2014-2015 Academic Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2014-2015 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Psychology Overview


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Graduate Psychology Overview


Teaching and research emphasize theoretical relevance and preserving and exploring the connections among areas of specialization. Faculty and students typically maintain extensive and regular interactions. In particular, most of the faculty have close connections with all the programs. The department also has education research ties with a number of institutions in the Worcester-Boston area (e.g., the Neuropsychology Unit of the Boston Veterans Administration Hospital and the University of Massachusetts Medical School), as well as other departments and centers at Clark. For further information, please email the Chair of the department, James Córdova.

 

General Requirements of the Graduate Program


Course Work

Students take four courses each semester for the first two years, including one semester of Problem, Theory, and Method (PSYC-301), and two consecutive semesters of Statistical Methods (PSYC-302). In subsequent semesters in residence, students take two or three content courses and research or reading courses. A total of 16 one-semester courses is required for the Ph.D.

Portfolio

Students demonstrate qualification to begin dissertation work by completing a portfolio of elements totaling 6 points during the first three years. Examples of elements include conference posters, papers, journal submissions, and grant proposals.

Independent Research Project

Each student must be actively involved in research from the beginning of their graduate training. At the end of their first year, students will present their work-in-progress in poster format at an annual Graduate Research Conference. At the end of their second year, they will present this work at the Conference as an oral paper. The project will be deemed complete when it is written up in the format of a journal article. Students wishing to obtain a formal M.A. should consult the University Web site for M.A. requirements.

Credit for Prior Graduate Work

Prior completion of a master’s degree in psychology at an institution requiring an empirical master’s thesis may, on rare occasions and at the student’s request, be recognized by waiver of: 1. First- and second-year independent research projects; 2. Up to six content courses because of equivalent (non-applied) graduate courses at the prior institution; and 3. Up to two portfolio elements provided the previous work (e.g., conference presentations, articles submitted for publication) meets the standard requirements for portfolio elements. Previous completion of graduate work in psychology or a related discipline that did not result in a master’s thesis may be recognized by waiver of some requirements at the discretion of the program chair.

Ph.D. Dissertation

The student demonstrates the ability to conduct research by the presentation of an acceptable dissertation. A dissertation committee of three faculty members is formed to supervise all phases of the research. A dissertation proposal is first written and defended at a meeting with the committee and other faculty who have read the proposal. Once completed and approved by the committee, the dissertation is presented publicly to the psychology faculty, graduate students, and appropriate guests, and is open to questions from the faculty. The format of this oral examination is that of a professional presentation. The candidate is expected to demonstrate the ability to address questions on their work and on related matters. This oral includes at least the committee and two additional faculty members.

Special Resident Status

A student who has not completed a requirement on schedule will be placed on Special Resident status for no longer than one year. During this time, only directed readings or research relating to the incomplete work can be pursued, and the student will not be supported by a stipend. Failure to complete requirements may result in termination from the graduate program.

 

 

Graduate Study in Psychology


Teaching and research emphasize theoretical relevance and preserving and exploring the connections among areas of specialization. Faculty and students typically maintain extensive and regular interactions. In particular, most of the faculty have close connections with all the programs. The department also has education research ties with a number of institutions in the Worcester-Boston area (e.g., the Neuropsychology Unit of the Boston Veterans Administration Hospital, the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, the University of Massachusetts Medical School), as well as other departments at Clark. For further information, write to the Chair of the department, James Córdova.

Program Faculty


Michael Addis, Ph.D.
Michael Bamberg, Ph.D.
Nancy Budwig, Ph.D.
Esteban Cardemil, Ph.D.
James Córdova, Ph.D.
Nicola Curtin, Ph.D.
Rachel Falmagne, Ph.D.
Abbie Goldberg, Ph.D.
Wendy S. Grolnick, Ph.D.
Lene Jensen, Ph.D.
Laura McKee, Ph.D.
Nicole Overstreet, Ph.D.
Andrew Stewart, Ph.D.
Jaan Valsiner, Ph.D.
Johanna Ray Vollhardt, Ph.D.
Marianne Wiser, Ph.D.
 

Clinical Faculty


Abbie Goldberg, Ph.D. - Director of Clinical Training
Kathleen Palm Reed, Ph.D. - Associate Director of Clinical Training
Michael Addis, Ph.D.
Esteban Cardemil, Ph.D.
James Cordova, Ph.D.
Wendy Grolnick, Ph.D.
Laura McKee, Ph.D.

Developmental Faculty


Michael Bamberg, Ph.D.
Nancy Budwig, Ph.D. - Dean of Research and Associate Provost
Rachel Falmagne, Ph.D.
Lene Jensen, Ph.D.
Marianne Wiser, Ph.D.

Social Faculty


Nicola Curtin, Ph.D.
Nicole Overstreet, Ph.D.
Andrew Stewart, Ph.D.
Jaan Valsiner, Ph.D.
Johanna Ray Vollhardt, Ph.D.

Research Faculty


Jeffrey Arnett, Ph.D. (Developmental)
Maricela Correa-Chávez, Ph.D. (Developmental)
Joseph de Rivera, Ph.D. (Social)
Denise Hines, Ph.D. (Social)
Seana Moran, Ph.D. (Developmental)
Kathleen Palm Reed, Ph.D. (Clinical)

Emeriti Faculty


Roger Bibace, Ph.D.
Joseph de Rivera, Ph.D.
James Laird, Ph.D.
David Stevens, Ph.D.
Nicholas Thompson, Ph.D.

Affiliate Faculty


Cathleen Crider, Ph.D. (Clinical)
Johanna Sagarin, Ph.D. (Clinical)

Courses


Graduate Program


M.A. Degree


Clark does not offer a terminal Master’s Degree in psychology.  All students in the doctoral program complete an independent research project by the end of their second year and present the results at a departmental conference. Students may choose to write up their research in the form of a master’s thesis and submit it to the graduate school in order to receive an M.A. degree.

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