Clinical Psychology

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The MA in Psychology and Education provides students in the General Track with the ability to concentrate their credits in a particular area of study. These concentrations are designed to accommodate the special interests and strengths of students by allowing them to focus on a particular are of sub-specialty. In order to qualify for one of these areas of concentration, you must be enrolled in the General Track (PsyG).

There are FIVE areas of concentration being offered: a) Research Methods; b) Child & Family; c) Spirituality & Contemplative Practices; d) Training in Underserved Populations; e) Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysitic Perspectives. The total requirement for a concentration is 12 credits.

A)  Research Methods: This area of focus prepares students for in-depth understanding of quantitative procedures in psychological research. Courses will focus on the methods of research design and statistical inference/mathematical modeling. This concentration helps students to work as highly competent researchers. The ONE requirement is CCPX 5533 plus THREE additional courses from the list below. Total = 4 courses/12 credits.

B)  Child & Family: This area of focus prepares students for in-depth understanding of children, families, and developmental processes. This concentration has two fundamental areas of emphasis: i) child development; ii) the family in context. This concentration orients students to the challenges of working with children and their families. The ONE requirement is CCPX 5034 plus THREE additional courses from the list below. Tota l = 4 courses/12 credits.

C)  Spirituality & Contemplative Practices: This area of focus prepares students for in-depth understanding of the role of spirituality and contemplative practices (e.g., meditation) as contributors to mental health and well-being. This concentration fosters competency in exploring the essential spiritual principles and practices of human experience within the context of illness and healing. The ONE requirement is CCPX 5045  plus THREE additional courses from the list below. Total = 4 courses/12 credits.

D)  Training in Underserved Populations: This area of focus prepares students to improve services for underserved populations within their specialized contexts. This concentration enables students to seek out work settings that serve the growing numbers of patients facing barriers to mental health treatment due to aging, illness/disabilities, incarceration, addiction, poverty, globalization, etc. The ONE requirement is CCPX 4010  plus THREE additional courses from the list below. Total = 4 courses/12 credits.

E) Psychotherapy & Psychoanalytic Perspectives: This area of focus prepares students to deepen their understanding of the various psychotherapeutic perspectives and their styles of intervention. Students will sample theories of contemporary and classical therapeutic orientations so they may one-day train to become psychotherapists or psychoanalysts. Upon graduation, students may pursue this training within doctoral programs (e.g., Psy.D. programs), psychoanalytic institutes (many now have licensure tracks ), or another LMHP Licensure track Masters (Licensed Mental Health Practitioner). This concentration is for those who wish to one-day focus on direct patient contact and the treatment of individuals through psychotherapy and counseling theories and techniques. The ONE requirement is CCPX 4038 plus THREE additional courses from the list below. Total = 4 courses/12 credits.

Recommendations

If you are satisfied with the concentration, other departments throughout TC and Columbia University are likely to have related coursework. You are free to continue to build upon your area of interest as long as you are on track to fulfill the PSY-G track or PSY-G concentration requirements. It is also recommended to secure a fieldwork placement and to focus your Special Project in the selected area of concentration.

The combination of coursework, research/fieldwork, and writing experience allows students to acquire the necessary background to prepare them for longer-term career opportunities consistent with their chosen sub-specialty. Choosing a concentration can assist students to find well-matched opportunities upon graduation.