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Graduate Studies in Psychology

The department has three active graduate programs in psychology: the Academic Research Fifth Year MA Program, the MA Program in School Psychology and the MA Program in Counseling Psychology. 

These graduate programs lead to a Master’s degree in Psychology, with the School Psychology program also leading to a California Credential as a School Psychologist in California, and the Counseling Psychology program meeting the academic requirements for a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California. The Fifth Year MA Program includes options in Social and Environmental Psychology, Biological Psychology and Developmental Psychopathology

A number of facilities and department resources support these programs, including the Student and Community Counseling Clinic and the Department of Psychology Test Library, in addition to school and community based settings and resources that provide students with training experiences.


Academic Research: 5th Year Master's Program

This 5th year MA Program in Academic Research typically begins in a student’s senior year and can be completed in a single year after completion of the B.A. degree. This program offers a master’s degree with a focus of study in one of three Options: Social and Environmental Psychology, Biological Psychology and Developmental Psychopathology. Each area provides a background in methodology and statistics that is paired with courses relevant to the area.


MA Program in Counseling Psychology

We are not admitting to this program for Fall 2010.

The Counseling program provides students with a solid foundation in clinical theory and research along with intensive training in clinical skills. The recommended course schedule is shown below. Supervised field work/practica are part of the program, including experience in the Student and Community Counseling Clinic, which is our training facility and is administered by the Psychology Department. Academic requirements for the State of California Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) license can be certified by this program. A master's thesis is required.

The program is administered by a faculty committee who plan the curriculum, make program policy, and select students for admission. The chair of the committee, the Program Coordinator, serves as official advisor to all students in the program.

Approximately 10-12 new students are accepted each year with admission during the fall semester only. The application deadline is January 15. The following materials are needed: the CSU university application form; transcripts of all college-level work; a resume of paid and volunteer work; an autobiographical questionnaire which asks for your interests and goals for graduate study; a prerequisite verification form; and three letters of reference from former instructors or professional supervisors. On the basis of these materials and an interview, the committee chooses from the group of applicants. Students are accepted into the program based on academic record, human services experience, match with program goals and objectives, and the potential for becoming effective and ethical counselors.


MA Program in School Psychology

We are not admitting to this program for Fall 2010.

The School Psychology Program at Humboldt State University is dedicated to preparing highly competent practitioners according to the scientist-practitioner model of training. Graduates are prepared to make significant contributions to the pupil personnel profession by bringing the science of psychology to professional practice, administration, supervision, teaching and research. Although our students are trained to function as school psychologists in urban as well as suburban settings, we specialize in the training of rural practitioners. Virtually 100% of recent graduates are employed, many in rural and semi-rural settings in California as well as in Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

This program is fully approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to recommend candidates for California Credentials and is fully approved as a Specialist Level program by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). NASP approval means that the HSU program meets or exceeds the highest standards for training non-doctoral school psychologists in the country, and meets or exceeds the credentialing requirements of all 50 states. Graduates of the HSU School Psychology Program are automatically eligible to sit for the national examination to earn their National Credential in School Psychology (NCSP).

Dr. William Reynolds
Coordinator 5th Year M.A. Program
Dr. James Dupree,
Coordinator Counseling Psychology Program
Dr. Emily Sommerman,
Coordinator School Psychology Program
Ms. Diane Hunt,
Graduate Secretary
(707)-826-5264

Academic Research: 5th Year Master's Page
Counseling Psychology Page
School Psychology Page

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