Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth offers two graduate programs leading to the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology: Clinical Psychology and Research Psychology.

Faculty And Fields of Interest

Heloisa Alves, BA 2000 Brandeis University, BA 2001 Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, MA 2006 Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, PhD 2012 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, Brain Imaging Techniques, Human Performance

Brian Ayotte, BS 2001, MS 2003 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, PhD 2007 West Virginia University, Health Psychology, Interpersonal Relationships, Cognition, and Problem Solving in Older Adults

Rowland Barrett, 1978-79 Graduate Program Mental Retardation, National Institute of Mental Health, 1978-79 University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Merek Program, PhD 1978 University of Pittsburgh, Autism Disorders, Child Development, Clinical Techniques

R. Thomas Boone (Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs), BS 1987 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MS 1995 PhD 1996 Brandeis Univeristy, Nonverbal Communication of Emotion, Developmental Social Processes, Cooperative Processes, Communication of Trustworthiness

John K. Conboy (emeritus),

Donald P. Corriveau (emeritus), BA 1973 Providence College, MA 1975, PhD 1978 University of Rhode Island

Paul A. Donnelly (emeritus)

Melanie Dubard (Graduate Program Director, Applied Behavioral Analysis Option), BA 1999 Ithaca College, MA 2002 PhD 2004 University of Southern Mississippi, Developmental Disabilities, Autism, Applied Behavior Analysis, Consultation, Treatment Integrity, Assessment and Treatment of Severe Problem Behavior

Barry R. Haimson (emeritus)

Patrice Hartnett, BS 1983 Bucknell University, MA 1984, PhD University of Pennsylvania Lifespan Development (Child and Adolescent), Comparative Cognition

Mahzad Hojjat (Chairperson), BA 1992 University of Connecticut, MS 1994, MPhil 1995, PhD 1998 Yale University, Satisfaction, Conflict, Betrayal, Resilience, and Forgiveness in Friendships and Romantic Relationships

Trina Kershaw, BA 1998 Widener University Pennsylvania, MA 2002, PhD 2006 University of Illinois Chicago, Skill Learning and Transfer, Problem Solving, Individual Differences

Raina Lamade, BA 2000 Queens College NY, MA 2004 Columbia University, PhD 2015 Fairleigh Dickinson University, Clinical and Forensic Psychology: Psychological Assessment, Violence Risk Assessment, Assessment and Treatment of Sexual Offenders, Management of Serious Mental Illness within Criminal Contexts, Malingering, Trauma and Post-traumatic Growth, Public Opinion and Policy, Military and Veterans

Robin Locke-Arkerson (Program Director, Master’s in Research Psychology), BA 1992 Boston University, MS 1999, PhD 2005 University of Wisconsin, Developmental Psychopathology, Emotional Development, Biological Psychology

Josh Masse, BA 2002 Stonehill College, MS 2006, PhD 2009 West Virginia University, Childhood Externalizing Disorders, Evidence-based Treatments, Clinical Training, Treatment Dissemination and Implementation

Gary Pace, Acquired Brain Injuries, Antecedent Interventions, the Development and Maintenance of Behavioral Systems, and the Assessment and Treatment of Severe Behavior Problems, Applied Behavior Analysis, Efficacy in ABA

Theodore R. Powers (Program Director, Master’s in Clinical Psychology), BA 1980 Columbia University, PhD 1985 McGill University, Clinical Training, Personality, and Motivation

Andrew J. Revell, BS 1996 Truman State University, MS 1998 Southern Illinois University, PhD 2006 Pennsylvania State University, Lifespan Human Development, Neuropsychology of Aging, Health Risk Indicators, Multivariate Measurement, Gerontology

Elizabeth Richardson, BA 1991 Indiana University, MA 1995, PhD 1997 Louisiana State University, Health Psychology, Adolescent and Young Adult Risk Behaviors, and Clinical Research

Amy M. Shapiro, BS and BA 1988 Tufts University, PhD 1992 Brown University, Misinformation Acceptance, False Memory, Technology-assisted Learning

Anna Schierberi-Scherr, BA 2003 Colby College, MA 2010, Health Psychology Certificate 2012, PhD 2014 University of Connecticut, Health Behavior Change, Enhancing Treatment Outcomes for Eating Disorders and Obesity, Clinical Supervision

Judith E. Sims-Knight (emeritus)

Nicholas Zambrotta, BA Eckerd College 2005, BA 2008 Salve Regina University, MS 2013 Barry University, PhD 2019 University of Rhode Island, Political Psychology and Political Polarization, Morality, Sport and Exercise Psychology, Psychology of Peak Performance, Behavioral Health, Structural Equation Modeling

Financial Assistance

A limited number of graduate teaching and research assistantships are awarded to qualified students who have been accepted for admission. The assistantships are quite competitive, however, and are based on qualifications and experience in teaching, as well as research. Graduate teaching assistants generally complete 10-20 hours of work per week as assigned by the Psychology Department Chairperson. In return, the students are compensated with a stipend and tuition remission. Application for graduate assistantships can be made at the time of application to the graduate program.

Other assistance, such as loans or work-study, may be available to you. Please refer to the chapter on “Expenses and Academic Assistance” For additional information.

