CWU Psychology Graduate Program Guide

Thank you for your interest in CWU's graduate programs in psychology. A good deal of information about the department and our graduate programs is available on the web. The web site for the department is http://www.cwu.edu/~psych/. The psychology department offers Master of Science degrees in experimental psychology, counseling psychology, and organization development and Master of Education degrees in school counseling and school psychology.

A brochure of general information about graduate study at CWU is available at http://www.cwu.edu/~masters/graduateStudies/brochure/index.html. The graduate school web site, at http://www.cwu.edu/~masters has links to extensive information about specific topics. Several relevant forms, including the admission and assistantship application forms, are available at http://www.cwu.edu/~masters/forms/formsGraduate.html.

Our Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling program is described in a set of web pages beginning at http://www.cwu.edu/~counpsy/. The program is designed to train mental health professionals.  The counseling orientation is eclectic, with emphasis on those active counseling skills which lend themselves to short-term counseling. The program's scientist/practitioner emphasis is useful to students interested in pursuing doctoral study. A distinguishing feature of the program is that five closely supervised, successive practica are required, as is a full-time 15-week internship. Graduates of the program are eligible for state licensure upon completion of 3,000 hours of supervised practice. Graduates find employment in a variety of mental health settings, such as community mental health centers, hospitals, and private practice.  A fact sheet about the program is available at http://www.cwu.edu/~psych/MSFactSheet.pdf. If you have specific questions about our program, please feel free to email Dr. Robert Brammer (brammerr@cwu.edu), the program director of our mental health counseling program.

Our Master of Science in Experimental Psychology program is described on the web at  http://www.cwu.edu/~psych/exppsy.html. The program provides students with a generalizable background in experimental psychology while allowing them to concentrate in areas of study adequately represented among the faculty. Currently these areas include primatology, animal behavior, industrial/organizational psychology, and educational psychology. Many of our students are attracted by their interest in the language development research at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (see http://www.cwu.edu/~cwuchci/ ) or our new primate behavior field school in China (see http://websolutions.clt.cwu.edu/studyabroad/ProgramPages/China/bcfssumprg.php). Students take a common set of core courses and, in consultation with a faculty advisor, develop individual research plans and select specialized, often multidisciplinary, curricular options that are consistent with their professional objectives. Collaborative research is encouraged, beginning with a first year research project developed in conjunction with the student's advisor. A fact sheet about the program is available at http://www.cwu.edu/~psych/MSFactSheet.pdf. If you have specific questions about this program, please feel free to email Dr. Wendy Williams (williamw@cwu.edu), the program director of our experimental psychology program.

Our Master of Science program in Organization Development is described in a set of web pages beginning at http://www.cwu.edu/~msod/. This program is currently undergoing extensive review and is not enrolling new students at this time. The program prepares students to facilitate improvements in productivity and quality of work life in a variety of public and private sector organizational settings.  It is an applied program that teaches managers how to understand and effectively control organizational transitions.  Using a unique weekend format, this program is designed to be compatible with the schedules of students who are already employed full time and wish to pursue career advancement.

Our Master of Education in School Counseling program is described in a set of web pages beginning at http://www.cwu.edu/~counpsy/. The program trains specialists to provide individual and group counseling in schools and to consult with parents and teachers concerning social, educational, and developmental tasks of children and adolescents.  Graduates are usually employed as elementary, junior high, or senior high school counselors.  The program features intensive practicum experience and a one quarter full-time internship in a school setting.  All Washington State standards and guidelines applicable to the training and certification of school counselors are addressed in the program. A fact sheet about the program is available at http://www.cwu.edu/~psych/MEdFactSheet.pdf. Central Washington University’s professional education programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and approved by the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. If you have specific questions about our program, please feel free to email Dr. Robert Brammer (brammerr@cwu.edu), the program director of our school counseling program.

Our Master of Education in School Psychology program is described on the web at http://www.cwu.edu/~psych/SchoolPsychHandbook.pdf. The Master of Education program in School Psychology prepares students to receive initial Washington State Education Staff Associate (ESA) certification as school psychologists and to assume positions in public school systems and related agencies.  The program is an intensive course of study which includes counseling and school psychology practica and a 1200-hour (full year) internship in public schools.  Students take courses designed to build competence in assessment, evaluation, consultation, and counseling; skill in working with handicapped, minority, and disadvantaged children; and a general understanding of the historical and philosophical foundations of psychology and education.  The program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists and graduates are eligible for national certification. A fact sheet about the program is available at http://www.cwu.edu/~psych/MEdFactSheet.pdf. Central Washington University's professional education programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and approved by the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. If you have specific questions about our program, please feel free to email Dr. Eugene Johnson (johnsong@cwu.edu), the program director of our school psychology program.

Finally, we have recently revised a departmental information sheet about our faculty members and their research interests. This material is available on the web at http://www.cwu.edu/~psych/Psyfacultyinterests.pdf.

Admission to our programs is selective and is based on the applicant’s prior scholastic record, GRE scores, recommendations by instructors and/or employers, and a statement of professional objectives.  Because we are limited in the number of graduates we can accommodate, we recommend that you complete and submit the applications materials before March 1.  Generally, admission to our programs is restricted to students who expect to begin in the fall.  While admission may be possible in the winter or spring quarters, it is less likely and is dependent upon the availability of openings.  Our admissions committee begins its deliberations in early March and continues its work until all available openings are filled, generally by mid-May. Thank you again for your interest in our graduate education opportunities. We hope to hear from you again soon.