Current Students

Core Classes for Clinical Psychology 

Students who already have an undergraduate degree in Psychology will be happy to learn that the MA program has no required courses. You have maximum flexibility to pursue your academic interests without having to repeat courses you’ve taken elsewhere. 

For students who are new to Psychology, consider taking courses that are core to the field of Clinical Psychology. These are classes that, generally speaking, doctoral programs will like to see on your transcript when they read your application. 

Suggested Core Courses

• Adult psychopathology (CCPX 5032) 
• Research methods in clinical psychology (CCPX 5533) , Advanced Research Methods (CCPX 5199), or Programming for Psych Research (CCPX 4199)
• Statistics (various HUDM courses such as 4120 or 4122 or higher-level classes) 
• Biological Bases of Psychology (BBS 5068 & 5069, among others)
• Theory courses such as Personality and Behavior Change (CCPX 4035) or History & Systems (CCPX  6020) 
• Therapy courses such as Comparative Psychotherapies (CCPX 4038), Intro to CBT (CCPX 4037), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (CCPX 5026), Dynamic Psychotherapies (CCPX 5037), Trauma Therapies (CCPX 4199).
• Development: Child Psychopathology (CCPX 5034) or Human Development (HUDK 5040, HUDK 5023 or HUDK 5029)

You can read course descriptions with the TC Course Search Tool. Be sure to check with specific doctoral programs to see if they list preferred or required courses. You may also want to retake core courses if you did poorly in similar courses during undergrad.

 

Concentrations

Students can also choose to focus their coursework by taking classes in our ten optional concentration areas, listed below. Most concentrations involve taking at least four courses in a single area of study.

• Child & Family 
• Clinical Psychology & Technology
• Community Psychology & Integrated Health Services
• Forensic Psychology
• Global Mental Health & Trauma 
• Neuropsychology
• Psychotherapy
• Research Methods
• Sexuality, Women, & Gender
• Spirituality & Mind/Body Practices 

CCPX 5110 Research Apprenticeship 

Students serving as volunteer research assistants in research labs outside of TC may enroll in CCPX 5110.004 Research Apprenticeship for 0 or 1 credit in any semester.  Students engaged in on-campus research may enroll in CCPX 5110 Research Apprenticeship as an elective with their respective lab director. 

CCPX 4230 Fieldwork in Applied Psychology 

Students volunteering in clinical placements outside of TC may enroll in CCPX 4230.001 Fieldwork in Applied Psychology for 0 or 1 credit in any semester. Students may enroll for a total of 3 credits of CCPX 4230.001 Fieldwork in Applied Psychology over the course of their Master's Degree. Enrollment in Fieldwork is appropriate when the student is volunteering in a mental health or educational setting (e.g., hospital, clinic, psychotherapy practice, school, or other treatment facility) where the student has supervised contact in the provision of services.

CCPX 4900 Research & Independent Study: Clinical Psychology

An independent study is a close collaboration between a student and a full-time faculty member. It is best utilized to develop a research study, prepare a scholarly manuscript, or to deepen a course of study of the student's choosing. The faculty member and student must submit a course description that outlines the aims of the independent study, the basis for evaluation, and a list of required readings to the program director before the add/drop period closes. The scope of the course proposal must be consistent with the college’s coursework expectations for the requested number of credits. Up to 3 credits of independent study may be taken in total, with enrollment in any semester of 1-3 credits.

CCPX 4001 Integrative Project Preparation 

This course number is taken for 0 credit in the student's final semester (while completing the Integrative Project). Students may also request permission to take CCPX 4001 Integrative Project in an earlier semester when Certification of Equivalency for Full-Time Status is needed while taking a reduced courseload (fewer than 9 credits).  Students are only permitted to enroll in CCPX 4001 Integrative Project Preparation once. Students who have completed course work, and intend to maintain status while completing their Integrative Project must enroll in CCPX4001 Integrative Project Preparation for 0 credit. Students maintaining status after completion of coursework will be charged the College fee for maintaining status even if enrolled for 0 credits. Students who enroll in CCPX 4001 in the Spring semester and decide to move their graduation date to October do not have to re-enroll in this course number.

CCPX 4199 Special Topics Courses  

CCPX 4199 are "Special Topics" courses that have been recently added to the course roster. Each semester we offer “Special Topics” classes on a range of subjects. Each 4199 class highlights the specialty of an adjunct faculty professor. By regulation, these courses are temporary and can only be offered twice. Since they all have the same base number (i.e., 4199), pay close attention to the section number (e.g. 4199.001, 4199.002) when registering. Some special topics courses may qualify for certain concentrations. Contact your advisor or concentration head if you have questions.

