The Lynn J. Darby School of Psychology and Adolescent Counseling offers undergraduate and graduate programs. Click on the line below to be directed to information about graduate psychology.

Dr. Julie Battle, Chair

Graduate Psychology

Undergraduate Psychology

Degrees Offered  Please see a detailed list at the end of this section of majors and courses offered by the Department of Psychology. Not all majors are offered at all Brenau locations.

B.S. Program Mission and Philosophy  The mission of the Lynn J. Darby School of Psychology and Adolescent Counseling is to encourage students to live extraordinary lives through a curriculum informed by the values of liberal education. This will be accomplished by (1) providing students with core scientific literacy in the fundamental areas within psychology, (2) maximizing the development of critical thinking, research skills, creative expression, and proficiency in communication, (3) fostering personal and social awareness towards an increase in personal integrity, (4) encouraging community and global responsibility, cultural competence and diversity, and service.

The Psychology curriculum is designed to provide skills in research methodology, critical analysis of current professional literature and knowledge and understanding of theories. It also invites students to improve their own relational skills through courses based on applying the principles of human behavior. The curriculum allows students to expand skills such as oral and written communication, awareness of cultural/global diversity, and an understanding and enhancement of personal interaction and critical thinking.

Psychology students are encouraged to do volunteer work during their time spent at Brenau. We believe that professionals will more effectively work with others if they have had wide exposure to a variety of people and have developed a deeper understanding of the human condition. Volunteering affirms values like pro social behavior, enhancing the lives of the volunteers as much as the lives of those who are served.

During their senior year, all students majoring in psychology must complete a one-semester internship at an approved site. The experience varies from person to person according to availability of sites. Students have direct input into their placements and are usually able to work with their population of interest.

Psychology graduates can aspire to obtain jobs in areas such as mental health, education, business, public health and criminal justice. Students seeking graduate degrees in other areas, including law, journalism, social work and business have found psychology courses to be both meaningful and relevant. Students also have the opportunity to participate in faculty research and teaching programs to gain the experience needed for graduate school admission.

Graduate Psychology

Purpose and Philosophy  Graduate studies in the Lynn J. Darby School of Psychology and Adolescent Counseling include a certificate program, masters programs, and a doctoral program including: DanceMovement Therapy Certificate (DMT), Applied Gerontology (M.S.), Clinical Counseling Psychology (M.S.), Psychology (M.S.) and the Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.). These programs are designed to maximize an applied skill set based on the development of professional, clinical, and research skills as well as  an understanding of fundamental and advanced knowledge in counseling and clinical psychology. Curricula reflect the most advanced scientific knowledge and practice techniques relevant to the psychology counseling and research of a multicultural society especially emphasizing the North Georgia region. Links to graduation requirements for these programs are at the bottom of this narrative.

Please click on the line below to be directed for specific information about graduate psychology programs:

• Applied Gerontology (M.S.)
• Clinical Counseling Psychology (M.S.)
• Psychology (M.S.)
• Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)

Applied Gerontology

Purpose/Vision  With a dramatic surge in the aging population, there is an increasing need for well qualified, highly trained professionals to provide services for this population on all levels. The field of gerontology is changing and becoming an increasingly important opportunity for career advancement or change. This program will be of interest to those who work in or are interested in various fields of healthcare, including psychology, nursing, occupational therapy, health science, and biology as well as liberal arts, business, social work, housing, interior and fashion design, institutional care, transportation, the law and geriatric care management.

The interdisciplinary Applied Gerontology (M.S.)  degree at Brenau University is designed to be innovative and will offer a unique opportunity for students to design a curriculum that will fit their individual education and career needs. This degree will place students on the cutting edge of serving the older adult population.

Depending on the student’s schedule, this 30-hour program may be completed in as little as one calendar year.

Admission Requirements

1. A Brenau University application. The application may be submitted online at http://admissions.brenau.edu
2. A non-refundable application fee
3. Minimum G.P.A. of 2.5
4. Official transcripts of all previous college/university coursework. Submit transcripts to the Graduate Admissions Office.  Failure to submit transcripts from all colleges previously attended, through omission or misrepresentation will disqualify the applicant.
5. List of references with names and contact information.

Note: This program is available online.

Clinical Counseling Psychology

This program offers graduate education for those interested in becoming professional counselors in mental health centers, private practices, community agencies, hospitals, social services agencies, universities and colleges, drug and alcohol abuse programs, and criminal justice settings or for those who wish to continue training in psychology at the doctoral level. 

