Clinical Psychology, M.S.

Program Description

The Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Psychology at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (SMUMN) is a program that integrates the psychological science and evidence-based clinical practices with the rich intellectual tradition and social teachings of Catholicism. Through this program, students will acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to be competent health service practitioners in a variety of mental health contexts and roles. The program adheres closely to the Lasallian mission and identity of SMUMN with its emphasis on personal growth and professional standards; preparing students for ethical leadership and service to the marginalized; engagement in psychological interventions that are strength-based and contribute to virtue formation; treatment of clients with inherent dignity and worth; and prioritization of coursework and co-curricular trainings that place faith and reason in dialogue for the purpose of pointing to truth and promoting the common good.  

Mission

To prepare masters-level practitioners to provide the highest standards of evidence-based, ethical, and strength-based health service psychology that is integrated within the Catholic intellectual tradition and social teachings.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Demonstrate professional attitudes, behaviors, and values in various settings and roles.
2. Exhibit effective written, verbal, and non-verbal communication skills with clients, colleagues, and other professionals.
3. Adhere to professional ethics and legal standards, including use of an ethical decision-making model. 
4. Apply an integrative clinical repertoire that emphasizes the role of religion and spirituality in the three components of evidence-based practice, a) the best available research, b) clinical expertise, and c) patient characteristics, culture, and preferences.  
5. Exhibit cultural humility, multicultural competence, and a social justice framework in all professional activities.
6. Apply an integrative approach to clinical conceptualization, assessment, and treatment based in the Catholic Christian Meta-Model of the Person. 
7. Apply psychological research to diverse clinical practice activities and roles, including supervision, consultation, practitioner, researcher. 
8. Demonstrate a firm grounding in the psychological knowledge base of social psychology, biopsychology, cognitive and affective bases of behavior, and human development in the context of a Catholic anthropology of the human person.

Program Aims

The M.S. in Clinical Psychology program aims to form health service psychology practitioners:

• Aim 1: To develop a strong integrative identity steeped in health service psychology and the Catholic intellectual tradition and social teachings.
• Aim 2: To view the human person with infinite dignity in all health service psychology professional activities.
• Aim 3: To develop a generalist skill set, capable of effective interventions with diverse individuals, groups, and communities that promote human flourishing and the common good.
• Aim 4: To prepare for a career in diverse health service psychology settings and roles, including to be eligible to pursue professional counselor licensure.

Program Competencies

Students must demonstrate competence in the following Profession Wide Competencies (PWC) as designated by the American Psychological Association (APA):

i. Integration of psychological science and practice
ii. Ethical and legal standards
iii. Individual and cultural diversity
iv. Professional values, attitudes, and behaviors
v. Communication and interpersonal skills
vi. Assessment
vii. Intervention
viii. Supervision
ix. Consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills

Program Structure and Delivery

The MS in Clinical Psychology degree is offered online and requires 60 credits, including coursework, two weekend residencies throughout the duration of the program (first semester and last semester), and clinical training. Students must complete a minimum of three semesters of supervised, sequential, and developmentally-appropriate clinical training, totaling 9 credits and 720 hours: Practicum (3 credits, 120 total hours, 40 of which are direct service hours); Internship I (3 credits, 300 total hours, 120 of which are direct service hours), and Internship II (3 credits, 300 total hours, 120 total hours of which are direct service hours). Clinical training provides students with opportunities to demonstrate and achieve program-wide competencies consistent with American Psychological Association accreditation standards.

The program will adhere to best practices in online teaching, including a blend of face-to-face synchronous and asynchronous formats that value faculty-student and student-student interactions, accessible content delivery to diverse learners, and intentional pedagogy to the course learning objectives. Achievement of competences are assessed through various methods, including course grades, faculty evaluations, site supervisor evaluations, comprehensive examination, and review of videotaped sessions aimed at clinical and professional development.