Cross-Registration with Other Columbia Graduate Programs  

All TC students have the option of taking courses at Columbia University, Barnard College, Mailman School of Public Health, Union Theological Seminary, and Jewish Theological Seminary. To find out how to register for courses offered uptown at Columbia’s Health Sciences campus (e.g. School of Public Health), please contact the TC Registrar. Graduate courses (4000- level or above) approved by the College may be used toward the degree program. These courses may be used to fulfill the elective requirements for Masters degrees; however, they may not be used towards the breadth (out-of-program) requirement. Registrations are normally accepted on the Student Information System or Touch-tone Services. Enter the call number listed on the Columbia University website as the CRN. All courses taken outside TC are subject to the tuition rates of the school offering the course. Learn more

 

Students in the MA program are strongly encouraged to volunteer in research labs or clinical fieldwork placements in addition to coursework. Students volunteer in dozens of diverse fieldwork and research sites around Columbia University and New York City, and sometimes across the world, that connect them to experts in their chosen subfield. 

Finding Opportunities

Our program operates an email listserv to which enrolled students automatically have access. Research and Fieldwork opportunities from both inside and outside Teachers College are advertised with the listserv and will appear in your email inbox.

We also offer one-on-one advising about how to find research opportunities in your subfield of interest, which you can schedule directly with anyone on our Program Team Page.

Faculty Labs

Teachers College has ten departments in which faculty actively seek students to volunteer in research labs. Students are encouraged to reach out to faculty directly via email. TC labs often hold open houses in the fall semester to welcome new students. Nearly all students participate in research during their studies; however, there is no guarantee of placement with a faculty member in the Clinical Psychology program. Learn more

Volunteering outside Teachers College

Contact the Volunteer Services or Human Resources departments of public or private city hospitals, outpatient community clinics, non-profit organizations, drug treatment facilities, schools/after school/tutoring programs, social work agencies, criminal justice programs, etc. Check online bulletin boards often, ask second-year MA students or alumni about their previous placements, and use your social network. Some students manage to locate paid positions that they continue with after graduation. Several area institutions frequently have labs and projects in need of volunteers, and will generally advertise on our listserv:

• New York State Psychiatric Institute (see below for more) 
• Mount Sinai School of Medicine
• Montefiore Medical Center
• NYU Rusk Institute
• Ackerman Institute for the Family
• Weill Cornell Medicine 
• Sloan Kettering Institute 
• NYU Langone Hospital
• Manhattan Psychiatric Center (state hospital on Randall’s Island)
• Columbia University Main Campus
• NYU Grossman School of Medicine
• Various private-practice therapy or assessment services

Most sites will have volunteer coordinators on staff, or run a publicly-viewable job posting site where volunteer research and clinical opportunities appear. 

New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI)

NYSPI welcomes volunteers to gain invaluable experience working with their patient population. Students interested in pursuing a volunteer research or non-research placement at the New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), a Columbia-affiliated campus at 168th Street, please visit the NYSPI Volunteer Website.  If there are open researcher positions, good candidates will be contacted by the laboratory research staff directly for an interview. There are no guarantees for an interview or a position.

On the internet

The professional networking site LinkedIn is surprisingly good for various research opportunities and positions. You have the option to apply directly for available positions or proactively connect with research prospects as they arise. It's advisable to search for job postings under titles such as Research Assistant, Intake Coordinator, Research Coordinator, Project Manager, and Program Manager.

Additionally, Google Careers offers the option to set up alerts for specific job types. By setting preferences for a particular research role, you'll receive email notifications whenever relevant positions become available.

Academic Calendar 

The Academic Calendar is where to find important deadlines throughout the academic year. It is the student's responsibility to be up to date with essential deadlines, such as the last day to add/drop courses, registration, and payment due date. Learn more

Gottesman Libraries

The Teachers College library is one of the nation's best and most comprehensive libraries in Education. It is also home to collections in psychology and in the health professions. Students in the MA program make use of numerous other Columbia Libraries on the Morningside and Health Science Campus, such as the Social Work Library, and the online resources available to the Columbia University Community. Learn more

Writing & Scholarship Help

The Graduate Student Life & Development Office offers self-scheduled advisement sessions. Fellows assist students with specific writing tasks and also seek to help students develop writing skills for their professional lives. For students who are not familiar with, or are having difficulty mastering APA style, the tutors can be very helpful. This office also provide informative workshops on topics such as APA Citation Style, Concept Mapping, and Conducting a Literature Review. The center also offers individual one-on-one tutoring sessions with a fellow to review academic writing assignments (e.g., response papers, individual projects/masters theses, and dissertations). Learn more 

The Office of International Students and Scholars

The OISS is an essential resource for international students, visiting scholars and faculty, and their dependents. The OISS is responsible for providing immigration-related advice, assistance, and documentation services. They process applications for certificates of eligibility (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) for students who need to apply for F-1 or J-1 student visas. They also conduct mandatory workshops about the responsibilities, requirements, and benefits of student immigration status. Finally, the OISS serves as TC's liaison with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on matters concerning TC's international community. 