Mission Statement  The Master’s (M.S.) program in Clinical Counseling Psychology at Brenau University is committed to excellence in preparing students for work in a wide variety of clinical, counseling, assessment and research settings. Our mission is to provide an education founded in the scientist-practitioner model which will lead to competency in applied clinical/counseling work as well as to an understanding of the importance of ongoing research into the effectiveness of our work and an ability to competently carry out research. Furthermore, the mission of the program is to provide an education that will lead to intellectual and professional competence, foster personal growth, promote reflection about practice, cultivate compassion and sensitivity in the therapeutic approach and encourage community responsibility and global understanding. More specifically, the program will have a special focus on competency in social and cultural diversity issues with application of knowledge through various applied and research experiences.

The program intends to accomplish this mission by providing coursework and practical/internship experiences which emphasize the application of theories of human development, psychopathology and behavior change to psychosocial problems of a diverse clientele seeking mental health services. The program provides a basis in general psychological principles, therapeutic principles, a framework of research methodology, evaluation and statistics as well as applied work with these skills through the thesis requirement and applied work in the area of clinical counseling psychology including the theory and practice of therapy, psychological assessment, ethics and professional identity and social and cultural diversity. The program prepares students for licensure at the LPC level and/or further training in a psychology, Ph.D./Psy.D. program. All aspects of the program and consistent with licensure requirements.

For successful completion of the clinical counseling master’s program, students must pass 62 credit hours of coursework, 250 hours of practicum experiences and a 450-hour internship. In addition, the master’s program in clinical counseling at Brenau University offers several unique specialization options. By taking an additional six hours of classes (for a total of 68 hours) or completing equivalent applied experiences, students may choose to specialize in one of a number of areas (see below).

Specialty Options (additional 6 hours):

1. Applied psychology teaching or adult development
2. Biological Bases of Learning
3. Cross-cultural work (especially with Latin Americans)
4. Drug/alcohol counseling
5. Forensics
6. Organizational Development
7. Play Therapy
8. Psychology of Women/Diversity Issues
9. Research/Evaluation
10. Virtual Reality and Simulation Therapy

Please Note: Specific classes and experiences are negotiable in order to meet the specialty option but must be approved by the graduate program; however, specific classes used toward specialty option must already be in existence. A variety of options can be considered for meeting the requirements; however, equivalency of contact hours and appropriate level of coursework and experience are necessary.

The masters in clinical counseling psychology program at Brenau University is a flexible 2-year full-time or 3-4 year part-time program designed to provide training that is consistent with a scientist-practitioner model of Clinical Psychology. The program is co-educational and part-time students are welcomed. Classes are offered on a modified day schedule. This includes one morning class and one evening class each seven-week session. In addition, students take two or three classes in the summer. The summer classes are scheduled similarly with one morning class and one evening class. Students who have just graduated from college and/or who are planning to return to graduate school full-time will be able to complete the program in two years by taking both day and evening classes. Individuals who are working full time could also take part in the full time master’s program by taking off only one morning a week. Individuals who are working full time and cannot or do not wish to take off one morning a week can opt to take three to four years to complete the program by taking all night classes or a combination of day and night classes. The schedule of classes rotate so that in a four-year period, all needed classes are offered at night (with the exception of specialty option classes). Because the specialization is an option and is not required for degree completion and because the specialization classes are generally offered in other departments and schools, those classes will not necessarily follow the modified day schedule. Students wishing to specialize will have to take the required classes or fulfill the applied experiences as offered.

Educational Outcomes   Completion of the Masters in Science in Clinical Counseling Psychology program prepares the learner to demonstrate:

• A critical understanding of psychological therapy and theories and their utility for clinical practice and research as well as the skills needed to provide professional therapeutic services.
• A critical understanding of issues related to assessment and diagnosis and the skills needed to provide diagnostic assessment.
• Research skills relevant to identification of psychological service needs, effectiveness of psychological processes and improvement of practice as well as research and statistical skills needed to independently design useful studies, collect needed data and analyze and interpret data appropriately.
• Ability to analyze organizational, legal and ethical issues affecting practice and to develop effective personal and professional responses to these issues

Admissions Requirements  Admission to the clinical psychology program at Brenau is competitive. All applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university although the degree does not have to be in psychology. The ideal candidate would have a combined GRE score (verbal & quantitative) of 540 on the revised GRE scale or 1,000 on the original scale and a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students who have already completed a master’s degree must provide documentation of their degree to waive the GRE requirement. Students requesting a transfer from another master’s program must provide documentation of GRE scores to complete requirements for application to the program. To be considered for admission to  the MSCCP program, potential students submit a complete online PSYCAS application package. The PSYCAS application requires each applicant to include the following:

Admissions decisions are made based on the following:

1. A PSYCAS verified application
2. Application to the program which includes a personal goal statement outlining individual-program compatibility
3. Three professional references.
4. official transcripts of all previous college/university coursework
5. official GRE scores (general)

In addition, previous volunteer, work and/or research experience in psychology are viewed as an enhancement to the application. Finalists will be required to attend an interview with psychology faculty.

