<p>Does anyone know whether "3+2" or "3+3" bachelors'- masters' programs exist in clinical psychology, as they do in many medical fields, where you are admitted UG with the understanding that you will continue into an articulated masters' program if you maintain standards?</p>
<p>My first question is why a Masters? Unless your career plan is to serve as a counselor in a K-12 setting or work in HR, a Masters won’t get you far in psych field. </p>
<p>If one wants to be a psychologist, one needs to attain an accredited Psychology PhD focusing on clinical practice at the very minimum according to folks who were in/going into that field. </p>
<p>If psychiatry, one must get an MD in order to be licensed to practice. In this case, I do know of some 6-7 year BA-MD programs such as CUNY’s Sophie Davis program or Tufts’ 3-3 BA/BS-MD.</p>
<p>Cobrat,
A LOT has changed in the field and now many insurers want to watch costs, so reimbursement is directed towards Masters level counselors (LPC, LMFT, LCSW, CNS) etc and for clinical practice is in many cases a reasonable way to go. If one wants to teach or is able to get a hospital based practice, yes, the Ph.D. is the way to go.</p>
<p>But to answer the OP, not familiar with any guaranteed UG/masters programs.</p>
<p>jym626,</p>
<p>I would respectfully disagree. Unless someone wants his or her career to be “driven” by the whims of the insurance industry, making a decision to get a masters degree in psychology is a very limiting proposition. Although some people benefit from getting a masters in social work degree, a masters in psychology will not get you much of a job. </p>
<p>A Ph.D. IS the way to go in clinical psych, not just for teaching or research, but for agency work, private practice, supervision, and a range of other positions. Most states will not grant a psychology license to someone with a masters degree, so one must get an LPC, which does not command as much respect or salary. Sort of comparable to a PA vs. MD in the medical profession.</p>
<p>At a minimum, I would hesitate to choose an undergrad school based on its 3+2 or 3+3 program in this field. If it’s the right school at the right price, then this program might be a nice option to have. But I don’t think it’s a good way to begin or narrow a college search.</p>
<p>maggidog,
The masters level positions have their own licensure. They cannot, in most states , be granted a psychology license. Some states (NC is one, IIRC) has psychology licensure for masters level folks (John Redmond has one of those. He is NOT a Ph.D. Psychologist).
When I have more time I will be happy to discuss further, should you want to hear the status of the funding problems for the clinical psych problems, the reduction in APA approved internship spots and funding for training sites, the number of students who take APPIC internships then to find out they cannot get certain jobs or licensed in some places with a non APA approved internship, etc etc. They are saddled with grad schoool debt in many cases (funding has been severely curtailed), and then come out of school to find themselves limited in salary opportunity. Private practice will go the say of the do do bird in a few years, I am sad to say.</p>
<p>*** Here’s an article on the increasing problems/crisis with the APA internships. [The</a> internship crisis: strategies and solutions](<a href=“http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/04/pc.aspx]The”>The internship crisis: strategies and solutions) Harder and harder to get matched these days. More students end up in the clearinghouse and more who wait a year are in with the next years applicant pool, causing the applicant numbers to swell… and so it goes…</p>
<p>I feel like Debbie Downer, but this is the reality for the current students.</p>
<p>jym – OP here – I am quite interested in what you (and others may) have to say about the field. Psychology, social work, counseling are not my field, but I do seem to know several people earning nice livelihoods in private counseling practices without doctoral degrees.</p>
<p>First and foremost, the field is a wonderfully rewarding one. That goes without say. But the reality in this day and age is quite different from the seasoned practitioner who has an established practice and is making a comfortable living. </p>
<p>Areas to consider nowadays that are less impacted by the direction in fee for service pratice are fields like Industrial-organizational psychology, forensic psychology, etc. </p>
<p>Currently the biggest need and job availability is in the VA system. But they are less likely (possibly unlikely, but not sure) to hire grads with a non APA internship.</p>