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Graduate Programs

 

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Overview

The graduate programs in psychology are among the strongest graduate programs at the University of Tulsa. The program in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology admitted its first students in fall 1982; the program in Clinical Psychology began in fall 1985; and the Clinical Ph.D. program has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association (American Psychological Association, Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242; 202-336-5979) since 1991. In developing these programs, the faculty were sensitive to recent developments reshaping the focus of professional psychology. The successful psychologists of the future will be able to extend their skills into new domains of research, evaluation, and human service delivery.  The graduate programs in I/O Psychology focus on training researchers to help organizations make better decisions about the utilization of its human resources and organizational processes.  The graduate programs in Clinical Psychology emphasize the scientist-practitioner model of training.  Graduates of this program are shaped to become active consumers of the research literature.  With this knowledge, their professional activities in research, practice, education, or administration will be well-informed and based on empirically based science.

Consistent with this philosophy, we view I/O and Clinical Psychology as complementary areas of specialization. Both derive from a core body of knowledge in psychology; both require competence in evaluation, assessment, and techniques of behavior change; and both require considerable interpersonal skill. Moreover, professional roles are changing. The rapid expansion of employee assistance and human resource programs in industry demands that I/O psychologists be prepared to deal with individual problems in the work place. Clinical psychologists are moving beyond the private consulting room to develop programs for early intervention in health-care, organizational, and agency settings. The programs in applied psychology at the University of Tulsa are designed to help students look beyond traditional applications of their areas of specialization and discover new ways in which individual, family, and organizational problems can be identified and solved. 

One avenue for developing core skills is the Center for Community Research and Development (CCRD).  CCRD provides a link between the University of Tulsa and our local and greater community.  CCRD aims to improve the effectiveness of community organizations by drawing upon the research skills and technical expertise of faculty and students in a wide variety of disciplines.  By linking these groups, CCRD also hopes to address complex social issues.

The strengths of our graduate programs include:

  • A young, well-published, and nationally prominent faculty
  • A strong emphasis on scientifically-based practitioner training, assessment, and measurement-based research
  • Small, selective programs with close faculty and graduate student contact
  • A cooperative and collaborative departmental climate



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Master's Degree Programs

 Program Description

The University of Tulsa offers course work leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in both Clinical and Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Courses in the Master's programs cover both general theoretical issues in psychology and specific topics relevant to the student's area of specialization. No thesis is required for either Master's program. Practicum and field work experiences allow students to develop applied skills. The Master's programs help prepare graduates for employment in a variety of agency and industrial settings. The programs meet the needs of both full- and part-time students, although the scheduling of certain courses precludes completion of the degree through evening study only. Some students from our Master's programs have been admitted to Doctoral study. However, admission is not guaranteed.



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Doctoral Degree Programs

Required Course Work
Doctoral programs in Industrial/Organizational and Clinical Psychology follow the scientist-practitioner model recommended by the American Psychological Association. We view Doctoral education as more than acquisition of technical skills. Applicants to the Doctoral programs should be prepared to develop a keen appreciation of the many historical, conceptual, and philosophical issues that underlie the application of psychological principles to practice. We believe that an extended apprenticeship in a cohesive program is necessary for adequate professional development. Therefore, the programs are designed as post-baccalaureate programs. However, provisions exist for admitting students at advanced levels, and we accept strong candidates with previous graduate work.

All Doctoral students complete a set of core courses that span the science and profession of psychology. These courses focus on professional standards and ethics, systems and theories of psychology, physiological and cognitive psychology, social psychology, personality, and behavior pathology. The core curriculum is most often completed in the first two years, permitting students to devote their time to specialized areas of study during the latter part of their training.

Both the I/O and Clinical programs require a series of courses within the specialty area to supplement the course work in general psychology. In addition, topical seminars provide intensive examination of specialized issues. Two or three of these seminars are offered in each program each semester.

Comprehensive Examination
All Doctoral students complete a two-part comprehensive examination designed to assess mastery of the material in the field and the ability to integrate this material for application to novel problems or situations. Successful completion of the examination is a prerequisite for advancement to Doctoral candidacy and initiation of dissertation research.

Research Requirements

Research experiences are an integral part of Doctoral training in psychology. Students in the Ph.D. programs are required to complete a series of courses in statistics and research design and to become involved in research early in their academic careers. Although a formal Master's thesis is not required, all Doctoral students complete a substantial research paper as a prerequisite to the comprehensive examination. Research experiences culminate in the Doctoral dissertation, a substantial empirical project that constitutes an original contribution to knowledge in psychology. The dissertation is completed under the supervision and guidance of the student's Doctoral committee.

 
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Funding Opportunities
Funding opportunities at the University of Tulsa come in many varieties.  Doctoral students receive priority for funding. The Department of Psychology offers teaching assistant positions to Doctoral students in both the Clinical and I/O programs. There are also research assistantships available through faculty grants, as well as numerous graduate assistantships available on campus. Some of the more standard funding opportunities at the University of Tulsa can be investigated via the links listed below.

Fellowships, Assistantships and Scholarships from the University of Tulsa Graduate School

University of Tulsa Office of Student Financials Services

American Psychology Association Women and Ethnic Minority Scholarships, Fellowships, and other Opportunities


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Professional Opportunities

 Graduate students may also develop personal and professional skills through membership in a variety of organizations on campus, locally, and nationally.  Graduate students in both the Clinical and I/O programs may join the Graduate Students of Psychology (GRASP) or participate in research/community activities through Center for Community Research and Development (CCRD).  Graduate students in the I/O program may attend monthly meetings of two professional societies, the local chapters of the American Society for Training and Development and the Society for Human Resource Management.  Graduate students in the I/O program are also encouraged to join professional societies like SIOP and the Academy of Management as student members.  Students in the clinical program are encouraged to become student affiliates of the American Psychological Association as well as specialty organizations relevant to their areas of research, such as the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, or the International Neuropsychological Society.  Upon joining these organizations, many, if not most, students become actively involved, and present research at annual conventions of these organizations.  Notably, the University of Tulsa Graduate School provides travel support for such presentations, and students may receive as much as $1,000 to offset travel costs.

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