Generally applicants for the Graduate Psychology program are expected to meet the stated admissions requirements. However, Brenau may consider an applicant who does not meet [all] stated requirements, but who, in the opinion of the appropriate department, may be a good candidate for admission to the University. In such cases an applicant’s credentials will be reviewed by the graduate admissions committee (based on departmental referral) to determine if the applicant is qualified for admission.

Preferred Admission  Preferred Admission is available to Brenau students who have a minimum junior class standing, an overall GPA of 3.2 and a minimum 3.5 GPA in psychology coursework. These students must complete all other admissions requirements as listed above. Students who have completed at least 48 hours at Brenau (including at least 12 hours in psychology coursework) prior to their preferred admission application may be exempt from the GRE if other admission requirements are met.

Transfer Credit  Course work taken at another regionally accredited institution of higher education may be appropriately transferred to Brenau as part of the planned program of study with the approval of the department chair for a limit of six semester hours. Grading standards of the Brenau program into which the work is transferred will apply. The course must have been completed within the last seven years, and no grade below a B will be accepted.

Psychology (M.S.)

Mission Statement   The Psychology (M.S.) is non-licensable degree primarily available for students who have been accepted into the Psy.D. program but who have not yet obtained a Master’s degree in psychology or a closely related area. Students who hold a Bachelors’ degree and who are accepted into the PsyD program will complete the M.S. in Psychology along the way within their first two years of study. They must maintain a 3.50 GPA in order to proceed into the PsyD program. Upon completion of the PsyD program and degree, they may be eligible to pursue licensure as a Clinical Psychologist. Students who have not been accepted into the PsyD program,  who have not maintained the GPA criteria or who have chosen not to continue with the PsyD program may obtain the M.S. in Psychology Degree. This degree, while not licensable in any healthcare profession, provides advanced knowledge in psychology and allows graduates to proceed in careers related to research, administration, or education.

Clincal Psychology (Psy.D.)

Mission Statement  The Clinical Psychology program at Brenau University offers a comprehensive, scholar-practitioner-model, and an evidenced-based approach to doctoral education, in order to prepare students for providing health service psychology. The mission of the Psy.D. program is to provide a broad-based, practice-informed, and empirically-supported psychological foundation that will sufficiently prepare future psychologists to work in a variety of clinical settings. The program values and incorporatestraining and practice experiences in responding to the unique needs of diverse students and clientele, as well as instills an appreciation and application of cultural awareness and understanding of individual differences in formulating effective treatment for clients of all backgrounds and ethnicities. The training method is to scaffold student’s learning to build upon discipline specific knowledge taught at the graduate level and to advanced integrative knowledge in scientific psychology, while incorporating diverse practicum and applied experiences which culminate in an APA approved (or equivalent) year-long clinical internship experience. The clinical aspect of this program’s emphasis will be supported in the sequence of courses designed to strengthen students’ knowledge and preparedness to work in a clinical setting, This includes administration of assessments and providing empirically based psychological interventions, selection of a dissertation study that supports and adds to the clinical research on effective treatment strategies, and completing practicum and internship experiences that give students that opportunity to apply their clinical knowledge.

For successful completion of doctoral program in Clinical Psychology students must complete 86 (post-Masters credits), successfully defend a doctoral dissertation and complete a pre-doctoral internship (APA approved or equivalent). Students are expected to concentrate their studies in one of 5 areas.

Concentration Options (additional 18 hours):

1. Child/Adolescent Psychotherapy
2. Adult Psychotherapy
3. Geriatric Psychotherapy
4. Forensic Psychology
5. Neuroscience Psychology

The doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at Brenau University is an on-ground 3 to 5 year program offered on the Gainesville campus. The program follows the scholar-practitioner model of professional psychology training. The program is open to all genders. Classes are generally offered during the daytime during the 3 academic semesters (Fall, Spring and Summer). Generally, individuals who enter with a Masters in Psychology  or related field may be able to complete the program in 3 years (2 on campus, 1 in pre-doctoral internship). Students who enter with a Bachelor’s level of education can expect to spend 5 years  (4 on campus, 1 in pre-doctoral internship).

