For the thesis-based option, applicants are required to identify a thesis mentor among the faculty in the Department of Psychological Science, and to complete 3 or more undergraduate research credits with the prospective mentor prior to application.
For the non-thesis option, potential applicants should contact the program director (Professor Donna Toufexis (donna.toufexis@uvm.edu)) at the beginning of their junior year to discuss whether this option will meet the applicant's career goals. Potential applicants who are interested in eventually pursuing further education (e.g., a PhD) should strongly consider the thesis option.
Following formal admission to the Accelerated Master’s Program, up to six credits of subsequent Psychology (PSYS) coursework approved for graduate credit can be taken in the senior year and counted towards both the Bachelor’s degree and the Master’s degree (see course requirements for the Master of Arts in General/Experimental Psychology and for the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology). An additional 3 credits can be taken in the senior year and applied towards the Master’s, but not the Bachelor’s, degree.
NOTE: Our goal is not to train licensed therapists pursuing a career in clinical practice. Hence, this program’s curriculum does not provide any supervised practicum or internship hours necessary for licensure. Students interested in a career as a licensed therapist should pursue that goal via the Master’s program in Counseling through the College of Education and Social Services.
Learning goals for Accelerated Master’s Program in Psychology students are:
- Development of a foundational understanding in the area of research specialization.
- Critically evaluate strengths and limitations of published research
- Development of effective skills in communicating Psychological Science.
- Thesis option: Development of strong research skills