Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
MA in Clinical Psychology Program Overview
Graduates from the Master of Arts in Psychology program will be trained to be competent, effective scholar-practitioners, able to understand and apply the best available clinical evidence to effect growth and healing in individuals, couples, families, and communities. With our success training doctoral students for over four decades, you can trust you will get the education you need either to launch your career or go on to get your doctorate. Plus, with our student-centered, collaborative learning approach and small class sizes, you will be individually known and mentored every step of the way.
- 60 credit hours
- Cohort model program
- Complete your program in two years
- One full year of practicum that includes both assessment and therapy experience
- If admitted, students may transfer all 60 credits into Spalding’s Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program
- Graduates are prepared for the EPPP, with free exam preparation materials provided to all students
Courses
Spalding’s 60-credit Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology prepares graduates to practice as a master’s level Licensed Psychological Practitioner.
Housed within the same School as our nationally recognized PsyD program, the master’s program offers students the opportunity to enrich their training through a range of elective courses including:
- Forensics
- Neuropsychology
- Geropsychology
- Clinical health psychology
- Deep dives into specific types of therapy and treatment:
- Trauma therapy
- Addictions treatment
- Couples therapy
- Family therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
Begin Practicing With a Master’s Degree
Graduates become eligible for independent practice in Kentucky as Licensed Psychological Practitioners after completing two years of post-master’s supervision.
With only about 20 states currently permitting master’s-level psychological practice—and only a few allowing full independence—this credential offers a rare and valuable professional opportunity.
Pathway to Our Renowned PsyD Program
Since the first two years of our accredited doctoral program encompasses the curriculum of our master’s program, students admitted to the PsyD program will immediately begin after completing their MA degree at Spalding University.
As long as grades are a B or higher, all 60 credits will be accepted toward the PsyD degree. A minimum of a 3.5 GPA in the MA program is required for consideration to the PsyD program. No credits from another master’s degree program will be accepted for transfer into the MA program.
Admission Requirements
Are you ready to prepare to practice? Discover how Spalding’s MA in Clinical Psychology can accelerate your career on your terms.
Accreditation
The MA in clinical psychology program is nearly identical to the first two years of our renown PsyD program which has been continuously accredited since 1989. Recently, the American Psychological Association expanded accreditation to include master’s-level programs in addition to doctoral programs. In 2025 we started a stand-alone MA in clinical psychology program. We will seek accreditation of our MA program as soon as we are eligible.
Tuition
Prepare to lead with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Learn about tuition and fees for our MA-CMHC program, as well as your financial aid options.
Find Possibility in the Heart of the City
DISCOVER YOUR GROWTH POTENTIAL
Prepare to meet the needs of the times for underserved populations — the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that overall employment of psychologists will grow 6% between 2024 and 2034, which is faster than the average for all occupations. The increased demand for psychological services necessitates increased numbers of master’s level trained psychological practitioners.
High-Impact Career Preparation
Aside from becoming a Licensed Psychological Practitioner, our students are well suited for a variety of direct service career paths conducting assessment, therapy, or both. Graduates could find themselves working in:
- Private practice
- College counseling centers
- VA and medical hospitals
- Psychiatric hospitals
- Correctional facilities
- Residential facilities
Graduates from the Master’s program will be trained to be competent, effective scholar-practitioners, able to understand and apply the best available clinical evidence to effect growth and healing in individuals, couples, families, and communities. Additionally, though most clinical psychology master’s degree programs only train students to be generalist practitioners, at Spalding, you can begin to explore an area of focused interest.
Brenda Nash, PhD, Chair of the School of Professional Psychology