Educational Outcomes  The educational aims of the Clinical PsyD program at Brenau University are to prepare students to become licensed clinical psychologists by ensuring that students/trainees have mastered the essential competencies that will be required of them to practice successfully in this profession. Students will be expected to master discipline-specific knowledge in the areas, including biological bases of behavior, cognitive-affective aspects of behavior, social and familial aspects of behavior, human growth and lifespan development of behavior, assessment and diagnosis, treatment, intervention, prevention and supervision, research methods and statistics, and ethical, legal, and professional issues related to this profession. In addition to mastering discipline-specific knowledge in these core areas, students will acquire and demonstrate proficiency in utilizing advanced, integrative knowledge that will prepare them to provide clinical treatment in specialized areas,  including child and adolescent psychology, europsychology with children and adults, and/or forensic psychology with adolescents and adults.

To achieve mastery of discipline-specific knowledge that will allow students to perform successfully in the role of a clinical psychologist, the program is founded on 6 sustaining principles:

The Brenau Clinical Psychology PsyD program maintains that professionally trained clinical Psychologists:

1. Possess a broad, yet comprehensive knowledge base, that will allow them to work as scholar- practitioners in a variety of clinical settings
2. Be able to properly assess, diagnosis, and develop effective treatment interventions to help serve distinct, yet culturally diverse clinical populations
3. Contribute to quality, statistically-based research studies that will support the psychological profession and ongoing investigational research
4. Exhibit a compassionate and reflective approach that will demonstrate an understanding of the unique psychological needs, concerns, obstacles, and opportunities that present themselves while working with diverse clinical populations, and will take into consideration how multicultural factors impact case conceptualization
5. Advocate for community and individual needs in order to achieve a socially equitable, culturally diverse, and professionally ethical presence in the community at large
6. Demonstrate a willingness to form a collaborative and responsive relationship with supervisors and with agencies that can enhance the clinical expertise and resource opportunities that may be useful for assisting the clinical work with clients.

Admissions Requirements  Admission to the clinical psychology program at Brenau is competitive. All applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university although the degree does not have to be in psychology. There are 2 pathways to admission. An individual with a Masters Degree in Psychology or a related field will ideally have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and a GRE of 300 (verbal & quantitative). Students who have not yet completed a master’s degree will ideally have a GPA or 3.7 or higher and a GRE of 320 (verbal & quantitative). For admission to the PsyD program, potential students submit a complete online PSYCAS application package. The PSYCAS application requires each applicant to include the following:

Admissions decisions are made based on the following:

1. application to the program which includes a personal goal statement outlining individual-program compatibility
2. three professional references.
3. official transcripts of all previous college/university coursework
4. official GRE scores (general)

Admissions decisions are based on a PSYCAS verified application including the documents listed above as well as volunteer, work and/or research experience in psychology. Finalist will be required to attend an interview with psychology faculty. Generally applicants for the Clinical Psychology PsyD program are expected to meet the stated admissions requirements. However, Brenau may consider an applicant who does not meet [all] stated requirements, but who, in the opinion of the appropriate department, may be a good candidate for admission to the University. In such cases an applicant’s credentials will be reviewed by the graduate admissions committee (based on departmental referral) to determine if the applicant is qualified for admission.

Graduate Prerequisite Credit Students must complete 35 prerequisite graduate credits either prior to entry or within the first 2 years of doctoral study. The course must have been completed within the last seven years, and no grade below a B will be accepted.

Transfer Credit  Course work taken at another regionally accredited institution of higher education may be appropriately transferred to Brenau as part of the planned program of study with the approval of the department chair for a limit of 19 semester hours. Grading standards of the Brenau program into which the  work is transferred will apply. The course must have been completed within the last seven years, and no grade below a B will be accepted.

Programs

• Psychology (B.S.)
• Psychology (B.S.) [Pre-OT]

• Applied Gerontology (M.S.)
• Clinical Counseling Psychology (M.S.)
• Psychology (M.S.)