A special note for Massachusetts State Employees. This program is considered a day school program and thus state employees may be eligible to attend tuition free (under state contract). Please check with your personnel office.

Option in Clinical Psychology

Objectives of the Clinical Psychology Option

To provide students with specific and applied research and problem-solving skills;
To provide all clinical students with a broad exposure to a variety of therapy modalities;
To provide students with extensive experiential learning opportunities, practica, internships, and intensive supervision; and
To prepare students for licensure as Certified Mental Health counselors in the State of Massachusetts.

Admission to the Clinical Psychology Option

Students are accepted into the program in the Fall only. The deadline for submission of materials for the Clinical Psychology option is February 15.

Successful candidates have the following qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or a closely related field.
A minimum undergraduate cumulative average of 2.75 on a 4.0 grading scale. Students not meeting this requirement but who otherwise give evidence of strong academic ability may be accepted.
Completion of courses in General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Statistics or Methods course.
Some work experience related to the field of Psychology/Social Work.

Applicants must submit the required application materials to the Graduate Office. In addition, this Psychology option has specific admissions requirements:

In addition to the regular application, candidates should complete the supplemental application form.
Since this option has a clinical component, one of the three letters of recommendation should be submitted from a present or former agency supervisor capable of addressing your clinical potential.
Graduate Record Examination scores, while not required, will be considered if submitted.
Final candidates may be required to attend a personal interview with the Admissions Committee.
Upon acceptance to the program, students are required to sign acknowledgments of the conditions of a Competency/Fitness and a Full Participation policy.

Contact

Dr. Ted Powers
Director, Graduate Program, Clinical Psychology Option
Department of Psychology
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300
tpowers@umassd.edu

Option in Research Psychology

Program Overview

The Research Psychology option is a 36-credit MA program that requires two years of full-time (or 3 years of part-time) study and completion of a thesis. The program combines coursework in basic areas of psychology with research skill objectives, such as critically analyzing research and conducting literature reviews. This coursework provides the basis for collaborative research with faculty members. The outstanding feature of this program is the opportunity for close interaction between faculty and students, both in the classroom and in the laboratory, because of the low student/faculty ratio. Upon graduation, psychology researchers typically find jobs in such settings as university research labs, government agencies, marketing departments, and public or private research organizations.

Objectives

Train students in specific and applied research and problem-solving skills
Provide students with advanced theoretical and empirical knowledge in basic areas of psychology (Cognitive, Social, Developmental, & Health)
Expose students to a variety of research methodologies
Prepare students for doctoral work in psychology and related fields, and for careers in research at the masters’ level

Admission to the Research Psychology Option

Application Deadline

Applications for admission into the Research Master’s Program will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Review of complete applications will begin January 1 and will end on August 15 for the new academic year beginning in fall. Applications received prior to by February 1st will receive priority in selection for assistantships.

Admission Requirements

Successful candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or a closely related field. In addition, students must demonstrate evidence of potential to excel in course work and research. Admission decisions will be made based on all the submitted documents (e.g., research experience/interest, personal statement, GPA, letters of recommendation, etc.).

The Research Psychology option has the following specific admission requirements:

A Bachelor of Arts or Science degree from an accredited institution (official transcript is required)
Two letters of recommendation from individuals who are familiar with student’s academic performance or research involvement are required. At least one letter should contain comments on student’s aptitude, interest, and/or experience in conducting research.
The submission of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is optional. However, if submitted, the GRE scores will be considered as part of the application.
A sample of student’s writing is optional.
Admitted students must have successfully completed an undergraduate statistics course before beginning the program.

Combined BA-MA in Psychology

This fast-track program enables qualified UMass Dartmouth BA degree students in psychology to complete both the BA and the MA in Psychology in 5 rather than 6 years. This program applies to the Research Psychology MA option only.

Those who seek formal admission to the accelerated Psychology BA/MA degree program should complete the form found on this page.

Following acceptance, students should then submit their application to the Graduate Office (see this link).

Students will complete a total of 144 (126 undergraduate + 18 graduate) credits, (instead of 156 credits if pursue each program separately).

Other requirements include:

Two approved 400-level courses (Independent Study) in junior and senior years
In each semester of the senior year two graduate courses and two undergraduate courses (12 credits each semester rather than the typical 15 credits)
One full year graduate work (year 5)
Students who intend to complete their MA must officially apply for graduate admission in their senior year. Admission into the master’s program depends on academic performance in the BAMA program and is not guaranteed.

Eligibility

Students may apply to the combined program as entering freshmen or during their sophomore or junior years. Applicants must have:

A Cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 based on 30 or more UMASS Dartmouth credits. Transfer students may apply after completing 15 credits.
B+ or better in PSY 205 (Statistics for Psychology) and PSY 39x (Research Methods & lab)
Application to the combined program includes:
- A well-written personal essay that reveals potential for a research career.
- At least one recommendation letter by a research faculty
- The application can be found on this page.

Contact

Dr. Brian Ayotte
Director, 4+1 Graduate Program
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300

bayotte@umassd.edu

Dr. Robin Arkerson
Director, Graduate Program in Research Psychology
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300

rlocke@umassd.edu