The Master of Arts Clinical Psychology Program is a terminal master's program offered at the UCF Sanford/Lake Mary Campus. The program consists of two tracks:
Applied Pre-Licensure/Non-Thesis Track: The Applied Pre-Licensure/Non-Thesis Track is designed for students interested in delivering clinical services in a variety of settings including community agencies and private practice. After completing the program and after two years of postgraduate supervised clinical experience, graduates are eligible to become Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) in the state of Florida.
Research/Thesis Track: The Research/Thesis Track is designed for students who wish to focus on clinical research and/or are interested in pursuing entry into a doctoral program following the completion of their Master's degree. Students who complete this option are not eligible to become Licensed Mental Health Counselors upon graduation.
Please visit the program's website for more information, including a list of program faculty members, and frequently asked questions (FAQs), including additional information about each track: https://sciences.ucf.edu/psychology/graduate/ma-clinical/.
Please see the specific admission, application requirement, financial and contact information for the track in which you are interested.
This program has potential ties to professional licensure or certification in the field. For more information on how this program may prepare you in that regard, please visit https://apq.ucf.edu/files/Licensure-Disclosure-COS-Clinical-Psychology-MA.pdf.
At times, we have prospects who are uncertain as to which is the best track for them: Pre-Licensure or Research Thesis Track. The following information is to help you make the best decision related to your academic and professional aspirations.
Pre-licensure Track
Can you provide an overview of the Pre-licensure Track?
This track has been offered for decades. As mentioned in our catalogue description, the primary goal of this track is to train students to become licensed, master’s-level clinicians. More specifically, graduates of this track are eligible to become Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) in the State of Florida, and they will likely be eligible for master’s level licensure in most other states. This track includes a full course load (9-12 credits per semester) for two years. Students in this track complete a practicum (10 hours/week for one semester during the first year of the program) and internship (20 hours/week in the fall, spring, and summer semesters in the second year in the program). A majority of the graduates of this program enter clinical practice and obtain licensure at the master’s level. We usually admit 10 to 14 students into this track each fall term.
How do I get licensed?
Students in the Pre-licensure track meet the eligibility criteria for licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the State of Florida. Please note that more details about eligibility criteria can be found on the Florida Department of Health website. In addition, our students are also eligible for similar licensure in most other states; however, we are unable to confirm the licensure and certification requirements of other states. Consequently, if you intend to pursue such credentialing outside of Florida, we advise you to contact the applicable state credentialing authority to familiarize yourself with its specific requirements and determine if our program meets its eligibility criteria.
Can I get into a doctoral program if I complete the Pre-licensure track?
Yes! As mentioned above, most students in the Pre-licensure track practice at the master’s level upon graduation. Having said that, each year we have a number of graduating students who apply to and get into Ph.D. or Psy.D. programs. Engagement in research may increase students’ competitiveness when applying to doctoral programs.
Can I do research if I am in the Pre-licensure track?
Yes. Research is not required as part of this track; however, students in the Pre-licensure track are often engaged in collaborative research with faculty. It is common for students in this track to present research at scientific conferences, and some of these students become coauthors of peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals.
Research/Thesis Track
Can you provide an overview of the Research/Thesis track?
The faculty developed this track for students who are interested in focusing on research and/or are interested in gaining entry into a research-focused doctoral program. This track is a great fit for students who are not particularly interested in clinical practice at the master’s level upon graduation. In addition to an empirical thesis, we encourage students in this track to engage in other research projects. Students in the Research/Thesis track have a reduced course load relative to the Pre-licensure track, which allows more time for engagement in research. The tradeoff is that students in this track will not be eligible for licensure at the master’s level when they graduate. We typically admit no more than 4 to 6 students into the thesis track per year.
Is it possible to get clinical experience in the Research/Thesis track?
Yes. It is possible for students in the Research/Thesis track to choose to do a practicum. This experience would be approximately 10 hours/week during one semester.
Am I guaranteed admission into a Ph.D. program if I am in the Research/Thesis track?
No. The program has the potential to increase a student’s competitiveness when applying to research-focused doctoral programs; however, we cannot guarantee admission into a doctoral program.
