software for experimental data collection. The University holds licenses for major statistical software packages; these are available in University computer laboratories, as well as in the Psychology Department’s computer laboratory. Most scholarly materials, if not available in the University Library, are readily accessible through Ohio Link, a statewide consortium of libraries that subscribes electronically to many journals, or through inter-library loan.

Career Information

Graduates of the Experimental Research program often pursue further graduate work in psychology or seek employment in research-related occupations. The skills and knowledge acquired in the Experimental Research program may provide a beneficial foundation for further graduate study in other professional fields (e.g., clinical psychology, law, business).

Admission Information

In addition to all materials required for an application to the Graduate College (i.e., application form, transcripts), an application to the Experimental Research program in Psychology must include:

1. Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for the General Aptitude Test. An applicant is encouraged to submit the results from the GRE Psychology Subject test if the score would enhance his or her application:
2. A personal statement; and
3. Two letters of recommendation, preferably from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic abilities.

An applicant should have some academic preparation in psychology. A prospective applicant without such preparation is encouraged to consult with the program director about his or her preparation for the program.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, but the deadline for consideration of admission for the Fall semester is February 15.

Apply Now: http://www.csuohio.edu/gradcollege/admissions/apply.html

School Psychology Program

The School Psychology Program consists of two degree phases: the Master of Arts in Psychology, followed by the Psychology Specialist. Program features and admission requirements are described in this catalog under the heading, Psychology Specialist  , School Psychology Program