Students in the
Clinical Health Psychology
program are trained according to the Scientist-Practitioner Model, with
dual
emphases on research and clinical knowledge designed to provide a solid
clinical foundation. Students are encouraged to participate in
additional
research projects (other than thesis) so that they may be prepared for
the
rigorous research orientation of most Ph.D. programs in Clinical
Psychology.
Further, the promotion of professional clinical skills in assessment and psychotherapy is an important
element of
this training. The graduate curriculum also includes an emphasis in Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine. Students will be instructed on relevant issues in
clinical
practice, such as ethics and professional conduct, the development of
trusting
therapist-client relationships, and
empirically supported psychotherapeutic interventions.
Students who complete the
program are eligible to be licensed as a Psychological Associate in the
state
of
The orientation of the Clinical
Health Psychology program is eclectic in nature. The core faculty members are
trained
in a variety of psychotherapeutic orientations, including cognitive
behavioral, bio-psycho-social, psychodynamic, integrative medicine and interpersonal paradigms.
Review of applicants will commence February 15 and will continue until admissions are complete.
Competitive applicants are invited for
interviews held in March and April. Applicants should have an
undergraduate
degree in Psychology, including courses in General Psychology, Research Methods,
Statistics, and
Psychological Testing. We do consider qualified non-majors and work with applicants who are willing to make up pre-requisite coursework.
How many students are
accepted?
We typically
have 50-100 applicants and 12-15 students are accepted. The program
enrolls 8-10
students per year.
In the past
two years the average GRE scores have been approximately 1175 (Verbal & Quantitative). The last entering class had a combined GRE score average of about 1160. The average Grade Point Average for incoming students is
approximately 3.3. If your GRE combined scores are below 1200 then you are in the company of half of our accepted students. Other factors contribute to our admissions considerations (see below).
What factors are
considered in the admission decision?
Academic background and
motivation for a career in Clinical Health Psychology are the main factors
considered
for acceptance. All information included with your application will be
considered, including, GRE scores, GPA, research experience, your
personal
statement, letters of recommendation and anything else you include with
your
application. Your personal statement should be composed of a brief
one-page
summary describing your interest in Clinical Health Psychology.
There are
33 full time faculty members in the department. The Clinical Health Psychology
program
has 7 core faculty members who teach required courses, act as
mentors, and
often serve as thesis chairs. Additionally, students will take classes with
other
faculty members. See: www.psych.appstate.edu
There are approximately 600 Psychology undergraduate students and 80 Psychology graduate students in the department at any given time. Students from the Industrial/Organizational, General Experimental, and School programs will be in many of the required core classes, and there are multiple opportunities to establish relationships with students outside of the Clinical Health program. Many of the Clinical Health applied classes have 8-15 students.
Complete a
Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov and list the
schools you
are considering on the form. You will receive an estimate of financial
aid
based on your current income. Students typically receive between $3,000
and
$5,000 a semester for tuition and living expenses.
Out of state students may receive more if
they are independent.
Most first
year students are offered a 10-hour graduate assistantship, which pays
$1,875
per semester (updated 2006). Several 15 hour assistantships are typically available each year.
For both the thesis and
non-thesis option, students in the first year
(spring semester) have the opportunity to take Teaching of Psychology,
a requirement for those students who would like to be able to teach an
introductory Psychology class in the second year, for which
they are
paid about $3,750 per semester. There are often
additional
assistantships available within and outside of the Psychology department. Many Clinical Health graduate students teach General Psychology in their second year because they enjoy the experience of independently teaching a course as well as the assistantship support.
What is the tuition
for graduate students at ASU?
Tuition (and fees) for
in-state students is approximately $2200 per semester (last updated for 2006/2007 academic year). For out of state
students,
tuition is approximately $7000 per semester. Out of state tuition
waivers are
available on a competitive basis during the 1st year of study. Academic Common Market Status is available for some southeastern states providing for in-state tuition. Independent students may apply to
establish
NC residency for their second year.