Psychology
Education in the US
Table
of Contents
Levels
of Psychology Education
Admission into Psychology
Programmes
Areas of
Concentration & Specialties
Practising Psychology in the US
Career Fields
Additional Resources
This
document provides an overview of the psychology education
system in the United States as well as information
on psychology licensure in the US.
Levels
of Psychology Education
Psychology
education is available at the undergraduate level
(BA or BS), Master's degree (MA or MS) level or Doctoral
(PhD, PsyD, EdD) level. However, in order to apply
to become a licensed psychologist in most US states,
a Doctoral degree is required.
Undergraduate
Study in Psychology
Psychology
education can be obtained at the Bachelor's degree
level at most US undergraduate institutions.
Postgraduate
Study in Psychology
Postgraduate
study in psychology can be at both the Master's degree
level and at the Doctoral level. Master's degrees
in psychology (Master of Arts or Master of Sciences)
can be either terminal or non-terminal. A terminal
Master's degree programme is intended to prepare students
for a specific occupation that requires a Master's
degree for entry-level employment. On the other hand,
a non-terminal Master's degree is awarded to students
as a part of their Doctoral degree program. If you
intend to pursue a Doctoral degree in psychology,
it is important to make sure your Master's degree
program is non-terminal and can be included as part
of your Doctoral work.
The
Doctoral degree in psychology is recognised by the
American Psychological Association (APA) as the basic
credential for psychologists. Most state licenses
to practise require a Doctorate level degree, however
in some states, supervised practise of psychology
may be possible with a Master's degree in psychology.
At
the Doctoral level, there are several degree options:
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), PsyD (Doctor of Psychology)
and EdD (Doctor of Education). The type of degree
awarded by a programme reflects the type of training
model as well as the department in which the degree
programme is housed (i.e. School of Education or Department
of Psychology).
Length
of Psychology Education
At
the undergraduate level, a bachelor's degree can usually
be earned in four years.
At
the postgraduate level, a Master's degree can take
1-3 years, depending on the course. In order to earn
a Doctoral degree in psychology, an additional three
to four years may be required (for a total of four
to seven years of postgraduate study), depending on
your educational background.
Admission
into Psychology Programmes
Acceptance
Rates
Acceptance
rates vary depending on the number of applicants and
specific application criteria. In general, it is more
difficult to gain acceptance in a postgraduate psychology
programme than an undergraduate institution (students
generally do not enter an undergraduate institution
with a declared major).
Expenses
At
the undergraduate level, psychology education is generally
less expensive than at the graduate level. However,
at both the graduate and undergraduate level, this
depends largely on the institution you attend and
the geographic area in which you study. Cost of tuition
can range from $2,000 to over $30,000 per academic
year. Living expenses range from $3,000 to $15,000
depending on the location of the institution.
How
to Apply
For
an overview of the application procedure to US universities
you should read the free EAS Guide to Postgraduate
Study in the United States or the EAS Guide to Undergraduate
Study in the United States available from the EAS.
In addition, the EAS publishes more in-depth guides
to the undergraduate and postgraduate application
process: Undergraduate Study in the US and Postgraduate
Study in the US (£3.00 each, or £4.50
including postage). See our website to purchase either
of these guides.
Factors
for Admission into a Postgraduate Psychology Programme
A
variety of criteria are used by graduate programmes
to evaluate applicants for both Master's and Doctoral
level programmes:
Personal
Statement
This
is the chance for you to sell yourself and your abilities
to the admissions committee as well as express your
career goals and motivation for wanting to pursue
graduate study in psychology. A good essay requires
careful planning, reviewing and revision. Please note
that the EAS offers an essay/application review service
for a fee .
Letters
of Recommendation
These
can be from undergraduate advisers and faculty, community
leaders, and other individuals who have employed you
or supervised your volunteer experience.
Exposure
to Psychology Field and Community Service
This
includes extracurricular activities that reflect mental
health-related services and research experience. This
type of experience demonstrates that you are dedicated
to the field.
Interview
with an Admissions Officer
This
interview can be used to show the personal characteristics
you will bring to the profession. Interviews are held
towards the end of the application process. Many schools
invite the most promising applicants to an interview
at the school with faculty and other members of the
admissions committee. This can pose problems for students
who apply from abroad, so you should discuss this
with the institution at the time of application.
Undergraduate
Coursework
Most
graduate programmes in psychology prefer or require
significant undergraduate study in psychology, often
the equivalent of a major or minor in your undergraduate
degree. Undergraduate courses in general psychology,
statistics, research design and experimental psychology
are helpful. Any undergraduate research experience
will enhance your application to graduate level study
in psychology.
Academic
Performance/Grade Point Average (GPA)
This
numerical measure is the standard method for evaluating
academic performance in the US. The highest possible
GPA is a 4.0 while the average is 2.5. Many graduate
level institutions have a minimum GPA requirement
for admission of 3.0, which reflects an average grade
of B.
Graduate
Record Exam (GRE) Test Scores
The GRE is the most common entrance exam for graduate
level study in the US. The GRE General Test is a computer-adaptive
test and has three sections that test verbal and analytical,
quantitative, and essay skills. You can obtain a registration
bulletin from EAS, or visit www.gre.org.
It
is possible that a graduate programme in psychology
will require the GRE Subject Test in Psychology in
addition to the GRE General Test. This subject test
has questions designed to test knowledge in the areas
of experimental/natural science, social/social science,
history of psychology, applied psychology, measurement
research design, statistics and other psychology-related
areas. Please check with institutions to which you
are applying to verify which exams are required for
admission. Your scores on the GRE General Test and/or
on the GRE Subject Test in Psychology will likely
be used as evaluation criteria when institutions review
your application.