At the beginning of each semester, the OISS organizes orientation sessions about academic life at Teachers College and living in New York. OISS also advises students throughout the year on personal and academic concerns, financial planning and expectations, language and cultural adjustment, and related issues. Learn more

TC NEXT: Career Counseling Services

Whether you are entering a new field, advancing within your current profession, or changing directions, TC NEXT is committed to empower all Teachers College students with the skills, resources and opportunities needed to pursue and achieve their post-graduate goals. Learn more

The Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities 

Teachers College is committed to providing educational and professional opportunities for all individuals and assisting them in making their experience at Teachers College successful and positive. OASID works with all academic departments, faculty members, and administrative offices in an attempt to ensure that individuals with disabilities can participate fully and equally in the Teachers College community. Learn more

The Office of Graduate Student Life & Development  

GSLD is the place to develop events and get involved with student engagements on campus. There are about 36 recognized student organizations active at Teachers College. In addition, there are numerous other student organizations available to Teachers College students through Columbia University. The missions for these organizations range from professional networking, academic enrichment, to social advocacy. Learn more

Medical Insurance & Health Services 

In partnership with Columbia University, Teachers College offers the Health Service Program and the Columbia Student Medical Insurance to all registered students enrolled in degree-granting programs. Insurance and Immunization Records in the Office of Student Activities & Programs manages the enrollment and waiver requests of the Health Service Program and the Columbia Student Medical Insurance.

The Health Service Program provides students with many important resources including primary medical care, counseling services, and self-care programs. Columbia Student Medical Insurance coverage is provided by Aetna Student Health. Learn more

 

Program Policies  

The polices highlighted below are only a portion of applicable policies. Policies on topics not addressed below can be found in the TC Policy Library.

Academic Standards 

Unsatisfactory performance in course work will be handled according to the TC Academic Standards for Students Policy. In summary: If a student has earned a C- or lower in one course, they will be placed on academic warning. If a student has earned grades of C- or lower in two courses, they will be placed on academic probation. Any student receiving grades of C- or lower in three courses will be academically dismissed from the College. Petitions for exception to this policy must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Registrar, with the approval of the student’s Program Director. 

Generative artificial intelligence policy  

Students must author all written materials submitted for class or the IP. While students may consult artificial intelligence in the course of their research, any written materials submitted, including but not limited to, exam answers, papers, homework, proposals, IPs, and presentations must be written entirely by the student. Submitting text created by artificial intelligence tools as one’s own work will be regarded as plagiarism with the same penalties applied. It is also not appropriate to cite AI as a source in almost all cases. Students must seek out and cite original human-created and/or peer-reviewed sources, as these sources continue to form the basis of knowledge in our field.

Professional conduct as a requirement of the degree

Clinical Psychology is a human services field in which your reputation, and the reputation of our program, carry immense weight. Students whose behavior violates norms of professional conduct will not be eligible for graduation. Unprofessional conduct includes threatening, violent, insulting or disruptive speech, writing, or actions toward faculty, staff, students, or any other member of the TC community. Cases of unprofessional conduct will be adjudicated by the program director and department chair, with review by the TC Student Affairs office as needed. Note: You can be denied the awarding of your degree due to unprofessional conduct, no matter how many degree requirements you have fulfilled.

Academic Misconduct Definitions

As per Teachers College policy, academic integrity violations include but are not limited to the actions below. Misconduct of all types will be adjudicated in accordance with relevant sections of Teachers College Student Conduct Code. 

   Cheating: using or attempting to use unauthorized assistance, technology (including the uncited use of content developed by generative artificial intelligence or the use of generative artificial intelligence in coursework in a manner prohibited by the instructor), material or study aids in examinations or other academic work;

   Plagiarism: using the ideas, data or language of another without specific and proper acknowledgement;

   Fabrication: submitting contrived or altered information in any academic exercise such as making up data, citing nonexistent articles, contriving events and sources of information;

   Duplicate Submissions: submitting any work submitted to fulfill another assignment without appropriate revision to meet the instructional goals of the current course. In cases of uncertainty or ambiguity, a student should check with the student’s instructor;

   Misrepresentation of academic records or attempting to tamper with transcripts of any portion of a student’s academic record;

   Facilitating academic dishonesty by knowingly helping another student to engage in academic misconduct; and

   Unfair advantage through attempting to gain unauthorized access to examination or other course-related materials or obstructing another student’s academic efforts.

   False or inauthentic statements (including work generated by artificial intelligence), falsified documents, submission of unoriginal work, or any deliberate omission in the application for admission to TC is also covered under this policy.

 

Grade Equivalence: Letter to Number 

As Teachers College issues only letter grades, the calculation of student GPAs for use on CVs and in any context will proceed according to the following weights: 

Letter Grade	Numerical Grade	4.0 Scale
A+	97-100	4.0
A	94-96	4.0
A-	90-93	3.7
B+	87-89	3.3
B	84-86	3.0
B-	80-83	2.7
C+	77-79	2.3
C	74-76	2.0
C-	70-73	1.7
D+	67-69	1.3
D	64-66	1.0
D-	60-63	0.7
F	0-59	0.0