What is the deadline for applications?

Applications should be received by March 1st for priority consideration. However, we continue considering applications until our class is full. All applicants must meet the criteria to be considered for admission.  Selection is competitive and our class size is limited.

May I apply for spring admission?

We accept only one cohort each year, to begin in the fall semester.

What kind of background checks are required?

Applicants will be required to complete an affidavit (see link below) that certifies that they have not been charged with or convicted of a felony offense. A felony offense means the person is not eligible for licensure. State law requires that accepted students with assistantships undergo a criminal background check. It will be completed during the first semester of graduate study at the applicant's expense and you will be notified if it is needed. Students failing the background check could be dismissed from the program.

What do I do if I want to practice in another state or country?

If a student is interested in applied work immediately following earning this degree, then the student should investigate the job opportunities and practice laws and regulations for master’s level practitioners in the state or country in which they wish to work.  Kentucky has a path for a master’s level graduate to practice with supervision as a Licensed Psychological Associate. In other states and countries, the graduate may find employment under a different title or certification. To find out the rules, try searching under the term “Board of Examiners Psychology,” with the name of the state or country, to determine the situation for the desired location.  Also examine position advertisements for persons with a psychology master’s degree and ask local psychological associations for the source for information.

What happens after I apply?

The faculty will review materials and select those who best match the program and faculty interests. Recommendation for acceptance emails will be sent to those individuals. The first group will have until April 15 (when doctoral programs make final decisions) to decide whether to join the program. If they report they are not going to attend our program, then we go to the next person on our waiting list and offer the slot to them, giving them a deadline to respond, and so on until our class is full. The process can take into the summer depending on how quickly applicants commit. Typically, we admit about 7 to 10 persons.

When is acceptance final?

In order to be accepted into the clinical psychology M.A. concentration, students must be accepted into the WKU Graduate School. Acceptance into the Graduate School does not guarantee acceptance into the clinical concentration. Once the clinical faculty select candidates, they must be approved by the Graduate School. While you will hear from the Clinical M.A. Coordinator that you have been recommended for acceptance, the actual acceptance letter will come from the Dean of the Graduate School.

How do I apply for graduate assistantships?

Your general application is the first step. For those admitted we may ask follow-up questions about interests in available assistantships. Decisions are made about mid-summer and you will receive a form to complete with instructions. It is challenging to match students with program and faculty needs so please monitor your email and respond promptly.

How do I apply for tuition help?

Your general application is the first step. The department has some tuition dollars that we disperse to students. The amount varies from year to year. Decisions are made about mid-summer as assistantships are finalized and you will receive a form to complete with instructions.

Is there additional financial aid help?

Please also submit your materials to WKU’s centralized TopDollar Scholarship Portal at https://www.wku.edu/financialaid/scholarships/  Your materials will be considered for all available scholarships. We have some departmental scholarship money that is awarded through this system. Also examine the information on tuition waivers, linked from this same page.

What is the program’s stance on under-represented groups?

We strongly encourage applications from people of under-represented groups and are interested in applicants from all backgrounds. WKU is committed to equal opportunity in its educational programs and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or sexual orientation.

Year 1 Fall Semester		Year 1 Winter Term		Spring Semester
EDFN 501 Statistics OR EDLD 712	3	PSY 541 Professional Issues and Ethics in Psychology	3	EDFN 500 OR EDLD 722	3
Psy 560 Assessment of Individual Intellectual Functioning:Theories and Issues	3			PSY 641 Theories of  Psychotherapy	3
PSY 562 Practicum in Psychological Assessment	3			PSY 660 Assessment of Personality and Socio-emotional Functioning	3
PSY 640 Psychopathology	3			PSY 662 Practicum in Psychology	3
	12		3		12

 

Year 1 Summer Term		Year 2 Fall Semester		Year 2 Spring Semester
PSY 520 Individual Differences and Human Diversity	3	PSY 511 Psychology of Learning	3	PSY 646 Social Psychology for Applied Practice	3
		PSY 592 Psychology Internship	3	PSY 651 Clinical Neuropsychology for the Applied Psychologist	3
		PSY 599 Thesis Research OR (nonthesis option) Psy 590 Readings of Research Psychology	3	PSY 599 Thesis Research OR (nonthesis option) 3 hour elective approved by advisor.	3
		1 optional elective	(3)	1 optional elective	(3)
	3		9 (3)		9 (3)

Total Hours: 48 (54)

See the MA Handbook for more details on the thesis vs nonthesis option.  Please note that Psy 599 cannot serve as the nonthesis elective course.

This is a partial list of our alumni. If you graduated from the clinical program and would like to make changes the list please contact us.