MS Psychological Services

The Master of Science in Psychological Services degree is designed to develop professionals who can function as Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Behavioral Practitioners, Sport Psychologists or psychological assistants in such settings as mental health centers, guidance centers, mental hospitals, alcohol and drug treatment centers, correctional institutions, individual athletes and teams, and as an independent practitioner as defined by the licensure or certification board(s) of his or her chosen program of study. The role of these professionals is to help people more fully to develop their potential for creative productivity and emotional satisfaction. The following general objectives are intended to prepare students to fill this role:

  1. To provide opportunities for students to acquire knowledge of the general principles involved in providing psychological services;

  2. To prepare students to understand research methodology and to use research reports and psychological literature;

  3. To prepare students to provide the psychological services of counseling, consulting, and evaluating.

Students in this program are expected to have or to acquire in the early phases of training knowledge of general psychology, statistical methods, a psychology of learning and its application to behavior modification, a psychology of personality, abnormal psychology, and psychological evaluation. A course in theory and research in psychological services builds on this background to develop competencies in research and the use of psychological literature. Courses in individual mental testing, and individual psychological evaluation help students to acquire the skills to evaluate people. Courses in behavior change and clinical psychology help students to provide counseling services to people. A course in community consultation helps students to provide consultation in their work setting and community.

Small classes and ample opportunities for interaction with faculty and students provide an excellent opportunity for students to develop the skills necessary to function well in their occupations. Graduate teaching assistantships and graduate research assistantships provide financial assistance as well as unusual opportunities for learning.
 

LPC Additional Coursework - MEd School Counseling Only (pdf)
 

MSPS Scholarships Form (pdf)

Admission to the Master of Science in Psychological Services Degree

Unconditional Admission 
Unconditional admission may be granted to applicants who meet the following criteria:

  1. Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
     
  2. Meet one of the following conditions:
     
    • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on all undergraduate or graduate work in psychology or related field (minimum of eighteen (18) hours); or
    • Have a minimum percentile score of 40% on the verbal, quantitative, or analytical section of the GRE.
    • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on all undergraduate coursework to date, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in the last sixty (60) hours of coursework, or have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on at least nine (9) hours of graduate coursework;
       
  3. Have submitted acceptable program application documents (references, resume, essay questions, etc.).

Conditional Admission 
Conditional admission may be granted to an applicant who has met the GPA requirement for unconditional admission but has not submitted all other required documentation and/or completed the GRE (if required). The documentation, satisfactory completion of the GRE (if required) must be completed and processed before the student may enroll in the second semester.

Provisional Admission 
Applicants not meeting the GPA or GRE requirements for unconditional admission may be considered for provisional admission by the program. Students must submit all program documents before admission to the university. No more than nine (9) hours of graduate credit earned while on provisional admission status will count toward a degree. To gain unconditional status, the student must complete a minimum of nine (9) hours approved graduate work with a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all courses taken, meet all other admission criteria, and meet all provisions set by the program.

Concurrent Admission 
A senior student who lacks less than a full normal study load and who has completed a minimum of one hundred (100) credit hours, and meets the GPA requirements, may be permitted to enroll in graduate courses, subject to the study load provisions and semester hour provisions of the School of Graduate Studies.

Admission Procedure 
The applicant must:

  1. Complete an East Central University Application for Admission/Readmission.
     
  2. Submit the Department of Psychology Admissions forms
     
    • Provide transcripts of all work completed (baccalaureate and graduate).
    • Provide academic and professional information.
    • Provide a name, mailing address, and e-mail of two (2) references.
    • Provide responses to the writing exam.
       
  3. Take the GRE, if applicable.

Credit Requirements 
The program leading to the Master of Science degree in Psychological Services requires completion of at least sixty (60) hours of applicable work above the bachelor’s degree. (Courses which may apply to the master’s degree program are those 5000 level courses.)

Planning the Program 
Each student will be assigned a faculty graduate advisor upon entering the program and will be expected to work closely with the advisor. A student will need to work with his or her advisor in meeting basic professional goals. This MSPS degree qualifies an individual to work in applied areas of psychology under supervision. At the completion of the program, students will have met the academic requirements for certification as a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Behavioral Practitioner, or Applied Sports Psychologist.