Areas
of Concentration & Specialties
Once
you have identified a programme that suits your needs,
you will need to choose an area of concentration.
Your concentration will be the subject area of psychology
in which you are most interested. The APA recognises
only clinical, counselling, school and industrial/organisational
psychology as "specialities." Others areas are considered
"areas of concentration" or "subfields."
Specialties
Areas
of Concentration
-
Cognitive
Psychology and Psycholinguistics
-
Community
Psychology
-
Developmental
psychology
-
Educational
Psychology
-
Engineering
Psychology
-
Environmental
Psychology
-
Experimental
Psychology
-
Forensic
Psychology
-
Health
Psychology
-
Neuropsychology
and Psychobiology
-
Psychology
of Ageing (Geropsychology)
-
Psychometrics/Quantitative
Methods
-
Rehabilitation
Psychology
-
Social
Psychology
For
a more detailed description of each of these areas,
please see the resources listed at the end of this
handout.
Practising
Psychology in the US
The
three major components of the psychology licensure
process are education, supervised experience and examinations:
Education
The
route to becoming a licensed Doctor of Psychology
begins with your acceptance into a Doctoral programme
in psychology. In the US, there are regional associations
that accredit universities. The universities gain
accreditation through meeting a set of specific standards.
It is typically easier to obtain your license to practice
psychology if your Doctoral degree is from a regionally
accredited institution.
Within
regionally-accredited institutions, Doctoral psychology
programmes which prepare students for licensure for
practise (professional programmes) must be accredited
by the American Psychological Association (APA) Committee
on Accreditation (COA). The list of currently accredited
programmes is available at EAS and on the APA website
at www.apa.org/ed/accred.
Although
licensure for the independent practice of psychology
requires a Doctoral degree in psychology in most states,
about half the states also have a category for supervised
practice of psychology, which usually requires a minimum
of a Master's degree in psychology.
Additionally,
each state has its own particular requirements for
licensure. For details regarding a particular state's
policies, please see the Association of State and
Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) website at www.asppb.org.
Supervised
Experience
Supervised
experience is usually comprised of one year during
the Doctoral program and one year after the Doctoral
degree. Specific requirements for supervised experience
must be obtained from the state board of the state
in which you wish to practise.
Typically,
as part of the requirements for graduation from a
Doctoral programme, students complete an internship.
A directory of internships approved by the APA and/or
the Association of Psychology and Postdoctoral Internship
Centers (APPIC) is published annually. Also, there
is a directory of internships for Doctoral students
in school psychology prepared by the Joint Committee
on Internships (Council of Directors of School Psychology
Programs, the Division of School Psychology of the
APA and the National Association of School Psychologists).
Following
graduation from a Doctoral programme, most psychologists
choose to complete a year or more of Postdoctoral
experience or a formal residency programme meeting
licensure requirements. Usually, this consists of
1,500 hours of acceptable supervised experience completed
within a four-year period. In fact, many states mandate
two years of experience plus a Doctoral degree from
an accredited institution as the minimum requirement
for psychology licensure. Obtain specific details
regarding licensure requirements from each state's
Board of Psychology.
Examinations
and Licensure
Upon
completion of supervised experience, graduates apply
for licensure as a professional psychologist at the
state level. Most states require licensure applicants
to pass the written multiple-choice examination known
as the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology
(EPPP). Many states also require a jurisprudence examination
or an oral examination in addition to the EPPP. While
most state boards utilise the standardised EPPP, some
boards supplement this test with an examination of
their own.
Usually,
certification and licensure procedures for psychologists
are generic and do not refer to any speciality within
the profession. However, it is important to note that
some states regulate practise in specific speciality
areas as well.
Career
Fields
Psychology
programme graduates can be found in a wide variety
of career areas and work settings. Completion of an
undergraduate degree (BA or BS) in psychology prepares
you for an entry-level position in the settings listed
below whereas a graduate degree (Master's or PhD)
allows you to work in the upper level management/private
practise in these settings.
·
Academic Settings
Universities
Four-year Colleges
Two-year Colleges
Professional Schools
Elementary Schools
Secondary Schools
Special Education Programmes
Vocational Schools
· Human Service Settings
Outpatient Clinics
Hospitals
Independent Practice Training
Centres for People with Disabilities
Nursing Homes for the Elderly
Counselling and Guidance Centres
· Business Settings
Consulting Firms
Independent Research Organisations/Laboratories
Human Resources
Industrial/Organisational Psychology
· Government and Military Settings
Armed Services
Civil Service
Criminal Justice System
Elected Office
Government Agency
Government Research Organisation
Additional
Resources
Other
On-Line Resources
American
Psychological Association
Association
of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
Council
for the National Register of Health Service Providers
in Psychology
RESOURCES
IN THE US EDUCATIONAL ADVISORY SERVICE (EAS)
The
US Educational Advisory Service of the Fulbright Commission
receives a grant from the US Department of State to
provide information and advice on US education. The
EAS houses a resource centre including a free reference
library with university prospectuses and the Fulbright
Technology Centre which offers computer search packages,
Internet access and test preparation software. Resources
for prospective psychology students include several
directories concerning psychology education in the
US (listed below); catalogues from US universities;
test preparation guides for reference use; and application
forms for the SAT I and II, ACT, GRE and TOEFL.
The
specific resources for graduate study in psychology
available at the EAS library are as follows:
-
The
Complete Guide to Graduate School Admission: Psychology,
Counselling, and Related Professions, Lawrence
Erlbaum Associates Publishers
-
Graduate
Study in Psychology, The American Psychological
Association
-
Getting
In: A Step-by-step Plan for Gaining Admission
to Graduate School on Psychology, American
Psychological Institute
-
Insider's
Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and Counselling
Psychology, The Guilford Press
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