Psychology, Individualized Concentration, MA

MPIC Degree Requirements

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Students interested in the MPIC should contact the MAP Program Office to discuss the specifics of their program.

The MPIC Master’s Document

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The MPIC Program includes the preparation of a Masters Document (PSY 5990 , 4-12 units overall). The MPIC Masters Document may take a number of forms, including:

• a Masters Thesis (an academic thesis on a topic in the field);
• an Annotated Bibliography of a topic in psychology;
• a Project (an applied project with extensive documentation of learning).

Expectations for the scope and length of the Masters Document vary in accordance with the number of units of credit undertaken. No more than 6 units of Master’s Document work may be undertaken in a single quarter.

Credit for the Master’s Document cannot be earned until both Form J (Degree Plan) and Form K (Permission to Register for PSY-5990: Master’s Document ) have been filed with the Registrar. Each quarter, the Advisor must approve a student’s registration for PSY 5990  units.

Before the thesis or project can begin, a student must develop and submit a proposal that outlines the rationale for their work, a list of activities, and the estimated time that will be invested for each activity. One academic unit requires 33 clock hours of work.

Forms of the Master’s Document

1. Thesis as Master’s Document

   If the MPIC student chooses to write a traditional Master’s Thesis, the student should state a problem or question of a theoretical or empirical nature related to the learning that has occurred in the student’s program of study and devise a way to investigate it. The thesis topic is usually chosen to further the student’s professional or career interests.

   The final thesis may include a review of empirical research with recommendations for future research. Ideally, the thesis would be potentially publishable in a social science journal. Under circumstances where a student has sufficient research experience as determined by the MAP faculty, and full support from a qualified core faculty member willing to supervise the IRB process, independent empirical research projects may be conducted for the Master’s Document. Expectations for the scope and length of a Master’s Thesis vary in accordance with the number of units of credit undertaken.

2. Annotated Bibliography
   
   An annotated bibliography gives an account of the research that has been done on a given topic. Like any bibliography, an annotated bibliography is a list of research sources. In addition to bibliographic data, an annotated bibliography provides a concise summary of each source and some assessment of its value or relevance. Annotated bibliographies are typically organized alphabetically. In some cases they may be organized chronologically, especially if the goal of the bibliography is to trace the history of a particular area of study or issue.
   An annotated bibliography might have different purposes:
   • Provide a literature review on a particular subject
   • Help to formulate a thesis on a subject
   • Demonstrate the research you have performed on a particular subject
   • Provide examples of major sources of information available on a topic
   • Describe items that other researchers may find of interest on a topic

 

3. Project as Master’s Document
   
   If an MPIC student chooses to complete a Project for the Masters Document, the student demonstrates the use of professional psychological knowledge and skills, as a practitioner, writer, program developer, manager and/or consultant in some area related to the practice of psychology. The final product is an integrative, written description of the student’s activities with reference to relevant theory and research in the field. The Project may further the student’s work or career interests. Recent students’ projects have included:
   • preparing the first draft of a psychology-related book for the general public;
   • developing and presenting a workshop in the community;
   • planning, implementing, and evaluating diversity training and consultation for a non-profit organization.

Advisement in the MPIC Program

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On entering the MPIC, the student is assigned to an academic advisor affiliated with the MPIC program.

Individualized Concentrations

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Students opting for the Individualized Concentration collaborate with a faculty mentor to identify courses within the MA Psychology Program, other programs at AULA, or other institutions that contribute to their concentration. Concentration coursework should be thematically linked. For example, a student might design a “Gender and Sexuality Studies” concentration that might include courses such as Human Sexuality, LGBT History and Systems, and elective courses on women, transgender issues, etc. It is important to note that students will be required to name their concentration (limited to 30 characters) and the concentration name cannot reflect an already existing program. Concentrations are 10-16 units of coursework.

Applied Community Psychology Specialization (17 units)

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Students may opt to complete the Applied Community Psychology Specialization (ACP) as their concentration. It is important for students to declare the ACP specialization in order to have access to specialization resources (priority enrollment in ACP courses, professional development activities, etc.).

Transferring from the MAP to the MPIC

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Changing from the MA in Clinical Psychology into the Individualized Concentration requires formal admission to the MPIC. The current MAP student interested in MPIC should schedule a personal interview with the MPIC Director. The MPIC Director will meet with the student in-person to explore the student’s planned focus for the degree, as well as the student’s demonstrated capacity to pursue academic work independently. If the MPIC Director gives permission for the change, perhaps in consultation with other MAP Faculty members, and it is agreed that the student is not interested in BBS licensure, the student should obtain:

• Form J: Degree Plan for MPIC and Dual Concentration (students who are not transferring into MPIC don’t need to complete this form until later)
• Form K: Permission to Register for PSY-5990: Master’s Document 

The student should have either the MPIC Director or the student’s MPIC project advisor sign these forms , and files the form with the Registrar. As is noted above, students entering the MPIC relatively late in their program may have to extend their residency beyond the usual five quarters in order to meet all the MPIC requirements.

Courses Taken at Other Institutions Concurrently with MPIC enrollment

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The MPIC student may wish to take one or more graduate courses at other accredited institutions, as part of the Area of Concentration. Courses taken at other institutions must be approved in advance by being listed on the student’s completed Form J. Such courses may be included by transfer or as all or part of an independent study. Students should consult with the Advisor and Office of the Registrar to determine the best plan for their individual situation.

If the coursework is to be used as all or part of an independent study, the student registers for the learning activity and completes a Form A built around instruction at the other institution. The evaluator can be either the faculty member at the other school or a qualified AULA faculty member. The student lists the learning activity as an appropriately titled PSY 5960  for the student’s AULA registration and is evaluated on an AULA Graduate Student Learning Evaluation.

Students are free to devise a plan that includes whatever status is appropriate with the other institution (e.g., registering and paying at that institution for credit, paying as an auditor, etc.).

Thesis Completion

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If the student fails to meet the Masters Document deadlines, and/or fails to provide the Office of the Registrar with two copies of the completed work with the approved PSY 5990  Graduate Learning Evaluation by the stated deadline, the student must re-enroll for the following quarter on Thesis Completion Status.

The Master of Arts in Psychology - Individualized Concentration (MPIC) degree does not fulfill educational requirements for master’s-level licensure as an MFT or as an LPCC in California. However, some MPIC students design programs with an individualized clinical or counseling emphasis (e.g. if they wish to acquire limited clinical experience en route to a different career goal). Since the MPIC degree does not meet requirements for licensure in California, it is the appropriate choice for a student seeking a nonclinical MA in Psychology for personal and professional development and/or academic preparation for doctoral study.