Our program has a very simple structure that permits each individual considerable flexibility in designing their own curriculum. This is a 36-credit program, which usually amounts to 12 courses (3 credits each). Some courses in other departments may be offered for differing numbers of credits. Coursework requirements are as follows:
Students are required to take at least 18 credits inside the Clinical Psychology Program (the code for which is CCPX), but may take up to 27 credits inside CCPX.
Additionally, Teachers College requires all MA-level graduates to take three courses outside of their program (CCPX) but within Teachers College. The College has nine other departments with a wealth of fascinating and psychology-relevant courses. Note that 1-credit courses do not count toward fulfillment of this requirement. Other program and departments at TC:
Students may take up to 9 elective credits in any graduate-level course at Columbia University, either within the program (CCPX), elsewhere at TC, or by cross-registering with other schools at Columbia such as the Mailman School of Public Health, SIPA, etc. See below for more information regarding cross-registration.
All students must complete a substantial piece of original scholarship and/or research to graduate. The Integrative Project may take several forms. Learn more
Students may choose to focus their coursework by selecting one of ten optional concentrations. Most concentrations involve taking four or more courses in a single area of study. Learn more
The SWG Project now offers the first New York State approved certificate program of its kind – a world-renowned training ground for the next generation of educators, researchers, practitioners, administrators, and activists interested in learning the next wave of theories and practices to improve the well-being of LGBTQ individuals and women. Learn more
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.
The College requires that all students who are seeking equivalency credit for non-coursework related activities (e.g., research lab work, Integrative Projects, fieldwork, etc) must enroll in CCPX 4001 Integrative Project to receive such equivalency credit. Any CCPX student taking a reduced course load in ANY SEMESTER (fewer than 9 credits in any semester) must enroll in CCPX 4001 Integrative Project for Certification of Equivalency. This course may be taken for 0 or 1 credit as needed. Students who have completed course work, and intend to maintain status must enroll in CCPX4001 Integrative Project. Students maintaining status after completion of coursework will be charged the College fee for maintaining status even if enrolled for 0 credits.
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.
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 serving as volunteer research assistants in research labs outside of TC may enroll in CCPX 5110.004 Research Apprenticeship (Richardson-Vejlgaard) for 0-1 credit in any semester. Students may enroll for a total of 3 credits of Research Apprenticeship in non-TC placements over the course of their degree. Students engaged in on-campus research may enroll in CCPX 5110 Research Apprenticeship as an elective with their respective lab director.
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.
Involvement in research and clinical fieldwork offers unparalleled opportunities for mentorship, personal growth, and depth of understanding of clinical phenomena. For this reason, 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 New York City, including the New York State Psychiatric Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, and NYU Rusk Institute. Because of the broad diversity of research interests our students bring, it is not possible for the program to provide research mentorship directly for every student. As such, resourceful students use available networks and consult with advisors to locate research and fieldwork opportunities that best fit their specific interests.
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. In addition, each year the program holds a Research Night at which researchers from TC and other institutions present their research and encourage students to join their labs. 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 about faculty research laboratories
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.
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 contact Wardell Duncan via email (NYSPIVS@nyspi.columbia.edu). Contacting Mr. Duncan is the first step to broadcast your interest and availability to NYSPI researchers. 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.
The Doctoral Application Resources google drive is a filled with information, materials, and resources for students interested in applying to doctoral program. Learn more
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
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 constant use of Gottesman Libraries, as well as 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
The Graduate Writing Center, located in 528 West 121st St., Rm. 155, is also a valuable resource for students at Teachers College. The Center's mission is to assist students in academic writing. The writing consultants 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. The services of the Graduate Writing Center are open to the entire TC community. Each semester, the GWC provides 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 Writing Center consultant to review academic writing assignments (e.g., response papers, individual projects/masters theses, and dissertations). Learn more
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.
In addition to providing immigration-related services, the OISS sponsors activities of interest to international students. We encourage students to learn more and participate in these activities. 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 is committed to guiding all TC students and alumni to incorporate career learning into the larger scope of daily life to aid in making a positive impact in the diverse worldwide community. 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
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
OASID’s primary areas of concern include:
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
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, Inc. which works closely with Columbia to provide quality care. Learn more
Box: 102
Teachers College, Columbia University
328 Horace Mann
Contact Person: Rebecca Shulevitz
Phone: (212) 678-3267 Fax: (212) 678-8235
Email: shulevitz@tc.columbia.edu