Thesis 
No thesis is required in the Master of Science in Psychological Services program at East Central University. However, one may be submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree, for credit of six (6) semester hours, provided approval is given by the Graduate Committee of the Psychology Department, the Dean of the College of Education and Psychology, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies (see the course PSYCH 5691-6). Guidelines for writing the thesis in the Master of Science in Psychological Services program may be obtained either from the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies or the Coordinator of the College of Education and Psychology Graduate Programs.

NOTE: Students who plan to apply for Licensed Professional Counselor should not choose the thesis option as the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure will not accept thesis hours as approved coursework.

Transfer Work 
No transfer work will be accepted since the program has been pre-approved by the LPC Board. If the student chooses an alternate career path the student may meet with the program coordinator to discuss his or her long-term professional goals and whether or not this action is a feasible option for those career goals.

Grade Regulations 
The grades of A, B, C, D, P, F, N, W, AW, WF and I may be assigned to graduate students. The grade mark “P” indicates pass without an exact grade; the grade mark “W” indicates withdrawn; the grade mark “AW” indicates administrative withdrawal; the temporary grade mark “N” indicates the semester grade was not submitted by the instructor by the appropriate deadline. Grade marks have grade point values per semester hour as follows: A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1, F-0, and WF-0. Grade marks of “P” and “W” are disregarded with respect to grade points and hours attempted in computing grade average.

An incomplete grade (“I”) may be used at the instructor's discretion to indicate that additional work is necessary to complete a course. It is not a substitute for an “F”, and no student may be failing a course at the time an “I” grade is awarded. To receive an “I” grade, the student should have satisfactorily completed a substantial portion of the required coursework for the semester. “I” grades must be changed by the instructor within one (1) year from the end of the semester in which the “I” was assigned or they will remain as a permanent “I” and not contribute to the student’s GPA. (“I” grades in PSYCH 5691-6 Master’s Thesis are exempt from this regulation.)

Only courses having grades of “C” or above may be counted in the minimum sixty (60) semester hours graduate study required for the master's degree, and the grade average for all courses taken on the degree program and all prerequisites must be “B” (3.00) or above. No more than six (6) semester hours of “C” grade may be counted. Credit with grades of “D” will not satisfy degree requirements.

A student may repeat a course if approved by the advisor. Only the last grade is counted with reference to graduation requirements. No additional credit is allowed for a repeated course.

Practicum/Internship 
The student will spend a minimum number of hours receiving direct supervision with a qualified mentor and direct client contact hours as required by his or her practicum(s) or internship(s). The student must complete an application form for practicum placement at least five (5) weeks before the semester in which the practicum begins.

The student’s advisor and the Practicum/Internship Supervisors will determine the type and appropriateness of supervision for each placement. The student will spend a minimum number of hours receiving direct supervision with a qualified mentor and direct client contact hours as required by his or her practicum(s) or internship(s).

Ethics and Professional Standards
The student admitted to the Master of Science in Psychological Services program needs to familiarize himself or herself with and act in accordance with following board and professional organizations:

  1. American Psychological Association
  2. American Counseling Association
  3. National Board for Counselor Certification
  4. Association of Psychological Sciences
  5. Oklahoma State Board of Behavior Health

As well as the professional organization for his or her specific program of study:

     6.  National Association of School Psychologist or
     7.  Association for Applied Sport Psychology

Any behavior on the part of a student which may conflict with the standards in the above documents will be reviewed by a committee from the psychology faculty consisting of the advisor, a psychology faculty member appointed by the chair, and a faculty member chosen by the student. The committee will have the authority to take any of the following actions: exonerate the student; notify the student and plan appropriate ameliorative action; notify appropriate boards and law enforcement agencies; or dismiss the student from the program.
 

Financial Aid Regulations for Graduate Students

Students please be advised that the courses you choose to enroll in MUST be a required course or an elective course in your degree program. Financial Aid regulations dictate that any graduate student who is seeking financial aid must be enrolled in AT LEAST five (5) credit hours during the fall, spring, or summer semester and the courses MUST be in the degree program.

*Certificate Programs do not qualify for financial aid.