Master of Arts in Clinical Child Psychology
Clinical Child Psychology Graduate Program
The Clinical Child Psychology Program (CCPP) at the University of Kansas is a graduate program leading to the doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Clinical Child Psychology. The program does not offer a terminal master's degree. However, students admitted to the Doctoral program without a master's degree will obtain an MA in Clinical Child Psychology en route to the Ph.D.
The CCPP is accredited by the American Psychological Association’s Commission on Accreditation as a clinical psychology doctoral training program with a special emphasis on children, adolescents, and families. To learn more about this doctoral program, please visit the Ph.D. section of the catalog.
Admission to Graduate Studies
Admission Requirements
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Clinical Child Psychology Program Admissions
Students interested in the CCPP apply and are admitted to the M.A. and Ph.D. programs jointly, as the program does not offer a terminal M.A. Please see the PhD section of the catalog for admission information.
Master of Arts Degree Requirements
Students must be admitted to the Ph.D. program to earn a master of arts degree in Clinical Child Psychology. The Department of Clinical Child Psychology does not admit students interested in pursuing only a master's degree. Students will develop a unique plan of study with their faculty mentor and the Director of Clinical Training (DCT).
At least 50% of coursework for the master's degree must be taken at the 700-level or above. Students must also complete and successfully defend a thesis based on an empirical study. Coursework taken to earn the master's degree will be counted towards completion of the Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology.
The Clinical Child Psychology Training Manual provides additional procedural information related to these requirements. Please visit the Department of Clinical Child Psychology Student Resources webpage to view a current edition of our department handbook.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework Requirements | 24 | |
| Select 24 credit hours from the following list of courses: | ||
| Psychology Core | ||
| Biological Bases of Behavior | ||
| Cognitive Development | ||
| Social Development | ||
| History of Psychology | ||
or EPSY 882 | History and Systems of Psychology | |
| Diversity Issues in Clinical Psychology | ||
or EPSY 875 | Understanding Cultural & Individual Differences in Professional Psychology | |
| Psychopathology, Psychodiagnosis, & Psychological Assessment | ||
| Psychopathology in Children | ||
| Fundamentals of Psychological Assessment and Intervention with Children | ||
| Achievement and Intellectual Assessment in Clinical Child Psychology | ||
| Behavioral and Personality Assessment of Children | ||
| Intervention & Therapy Procedures | ||
| Therapeutic Interventions with Children | ||
| Theory of Couples and Family Counseling | ||
| Theories and Methods of Psychotherapy | ||
| Clinical Practica | ||
| Practicum in Clinical Child Psychology I | ||
| Practicum in Clinical Child Psychology II | ||
| Professional Standards and Ethics | ||
| Professional Issues: Clinical Child Psychology | ||
| Professional and Ethical Problems in Clinical Psychology | ||
or EPSY 880 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychology and Counseling | |
| Consultation and Supervision | ||
| Clinical Supervision and Consultation | ||
| Special Topics in Clinical Child Psychology: _____ | ||
| Research and Statistics | ||
| Design and Analysis for Developmental Research | ||
or PSYC 968 | Research Methods in Clinical Psychology | |
| Statistical Methods in Psychology I | ||
| Regression and ANOVA: General Linear Models | ||
| Master's Thesis | 6 | |
| Completion of 6 hours of: | ||
| Master's Thesis in Clinical Child Psychology | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Thesis Defense
The master's thesis must be based on empirical research (not literature reviews or purely theoretical or conceptual productions). The defense includes an oral presentation and questions from a faculty committee. Thesis committees must meet the criteria in the Master's Student Oral Exam Committee Composition Policy and include at least two core faculty of the Department of Clinical Child Psychology. Summer enrollment is required when faculty time is utilized for any supervision or while data gathering is being conducted for the student's thesis.
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | Semester 2 | Hours |
| MA Coursework Elective | 3 | MA Coursework Elective | 3 |
| MA Coursework Elective | 3 | MA Coursework Elective | 3 |
| MA Coursework Elective | 3 | MA Coursework Elective | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | Hours | Semester 2 | Hours |
| PSYC 897 or ABSC 897 | 3 | PSYC 897 or ABSC 897 | 3 |
| MA Coursework Elective | 3 | MA Coursework Elective | 3 |
| 6 | 6 | ||
| Total Hours 30 | |||
Students must be admitted to the Ph.D. program to earn a master of arts degree in Clinical Child Psychology. Coursework taken to earn the masters degree will also be counted toward the doctoral degree. As such, master's degree coursework will consist primarily of courses required for the Ph.D. program. A list of possible electives can be found under the Degree Requirements tab. Most courses required for the degree are typically offered on a two-year rotation. Students are encouraged to take additional courses as needed during their first two years to stay on track to completing all coursework required for the Ph.D. within four years of admission.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- critically evaluate and produce empirical research.
- demonstrate and deliver evidence-based psychological services for children, adolescents, and families.
- internalize and demonstrate the professional values, attitudes, and behaviors of psychology.
- demonstrate responsiveness to individual an cultural diversity across their professional roles.
- demonstrate communication and leadership skills to contribute to the field of clinical child psychology.