• Clinical Psychology (PSYD)

• Dance Movement Therapy Certificate
• Gerontology Minor
• Organizational Psychology Minor
• Psychology Minor

Courses

• GT 101 - Introduction to Gerontology
• GT 260 - Community Resources for Older Adults
• GT 323 - Aging and Health
• GT 350 - Communication and Aging
• GT 600 - Foundations of Gerontology
• GT 620 - Cultural and Social Issues of Aging
• GT 623 - Physical Aspects of Aging
• GT 630 - Psychology of Aging
• GT 645 - Aging in Place
• GT 650 - Effective Communication with the Elderly
• GT 660 - Aging and the Family
• GT 665 - Geriatric Pharmacotherapy
• GT 670 - Mediation Skills in Aging
• GT 672 - Elder Law
• GT 675 - Social Policy and Aging
• GT 690 - Death, Dying and Loss
• GT 700 - Fieldwork or Major Project
• GT 702 - Ethics and Professional Orientation
• PY 101 - Introduction to Psychology *
• PY 101L - Introduction to Psychology Lab *
• PY 101W - Introduction to Psychology *
• PY 102 - Personal and Social Awareness
• PY 202 - Survey of Human Growth and Development
• PY 203 - Human Sexuality
• PY 203W - Human Sexuality
• PY 215 - Psychology of the Workplace
• PY 215W - Psychology of the Workplace
• PY 230W - Psychology of Social Responsibility
• PY 250 - Stress Management
• PY 290 - Death, Dying and Loss
• PY 295 - Understanding Research in the Social Sciences
• PY 301 - Research Methods
• PY 301L - Research Methods Lab
• PY 305 - Sports Psychology
• PY 306 - Psychology of Learning
• PY 309 - Abnormal Psychology
• PY 309W - Abnormal Psychology
• PY 310 - Psychology of Women
• PY 310W - Psychology of Women
• PY 316 - Crisis Intervention
• PY 317 - Theories of Personality
• PY 325 - Psychology of Health
• PY 350 - Psychology of Gender
• PY 360 - Workplace Motivation
• PY 380 - Child Maltreatment and Advocacy
• PY 380W - Child Maltreatment and Advocacy
• PY 405 - History and Systems of Psychology
• PY 408 - Counseling and Therapy
• PY 411 - Social Psychology
• PY 412 - Psychology Seminar
• PY 415 - Physiological Psychology
• PY 420 - Psychology of Cultural Differences
• PY 430 - Psychology of Aging
• PY 460 - Positive Organizational Scholarship
• PY 481 - Applied Research
• PY 482 - Applied Psychology Teaching Experience
• PY 483 - Advanced Special Topics
• PY 499 - Psychology Capstone
• PY 499L - Psychology Capstone Lab
• PY 600 - History and Systems
• PY 601 - Research Methodology and Evaluation
• PY 602 - Human Growth and Development
• PY 607 - Acquired/Learned Bases of Behavior
• PY 612 - Psychopathology
• PY 617 - Theories of Psychotherapy/Individual Bases of Behavior
• PY 620 - Multicultural Counseling
• PY 630 - Social and Familial Aspects of Behavior
• PY 631 - Cognitive and Affective Aspects of Behavior
• PY 650 - Professional Orientation and Development I
• PY 651 - Professional Orientation and Development II
• PY 660 - Advanced Special Topics
• PY 671 - Dance/Movement Therapy Theory and Practice I: History and the Originators
• PY 672 - Dance/Movement Therapy Theory and Practice 2: Theoretical Frameworks
• PY 673 - Dance/Movement Therapy Theory and Practice 3: Multicultural and Diverse Populations
• PY 674 - Dance/Movement Therapy Theory & Practice: Children & Adolescents
• PY 677 - Observation and Assessment of Movement 1
• PY 678 - Observation and Assessment of Movement 2
• PY 680 - Thesis Preparation
• PY 681 - Thesis I
• PY 682 - Thesis II
• PY 683 - Applied Research Methods
• PY 684 - Applied Statistics
• PY 700 - Ethics and Professional Orientation
• PY 701 - Statistics
• PY 702 - Psychometric Theory and Assessments
• PY 703 - Counseling Skills & The Helping Relationship
• PY 704 - Clinical Interviewing
• PY 705 - Assessment I: Cognitive Appraisal
• PY 706 - Assessment II: Personality Appraisal
• PY 707 - Assessments Lab
• PY 714 - Biological Bases of Behavior
• PY 720 - Clinical/Counseling Practicum I
• PY 730 - Group Dynamics & Group Psychotherapy
• PY 731 - Lifestyle & Career Development
• PY 740 - Clinical/Counseling Practicum II
• PY 750 - Professional Orientation and Development III
• PY 751 - Discipline Specific Knowledge Review and Exam
• PY 755 - Clinical Counseling Specialty Practicum
• PY 760 - Clinical/Counseling Internship
• PY 771 - Dance/Movement Therapy Speciality Practicum I
• PY 772 - Dance/Movement Therapy Speciality Practicum II