Psychology in Education: General Track MA

The Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology at Teachers College is a world-renowned training ground for researchers and clinicians, particularly known for innovation in research, pedagogy and clinical practice. Students within the M.A. program experience the demands of a graduate-level education in Clinical Psychology while also exploring the multiple avenues available in the ever-growing mental health field beyond. Our mission is to provide students with a platform to clarify their interests and then direct themselves toward their next professional goals. The field of applied psychology is vast. The M.A. program exposes students to diverse perspectives and populations, and supports them with intensive academic advisement, so that they may discover the best fit for their unique abilities.

During their tenure, students are closely guided by M.A. program advisors, which include current Ph.D. students from the Clinical Psychology department. Advisors help to clarify students' academic goals, to gauge progress, and to assist with their professional development. M.A. program ambassadors, which include current 2nd year M.A. Students, also assist with community-building and information-sharing so that student needs are heard and creatively addressed. Through the innovative M.A. program curriculum, which includes a combination of didactic instruction and experiential learning, students develop the critical thinking skills needed to interpret scientific knowledge, review traditional and contemporary treatment models, engage in innovative research, and contribute to fieldwork sites throughout New York City. By the end, students are intimately familiar with the depth and breadth of the Clinical Psychology orientation as a result of their tailored educational experience.

Students have the option to concentrate their studies in any of ten areas of study. Whereas most students choose one concentration, some organize their coursework around more than one.

• Child & Family (Bodnar)
• Clinical Psychology & Technology (Nitzburg)
• Community Psychology & Integrated Health Services (Rosa)
• Forensic Psychology (Mantell)
• Global Mental Health & Trauma (Verdeli & Bonnano)
• Neuropsychology (Waxman)
• Psychotherapy (Farber)
• Research Methods (Richardson)
• Sexuality, Women & Gender (Athan)
• Spirituality & Mind/Body Practices (Miller)

The M.A. program student body draws students from all over the world with the current class comprising students from over 30 countries and almost every state in the Union. Students are typically serious about pursuing doctoral degrees, and are excited by the opportunity to prove themselves in a rigorous learning environment.

The program has many dimensions, and is appropriate for students who have obtained undergraduate degrees in Psychology as well as for those with a limited exposure to the field. Some students use the program to enhance their current work (e.g., elementary education, international policy), while others use it to distill their interests within psychology (e.g., global mental health, neuroscience). Yet others use it as a crucial step toward a doctoral education. The M.A. program celebrates that our students are not of one voice. This diversity of perspectives is considered necessary to solve the very real-world problems they will encounter upon graduation. Each student has a unique contribution to make.